Jonette's Profile

My heart murmur was diagnosed at 15, by age 28 (3rd pregnancy) I was diagnosed with MVP with no symptoms except irregular heartbeats. As a second career after my husband passed from leukemia, I decided to go to nursing school and pursue my dream. I graduated in 2019 as an RN. While I was in nursing school, PVC's were noted and I started being followed by a cardiologist with yearly echos. My last echo 2023 showed EF of 55% with LAE and LVE mild with increased symptoms .....SOB, anxiety, fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness. What I find very interesting is also at the age of 28, I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder and have struggled with the disease ever since, including 1 hospitalization. As I research MV and Panic Disorder, the connection is unbelievable. I wish my previous doctors would have connected the dots. Anxiety and MV are not good together. Anxiety can definitely increase damage to the MV. Unfortunately I had to go through some red tape to get to where I am now (switched from HMO to PPO) and have finally gotten over to Cedar Senai with Dr. Chikwe for robotic MV repair hopefully within the next 3 weeks.