Chest pain

I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse 15 years ago after a severe bout of chest pain (I thought I was having a heart attack). Since then, I have been on various beta-blockers - Inderal, Corgard, now Toprol. Even with the beta-blocker, I still get chest pain, a heavy pressure that feels like someone is sitting on my chest and I can't breathe. The pain is not related to anything I am doing like exercising, eating, or resting, and it seems to be purely at random. I was given pain medication at one time, but the cure was worse than the pain.

I had to change doctors three years ago. During my last cardiologist check-up, the doctor asked if I was having any problems, and I told him yet again that I have intermittant chest pain. He ordered a stress test with
Cardiolite to rule out any blockages, and the results were negative. Now he wants me to see a GI doctor because I might have a hiatal hernia. I did this 15 years ago and refuse to go through that ordeal again.

My questions are these: how can the chest pain be caused by a secret hiatal hernia that has avoided detection all these years? The chest pain is not a heartburn type of pain.
If the chest pain is related to the mitral valve prolapse, then why isn't the beta blocker helping?
What can I do to feel better without turning into a medicated zombie?

Thanks for any help,

You are welcome, May.


Servant to the humblest person in the universe,

months pregnant. A whole series, including GI, for the same chest pain 15 years ago, did not reveal a hiatal hernia, GERD, or any other gastric problems.

That's why I don't believe my cardiologist when he says that this chest pain could be diagnosed with GI tests today. I think he's grasping for straws.
Or trying to send some business to his GI friend. Or just telling me anything to get me out of his office.

I have read some webpages about mitral valve prolapse syndrome, which could explain the chest pain. I asked my current cardiologist about any new treatments for MVPS, and he says that there is not enough prolapse to cause symptoms. If that's the case, then why would he prescribe beta-blockers for me?