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Do I have ablation or not?

Posted , 9 users are following.

sam74064
sam74064

Hi

Basically I've suffered with svt since I was 16 (now 33)

I have been offered ablation before but always chickened out as the op date nears)

But recently my attacks tend to be much worse, I guess as I'm getting older. But I'm still not sure if they are bad enough to risk ablation?

I go through stages and usually get one attack every two weeks but from out the blue can go six months without one. Then when you think it's gone, boom an attack every one/two weeks.

Also when I was younger I could stop them myself or sit them out.

Now I have to go A and E for adenosine with my heart rate at about 260?

I've tried beta blockers but have a naturally low heart rate at rest so feel really poorly on them.

I don't feel svt is interfering massively with my life (apart from when I'm having an episode) but I'm worried about how it's worsening?

would love to hear other people's thoughts

Thanks smile

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Glow509
    Glow509 sam74064

    Posted

    I would do an ablation. The only thing that sucks is you do feel out of it for a couple of weeks, but that also can vary from person to person. Also an SVT ablation doesn't have that many risks. On the other hand I had wpw and one of the risks with my ablation was cardiac arrest, thankfully I had it with no complications but it is taking me a while to get back to normal, it's almost been 3 months. But like I said it varies from person to person.

  • ciaran33745
    ciaran33745 sam74064

    Posted

    Hi Sam. I'm male aged 58 living in Ireland. I had SVT for about 20 years until I had and ablation 5 years ago that cured it completely. I only wish I had it years earlier - before it interfered with my life and enjoyment of things like parenthood. 

    I didn't realise how much of a prisoner I was until it was gone from my life.

    Ablation is a low risk procedure with a high success rate. 

    Go for it smile

  • bob51648
    bob51648 sam74064

    Posted

    Hi Sam. Go for it. There is no risk. I had it some 3 weeks ago and am now free of SVT. I am a caregiver and was back at work a couple of days after it - although no heavy lifting. The feeling of being able to kick SVT to touch is great. Last week Jamie posted the same concerns as you, had the procedure and it was a success. PS. I am 67.

  • sam74064
    sam74064

    Posted

    Thanks everyone for the replies.

    I think it's everything I've been considering but it's great to hear it from other people.

    I'm due to hear about my appointment in the next few days, so fingers crossed x

  • ann82027
    ann82027 sam74064

    Posted

    I,m 70 and have just been put on bisoprolol in feb, i,ve suffered with this for over 40 years and its affected my life, it does get worse as you get older, i would go for it  you are young.  I,m waiting to go to Barts for an ablation but i,m scared because of my age and they said i may need a pacemaker.  At the moment its controlled with bisoprolol, i dont like the breathlessness but its the lesser of the 2 evils.

     

    • sam74064
      sam74064 ann82027

      Posted

      Hi

      Thanks for the reply

      I was on bisoprolol 2.5mg and it made me feel poorly too.

      Try to stay positive and think that after 40 years you'll finally get it sorted. It makes me realise that I need to go for this now as it's clearly never going on it's own.

      I hope all goes well for your op.

  • judy89357
    judy89357 sam74064

    Posted

    Hi Sam,

    I can totally relate to your situation. I have had svt for 20 years, but they have gotten progressively worst as I get older.  One time I went four or five years without an attack. As you said, for many years when I would have an attack, they would go away quickly. Now, even if I take medication, they do not stop unless I go to the hospital and get adnosine. I have cancelled one ablation, but I had another attack two weeks ago, and while at the hospital, waiting for the adnosine, I decided to definately get an ablation. It's just too stressful, always being in fear of an attack. The doctor at the ER told me most people with svt, get to a point where they just want to stop the attacks and go for an ablation. There is a very good success rate of about 90%. 

    • sam74064
      sam74064 judy89357

      Posted

      It sounds as if we're both in the same situation. I think I'm at that point now after also spending last Friday night in hospital having adenosine. We need to do this smile

  • sam74064
    sam74064

    Posted

    Update

    Had the ablation yesterday, feeling sore today but the doctor is confident it's fixed. My svt was so sensitive they didn't need to trigger it, just laying down and them putting the catheters in triggered it. Bottom line it was a pretty easy procedure and it wasn't half as bad as I expected. Advice for anyone suffering, go for it smile

    • ciaran33745
      ciaran33745 sam74064

      Posted

      Thrilled for you. Hope it works out as well as it has for me smile
    • gene91169
      gene91169 sam74064

      Posted

      Sam, that's excellent news.  I'm predicting with confidence that you're feeling about as "up" as you've ever felt.  I'd also like to encourage so many of us SVT folks who've been, understably, resistant to ablation to pay close attention to your experience.  Being released from the SVT monster's bite is one of medicine's best gifts to humanity.  Sam, please enjoy each and every new day.

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