Feeling dreadful....advice please ?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi all, this is my first post. Long story short. I'm 60 and have had a benign ectopic beat for about 20 years. Last Sept I was taken very unwell at work, i thought i had just got overheated and a bit dehydrated have never felt so ill. Paramedic got a HR reading of 207 he said SVT from the ECG. All blood tests clear, ECG at hospital eventually ok, blood pressure up but settled so I was sent home. Fast forward to 5 days later at GP bp was 180/100. On Atenolol 50 mg which has solved the bp issue but I can't stand the vivid dreams, it's a new horrible adventure every night. I've had a few episodes of feeling utter crap, weak, unable to stand and light headed all of a sudden. Checked out by A and E again nothing on tests. Went back to GP and got referred to cardiology beginning of June. Awaiting appointment. Last Friday while shopping felt very unwell and had to just get on the floor in the middle of john Lewis, very embarrassing. The first aider called the ambulance, same story as before it all passes in 20 mins. Think the Atenolol is stopping it from being a full blown SVT ? Anyway I rang cardiology and they are seeing me next week. I've rung the DVLA and am now not driving. Ive gone from being an independent go anywhere do anything single woman to someone who now doesn't want to do anything for fear of feeling ill while out . I don't even want to walk to the local shop , I wouldn't make it home ! Not like me at all. Fed up of the foggy feeling, I don't seem to have a trigger either. Any advice or your experiences please ? What questions should I be asking ? Thanks for reading.
0 likes, 14 replies
vimarie Fiona192
Posted
I had similar symptoms to you several years ago. My doctor told me I had anxiety, but I decided I didn't want to go on meds. Whenever I feel anxious, I take deep breaths and try to relax. I was planning to have an ablation this summer, but the meds I'm taking (flecainide and digoxil) are working for my svt symptoms. I'm less anxious now.
Daily exercise and eating healthy foods should help too. I hope you feel better.
Fiona192 vimarie
Posted
Thank you, I do have some anxiety and think it makes it worse but not sure if it was the trigger. Definitely worse now ! Can't wait to see cardiology to try and sort it.
chadcf Fiona192
Posted
My SVT was well controlled with Metoprolol, but not everyone is so lucky. I still had brief episodes of 5 - 10 seconds but never longer episodes while on a beta blocker. It's probably worth experimenting with dosages to see if it can help.
Your cardiologist will likely want to do a full workup to make sure your heart is healthy, as these tachycardias are not a big deal in a healthy heart but can be riskier if you have heart disease. They will probably want you to wear a 30 day monitor to record your heart beat so they can more accurately diagnose these episodes (but if they have an ekg tracing from the paramedics it might not be so necessary). They will likely also want to do an echocardiogram and stress test to ensure your heart is in good shape.
If your heart checks out there are really only 3 options from there...
1. Do nothing, and just live with it. It won't kill you, but it is horribly unpleasant.
2. Try medications to control it. Beta blockers like atenolol are usually the first thing they try. There are more hardcore drugs but they tend to have worse side effects and can in some cases trigger more dangerous arrythmias.
3. Get a referral to an electrophysiologist for a catheter ablation. During this procedure they insert catheters into your groin, steer them up inside your heart, locate the area of your heart that is triggering these rapid heart rates and then they burn or freeze that area. While this procedure is not very pleasant and is quite expensive, it's the only actual cure (though the success rate can vary based on the skill of your doctor and where in your heart the problem is located).
Fiona192 chadcf
Posted
Thank you. They have put a couple of things in the mix, either it's a lesser svt as I'm on Atenolol or my blood pressure drops too low for a few minutes. I'm not prepared to carry on with this as it is as I'm out on my own a lot and now don't want to go ! Both sons live away from home and I visit often. Medication would be fine if it's the right one. Ablation sounds an option too, just need it sorting.
Maxine50 Fiona192
Posted
Sorry to hear of your not being well. I am surprised that Atenolol does not agree with you, both my wife and I are on it. I am sorry to say that you should not have let the Dvla know what has happened as I Passed out twice in September and in October last year, my consultant told the Dvla and the result 10 months later is that I have not had my license renewed yet, even though the problem with my health has been corrected and multiple tests have all come back clear and I have even sent them a letter from my Gp saying that I am now fit to drive, they say that they have 3000 cases a day to do with and I will just have to wait my turn.
Good luck to you Ken.
Fiona192 Maxine50
Posted
Thank you. I had to tell the DVLA as my GP told me to. I really wouldn't want an episode while driving so am going to have to put up with the inconvenience. I will speak to the cardiologist on Wednesday next week. I wish the meds suited me better, I'm really not myself....
ciaran33745 Fiona192
Posted
HI Fiona. As I guess you already know, SVT triggers and symptoms vary quite a lot from person to person, but in my own experience the side-effects of beta blockers etc. can be more impairing to driving than SVT itself.
I'm male and almost 60. I had an ablation 5 years ago that cured my SVT completely. I'd recommend you discuss that option with your Cardio.
Take care
Fiona192 ciaran33745
Posted
Thank you. From what I've read ablation seems something to really consider and definitely will mention it next week. I suppose they ought to find the problem first lol. My GP said years ago when I had my first ectopic incident that I might need a pacemaker in years to come. Didn't believe it at the time...
nichola94722 Fiona192
Posted
Hi Fiona I'm a 38 year old female who definitely understands how you feel , over the past 2 years I've had svt , I'm now waiting a second ablation as the first did not solve it and I've been on several beta blockers which also haven't worked and I've still gone into svt , each time needing emergency hospital care , adenosine never works for me and I'm now into double fingurs the amount of times I've been put to sleep and given a cardioversion , (electric shock to get the heart back in rhythm) . I do have other heart problems on top of svt so have to be careful and as I'm in svt hours always end up in hospital , I'm currently on sotolol which I'm told can not be increased because I'm on the maximum does my body can take due to a lengthening in my qt ...... I've stopped going out with my friends I haven't been into town shopping for a year as last year took my daughter on a shopping spree and ended up in hospital , I went to the theatre in April ended up in hospital went away to America last year as doctors said you can fly can't see you having another svt in the space of a week as had already had one the week before flying and was in hospital. My pattern was every 3/4 months have a attack and cardioversion.Anyway flew to America ended up in hospital in the states cardioversion flew home very ill on plane ended up paramedics coming on board when landed (hospital stay over a week had fluid on lungs , legs , ) after the svt in states ..........now not flying this year ....... last week July 2017 my children broke up from school summer holidays I went to the local pool you know what's coming had a svt in pool ended up in hospital, my husband now taking my children swimming this week as still recovering from last weeks cardioversion, although the svt was 4 hours a short one compared to the 10 hour one which left me very ill , I'm totally missing simple things and get fed up with not letting my self go places I understand how you feel Fiona , I'm awaiting specialist to attempt second ablation as I have other heart problems im waiting to go again to glenfield in Leicester to have it done . I just get over one svt and cardioversion and start going out for cuppa with friends and walking round block and just as I'm counting the weeks by thinking great I'm doing good not had one bam I have one as before let's hope last weeks was the last . Although I'm on the sotolol and still having them .
Fiona192 nichola94722
Posted
Oh poor you ! Mine isn't anywhere near as bad as yours but I hate not jumping in the car and going off anywhere or even walking to the shops at the moment. Got some fab friends who come with me. Totally on my own at home though as kids are grown up and flown the nest. They are used to me being independent and practical so am trying to keep that up. Eldest has his own medical issues so trying to keep upbeat for him too.
linda90194 Fiona192
Posted
I was having your same issues. And got more frequent! I had an episode where I had to stop driving and call an ambulance. I didn't drive for awhile after that. I had an ablation for my SVT because my episodes were just getting more frequent. The ablation was successful. For about 3 months after, I had some shortness of breath, tiredness . It took me awhile to get my confidence to drive again. The only thing I have now is that I can just walk across the room and my heart rate goes from 75-130 immediately and does eventually go down. It bothers me though and doctors can't tell me why my heart dies that? I'm sure it is because of the ablation. I had my ablation in October. Be prepared to take medication from now on. I'm 68.
Fiona192 linda90194
Posted
Hi Linda, thanks for replying , it's horrible isn't it ? I can't wait to see the cardiologist on Wednesday I just want it sorting. I'm not going anywhere on my own at the moment which is very unlike me. I don't seem to have a trigger either. It doesn't happen with exercise, I don't have caffeine, I don't smoke. If I have to stay on meds for the BP I will do but need this SVT sorting asap as its 100% inconvenient in all sorts of ways. How long did you have to wait for your ablation ?
linda90194 Fiona192
Posted
They say that caffeine and stress does not help the situation.
I had to give up caffeine a long time ago as it made my heart flutter for days after dri king caffeine.
I do not smoke or drink. I asked my cardiologist if it was my age or weight? He said no, he said it's like if you go into a room and turn on a light switch and the light switch does not work. He Said I am not a my risk for a heart attack and I don't have a bad heart, it's just that the electrical system in my heart is messed up.
linda90194 Fiona192
Posted
The episodes came out of nowhere and would last anywhere from 10 minutes to2 hours. I had one where I was just sitting on my my couch and it started suddenly and 2 hours later it just stopped just as suddenly. I started having a lot of episodes during September and had my ablation in October. I live in Texas and am on Medicare, so whenever the doctor could schedule it.
I stoped driving and had my husband take me places or my friends take me because I was afraid of me having an episode and wrecking out and killing someone or killing myself.
Like I said, it took me 3-4 months to get back to feeling better after the ablation. They found 5 abnormal rhythms when I had my ablation. They can never be all fixed. I had SVT and that was corrected. I have since had atrial tachycardia and my medicine got changed, but the doctor said the medicine he has put me on won't be effective for long and I might have to have an ablation for atrial tachycardia, I hope not!!!!
I was at my granddaughters birthday yesterday and it was hot. My heart rate stayed at between 109-122 yesterday and made me really tired. Having a high heart rate makes me feel like I am running a race. My heart rate hours up and down at very little exertion and the doctors cannot tell me why,but it's been that way since the ablation.