For your views pls

Thank you ciaran...that's a relieving note👍

Noted the contents! Thank you poppy!

Hi Poppy, I really appreciate your caution but I'm not quite sure where you are coming from on this in terms of your own experience.

I found SVT a very debilitating and scary condition. Fear of it and dealing with episodes dominated my life to a very unhealthy degree prior to having the ablation that eliminated it. 

I don't think it is generally accurate to say that an ablation is now the first course of treatment because suitability tests must first be carried out. There have been many comments here from those regretting they were not found suitable for the procedure. 

One of the greatests regrets of my life is that it took a combination of severe SVT and chemo for the cardio specialists to decide that I should have an ablation (also my fault for not finding out enough about SVT treatments sooner). 

Its very important that Daashin finds cardio specialists he trusts, and is aware of the what are really low risks nowadays, but my guideance would be to go ahead with an ablation if the medics he trusts say it has a good chance of success.

All the best

Dear Ciaran, as you've rightly mentioned, I have found a cardiologist of my trust and he ha clearly indicated of the high success rate of the procedure. Note that my frequency of attaches are not regular though, when it comes , it comes like a hurricane. Experienced people can surely relate to what I say. Like many others, my concerns too were written off or taken lightly by many including my family and friends stating it is nothing but anxiety. It was my luck that I had an episode when I was at the docs place.

Keeping the finger crossed for the procedure and thank you for everyone's support.

I am coming from someone who has been managing SVT for 30 years and who has extended episodes/hospitalisation/adenosine conversion every few weeks.   I'm also a Nurse. I've been around long enough to see ablation be offered to only those whose lives were really impacted ie physically by very frequent episodes to something that's offered to people who are barely affected.  

If anxiety is debilitating people then treat the anxiety!  Letting someone go poking around in your heart with a laser to treat a non-dangerous condition should be very carefully considered.  As I said, it's not without risk.

 

It seems there is a difference of opinion, perception and priorities over when an ablation should be done, and you are very entitled to yours - especially as, unlike me, you do have a medical qualification!

In my case my SVT went so mad because of chemo (or the IV steroids that came with it) that the cancer people said the chemo couldn't continue unless the cardio people sorted out my heart first. So I had an ablation within a couple of days. 

Perhaps the ablation appears such a minor procedure because of all the other stuff that was going on, but all I know is that it transformed my life from one of pretty constant fear and frequent trips to the A&E to one where I can get on with normal things like most other people. It really does feel like I was released from a prison of some kind.  

Like I said earlier, I really regret not being knowledgeable and confident enough to insist on having an ablation years earlier. I mightn't then have missed out on as much with my kids, and used unhealthy props to cope with the anxiety I got from being prone to SVT. I would definitely take several times the risk to benefit from an ablation because to me quality of life is much more important than longevity. 

You seem less anxious and delilitated by SVT than I was so I suppose trying to eliminate it through an ablation wouldn't be as high a priority. I really do wish you well.

Thank you gene!

Thank you for sharing your experience brandy. Since I have been having this for the last 9 years and that duration of palpitations gradually increase With time, I am seriously considering an ablation to be done.

Take care.

Yes2Daashin do the ablation, I have been u der attacks since I was a kid, and since then the duration has increased, they last longer and feel more, but now that my EP made the ablation Im better, just feeling pain in one leg but it should be fine in a couple days.

SVT does become more frequent with age.  HOWEVER it does not cause what you describe.  When your heart is in normal rhythm it behaves normally. 

If leaving an ablation caused the problems you are having then we'd all be advised to have one ASAP before any more damage was caused.  So although I'm sorry you are having problems, please don't use your situation as a cautionary tale for not getting an ablation done because it's simply not the case.

I do have severe SVT and am in hospital every few weeks with a heart rate above 200 bpm.  I've been given as much time as I want to think about an ablation and I'm well aware of the risks and I haven't agreed to it yet. I've had episodes longer than 9 hours and still not dead/no damage. My heart is not damaged in any way by SVT and I've been managing it for 30 years.  Your symptoms are probably fitness and age-related.

I'm also a qualified Nurse so I'm very aware of how unserious SVT is. It's way more often people's anxiety over the symptoms that causes the issues than the issue itself.

I did not in any way suggest the ablation caused my issue. I clearly said that my body mechanism changed after the last major "attack".

Actually my electrophysiologist suggested it could be Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (IST). Since I could exercise freely prior to the last major SVT and had issues with rapidly rising heart rate beginning immediately after that attack he agreed that my body may be responding inappropriately to adrenaline.

Perhaps with your medical training you may have an alternate explanation for why I experienced such a dramatic change in the way my body responds to adrenaline post the the last major SVT. There are many people with SVT who also have IST. The mechanism that causes IST is unknown at this time. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I can't explain why you have other cardiac issues but either can you so to blame it on an SVT episode is probably not accurate and may incorrectly influence someone else towards having an ablation.

What I'm saying is that you implied that not having an ablation soon enough caused your issue, thereby potentially influencing others to have one, thinking they will sustain permanent damage if they don't.

I related my experience. Right after I left the Emergency Room after my last major SVT my heart rate was at 126 and continues to this day to rise rapidly with minor exertion. I was out of work for 3 weeks after that SVT as doctors tried different meds to control my heart rate. I have good days where I can exercise without limitation but not enough of those days. It's abundantly clear to me that there was a radical change in the way my body behaves pre and post the last major SVT. I've had many other SVTs and was fine after those but not after the last one. So yes, I do believe that had I had an ablation earlier I'd be in a very different place today. If I can prevent someone else from having the same experience I definitely would.

Your decision at this stage is not to get the ablation and thats great for you that you are able to cope with it but i really don't think its fair to comment on how "unserious" it is. We all suffer and cope differently. Personally i am 30 years old and have had SVT for 20 years so i am also a longterm sufferer of this condition. i dealt with it for many years, and although i'm not suffering with the amount of episodes you are, my last 2 episodes have been severe to the point where i have had to call an ambulance because ive almost passed out - i have 2 small children at home (4yrs and 2yrs) and if i pass out with caring for my kids and no one knows then i find that quite serious..Also the last episode i had took me over a week to recover from, i was extremely sore and tired which is also not ideal with small children to look after. SVT may not be life threatening but that does not mean its not serious. Being a nurse does not give you the personal experiences of other people. i think the decision to have an ablation is a tough one and its also very brave. Your making a decision to change your life, there's nothing wrong with that. Personally i would find it inconvenient to be in and out of the hospital every few weeks with SVT, its not for me. I'm having an ablation so that my kids can get the best of me.

My comment on it being "unserious" is a clinical one and has nothing to do with personal experience.  It's inconvenient. It's not dangerous. It can take a week to recover from a cold but it's not serious.  I also have two young children as well as being a single parent so it's often extremely inconvenient for me but that still doesn't make it a serious or risky condition.  Syncope is very rare with SVT so your chance of actually passing out is very small (as opposed to feeling dizzy/light headed/breathless which happens freqently but will resolve is if you sit still or lay down).

I just had a long discussion with my cardiologist regarding this and nope, still not a risky condition if I use his opinion to confirm what I've already said.

In your opinion the chance of passing out is small, I have spoken to many people with SVT who pass out during episodes. Just because you don't, and "evidence" suggests the chance is small doesn't mean it doesn't happen. You clearly know everything about SVT (or so u think) but there are many people who really suffer with this condition and in my opinion ur choice to go to the hospital every 3 weeks or so is ridiculous to me. How inconvenient, what sort of a life is that! I don't know anyone who would want to live like that! I would think a single mother would have more important things to do with her time. U down playing this condition is not only ignorant but inconsiderate. A persons choice to have an ablation is just that "a choice". U talk about evidence well evidence suggests that an ablation is very low risk and generally safe. And don't say that breathlessness dizzyness etc will resolve when u lay down - this isn't the case for me. I've had this condition for 20 years, i have a lot of experience with it and I'm choosing to not let it take over my life anymore. Everyone has different severities and just because it's not technically dangerous does not mean it's not serious. all I know is I'm not gonna lose another 20 years of my life and I'm not going to sit here and watch my episodes get worse as the years go on, it's not living! If u choose to let it interupt your life so frequently then good luck to u!

You're absolutely right. It's a quality of life issue. I understand the need to want to be as healthy as possible especially when you have small children. I had the same concerns when my kids were younger.

I agree there absolutely is a risk of passing out which is why I was told not to drive myself to the Emergency Room during an attack. I checked the stats for syncope on the US National Institute of Health website and it states "Syncope occurs in up to 20% of patients with supraventricular tachycardias and is suggestive of rapid and dangerous arrhythmias." so the incidence is not insignificant.

Good luck with your procedure. I know I personally gained some peace of mind with mine and I hope you do as well.

It's not my personal opinion, it's a medical opinion:

"Loss of consciousness (also known as syncope) during SVT is a rare occurrence. Although such symptoms may raise concern, in general, SVT is not a serious or life-threatening condition "

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/106/25/e206.full

I didn't say breathlessness would resolve when you laid down - I said the feeling that you might pass out will resolve.  Because the sensation happens due to lack of oxygen to the brain so laying down means it no longer has to be pumped uphill to your head.  Simple.

The risk of ending up with a pacemaker in many cases is 1:200 after ablation.  Low risk?  Well that depends on what it's stacked against.

I'm not telling you not to get an ablation. In fact I didn't tell anyone here to do or not do anything.  My comments were not initially directed at you in any way.  However it's a shame that you see having SVT episodes as "not living" and that you've lost 20 years of your life over something that happens every now and again.  I guess it's all about perception.

The article you are quoting for 20% syncope refers to ALL supra ventricular tachycardias including Wolf Parkinson White syndrome which DOES have a higher risk of syncope.

It's not the same as bog standard, common SVT which has a very low risk of syncope.  

It's important to know what you're actually referring to.

Thank you very much! Quality of life is a big thing to me, we only get one so why not make it a good one without limitations.

I can tell you 100% that my kids do not get the best of me because of this condition and that's not good enough. I want to be able to walk them to the park without the fear of going into SVT. Not to mention the constant fatigue! Im terrified of the procedure especially since my extra pathway is on the left side but fingers crossed it gives me a life free of SVT which is something I've never experience before! And my kids will then get the mother they deserve!

Please let us know how it goes. There is a recovery period which varies for each person. I was back to work 3 days after my ablation. Definitely the fear of future attacks can be debilitating. I also limited my travel until my ablation. I only realized just what a difference it made when my husband and I took a cross country trip last year. I didn't think one time about not having my doctors close or about researching the location of the nearest hospital. It was definitely a feeling of freedom. Again best wishes for you and your family.

I guess that's one of the points I've made.  It's fear and anxiety that's more of a problem than the condition itself.

SVT doesn't cause constant fatigue.  Unless there is another cardiac condition the heart function is completely normal unless actively in arrhythmia.  So if you have constant fatigue thay may need to be investigated.

Thanks so much i will do

It sure is debilitating.. Lol i see im not the only one who researches the closest hospital when going on holidays! I have a trip booked to Fiji in August so i'm really hoping i get in and done before then - i can only imagine what the hospitals are like over there!

good to see you're enjoying your life! lets hope i can do the same soon!

Thanks for your postive replies!

Well if the episodes weren't that bad then a person wouldn't be scared of having one would they! the only reason I have anxiety is because I'm terrified of having an episode because each one that comes is worse than the last. But please continue to tell me how it isn't that serious.

And i beg to differ on the fatigue issue. First of all, I am on medication so that in itself is causing fatigue but one of the first things my cardiologist told me when I was first diagnosed is that I will likely feel more tired than most people. I have read a lot of forums where people have mentioned this before too.

Once again everyone is different and just because u don't have a particular symptom does not mean it doesn't happen to others. Please understand that u are NOT a cardiologist and u do NOT know everything about this condition. I'm not a newbie I've been dealing this this for many years and seen many cardiologists so I do take their word over yours.

i haven't given any information that isn't in line with what a Cardiologist would tell you.  I said SVT didn't cause fatigue and it doesn't, except perhaps in the recovery phase after an episode.  So what you're talking about is a medication side effect, not an SVT side effect.

People are also scared of ectopics - debilitated, refuse to exercise, can't leave the house etc etc.  Ectopics are harmless and not particularly distressing, yet people get so worked up about them.  So I don't equate the level of anxiety with the level of discomfort because when it comes to cardiac issues people seem to throw all their Cardiologists reassurance out the window, and label themselves as unwell when they really aren't.  It's all about perception I guess.  

I don't like the episodes either but I take them as they come, stick around at home for a few hours then head off to hospital.  If you remove the anxiety factor they are totally bearable.  Breathless, dizzy, chest pain, numb hands, headache etc etc I'm pretty sure my SVT is the same as everyone else's.   I will get an ablation but as I responded to the first person who wrote this post (and not you) I wouldn't get one for minor episodes of self reverting SVT.  I particularly wouldn't go to India for an ablation - just as you are concerned about getting even simple treatment for an episode in Fiji.  

You don't read what other people have to say do you? You just said I haven't given any information that a cardiologist wouldn't tell u - MY cardiologist told me that having SVT in general gives u fatigue - NOT just after or during an episode and NOT just from medication! You just don't listen to anyone! In my experience different cardios say different things so perhaps u have been given different advice or information than some others. And u cannot say that ur episodes are the same as everyone else's because EVERYONE HAS DiFFERENT EXPERIENCES! Some have daily eps some have yearly eps! And different severities! You refuse to believe that anyone can be different to u! And no ur eps aren't the same as mine, and I say this because I could never wait 3 hours before heading to the hospital, I could 10 years ago as they were bearable and manageable but now they are way too severe! A severe 5 min episode can affect me for a week, where as a 3 hour ep 10 years ago wouldn't! You are clearly just one of those ppl who can never be told they are wrong. So good luck to u!

Good luck to me?  Thanks.  

So what is the mechanism behind this fatigue that all SVT people apparently have when their heart is functioning normally the weeks/months/years between episodes?

Just for your info, healthcare in India is much advanced now a days and most of the hospitals and well equipped with super qualified and well experienced doctors. I had a detailed study which reveals that abalations in India had a success rate of 98%. Scenario has changed a lot

What a pleasant human being u are.

It doesn't matter what I say your just going to tell me I'm wrong, because apparently u know more than my cardiologist! People like u who will belittle others with your aggressive "know it all" statements just to prove u are right are a waste of oxygen. That's the end of the convo for me. Good day to u ✌️

We all do experience SVT differently. Mine started out as short, self-reverting episodes that gradually became more severe over time. Since my last major SVT I've experienced what two different electrophysiologists says is IST (Inappropriate Sinus Tarchycardia) which itself falls under the SVT umbrella. It causes rapid change in heart rate with minimal physical activity and that in itself causes fatigue.

Poppy08416 dismissed that as me being out of shape without knowing a single thing about my daily physical activity. I'm at the point where they can't increase the dose of the medication I do tolerate well (Cardizem) because my blood pressure will become too low. My body doesn't do this in response to every single activity and heat definitely plays a factor. A hot shower can take me from 90bpm to 136bpm in minutes. There is a different type of ablation they can do on the sinus node for this condition but the effects of this ablation typically don't last longer than a few months, before the condition recurs.

There is a new medication just recently approved in the USA ( but available in Europe for a while) called Ivabradine that appears to help a lot of people with IST. I'll probably try to go this route. I've also read that increasing blood volume by increasing salt intake helps but can't really go this route thanks to kidney stones.

What I would say is if you are able to check your blood pressure / heart rate any time you're fatigued, do so. I have a heart rate monitor that clips on my finger for when I travel and also a portable regular blood pressure monitor. I have been keeping track on my activity and also what my heart rate is doing before, during and after the activity. This had been helpful to my doctor in terms of diagnosing the issue. It's also helped me because sometimes I'm fatigued because I forgot to eat, didn't sleep well or have not drunk enough water. So if my heart rate is normal then I know I need to look for another cause. Typically though it's normally just high heart rate causing the issue.

Your issue is more complex so taking some control and investigating the symptoms may help bring some answers and peace of mind. Note that medication can amplify existing issues. For example when I was prescribed Metoprolol I experienced constant PVCs, dizziness and fatigue which made driving dangerous and caused me to lose time from work. When I was prescribed Cardizem those symptoms abated but once my pharmacy switched me to a generic version of Cardizem made by another manufacturer I experienced the same debilitating symptoms. The pharmacist explained that the release mechanism was a little different between the brand and the generic medications. So now I just take the brand medication which helps a lot but it still cannot fix everything.