Just diagnosed with SVT. Need ablation, anyone else have it?

Hi

I'm a 43 year old guy and I was diagnosed with SVT when I was 28.

After 14 years of having it, with my episodes getting closer together I opted for the ablation Nov 14.

I was getting them every week in the end. Mine went from once a year to twice a year one a month and so on.

I work for the NHS with a surgical background, but the question you need to answer is how is this effecting your life?

In the end I worried about flying and all kinds of stuff and I wanted to get it fixed.

Personally beta blockers with their side effects and knowing I needed to take them every day for the rest of my life was enough for me.

The ablation is low risk, you're awake and it's controlled and over in no time.

I have been totally SVT free since Nov 14 and it's the best thing I've ever done.

I know it's freeky to think about it. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried, but there's no need.

The Cardiologists are very good at what they do. Ask for their % of successful procedures. Mine was 100% over the last 10 years.

It will change your life for the good. Have courage and get in there and take control of your future, you'll thank me!

Happy to answer any questions, good luck.

Chris

I am about 9 days shy of my 1 year anniversary of having the procedure.  The procedure was nothing!  I found the recovery time in the hospital to be worse than the actual procedure.  Having to lay on my back for 2-3 hours (can't remember exactly) was less than fun.  Especially when you have to go to the bathroom and have to use a bedpan!  Who knew that it was pretty much impossible to go to the bathroom while trying to raise your pelvis and remain flat on your back!  Wasn't able to go until they finally allowed me to lift my head a few inches.  I know that isn't the information you are looking for but it is something you might find helpful.  OK, back to the procedure...They strapped me to the table and put me in a twilight sleep until everything was where it needed to be.  They woke me up when they stimulated my heart to get me to have the palpitations, so he could see where the problem was.  Luckily, they had no problem getting my heart to cooperate!  My problem was on the left side, so he had to make a hole to go in from the right side. On his way out (and when it was too late), he did see another small area that he was unable to get but said it should not be an issue.  

I was home by about 3pm the same day and pretty much slept the night through.  My only restrictions were to not lift anything or strain myself for the next few days.  Had a couple of "flutters" here and there but no true episode.  I think those lasted the first few months.  He said he had heard others experience the same thing during the healing process.  A year later and I have them maybe once every 6-8 weeks (lasts 3-5 seconds at the longest).

I'm extremely happy I had it done.  My world was shrinking because I was too afraid to do anything.  I was extremely nervous before the procedure but I was able to relax as soon as I got on that table...knowing my world was going to start to expand again!  

I also have this and have just had a catheter ablation.!iys not bad at all. I made a video about mine search Sarah Harvey SVT ablation on Google.

Definitely get the procedure. The meds are terrible. The Ablation is the way to go. I had it done a year ago. Never happened again.

Definitely get the procedure. The meds are terrible. The Ablation is the way to go. I had it done a year ago. Never happened again.

I agree with everything already said.  However do bear in mind that it's not always possible to trigger an attack during the procedure and then the ablation will not be able to take place.  This happened to me last year and it was a great disappointment after working myself up to going through it.  My cardiologist is going to try again though, so I'm still hopeful of a successful outcome.

Hi Annaoxo. Sorry to hear your ongoing svt. I would try beta blockers and see if they control it first. Try and get stabilised. Good luck 

Hello everyone, I I'm 26, had Svt since ai was a kid, my first episode was when I was at age of 11, then after every year I had an attack, but on last year I had attacks every month speeding my heart at 210 bpm, so I have to go to the hospital , then I went to see the cardiologist, and he discovered that supaventricular tachycardia, he referrd me to the electrophysiologist and he recommend me an ablation, after too much thinking and have to take 2 pills a day of propagenone 150 mg, I decided to do my ablation on may 3rd of 2016, My surgery was programmed at 8:00 am, I arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am very nervous, i change my clothes and the got in my room, getting ready with my intravenous for the drugs , then the doctor get i. The room, nurses, all kind of very good people, then they transfer me to the cold room!!

They shave me, they put me some cold patches around all my body, that room was very very cold, I saw like 10 monitors, and the good part its that they had music in the cath lab haha so I can relax, then after that they put some drugs and I was feeling like dizzy and then after that I sleep, and they wake me up when they induced my heart to go so fast and I felt those palpitations like 3 different times, then after that I rmeember that they wake me up and I saw the doctor and he told me, the surgery was a success you are good, they take me to the recovery room for an hour because of sedation, I remember that I got out around 12:30 almost 4 hoirs of surgery, then later at my room I discovered that they make me 2 ablations one on my left leg and the other on the right leg, i didnt feel pain just disomcort, and they told me you dont have to move until 8 pm, and I was like wow!!!

That was the most painful part the recovery and be on bed with no moving for more than 8 hours , but now its worth it!!

Do the ablation you will get your life back!

Maybe I will drink a coffe tomorrow, chocolate caffeine

I cried when rhe doctor told me do your normal life youre svt free, enjoy your family you are never going to see me again hehe, just one more follow up appointment and thats it svt free, free of frustations, free of pills, now I can enjoy life enjoy my family and live everyday like its going to be the last!! Do the ablation!! Do it! 

Its such a blessing to be ok, thanks for reading this long history, if you have questions dont hesitate and make them!!

God bless you all!!