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Just found this forum, great! It's taken me months to fi...

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Just found this forum, great! It's taken me months to find a support site like this.

Had (unknowingly!) SVT symptoms on and off for few years, but didn't think anything of it until Oct 05, when suddenly I wasn't able to do anything without an attack starting - showering, walking, bending over....Symptoms were pulse thumping so hard and fast (200+ bpm) in my chest that it was visible to others through my clothes. I would visibly convulse with the palpitations. Also had chest pain, pressure and tightness in chest & head, feeling dizzy. Went to GP who recommended an ECG. GP took one look at results and called me an ambulance! Ended up being in hospital for a week. Was in there for 5 days before they gave me a diagnosis of SVT due to AVNRT.

Have been on Verapamil since then which helps to keep it under control, but hasn't killed the symptoms off fully. I'm only 30, and as drugs aren't working as well as hoped, I'm due to have an ablation within the next couple of months, have been told there is 30% chance of needing pacemaker too. Was horrified about that at first but now not really worried.

Couple of things I'd like to ask others is 1) Is it just me or are symptoms much more frequent in this excessive heat we're having at the moment? Verapamil seems to be working much less efficently since weather warmed up. I'm normally an absolute sun worshipper, but am doing everything I can do stay cool and out of the sun at the moment as I know it just brings on SVT. And 2) Is it normal for the waiting list for ablation to be so long? I was given the choice of 2 hospitals back in Feb. One has waiting lost of 6 months (which is almost up but heard nothing yet), other 12-14 months!

Seems an awfully long time for a condition which causes significant negative impact on daily life. Have suffered side effects from Verapamil - excessive fatigue and tiredness, and swelling of ankles. I think I'll be more glad to get rid of these symptoms than the SVT itself!

Anyway on a more cheerful note I met a guy recently by chance that had an ablation the week before! He showed me his 'war wounds' which were pretty bruised looking at the time, but met him again a couple of weeks later and he was absolutely fine. He was very pleased to have been able to run, dance etc worry free!

He said not to worry about the procedure at all. So I'm not......and neither should you. :lol:

[i:5b3c2e3600]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:5b3c2e3600]

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I think heat makes a difference. I am 53 and wonder if my increase in SVT episodes is related to the menopause. Since my teens I had been having approx one episode a year. In the last 6 months I have had about 10 episodes, all waking me in the middle of the night, 3 needing trips to A & E. I now take sotalol. Does anyone else think there is a link with the menopause?

    [i:b83a752995]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:b83a752995]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Re my original posting on 5/7/06.

    Well I finally had it done, 5 days ago! So will give honest opinion of the experience.

    Very scary at the time (especially when you first go into the theatre), but the cocktail of sedatives and morphine soon took care of that. ;-)

    Staff in theatre were really nice, and took time to talk to me and help calm my nerves.

    Bit of bruising at entry site, slight chest discomfort but fine apart from that. Although have been completely wiped out by drugs since, so done nothing but sleep! Went back to work today but was a bit of a space cadet.

    Already feel better for not taking the Verapamil anymore.

    :ok:

    [i:10d43121ba]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:10d43121ba]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I recently had the procedure. (3 days ago.) It was frightening but well worth it!

    [i:86a4d87d5a]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:86a4d87d5a]

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