Posted , 62 users are following.
Does anyone else worry about their SVT or do you just accept it as a harmless nuisance. I can't stop worrying about getting another attack, how do you accept it and live a normal life again?
4 likes, 139 replies
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tfxnyc toffeecushion
Posted
I had an ablation about 10 years ago, however my SVT came back in a different form, Inappropriate sinus tach. Now I get episodes without the high bpm. It's terrible and I'm seeking alternative treatments. I accept it, but I continue to look for ways to mitigate the symptoms. Herbal supplements, lifestyle change, even seeking the best cardiac clinics in the country. Yes, I worry as it's very disruptive to my life.
Elefantaflaca44 toffeecushion
Posted
ross90947 Elefantaflaca44
Posted
I'm sorry to hear of your struggles. I'm guessing you've tried medications to control them?
penny97720 Elefantaflaca44
Posted
I've had svt 18 years, at the start it was mild episodes were short but I was getting regular dizziness and sometimes near passing out but the dizziness & passing out subsided as the years went by. once I got to the 18th year my episodes went longer 10 hours plus. had 6 adenosine injections to restart my heart in a month so hospital put me on 25mg metoprolol twice daily and my svt's have improved dramatically, rarely get bad episodes anymore, skipped beats are gone also and I used to get them all the time before metoprolol. I'm not having an ablation because of the risks that I could make svt worse. the problem with ablation is that if they don't get all the pathways you will still get svt or you can make it 10 times worse. go to your doctor ask for a prescription for metoprolol succinate start at 25mg twice a day, I have mine at 7am & 7pm. it will stop & prevent svt attacks its worked with me and I was getting svt's very bad. before metoprolol I was in emergency everyday and now have not been to the hospital in 2 and a half months
ross90947 penny97720
Posted
I was taking metoprolol 12mg once a day and it controlled the svts but didn't like the side effects....tiredness, depression and poor sleep. Was very apprehensive about having the ablation but so far I'm feeling very good. Seems like this frustrating condition effects some people differently than others. Glad the medication is working for you!
Elefantaflaca44 ross90947
Posted
Hey Ross, sorry took so long to respond my condition has gone from bad to worse with SVT. Today my EKG was abnormal again. I saw cardiologist today and he said that I am having so many episodes during a 24 hour period, and that he said “your heart is a muscle and if you over work your muscles the wrong way that muscle is going to start to fail” so bloodwork, stress test and another echocardiogram have all been scheduled. My new symptom is EXTREME SWELLING. My feet ankles legs and arms have doubled size. I have gained 30 pounds since January 😭😭😭😭 cardiologist is not really concerned with swelling as much as he is my abnormal ekg. He doubled the Cartia and left me on the Digoxin. I have fought with my depression badly since this all started and I’m losing. My therapist has been very helpful.
ross90947 Elefantaflaca44
Posted
junior4peace toffeecushion
Posted
When I get home from work and lay around with my dog they seem to come every hour or so. Anyone else find their pets help?
ross90947 toffeecushion
Posted
I've had svt attacks since my late twenties which caused me to make a few trips to the ER even though my episodes never lasted long. When they come it can be very unnerving and scary. I learned to stop them fairly quickly with Vagal maneuvers ( look it up). Then eventually I tried low dose metropolol which worked well but have some side effects. I've had a couple Holter monitors that captured the svts and was told they weren't life threatening and I had 3 options. Live with it and try to manage life style, medications or ablation. I recently had the ablation because the episodes were increasing which can happen as you get older. You have choices but try to realize that you'll get through this and your not going to die! Good luck!
ken08628 ross90947
Posted
Hi Ross,
I like you have seen doctors and I realize my choices. I have an SVT episode about once a month. Sometimes it lasts for 20-30 minutes but most times they last 3-5 minutes. I have learned to live with it and manage it but it can be a nuisance. I am very active fit and have lots of energy. I have looked into getting an ablation and most doctors that I speak to (mass General Boston) tell me there is 90% cure rate first time around. After reading most of these blogs many individuals have had multiple ablations only to find that they still have this problem. Therefore was your procedure worth it? I'm thinking that maybe ablation is not worth it if the success rate is so slim and that it entail multiple attempts without longterm success.
ross90947 ken08628
Posted
Hi Ken
Your symptoms seem very similar to mine with most episodes only lasting a few minutes. I too am very active and what most would consider pretty fit but what caused me to consider ablation was the svt's were occurring more frequently and I was told they may increase with age. It was a tough decision to go ahead with it but I actually considered the success odds to be a pretty favorable. A couple different Dr's actually told me that this is a condition they treat a lot of younger athletes for with good sucess. I think maybe who you are before the procedure may determine how you recover. I'm almost a month post surgery and the pvc's and extra beats I was experiencing a couple wks ago have kinds settled down and no svt's so I'm hopeful and feeling more confident.
ken08628 ross90947
Posted
ross90947 ken08628
Posted
Ken, yes I was on a low dose beta blocker( metropolol ) before the ablation and they did control the svt's but they made me feel terrible and lethargic. So I went off the medication and felt much better but the svt's returned. The trigger for me seemed to be sudden action like a golf swing or even bending over. I was told they weren't life threatening and I had 3 options...try to control it with life style, meds or ablation. But at 63 and being told they sometimes increase with age I decided to have it done. It's only been 1 month so I can't really answer the long term effect but I've returned to normal activities....elliptical, biking, weight lifting, golf and I've had a few moments that I could feel that trigger which might otherwise start it but no svt's. After the first week I experienced some extra beats and pvc's which I always had so they did a 24 monitor and it was normal. I've always been a person that can feel my heartbeat which sometimes causes anxiety but the Dr said after awhile I might not notice the pvc's as much and I think that is happening so I'm feeling much improved! And I'm not on any post procedure meds. Let me know how your doing.
Eddie_acorn toffeecushion
Posted
Hi,
I've actually had svt for around 6 years. I had one lone episode when I was about 30 and I ended up getting blue lighted to hospital. They thought it was af so they perhaps didn't give me the right drugs. I was completely alone as was at home alone and I didn't have family etc that could.come and support. That experience made me stronger. Anyway, I saw a specialist but he said it was af and a line attack and not to worry.
In the last two years (I'm now 36) I have episodes frequently. Since I have been properly diagnosed, have medication and know vagal techniques that work, I feel much more confident and less worried about svt. I did have an abalation but it wasn't successful.
Once you have a beta blocker in your pocket, you feel more confident that it may go on its own, especially.if.yoi try blowing through an empty syringe! I take one with me everywhere. I also put a timer on as soon as episode starts, and I know the beta blockers takes 30mims - 45 mins to kick in. I tell myself, that if I go past 45 mins I will think about hospital. If I go past an hour then I resign myself that it may not go on its own. Since I've used this technique I've had three episodes and haven't had to go to hospital once. Before, I was there every time as my episodes won't go without a beta blocker or some medicine.
This is long winded but understanding that your mind and your body work together - panic and anxiety feeds into the issue.
Good luck!
paullie Eddie_acorn
Posted
Your plan of attack for your SVT sounds perfect...its always good to be prepared, even though a lot of times your anxiety gets the best of you, handling it the best that you can makes you more confident for the next time.