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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benjamin75300 toffeecushion
Posted
Hello toffeecus,
My English is not perfect but I'll give me best.
I have SVT for a long time now and I was so scared of "another attack" that I would just stay home, If I have to go somewhere I would make sure that ER is close so if something happen I can get help fast. That was no life at all. One day it just "Clicked" to me that this is not the way I wanna live rest of my life, and I was even mad on myself.
I learned Modified Valsalva Manouver , which is super easy and 47% successful in stopping SVT, while regular VM is 17%.
That feeling that you know how to help yourself lower your anxiety and chance of panic attack (trust me 60% of times when we think it's SVT it's just panic attack because we are so anxious and stressed of waiting... by the way panic attack can rise heart rate over 200). Then I stop measuring my pulse every time Im taking stairs or walkig faster and I use to intentionally put myself in situation that I would avoid before just to show myself that I have no reason to fear. Trust me after that I use to get SVT attack once a year or even less. And with M. Valsalva Manouver I terminate it on spot.
I know what are you going through and trust me It will be better.
david23659 toffeecushion
Posted
I'm 72 years old. I've had SVT for about ten years. Most of this time with infrequent episodes that stopped on their own. This year, I've had two episodes (160bpm) that required trips to the ER and a adenosine IV procedure that worked without incident. I believe the second episode was triggered by too many "happy hours" on my summer vacation. Alcohol does minimize the effects of Metoprolol. My last two episodes were less severe and I was able to stop them at home with a facial ice bath and vagus nerve massage. I take 100 mg of Metoprolol every morning (time release) that seems to help. My wife and I are "snow birds" who spend our winters far from home. I'm thinking about having an ablation done before we go to prevent unwanted episodes in the future.
david23659 toffeecushion
Edited
Even though SVT is not considered a heart attack, in can cause high anxiety by conjuring up images of sudden and traumatic heart failure. Also, the spectrum of SVT ranges from a few mild episodes, treated at home to many acute tachycardias treated in hospital ER's and surgical rooms. I appreciate the fact that we can support each other by sharing physical, chemical and surgical ways to deal with this condition.
ann82027 toffeecushion
Posted
it has taken over my life and despite trying to avoid an ablation i now have to have it. i get the pre syncope before an attack and i know when my heart is erratic in the morning when i get up to take it easy that day. do you get pressure in your chest? it feels like a fullness in the chest and throat. i,m very active for 74 but this SVT which has got worse has halted me in my tracks.
david23659 ann82027
Edited
I'm also thinking seriously about an ablation. Have you scheduled one yet? Why were you trying to avoid it? It seems pretty safe.
ann82027 toffeecushion
Edited
i,m very reluctant to have the ablation because i think as we get older its more difficult to recover without other problems arising. From being active i am now experiencing problems with the presyncope and low blood pressure which makes me feel lightheaded a lot. i have had lots of short runs of SVT and was in A and E having the dreaded adenosine which did not work for me, 5 hours in SVT can,t be good for the heart. Eventually it went down with drugs. i take bisoprolol every day,i,m not sure if its that what makes me feel so lethargic and out of sorts.i am on the list, i refused one in October 2020 because the coronavirus was very prevalent here outside London. my cardiologist is pushing for me at the moment.
david23659 ann82027
Posted
What have your heard about those of us in their 70's regarding difficulties and problems with recovering from ablation? I take metoprolol succinate with minimal side effects. I stopped my daily cocktail hour because alcohol was reducing the effect of the medicine. I will be meeting with a cardiologist next week to discuss ablation. I live in rural Michigan but have fond memories of my trip to London. Take care!
ann82027 david23659
Posted
i have one friend who has had 3 ablations for Svt,he is now 75! after the first one he had a lot of ectopic beats that the cardiologist said would eventually go away as the heart is healing, that did not happen then the SVT returned. he now has a pacemaker. i have read a few posts on another app called Healthunlocked that deals with many heart problems but this PATIENT app seems to deal with it more. My SVT is bothering me a lot more as i have aged hence the reason why i,m willing to chance the ablation. Quality of life not quantity, i,m an active person and easily get bored and depressed sitting doing nothing.
david23659 ann82027
Posted
I'm been told that ablation is more successful on those with SVT than any other abnormal heart arrhythmias. I wish you a successful procedure. Has it been scheduled yet? Yesterday, I started wearing a portable heart monitor for 48-hours to see how the old "ticker" behaves. Can't bathe for 2 days!
ann82027 david23659
Posted
i have a half sister who married an American living in Belleville Michigan. Thankyou but NHS in England takes time, i will talk to my cardiologist on 11th November before that i am due to have my mitral valve checked on 26 th of this month, it has a slight leak. i always wondered if there was a link to SVT because i read on the other forum of many with valve problems. i come from Wales UK. The Coronavirus caused us so many problems regarding our National Health Service, it was very bad outside London and people are still wearing masks still including myself.
david23659 ann82027
Posted
Had a episode yesterday (150bpm) that I could not remedy at home. Tried all the tricks: ice water, massaging, bearing down. Nothing worked. Went to our local ER where my pulse returned to normal while stretched out on a bed before IV adenosine was needed. Got to go home without having to spend the night. Our local hospital is overflowing with Covid patients and has no beds for others like me. I live in Alma, MI- a small town in the middle of the lower peninsula. Masking by residents is "hit-and-miss", depending on where you go. What part of Wales do you reside in?
ann82027 david23659
Posted
i come from Brecon South Wales,i came to London in 1965,i,ve been here for 55 years. i had adenosine when i went to hospital with my heartrate 188 beats a minute a couple of months ago, it did not set it back so i had drugs put into my drip and a hour later it suddenly went back,i could feel the pressure draining out of my head and chest. i was 4 hours in SVT, that is when i realised i had to go ahead with an ablation. couple of weeks ago i had a short attack,that time it reverted after 30 minutes. i,ve had a few attacks just after i had gone to sleep at night too which lasted a short time. i have 3 of my family working in the local hospital so i get a lot of information from them about the covid,still prevalent but not too bad.
david23659 ann82027
Posted
I've been reading about a carotid artery massage that will stop and SVT episode. Have you heard anything about it? I have an appointment with the "ablation" guy next week. I hope to have it done yet this year since normally we spend 3 months (Jan-Mar) in Southern California away from the harsh Michigan winters.
ann82027 david23659
Posted
The last time i was in the hospital with an attack i had paramedic trainees and trainee doctors around my bed being instructed by a Cardiologist, it seems our medics have a routine they have to follow. Firstly you have to blow into a syringe as hard as you can then the valsava manouvre then the dreaded adenosine which is as you know is a horrible feeling. If you are a senior they do not recommend the carotid artery massage because it may dislodge a small amount of atheroma which may cause a stroke. As we get older we all have some degree of cholestorol in our veins. But that is in England,it may be different in other countries. i have been to Florida and know about the snowbirds, the weather can be harsh here sometimes in the winter but just generally miserable and grey which seems endless for 3 months.
Lolasmom david23659
Posted
I was told by my cardiologist(EP) to never do the carotid massage myself.
This should be done by a qualified person.
There are so many other techniques you can do to get out of SVT
david23659 ann82027
Posted
Thanks for the warning about carotid massage. I wish the doctors at our local hospital would try some other things like a valsava manouvre or ice before they give the adenosine. Michigan is cold, snowy and grey for 3 months. Hopefully we can get away. Keep me posted on your upcoming ablation
david23659 Lolasmom
Posted
What techniques work best for you?
ann82027 david23659
Posted
yes i will! i am having a telephone call appointment with the cardiologist on the 11th November.On a good day like today i feel that i can,t go through with it but on a bad day i feel i must take the risk. i live alone and am very independent, i would hate to ask for help. my children are all working and have family and commitments.
Lolasmom david23659
Posted
90 % of the time a modified valsalva maneauver works for me.
If that does not work, I will lay on the floor with my feet up the wall, and I hold my nose and bare down.
Sometimes the simplest thing will stop an episode. A burp, a very hard cough, bending from the waist and holding my breathe, a bowel movement, or just putting ice on my wrists.
I just keep doing things until one works.
My episodes last anywhere from 5 minutes and up to 6 hours. Mt SVT is AT.
david23659 Lolasmom
Posted
Wow! Thanks for the suggestions. For those longer episodes (6 hours!) what do you do? Try every thing once? Repeat certain techniques? Do you ever have to go to hospital for treatment? How high does your heart beats get to be? What is AT?
david23659 ann82027
Posted
I too live from day to day. I'm constantly monitoring my heart beat. I do have a wife and puppy to keep me occupied. Tomorrow, I meet with an electrophysiologist to discuss an ablation procedure. I hope to have it done before the end of this year.
ann82027 david23659
Posted
Good luck! i take Bisoprolol 1.25, it drops my heart rate and blood pressure too low. 100 over 56 today and a couple of days ago pulse 46. This SVT does take over our life, many times a day being aware of the odd missed beat and pause! My last hospital admission a couple of months ago was when i bent over to water some plants came over lightheaded and it started, that time was the 4 to 5 hour one! 3 weeks ago i,d been relaxing in the afternoon and got up to make tea felt lightheaded and it was off, that time after half an hour it went back on its own,stuck at 80 beatss for a long time though.
david23659 ann82027
Posted
Thanks for sharing. I had one bending over to dry my feet after taking a shower. Low BP, light-headedness and away it goes. I too am ultra sensitive to my heart beats. What do you do at home to try and restore heart beats down to normal? Ice? Bearing down?
ann82027 david23659
Posted
i,m too frightened to do the bearing down,i know the heart is strong but i think in my little head it will burst. i lie on the couch with my legs on the back,it has worked a couple of times otherwise i have to go to hospital. I had minor attacks for maybe 20 years that wasn,t diagnosed i thought it was anxiety until my big one in 2017. When i look back it affected how much i ate too,if i was too full i had palpitations. i worked all my life until retirement and brought up 3 successful children. My son has this too, he has the short attacks and takes a beta blocker only if it starts.
david23659 ann82027
Posted
Last time, I was admitted to the hospital, lying down waiting for the adenosine when I was asked to bear down which restored my heart to normal beats. Yesterday, I met with an electrophysiologist who recommended ablation which I hope to have done soon.
Lolasmom david23659
Posted
AT is Atrial Tachycardia One type of SVT.
My heartrate is usually 140 bpm so I am very lucky
I do not go to the the hospitial My type of SVT does not respond to adenosine, so I don't bother.
I just keep doing things until it stops
Lolasmom david23659
Posted
DAVID,
Do you know what type of svt that you have?
david23659 Lolasmom
Edited
I have PSVT (Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia). A type of abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia. It occurs when a short circuit rhythm develops in the upper chamber of the heart. This results in a regular but rapid heartbeat that starts and stops abruptly. It does respond to adenosine
david23659
Posted
I had an episode yesterday (160bpm) and used the Modified Valsalva maneuver. It worked?