New to the SVT world

Hi all,

So, I have been having sporadic palpitations/flutter in chest for about 3 years now. In the beginning it would occur once in a blue moon like I would feel a hard flutter and nothing else. When they started happening I went to a cardiologist who did a stress test, holter monitor, and echo cardiogram, which found nothing. As the years went on, they seemed to get worse and about a year an half ago, my heart started racing after these palpitations/flutters. The racing never lasted long and never went above 130. After my heart rate came down, I'd usually have to deal with my heart pounding and feeling irregular for a few hours, then it would go back to normal. I was referred to an EP cardiologist, who suggested an implanted loop recorder, since the holter monitors were not picking up anything do to the sporadic nature of my episodes. Long story short, after a year and a half at this particular hospital, no one could tell me exactly what was going on, even though I had recorded episodes. My episodes seemed to increase in frequency the more I exercised strenuously. I finally had enough after a particular bout of episodes and decided to get a second opinion from another EP doctor. I brought my recent recordings with me to the appointment and he took one look at them and told me I have SVT-AVNRT. I was relieved to finally have an answer but he told me that he suggested an EP study with ablation for treatment as opposed to taking drugs. I was a little apprehensive about going straight to ablation due to my fears (I've never had any type of invasive surgery before), but with my current job in law enforcement, dealing with the side effects of drugs may not be good. I decided to think about it while he agreed to do another stress test and echo cardiogram to rule any thing else out. I haven't been exercising since the last big episode a few months ago but now the episodes have recently started even though I am not exercising. Yesterday I was have a series of palpitations/flutters throughout the day and woke up at 2am to my heart racing at 165. It only lasted about 5 minutes and went below 100. I didn't go to work today because I was afraid of another episode but have still been dealing with the palpitations/flutters on and off today. So far, it hasn't tripped into a racing heart rate.

So, after that long explanation (sorry), I am wondering if ablation is the way to go. Looking for anyones feed back as to ablation vs. drugs. I am a 44 year old female in good health. My family (mother's side) has a history of heart issues, including afib and SVT's but none of them have ever had ablations. Interested in hearing from people who have had ablations and what they went through. Also, anyone ever get SVT's from exercising or is it just me? lol.

Thanks in advance.

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