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Saw my cardio/electrophysiologist todsy

Posted , 5 users are following.

deborah36618
deborah36618

At blackpool cardiac centre. He confirmed the flu i had before my svt attacks hospitalised me for first time would have been responsible for worsening the existing condition. He said his clinics have been stuffed with post flu patients with either new or worsened arythmias since xmas.

He made me laugh re ablation when he said his patients are fully aware during epc study and the more nervous the better so they can trigger the svt. I would def be a very nervous patient! He explained everything in depth and very well.

As the verapamil seems to be helping i am going back in 4 months if still stable but can at any time contact his sec and aske to be listed for ablation.

The thought of no sedation does freak me but if necessary i would do it.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • chadcf
    chadcf deborah36618

    Posted

    I was definitely aware and VERY nervous. However it was tolerable and I think I'm about as anxious as they get. What really drove me crazy was that no one would tell me anything, laying there and my heart would start racing and I had no idea if that was them doing it or if I'd gone into some terrible rhythym and was about to die! The more calm you stay though the less terrible it probably is and you just have to try and trust that they are in control of your heart rate and if anything terrible were to happen, you're in the right place with people who know how to take care of it. 

    I did get a very very slight hit of Versed at the start though, not enough to make me out of it or impair my memory or anything, but just a teeny bit to relax me slightly (was still very nervous but it probably helped take the edge off). Then once they'd finished mapping they dosed me up pretty good with fentanyl and I got warm and sleepy and dozed off a few times (only to wake up when my heart started racing and they started burning). 

    I know how you feel, I would have 100% rather been knocked out, but I can tell you as a very nervous person it was still tolerable.

  • gene91169
    gene91169 deborah36618

    Posted

    You seem to be doing better, Deborah.  I'm pleased for you and hope you keep improving.

  • deborah36618
    deborah36618

    Posted

    Thanks both. I am still somedays getting sudden episodes of sinus tachycardia and everyday getting ectopics and runs of ectopics.

    Because my worst episodes have been when alternating for 8 then 6 hrs from sinus tachy to short svt's when my heart rate suddenly increases i do tend to gey very anxious. I cannot use betablockers but have found small dose of diazepam can calm it and me down!

    Saw gp today about this as i obviously cannot use diazepam too ofyrn and suggested trying extra 40mg of verapamil and if still high use the diazepam but not more than few times a week. She also wondered if i need a slow release verapamil so i have to record when the sinus tachy occurs in relation to timing of tablets.

    She also said that the sinus tachy could still be from flu amd with time could improve.

    I have always had a nervous heartrate😀 with slightest anxiety sending it high. Typical.

  • gary12925
    gary12925 deborah36618

    Posted

    Hi there Could u explain ur symptoms and from how it first started to how bad it got ...  I have now been in a and e 5 times last time 3 days ago they picked up on ecg svt .... I am really scared . I suffer from high blood pressure before

    Many thanks Gary 

    • gene91169
      gene91169 gary12925

      Posted

      Gary, I hope my reply to Deborah can encourage you. too.  This stuff can be extremely tough to deal with. Hang in there!
  • deborah36618
    deborah36618

    Posted

    My svt started 6 years ago out of the blue one day when i suddenly felt intense fluttering in chest and very faint. Lasted about 3 mins. I have since teenager experienced ectopic heartbeats very badly and initially though my attack was due to a run of ectopics. I then started getting these aytacks every few weeks. I had lots of 24 and 72 hr ecgs but never did it. I got referred to cardiac centre and arrythmia specialist and had a loop recorder implanted and within 3 months they had got lots of evidence of svt. I was offered ablation or drug therapy but was coping with split second daiky attacks and longer ones every month or so. It appears that bad flu this last xmas has made the svt much worse and after 2 8hr episodes of alternating sinus tachycardia of 130-140 with 15-20 short attacks of svt up to 200 bpm i am now taking verapamil as i cannot take betablockers. Verapamil is specific calcoim channel blocker used for svt. I now have to decide in next 4 months whether i stay on drug if it controls the attacks or go for ablation. Ablation will not help my ectopics or sinus tachy but should stop both of these triggering svt.
    • gary12925
      gary12925 deborah36618

      Posted

      Thank you so much for ur log...,. This has hit me the way I feel and what happeneds next .... does the meds help and why don't you take beta blocker 

      Many thanks Gary 

    • gene91169
      gene91169 deborah36618

      Posted

      Good report, Deborah. It's now about 8 months since my ablation (2nd), and still no SVT.  Hundreds to 1000+ ectopics per day and occasional flutters, but my freedom from SVT seems to be lessening my anxiety over my misbehaving heart.  Recently, I've barely noticed some flutters that, in my past, would have have immediately commanded my total attention.  I guess that's a silly way of saying "scared the whatever out of me".  I hope you can soon have some of the positive experiences I'm having.  Take the best of care of yourself.

  • deborah36618
    deborah36618

    Posted

    I cannot take betablockets as i had bad asthma as a child although appear asthma free as an adult but when they gave me bisoprolol in the hospital which is supposed to be the one least likely to affect asthmatocs within days even on the minimum dose i felt tight chested and effort to breathe although no wheezing as such but this is enough of a warning that i was at risk of having asthma attack triggered by the betablocker so went over to verapamil.

    The main side effect for me of this drug is constipation. Cardio assured me ot is one of the drugs you can stay on indefinitely whereas the serious heart drugs like amioderone can have very serious effects on liver eyes and thyroid.

    I have till end of july to decide what to do.

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