Some SVT Advice

(apologies in advance for the ‘wall of text’, but those of you that have been around on this forum for a number of years can at least console yourselves with the knowledge that it will be my last post. ....)

Not all medics are good at their jobs. If you don’t already have a GP who cares and you trust, then change, and if necessary keep changing, until you have one. It is they who will find the best specialists etc. for your particular case.

SVT triggers, and symptom patterns and severities, vary from person to person. Explore this forum in depth (going back several years if necessary) to identify those most similar to yours, and then cautiously try out some of the tips associated with minimizing or alleviating those.  

Unfortunate people who have bad experiences of particular treatments are far more likely to post stuff in forums than those that have had good experiences (perhaps because the luckier ones no longer have to worry as much about a particular ailment and just go away and get on with their lives). Please bear this in mind when making your own choices about treatments because the less fortunate ones may be only a very small minority.  

Anxiety illnesses and SVT have some very similar symptoms but it is very important to establish which you have because the right treatment will probably be very different.  If you do have SVT you then you will probably also have more debilitating anxiety in your life then someone that does not have SVT.  

If your symptoms seem very similar to SVT but you have not yet been diagnosed then always go to A&E with every episode until your heart’s behavior while having those symptoms is captured on diagnostic equipment (or pester medics until you are fitted with a portable monitor long enough to capture episode symptoms).

Electing to use off-the-shelf heart behavior monitors (like Fitbit etc.) can make you obsessed with your heart’s behavior to the point where harmless fluctuations cause you unnecessary anxiety and stress (which is a known SVT trigger for some people).

Ablation is available as a complete cure for most SVT sufferers (if not at the first attempt then almost always on a second one). Although, from personal experience, I would very strongly recommend having one done if your specialist says you are suitable, I do understand why some people worry about any procedure on or near the heart. But to my mind at least, the minute risk of this straightforward procedure making your life worse or shorter, is beyond all reasonable or rational comparison with the near certainty that it will make your quality of life, and that of your loved ones, so much better.

Wishing you all the best.

Over and out. 

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