Svt

Hello Ann, I had my first svt episode in October2015,admitted to hospital with mildly raised Troponin and D-dimer.Thought I had had a heart attack or maybe a dvt. Had lots of tests done ECG, Echo,CTPA, CTPA and MRI scan. All came back normal. Second one in December, admitted to CCU for monitoring. Was discharged with Verapamil, fairly settled since then apart from palpitations, skipped beats and short runs of tachycardia. Over the last week I was having more symptoms, and on the 9th of Febuary...Bang It's Back!!! Was at my cardiologist today. She is going to do another echo, monitor and refer me for an EP study. She doesn't seem to think i'm a good candidate for ablation as I don't have any triggers apart from having them on waking from sleep, and she said it's really difficult to try and ablate if they don't know the exact spot...I have also to go back to my GP and ask about going for a sleep study as I seem to fit the criteria for this with my symptoms...Anyway I think I have had it for many years as well and it was put down to panic attacks. Always had a tachy heart/ My anxiety is through the roof just now. It's such a debilitating condition to have to live with... 

I have lots of empathy for you, Gillian.  My SVT has intensified lately, and I'm flying on a holiday (vacation in my part of the English-speaking world) in a few days.  I've been in this situation lots of times before, and have always gotten to and from without serious problems, but I am quite anxious. An ablation a couple of years ago was not successful (I have at least two defective pathways), and I'll probably try again soon.

I encourage you to give the medical community an opportunity to accurately diagnose and then "fix" your SVT.  Ablation has give many, many people a cure, and you may eventually become one of those fortunates.

Ann, if you read this, I deeply understand your frustration.  This SVT thing is very, very difficult for many of us to deal with.  I hope we hear encoraging news from you and Gillian much sooner than later.  I want you both to do well.  

Oh, my: "given" instead of "give".  My apologies.

Thanks soo much gene. I will welcome anything that will help me.            I go to bed every night thinking "will I have Another episode"

 I Am just getting Soo tired of it all now!

 Hope you have a relaxing holiday... Take Care

Your "soo tired" (I could add several more o's) comment deeply resonates, Gillian. Our SVT deal does dominate our lives.  Thanks for your good wishes, and same to you.

The cardiologist said that what usually happens is that one of the nodes in your heart misfires and the electrical signals get caught in a "loop". They end up giving your heart way too many signals to beat and you end up with an SVT episode. I had an ablation 2 weeks ago and haven't had any problems since. So far, so good.

That's Amazing, you must feel great to have your life back! 

Sleep is the trigger for mine. I have suffered from tachycardia, palpitations and ectopic beats  for many years, had a good few admissions to hospital over the years but it was always put down to anxiety! had my first svt caught on monitor when I was in hospital last year. Seemed to settle down but now they're Back!!!

Really Struggling to cope with this all over again, was at my cardiologist yesterday and she is organising another echo, holter monitor and possibly an EP study to see if there's any changes in my heart. She has also said it would be a good idea to go to my GP and discuss a sleep study ? sleep apnea...

Missed my holiday last year and can't see me going away again in the near future...

How about your triggers?

I'm with you on the ? hormnes as i'm turning 50 in May... We spend Soo much time and energy looking for answers...

I would just like my life to go back to life without svt...After my second episode on the 3rd of December 2015 I slept on my sofa in the living room for 5 months sitting up - Just in case I had to get to the hospital quickly!!!

I had started to rebuild my life got a new job, always making sure I was near a hospital, Just In Case...

And Now It's Back!

Don't know where I'm going to get the energy from this time to try and over come it.

I totally understand needing to be able to get to a hospital quickly.  Whenever we go away I look to see where the nearest hospital is, just in case.  I think that is why this last episode has set me back so much, I was in France trying to find the station. 

I thought after almost 2 years without one that it wouldn't happen again and although the threat of it doesn't completely disappear it had been put to the back of my mind.  Well now it's at the front again and it is all I am thinking about.  All the anxiety is back as well, to be honest I am too frightened to go shopping.

I have made an appointment with my doctor, I know they won't do anything but I need to hear that it is harmless again.

Do you always go to the hospital with yours or do they convert on their own?

Idon't always go to hospital, a lot of the time they just convert back on their own. I can usually tell what ones that are going to end up with a trip to hospital. Like the one last week...The night before I had the early morning episode (The first one in just over a year) I had been having lots of like missed beats and my heart just felt really tachy. I have had them most mornings when I wake up since then but they do settle. I've got my oils and candles and put on some relaxation music to try and help with the anxiety!  Like you say the threats always there. But the longer without one you do tend to let your guard down a bit! I was even looking at going on holiday this year..

After seeing my cardiologist the other day she did Again say they are not dangerous, but again she is going to do another echo and monitor,Possible EP study, and hopefully a sleep study, just too see if there are any changes... 

I've only been to the hospital twice.  The first time it had stopped by the time I got there, the second one they wanted to give me adenosine but I persuaded them to wait and see what happened.  It lasted 9 hours but stopped on it's own. 

How long do yours go on for?

If they can say they are harmless then why can't they tell you what causes them.  They still scare me, even if they are harmless they are not very nice and more than just an inconvenience.  They take your life away, you just spend your days wondering when it will happen again.

Reading of each others experiences helps so much by reminding us that we're not uniquely tormented by SVT, and that we're not alone.  Lots of us (I'm an excellent example) seem so adept at talking ourselves into uncomfortable places as we struggle with SVT.  Wonder if we could cooperatively talk ourselves into better places? 

It is very reasurring hearing that others have it too.  During an episode I know I would benefit greatly if I could message someone who knows what I am going through.  No matter how much your family and friends sympathize they can't really understand what we are going through.

If it would be helpful I would be happy for you to message me!?

Thanks Gillian, I'll be there if you need me too

I, too, would very much want to be of immediate help, but my family situation (93-year-old mother-in-law with lots of health issues living with us, and a 12-year-old granddaughter struggling with diabetes) means I'm often not immediately available to help. I think the idea of having sources for immediate support is excellent, and I hope we can seriously pursue it.