SVT Ablation still have palps.

Hey Brad,

Do not worry! Palpitations and fast heart rate are totally normal for 4-6 weeks after the procedure. This is because your heart is healing from the trauma it received (I mean, you are burning it). If after 4-6 weeks the palpitations do not lessen, I would call your doctor.

I too had an ablation in July 2016. Afterwards, and still, I get flutters. My doctor assured me it was normal to have them as my heart was healing. They are half a second long but they were making me anxious. I thought after my ablation that I wouldn’t have any palps or flutters anymore. My anxiety got so bad, I had my doctor put me on anti anxiety meds and that has made a world of difference. I highly recommend talking with your doctor to see if anti anxiety meds would help you. Good luck!

Totally normal! I was awake for my whole procedure and it was pretty traumatic for me. For a month or two after, I was very anxious and absolutely fixated on my heart. It was a very rough recovery, not physically, but mentally! I would suggest, if it gets bad, to seek help for the anxiety. Some medication or therapy in the short term to help you cope can be very beneficial. For me, it mostly just took time to start trusting that nothing would go wrong. I was afraid to stress my heart and do much the first few weeks but now I'm back to biking and being active. But remember it is VERY common for people to experience this (my discharge instructions even said that many people become hyper aware of their heart after the procedure and that it is perfectly normal). Also keep in mind the procedure is pretty irritating on your heart which can make premature beats and other feelings common as you heal.

Thank you all a ton! Makes me feel much better just knowing I'm not in a boat alone! 

Hi Brad, 

Its normal!! I had my ablation done for SVT Aug 1st and lets just say I have palpitations and flutters still. No SVT though. I almost forgot what SVT is like... 

its nice to live an SVT free life with some mild palpitations and flutters 

Now with the fighting... take it easy. Your hearts going to be very p****d off for a while and give it some time to do its thing. It still has to work and heal itself. We did some traumatic work to it with the ablation and its time for it to heal. No caffeine, less stress and definitely take it easy on the workouts for at least 2 weeks. Give your wound time to heal properly and your heart! 

As SVT patients, we are overly sensitive to everything that goes on in our chest. The slightest thump, and we think the worst. AFIB is very common after any heart procedure, I was lucky not to expierence any but I Did have sinus tachycardia- totally normal. 

Keep your cardiologist updated, but do remember - it’s healing! Its going to tell you it’s not happy. If your palpitations and flutters do not induce your SVT (main trigger) then you should be greatful! 

Give your mind and body a rest - and take it easy! 

Take care. 

Megan 

I put up with ectopic beats for 42 years, svt started about 12 years ago, the doctors never took it seriously so I got on with my life, brought up 3 children and worked until I was 60, difficult at times, I did shift work for 9 years 7 nights, 7 early, 7 lates, was married to a police officer.   I am on bisoprolol a beta blocker, since February when I started taking it I have not had an attack but still get the ectopics.  My son has inherited this condition but holds down a very responsible job is very active and gets on with it.  I will not have an ablation because I have read so many posts where it has not been successful, I don,t want them to mess around with my heart at my age.  My son is 48 and is an independent computer consultant.

Brad, I'm coming in late to this discussion, and I can see you've received some excellent advice.  Our backgrounds are similar in some ways.  

I  was a Naval Aerospace Physiologist and particularly loved the flying part of my military time. Under contemporary medical standards, I could not have flown, since SVT is now disqualifying, unless you're successfully ablated.  In those days (45 years ago), I was told that I nicely tolerated my misbehaving heart, so don't worry about it.

I did worry about it, and so do many people who experience it.  I, too, battled panicky feelings and continual dread of the next episode.  Your responses sound much like mine.

I'm 3 months after my second ablation, and doing well.  No SVT, but lots of ectopics ("extra" beats) and an occasional flutter.  Pretty typical, I think.  I'm also resistance training 3 times a week and brisk walking 4 miles a day. Not too bad for a 70-yr-old having lots of fun.

What I hope for you is good medical advice, continuing normal activities, and increasing confidence.  There's an excellent chance that you've left your SVT behind, and you'll soon leave big parts of the emotional package behind, too.  In a few months, you may be able to pay some of this stuff forward.  It's a great feeling.  Take care, my man.

Hi, Brad!

   This is TOTALLY NORMAL what you are feeling. I had my ablation back in August and for quite awhile I was traumatized by it. The great news is that there is such a big chance of success for SVT, so let's hope that as time passes we become more and more confident that our heart is fixed for good, and each little blu our heart makes doesn't get us crazy. But I TOTALLY hear you and relate to what you are saying, I am so hyper vigilant about everything my heart is doing during each day. It's become quite a prison, actually.