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Useful technique for SVT attacks

Posted , 85 users are following.

Guest
Guest

Hi, just had an SVT attack and thought I would share with you all the technique that just worked for me, and it's worked twice before as well.

Basically you just lay on your right hand side, curl up into a bit of ball (ie knees tucked up and head forwards, fetal position) and then just completely relax, make sure you're horizontal, especially your head and neck. Don't know why it works, but it seems like for me it does. Funnily enough lying on my left hand side can sometimes trigger SVT. Weird eh?

I had already tried the 'breath in deeply and hold your breath for 10 seconds' and 'breath out hard through a narrow tube' methods and they didn't help.

Anyway, remember it and hopefully it might help someone.

Simon.

17 likes, 170 replies

170 Replies

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  • paullie
    paullie Guest

    Posted

    Has anyone ever used the Modified Valsalva Maneuver? I stumbled upon it on Youtube. I haven't tried it as of yet.
    • nikkihar22
      nikkihar22 paullie

      Posted

      I have heard many success stories in regards to the Valsalva Maneuver but the only thing that has worked for me 99% of the time for the past 20 years is to do a hand stand using a wall behind you for stability if needed. The most important factor is to shock the body and by making all the blood rush to your upper body, your heart gets enough blood and you should be back to normal within 7 seconds.
    • paullie
      paullie nikkihar22

      Posted

      Thx so much Nikkihar22 for telling us about the headstand technique! I don't think I would be able to do one😕 unless I had some help.
  • CanuckGirl
    CanuckGirl Guest

    Posted

    Thank you for this! I've recently had an ablation and have had three episodes of SVTs. Your suggestion and the ones on this forum have been extremely helpful.

    I now know I can't sleep on my left side without waking up with SVT.

    This is my go to place when ever SVT comes my way.

    Cheers!

  • MacLean295
    MacLean295 Guest

    Posted

    I was recently diagnosed with WPW Syndrome, and SVT episodes come as a deluxe package, if you will. My first episode happened two years ago. Anyway, I had an episode about half an hour ago and this technique helped end the episode almost right away. Usually, my episodes last much longer if I just sit there and relax, so thank you very much for helping. I'll put this technique to use every time my episodes occur. Thank you very much

    Lewis

  • ruth70943
    ruth70943 Guest

    Posted

    Bless you Simon!! I'm 67 years old and have had SVTs for at least the last 40. I am usually successful doing deep breathing or yawning but I've noticed that the longer the attack goes on the harder it is to stop. Just tonight as I write at 3:00 am I had an attack that lasted for 5 hours. I was just about to go to the hospital when I took a chance and googled for a technique to stop it. Yours worked in about 2 minutes. Thank you so very, very much for saving me a trip to the hospital and for another way to get relief from these things.

    Ruth

  • maura290462
    maura290462 Guest

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with SVT when I was 18 years old, I used to be able to stop the attacks myself until about 14 years ago when it went on for hours and I ended up calling an ambulance and was given an injection ( can't remember the name of the drug) which did the trick. At first I was prescribed beta blockers which slowed my heart down so much that I was then given  another injection to speed it up again! So, I opted to have ablation which was 95% successful and I only experienced the odd flutter since then...... 

    Until the last year when I have been having more and prolonged attacks, the latest one last night which lasted hours so I went to hospital again. It has really panicked me having these episodes again so it was a Godsend to find this website and know that I'm not alone! I hadn't heard of Simon's technique so I will definitely give that a go if I need to. Meanwhile it's back to my cardiologist next week to see what he suggests. Thanks all for your posts, they really help.

    • paullie
      paullie maura290462

      Posted

      Maura, let us know what your Dr. says..I always thought once you had a successful abaltion you don't experience prolonged attacks. Good luck!

       

    • maura290462
      maura290462 paullie

      Posted

      Hi Paullie

      So did I !!!! I will let you know what my Cardiologist says. I really don't want to have it done again but on the other hand I can't take beta blockers so I'm hoping that in the years since I had it done medical science may have produced some other miracle for me! 

    • paullie
      paullie maura290462

      Posted

      That's true : ) they are always coming up with new and improved ideas!

       

    • yesica80651
      yesica80651 maura290462

      Posted

      Hi Maura.. I've had an ablation bout 7 months ago.. before the procedure my doctor said 95% certainty of success and it bring the breeze of heaven to me, cause the svt had took my life away, im afraid to do this and that because i'll afraid it would triggered the svt.. but the reality was the svt came back directly the next day i've had the ablation.. the doctor just said i must redo the ablation again.. OMG.. i would rather hope in miracle rather than doing the procedure once again.. i though just me have some weird flutter.. sometimes my heart have a dropping sensation (if you full awake during the ablation you must know what I talked bout) same as when the doctor wants triggering the svt during the ablation.. its like riding a rollercoaster 😄😄😄😄

      Im happy to find this forum cause i think im the only one who suffers

    • paullie
      paullie yesica80651

      Posted

      Hi yesica, I've never had an ablation.. I hear most are successful..but there is that chance it may not be.. I'm sure thats very disappointing ..I hope meds will help you..thx for sharing your story, because sometimes I think about an ablation but then I think again..
    • maura290462
      maura290462 yesica80651

      Posted

      Hi Yesica

      I had the ablation twice, the second one only a few weeks after the first because the SVT returned quite quickly. The second time he was more aggressive and it fixed the problem about 99%, so I only had the occasional very short flutter since and that was 14 years ago. Unfortunately now I am experiencing more prolonged palpitations again and I'm having more investigations to determine whether it's the original problem or something new 😬

    • yesica80651
      yesica80651 paullie

      Posted

      I dont want to redo an ablation but it worth to try.. i have a wpw and slow path..the wpw was gone but the slow path still there.. hope there is a miracle to cure svt..
    • yesica80651
      yesica80651 maura290462

      Posted

      So sory to hear that.. well maybe GoD gives us more blessing with more electricity, and I thankful to GOd, He gives us the strength in our heart not to stop immediately when the svt comes (im so afraid my heart stop, each time the svt come) 😂😂😂 and with this kind of heart Im notice that we are nothing without GOD..

      I just wanna tell you to hold on no matter what.. you already passed this.. your heart is amazing.. just think your heart have an amazing skill to cure.. i think that is the only problem with ablation, they 'broken' our heart but amazingly our heart cure itself 😆😆😆😆

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