Useful technique for SVT attacks
Posted , 85 users are following.
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
linda83225 Guest
Posted
Another technique is to very gently stoke the side of your neck where there is a main artery. This slows the heartbeat down but don't press too hard or for too long!
robert10426 Guest
Posted
1 lie down quickly on your back
2 RELAX. Remove tight clothing.
3 Try and get your temperature down. I noticed comments on ice packs. I get into the car, lie seat flat, and turn airconditioning on really cold.
4 Try and interupt the rythm. Hold breath someimes, and expand chest.
goodluck
Rob
kimrwhite Guest
Posted
You have no idea how great it is to find this forum. I had the worst attack last night from 10pm-4am. It took 2 beta blockers and 2mg of xanax to stop it. I don't have Ins. either, and I didn't want to go to the ER and get a shot and back home in an hour, or worse, they admit me.
I have had SVT since I was 19 and I am 51 now. They seem to have gotten worse in the last year. Beta blockers seem to work for the most part, I just will experience a flutter then it's over.....until last night...I thought I was dying. thanks for all the suggestions....
Lea77339 Guest
Posted
Hi. I am a 54 year old female. I have had an arrythmia since my 3rd pregnancy but SVT's are fairly new, just the last few years. The first time, I thought I was having a heart attack and no one would believe me! I must have asked them to call 911 (4) or 5 times before they would take me seriously. They wouldnt believe me until the paramedics got me hooked up and my pulse was 260. There isn't anything that will stop mine, though, except the ride in the ambulance and then tons of meds. The last time, I was having a yard sale, alone, and had to ask a customer to get my neighbor for me to call 911. It's all very embarrassing. The doctor now wants to do the ablation. I am off all my heart meds and just waiting until it starts. I am pretty nervous. Do they keep you in hospital overnight or do they just send you home after?
Alaskan Lea77339
Posted
When I had the procedure 18 yrs ago, it was a long day but not overnight. It's not a big deal, and well worth it if it works.
Mine worked until just the past couple weeks, when it returned.
Mostly at night, which makes it tough to get a decent sleep. I just can't sleep through it, and my episodes are not brief. Will have to try some of the techniques shared here. Interesting that my heart rate is now around 80 when in SVT, rather than 120+ when younger.
Lea77339 Guest
Posted
I went into SVT's the day before yesterday. I tried everything I had read here and everything that I already knew, to get it to stop. Nothing worked and I had to call 911. Some people on here make it seem like it's not an emergency. I even read that someone went jogging to try to convert! My doctor and the paramedics said absolutely not as far as any kind of exercise while in SVT's. I was told to sit down, get comfortable and don't do anything more strenuous than dialing the phone. Luckily, this time, I converted on only one dose of adenosine. It usually takes 2 or more. These paramedics were going to shock me, right there in my living room, if that one dose didn't convert me! I was terrified. Then, they said that this was too serious to risk the longer drive to the VA hospital and they were going to have to take me to the closest hospital. I am all for things that may convert your heart without having to go through all of that but you have to use common sense. If you remain in SVT's for too long, you are at risk of converting to V-Tach which is a fatal rhythm. I think that any kind of vigorous exercise while in SVT would be taking a huge risk.
paullie Lea77339
Posted
delia9 Lea77339
Posted
Hi Lea77339
Hope you are feeling better today. I have had SVT for 20 years and it drove me insane with worry and stress. After a really bad 6 months of it at the begining of the year I finally decided to ablate. I was TERRIFIED!! But my doctor was awesome and the procedure was simple - ( i was twilight sedated - dont remember much) I had it done in June and so far so good. I have to wait a year to make sure it completely is gone. and i still take my beta blocker for now. I was tired of the adinsone shots and the ambulance rides as well. So terrifying. If you have ANY questions please message me and I will try to help out.
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Lea77339 delia9
Posted
gene91169 Lea77339
Posted
Unless you have some additional health issues, Lea, I don't understand some of what your health care people are telling you. An otherwise healthy heart can tolerate SVT very well.
I once had an episode in our boat many miles from shore. I drove the boat to a ramp, got the boat onto our trailer, came home, showered (I was very "fishy"
, drove to the ER, and was eventually converted with adenosine. The only part of this story that troubled me was the driving, but I was not dizzy or short of breath and had no chest pain. The ER people weren't particularly concerned about any of this, possibly excluding my driving.
My current health care people have told me that I could go for hours with SVT and not be in much danger. I have routinely read high-confidence sources stating SVT as not a dangerous situation for otherwise healthy people. I encourage you to do lots of reading, ask lots of questions, and carefully evaluate what you learn.
Please don't automatically give up exercise. It addition to the many potential health benefits, it could be quite a confidence booster for you. Over my years, I've seen multiple studies suggesting exercise as a treatment for SVT.
Many of us have dealt with the extreme fear SVT can bring. It took me decades to transition from panic to much less, and I have a ways to go. We do wish the very best for you.
iamrsg Guest
Posted
steveng56 Guest
Posted
Muller's Maneuver. I have episodes every few months that either end after a few hours or result in Adenosine in the ER. I've tried everything that you all posted (thank you for sharing) over the past few hours, no response. Just now I stumbled on this technique of exhaling, then blocking my airway while trying HARD to breathe in (the negative pressure really feels weird)...it worked in just a few seconds! Hope this helps someone else.
paullie steveng56
Posted
Wow I never heard of this..so you breathe in? I've done the Valsalva Maneuver, which sounds like the opposite of the Muller's.
gene91169 steveng56
Posted
Thanks so much, Steven. I just did some reading, and I'm certainly going to add Muller's to my arsenal.
lisa_52626 Guest
Posted
Thank you so much for posting this. My 7yr old daughter was diagnosed with SVT since she was 5wks old. Since a baby she has been in and out of hospital after having lots of adenosine which usually didn't work and then on to the amiodarone which eventually worked after hrs of being in SVT. Her usual technique since she has been 5yrs is vasovagal swallowing and blowing up a balloon. Today neither of those worked after over an hr I tried your technique and amazingly it worked. Cannot thank you enough as this saved my little girl from going into hospital and having the dreaded needles to have the awful adenosine. Xx