What works at home to get out of an svt episode?
Posted , 8 users are following.
My daughter is 13 years old and had her first svt episode 2 months ago (at age 12). It happened while sitting in class at school and her heart rate got up to 244 bpm (she was in svt for about 45 minutes) by the time she was given adenosine to reset her heart. Since then, she hasn't had another episode. She is taking a beta blocker pill once a day. Her doctor told us about several different ways she can try to revert an svt episode if she is to go into svt at home or at school. My question is, which maneuvers work best for you to stop svt on your own? We are going on an 8 day cruise next month and I am worried about her having an episode while on the ship. I want to be prepared just in case.
0 likes, 19 replies
crissy10179 ginamichelle7
Posted
Hi I'm so sorry poor darling only being 13 at least I was 21 it's very scarey when it happens and as hard as it is the best thing to do is stay calm I was shown to put the tip of my thumb in my mouth and blow down like your blowing a whistle hold for 5 seconds and try again until my heart kicked back to normal another way is and it will be hard for her is to push down like when you have a baby or to go into a fetal position tuck your chin in there's so many ways these are just some get her to try and find what works for her I wish her luck I've been living with it for 22 years but had 12 years with no attacks certain medications or foods drinks can set it off
ginamichelle7 crissy10179
Posted
Thank you! I think that will be the hardest part, keeping her calm. She was in panic with her first episode. I pray she goes 12 years with no attacks... this "wait and see" when the next one comes stuff is scary. I get worried while she's at school, when she's cheering, and when she's away at a friends house.
tinaweena ginamichelle7
Posted
Oh bless your daughter. I was diagnosed with SVT when I was 40, but looking back I probably had it from when I was 13 as after my father died I kept getting a really fast heart rate and I was diagnosed with panic attacks. For me now I find holding my nose and baring down works,drinking ice cold water quickly, or running my wrists under cold water. I know it can be scary but I've learned that the calmer you can stay the quicker it resolves .Iam 56 now and have only had to go to hospital twice whenI was first diagnosed. As for the cruise I love cruising as you always have the knowledge that there is medical assistance on board and that it really comforting.I know this can be a scary problem but it is possible to have a full and happy life.Go and enjoy your cruise, you will love it !
ginamichelle7 tinaweena
Posted
tinaweena ginamichelle7
Posted
leah24211 ginamichelle7
Posted
Try all the standard vagal maneuvers like cough, bearing down as if to have a bm, ice water to the face, blowing through a straw, etc..
And Google "modified Valsalva maneuver for SVT". There's a video on you tube on how to do it. Have her sitting up, while bearing down. Then have her lie flat, and you lift up her legs at a 45 degree angle. There's a study showing good results from this one.
I'm having an ablation a week from tomorrow, to hopefully fix this. I had to be converted with Adenosine last summer in Switzerland on vacation.
My EP says there's a nasal spray drug in trials to stop SVT. Says it's looking promising, but at least 5+ yrs away.
Best wishes to your daughter.
ginamichelle7 leah24211
Posted
shelley_49119 ginamichelle7
Posted
I have svt and I've heard make yourself gag can work. Bearing down...like your going to have a bowel movement. I'm sorry your daughter is dealing with this. I've had my first episode this year at 45 yrs old. It's scary and may cause her anxiety and panic as it did me. I hope this gets better with time. I know pepole who have had it young and outgrew it years later. I pray mine leaves as well. Good luck to your daughter.
ginamichelle7 shelley_49119
Posted
gene91169 ginamichelle7
Posted
Most everything I would have independently offered has been well covered by other respondents, gm. Plus, your nasal spray comment will have me looking into that in a few minutes. I'm guessing your daughter will have no problems on your cruise, and successes such as that will give her much confidence. We all wish the very best for you and your daughter.
leah24211 gene91169
Posted
I was asked by my EP if I wanted to enroll in the double blind study. I declined, as it would've added more visits, paperwork and prolonged time of the ablation. He said the study was nearing completion anyway.
ginamichelle7 gene91169
Posted
I'm curious about the nasal spray comment too. That would be mind easing if we had something like that to carry around. My daughters episode was very scary.
gene91169 ginamichelle7
Posted
Just sent you a response, but it got flagged due to a coupd of website adresses. Hopefully, a moderator will turn it loose and you'll see it soon.
gene91169 ginamichelle7
Posted
Gina, I had some success in tracking down the nasal spray story, and some of what I found is very encouraging. The drug is undergoing testing, and so far so good. It has a ways to go, though, so we'll have to wait and see. Sorry for all the platitudes, and I can tell you that I personally and selfishly deeply hope the stuff works. My ablation didn't work (I have an unusually complicated situation), so an "at home" treatment is very appealing.
You could read what I've read by googling etripamil.
Hope this helps. Keep trying the at home breathing, etc techniques. They have kept me out of emergency rooms for a couple of years now , and that's a big plus. I have a health-challenged aolescent in my life, and it does make life tougher. Take care.
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leah24211 gene91169
Posted
Thanks for finding the name of it. I hope my ablation is successful. Should be- they think it's a basic AVNRT. But if not, I'm not going to do it again. I sure hope the spray is a success. My Dr said that while they don't know if they're giving the drug or the placebo, ...when they see it convert to Normal Sinus Rhythm right away...they know.
He also had this cool app on his phone. There were 2 square metal things attached to the back. You put a finger from each hand on the metal for 30 seconds...and it analyzes your ekg . You can save it and email it to your dr. Pretty cool. He let me try it. Forgot the name. And I have no idea how it can work with just 2 fingers.