Daughter with SVT

My daughter has had SVT since she was about 8 years old, she is 13 now. Her episodes seem to be happening daily now. I am very nervous about the ablation surgery. We figured out a way to stop her episodes within a few minutes after they start now, so I was wondering if anyone can make their episodes stop too. And if she can make them stop why get the surgery or take any meds. ( I have never put her on the meds either).  Thank you from a concerned mother.

[grendslori]

Yes there are ways to stop SVT, it surprises me that a cardiologist hasn't taught you how to do this proceedure. You take a deep breath, hold it and bear down as though you will have a bowel movement. For some people this will work; for others, the SVT just kicks right back in. Ablations are really not that bad. Even my daughter, who had very severe heart disease and finally had a transplant, has had several ablations. One thing you have to realize about ablations: if the electrical tract they are trying to ablate is not 'active' on the day of the ablation, they won't be able to ablate it. Listen to your doctor, if he recommends this, do it, she will certainly feel much better and remember, the human heart is only designed to beat so many beats in a lifetime.  

[ireneo]

I understand your concern. I had to smile at your comment about "if she can make them stop why get the surgery?"  I told my first cardiologist the same thing. He got a bit grumpy with me, said he wouldn't live like this.

I've had PSVT since I was very young. Didn't have my first ablation till I was in my late 40's. Actually, no one mentioned it before then. But the daily tachy times are annoying and tiring. It does interfere with daily activities. It sounds like your daughter is handling it well but it's all she knows. She's used to it in a way. But imagine if she never had a tachy time again.

Meds are OK but they often have side effects and can lose their effectiveness over the years. Then they have to switch to a different med.

Imagine if she went in and had the trouble spots ablated and that was it. Since she's getting the tachy every day, there's a very good chance they'll be able to trigger it in the lab and find the areas to ablate.

Reading about the ablation, it sounds scary. But the actual procedure is not bad thanks to the medications they use. You don't have to rush into this but do think about it. Ask her how she feels too. See if she wants to be rid of the SVT. She may be ready to do an ablation even if you're still working through it. Work together.