Extra T Wave.

[Carbynel]

I’m a 21 year old female, with no history of heart problems in the family. At 7 yrs I was diagnosed as having an irregular heart beat.

When I was 18 I experienced a very severe chest pain, which made it difficult to move. I was taken to hospital where I was given an ECG and told that the ECG had suggested something had happened, but they weren’t sure what it was.

Since this initial pain, I have experienced several other similar pains, but nowhere near to the extremity of the pain I initially experienced, although they do seem to be quite regular in occurrence.

I’ve since had 24 hour heart monitors, stress tests, tilt tests, MRI Scans, blood tests etc. These I am told all came back normal apart from my stress test, which showed a huge drop in blood pressure after exercise, and an extra T Wave that is sometimes evident on my ECG readings. From the impression the doctors gave me, this T Wave seemed to be their main cause for concern. After all the tests were exhausted, I was told that my irregular heart beat was regularly irregular and that it was nothing to worry about, and that they simply don’t understand why this extra T Wave is occurring, and now seem to have given up on trying to investigate it further. I get the impression this is quite rare. Is this the case? Can you explain the significance of this T Wave? What does it mean? I feel really confused, and find the results of these investigations to be most unsatisfactory, as they seemed really concerned before, and now seem to have given up trying to find out what it means.

Thanks for your help!

[Cleveland Clinic]

Carbynel,

Thanks for the post.

Im not sure what your physicians mean by 'extra t wave'.  The T wave represents the repolarization of the heart and each QRS complex can only be associated with one T wave as the QRS represents the depolartization of the heart that leads to the hearts contraction.

There are alot of things that they may have seen that looked like the extra T wave. Sometimes even artifact on the ecg can also look like a T wave.  Unfortunaelty, without seeing the ECG I cant specifically tell you what it is.

From the way it sounds, and the fact they used the term, 'regularly irregular', your physicians may have been referring to the P wave associated with a pac which is a  benign finding and not rare at all.

Its difficult to tell you exaclty what they found concerning. It sounds liek youve had a pretty normal work up.  Perhaps gathering all of your records together and scheduling a second opinion visit with a different cardiologist who could better answer your questions.

[michi]

hello,

this is a question for everyone, i am sorry to change the subject a little.

what does SV mean? how can it effect me? does anybody has an idea when i need to take chestdiscomfort/pain serious? I have MS and my left side, special arm/leg are most involved with nomeness, tingle, sometime pressure. i also have mostly every day chest pressure. i had all the works done, suppost by doctors i have a structure normal heart. had a cath done 1.5 years ago, everything fine, echo, ecg in september - fine. ecg today with SV and chest pressure. I am 32 female non smoker, drinker and eat 95% healty.
thank you
michi

[WPWGuy]

hi miichi. I almost hate to post this because the questions you ask are probably best answered by your doctor.

Its not clear from the question you have that you have a clear description of your problem. "SV" could be "SVE" which could refer to an ectopic supraventricular beat.

I just dont know and think you need to call or email your doctor or doctor's assistant for a better explaination if possible.

Good luck...