What to expect post-op SVT ablation surgery

[kybuddha]

OK, I am gettin ready to have ablation surgery for SVT. What should I expect post-op? I am seriously freaking out about this. I have never had SVT until 9 months ago when I took Sudafed. My doctor says that I was born with SVT and that the Sudafed just triggered it. Does anyone have any words of wisdom?

[Farsideacres]

I was given metoprolol at first, slowed beats but all I did was hold down a recliner for a year. I was sent to Omaha, Nebraska to Dr. Hass and given bisoprolol. I got my life back for the next 5years. The pill slowly ceased working.
  I just had ablation for SVT. I am a hypersensitive fibromyalgia patient. Dr. went above c-section scar on right, below on left. My ablation set off svt but also a hyper ventilating breathing that no one believed before.
They gave me Ativan to start. I became very chatty lol they gave me Versed. I have issues with laying flat and still, my spine and pelvis ache. Getting louder the longer I lay. They also gave a pain med which I can not remember...When the Dr. hit the spot I started breathing deeply and uncontrollably, with my heart running 200 beats per minute. First time anyone connected the hyperventilation breathing with the SVT.
  I am 4 days out and have had a fair amount of pain on my right side entry point. I have only had 4 small flutters, several more "feelings" of going to start wild ride, but never doing it. So far, I'm tired and am taking 4 or more naps per day. I am not sleeping all night through yet.  Dr Arteaga, Sioux City, Iowa did my ablation.

[Ema42]

I had an AF ablation in 2011 after getting diagnosed in 2007 . I was awake for the whole thing but sedated I remember them hitting 160 watts. In August 2015 I found out I had SVT and my heart was 250 beats I was given adenosine which brought my heart back to 110 that was one weird experience in February 2016 I had an ablation on my SVT and I had the same consultant than before I asked for him seeing as I knew him because he had operated on me in 2011. At the time I was a single mum and my daughter has dealt with it very well as well as been scared she's had to call an ambulance once all the other times has been me. It got to the stage where all the staff that work in A&E knew me by my first name I had been that many times. I am getting married in August and I feel great it's the best decision I made having the operations. I am off all medication now and discharged from cardio.

[dcbaz]

HI, I just had a SVT Ablation three days ago. I'm not sure but reading other peoples experience, they give you local anesthesia for A-Fib Ablations.
For SVT Ablations it's different. They will give you very very little of something to relax you but you're awake the entire time for your SVT Ablation. They will make two incisions in your groin area, then feed catheters on both sides. When they get them ready and the monitors are all set, they will increase your heart at a very fast pace. It feels horrible and scary. They speed-up and slow-down your heart to find the electrical short-circuits.  When they find the problem areas, they will map each bad spot. Then once all mapped, they will catheterize them.
During this process, my chest felt very heavy, then my left arm had sharp pains and my left hand went numb. When they were in the burning process, it felt like really bad gas all around my chest.  I had uncontrollable shakes but is wasn't from being cold. I was from what the Dr was doing to my heart.
Its amazing to me how much your heart can take. The entire process took three hours.  
The thing you have to keep thinking about along with praying is the Dr has more than likely done this process hundreds of times and know exactly what to expect. I've heard the process is safe and always successful.
After it was all done, you have to lay very straight for about 3 hours so your groin cuts can heal up a little.
To me it was well worth it because the SVT itself when you least expect it was not a fun way to go through life.

[sammy_1991]

Is it normal for me to feel ectopic and fast beats a day after having a ablation done

[Andi7363]

I was recently diagnosed with SVT. After ER visit with heart rate at 260+ and meds I was sent home to f/up with ep. I assumed this was connected to the Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome) heart failure from a 1 1/2 years ago. Not related. He wants to do an ablation, but left it up to me to decide. He was clear that this would happen again and increase in frequency until I had the surgery. Like you, I don't want to be blind sided by another episode when possibly home alone or driving with my three little boys. Terrified of the procedure. Terrified not to have it. Any life changes after having it regarding diet, exercise, wine???!!!

[Noelani707]

Had my SVT ablation 3 days ago. Had to lay still for 5 hours afterwards (that was the hard part!) Went well overall & was told to stop taking Metoprolol.  Just having a little lightheadedness now and then. Hope this will pass soon.

[Nods67]

Is this forum still active?

[lottieemily]

I Hope so! Made for an interesting read.

I'm in the process of being referred too for the ablation surgery.

[Amymarisol]

U will be fine I had mine done yesterday

[NRLBD]

Amymarisol, was anesthesia used? How long was your procedure and were you aware of the process? On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the experience. Suggestions for getting through it with having to be so still for hours?

[Sh8069]

I've just had this done. Check out my http://youtu.be/swNLAQA2mUk

[Sonseeahray]

Dr. Hrantisky at Wake Med Heart Center in Raleigh NC is one of the best at this type of surgical procedure I just had it done on July 3 and he is affiliated with a Dr. Horton from Texas.  They are considered the best in the country.

[BCH3]

I just had an ablation by dr. Hranitsky two days ago. After two failed ablations, I'm praying he got it this time. I heard he was one of the best! Hopefully no more AVNRT.

[Bbates4903]

How did it go?   I'm considering making an appointment with him to discuss the ablation procedure.  Thanks!

[syl07]

hi, could you pkease share what your gp taught to slow down your heart?
i have svt once or twice a year, due to wpw, im 40 years old and have a 3 year old son, i struggled with endometrioses, had 2 operations to remove it and took us around 10 years to get pregnant. Today i was told by a doctor that if i dont do an ablation i may "drop dead" that were his own words.
i am scared as i dont want to leave my son without a mum but i do want to hear a second opinion, i have been to other cardiologists before who told me i could control the condition taking medication, they prescribed propanolol and didnt reccommend any surgeries.
the doctor i saw today said that i cant control the condition with medication...
does anyone has any thoughts or any story to share?
it is a hard decision having to chose between the surgery or living with a racing heart...
thanks

[Sh8069]

There's two techniques. The first is beating down like your pushing a baby out. That works really well I've found. The second is the vagal maneuver. This is where you gently massage the artery in the right side of the neck.

[Sh8069]

Sorry should read * bearing down

[porcupine10]

I know this is a old post but if you see this. I have had episodes of svt for 35 years ever since I was 12. For me it has become worse and recently had it documented. Some ways to calm it down is try to make yourself throw up or dunk your head in ice cold water. I have been just put on medicine and seems to helo. Get a second opinion on the surgery. The Dr could just be surgery happy and put another notch in his belt.

[Daneen2949]

I really recommend to have a Cardiac Ablation. In 2009, I started having SVT's about once every 2-3 weeks. Later, it became worse and I had the episodes 2-3 times a week. In 2010, I was also diagnosed with AF and I have pulmonary embolism. Since I did not have health insurance at the moment, I wasn't able to get the Cardiac Ablation done right away and I spent 2 years with beta blockers that didn't help much. On 2012, I finally had my cardiac ablation done and it worked! The SVT's and AF were gone, but I ended up having PVC's very regularly but I was able to live a normal life. Then, in 2016 I got pregnant and the PVC's became worse and one day, I stated feeling the same symptoms of SVT, but this time the episodes lasted less, not more than 30 minutes. I was on Sotalol 25 mg a day during my pregnancy, but when I had my baby, I wasn't able to take that medicine anymore because I am nursing. My doctor gave me metoprolol 25mg 12.5mg twice a day, but it did't work well. I was so worried because I was feeling horrible almost everyday and I wasn't able to look after my baby well. So I went to see my electrophisiologist and I told him about my symptoms. He asked me if I wanted to wear a monitor holder (for the 1000th time!) for 30 days to see what type of arrhythmia I was having, or if I wanted to go for another cardiac ablation. I was very scared to have it again because I was thinking "what if I die? What is going to happen to my baby? He is only 5 months old." But at the end I didn't another option and I said yes to the cardiac ablation. I had it done on the 15th of February of 2017, 2 days ago, and it is unbelievable. I feel great! After the Doctor finished ablating my heart, I actually feel great. I was able to breath well and I wasn't feeling the palpitations on my chest and neck anymore. 2 days after, my heart feel great (it's actually  regular!) and my blood presure is good as well. I hope my heart continues working the same way in the next days and I don't have any complications. So far, in my case, the cardiac ablation was successful. My doctor said that he got rid of the SVT and that he tried to fix the PVC's but that if I continue having the PVC's will not happen so often and I can treat them with Sotalol. So far, I haven't feel SVT's. In regards to nursing, the doctor and nurses told me not to give breast milk to my baby for 48 hours because all the medications they gave me during the procedure, that's it. I really recommend this procedure.

[Fetter]

I had SVT about 3 yrs back. My heart would go up to 200+ beats per minute and i was having it so frequently like 2-3 times a week. It usually lasted really long each time. My GP taught me a few ways to try to slow down my heart, and it worked most of the time, I only had to go to the ER to get adenosine injection and it was fine after that.

I went for the ablation surgery about 1-2 months after i got diagnosed with SVT. The op lasted about 2-3 hours i think. I was conscious and and it was extremely successful. I didnt have problems with bruising of the groin area, just slight discomfort. I recovered quickly from the op, my movements werent that limited as well. 3 years later I havent experience any similar symptoms.

My advice would be to get an experienced doctor who has done many ablation surgeries before to minimise the risks! But definitely do consider the ablation surgery if you get fast heartbeats very frequently like i do!

[NRLBD]

Was any type of anesthesia used? Mine took 2-3 hours and I really had a hard time with the pain of the prodding because no anesthesia was used. Was not able to ablate bec could not map the source of the problem. So disappointing to have gone thru all of that in vain. Recommendations for my second experience soon?

[feelthefear]

bloody hell that's terrible !!! ive had 3 Ablations and they don't work still in AF AND FAST heart rate. messed up or what!!!

[feelthefear]

I read yr post with interest, had a Ablation 2 wks ago and its my 3rd and yes!! its made things a whole lot worse. Heart rate with AF rarely went above 90 now 156 and climbing, breathless. wish I never had it. Had 18 cardio versions and they have always worked for me. wish I could turn back clock, Ablations aren't half what they are cracked up to be. Last resort for tired drs I think!!!

[feelthefear]

Ive had 3 Ablations, 18 cardioversions and still AF AND the rest keep coming back. But if yr one of the lucky ones yr first Ablation wil be successful. Good luck

[feelthefear]

they give you a strong sedative you wont remember a thing. Good luck

[Rica_J]

I am so terribly sorry that you are going on without your father. Thank you for sharing with all those on this site. Your dad must have been strong to go through the accident and all that followed. I have baby SVT in comparison, and I don't like it even at such a small degree.

[DWW3]

Do you have metal fillings? Do you get vaccines and flu shots every year?

[bigfatpig]

Just wondering if you're still on this forum and which EP you saw in melb

[skymike69]

I just had this svt surgery and ,yes it did suck. my question to everyone is , how is it that so many of us are suffering from the same physical problem? It has been pondering in my mind that so many people are having electrical mishaps in their hearts. Has anyone stopped to think of this , or am I just over thinking it?.

[sydllie]

When I was 8 the doctors all told me that nothing was wrong.  Now I'm 16 and the cardiologist just looked at the recordings that my heart monitor took, my history, and my symptoms and new right away that I had SVT.  

Sometimes my rapid beats last for 20ish seconds to 3 hours.  Once my heart just raced for 9 hours and I couldn't make it stop.  I almost fainted and I lost my sight for 10 seconds.  My chest was so sore the next day because of the rapid and hard beats.  

I have another meeting with my cardiologist on the 22 of July in Wexford.  Then an ablation scheduled for the 11 of August at UPMC Childrens Hospital in Pittsburgh.

[sydllie]

When I was 8 the doctors all told me that nothing was wrong.  Now I'm 16 and the cardiologist just looked at the recordings that my heart monitor took, my history, and my symptoms and new right away that I had SVT.  

Sometimes my rapid beats last for 20ish seconds to 3 hours.  Once my heart just raced for 9 hours and I couldn't make it stop.  I almost fainted and I lost my sight for 10 seconds.  My chest was so sore the next day because of the rapid and hard beats.  

I have another meeting with my cardiologist on the 22 of July in Wexford.  Then an ablation scheduled for the 11 of August at UPMC Childrens Hospital in Pittsburgh.

[srajchel]

I had my second ablation done for SVT a couple of weeks ago. The first one 4 years prior cured me of all symptoms for about a year and then it came back. The first episode I had after the ablation was when I was in very high altitudes and that one was debilitating, I couldn’t walk so I sat on the top of the mountain until it was time to take the ski lift back down. From then it pretty much came back.  I had the second ablation done after a particularly difficult summer where the humidity seemed to trigger it and I can't avoid humidity unless I move. Anyway, I'm still having symptoms after the second one. The most recent one was today and triggered by food, some foods will absolutely trigger an SVT, high fat, salt, wheat etc, (all of which I had for lunch) and surprisingly caffeine does not seem to trigger them for me unless it's a large amount of dark chocolate. So I'm starting a journal on what specific foods I should avoid.

Allowing the episodes go on for a long time is very unhealthy so if you don't already do this, try bearing down, you have to actually squat down and can't do this sitting down in a chair or whatever, so you squat down with your feet spread apart a little, you put your chest comfortably against your knees and just breathe, most times I can feel the heart "reset" itself, it's really surprising how well it works. It's funny because none of my doctors told me to do it, noooo, they much prefer to write prescriptions. I found this on my own. I did use beta blockers once or twice but my doctor didn't recommend them to be taken every day only when I have an episode and those work too but I just don't like to take any medication at all.
The procedure itself was done under general anesthesia and I felt excellent the next day with the exception of some groin pain only made worse by my kicking toddler. My doctor gave me a sript for 10 Percocets and I laughed, I didn’t even need Tylenol. I was told I couldn’t lift over 10 lbs for a week but that proved impossible with a 30 lb toddler who wanted mommy, nothing happened probably because my body has been lifting him every day so I was not straining to lift him, it was easy.
Let’s hope my SVT goes away once all heals and good luck to all of you!

[mrspayne2009]

TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM SVT I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT MY DOCTOR SAYS THAT WEN THIS OCCURS IT DOESN'T ALLOW SUFFICIENT BLOOD FLOW TO YOUR BODY AND IT SHOULDN'T GO ON LONGER THAN 4or5 MINUTES IF IT IS STILL NOT UNDER CONTROL AFTER 30 MINUTES U SHOULD GET TO THE HOSPITAL IT IS A SIMPLER HEART CONDITION THAN MOST BUT IF ITIS AFFECTING U AT THE MOMENT U SHOULD GO GET HELP IF U HAVE OTHER SYMPTOMS DURING U SHOULD DEFINITELY GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND A PERSON SAID THEY WERE WEAK AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF FOR DAYS AFTER THAT'S NOT NORMAL IT SHOULDN'T GO ON FOR HOURS UR BRAIN AND THE REST OF YOUR BODY ISN'T GETTING PROPER OXYGEN WEN YOU'RE HEART IS BEATING THAT FAST NEXT TIME GO GET HELP RIGHT AWAY THAT COULD CAUSE UNNECESSARY PERMANENT DAMAGE TO YOUR BODY

[loulou484]

Ive had SVT since I was 10yrs old. At 27 yrs old I finally braved it and went for the ablation because I wanted to start a family next year and my cardiologist said it would be safer for me and the baby if I had it done. my only symptoms were the palpitations. I used to get the attacks once/twice a month or if I had a cold and sniffed a lot (a bad habit) then sometimes up to 3 times a day. But I learned to control them with the 'valsalva manoever' well worth looking up. I could get rid of them within seconds of them starting, hence I had no need for hospital admission of medication or ablation until my GP visit. I was petrified about being awake through the whole procedure. But my consultant gave me pethadine and diazemols before he even started anything. I was awake the whole time and heard everything but felt nothing! it was weird almost 'outer body' experience. I went down at 1030 and was in the theatre for 3 hours because my SVT was stubborn to get started but he got it in the end. I am only 5 days post op and the bruising in the groin is going down already, should be back to work in 5 days times. ive got a 6 week follow up app but so far so good. DEFO RECOMMEND it! the risks are minimal and the benefits can be life changing. I can only wait and hope it has worked first time. but if not I will have no worries having it done a second time if needed. I had my surgery in England which from the posts above seem to be more successful????

[tika169]

Hi I was dignost with Svt 2 years ago when I was 19 now I'm 21 And on medication .the medication seems to help a bit but I sometime have episodes .before I was dignost with Svt I was getting dizzy spells black out and tingly all through my body to the point the when I all that would accrue at the same time I would have like a hot flash go though as well I felt like that for several month and couldn't take it anymore So I went to the doctor and hospital in two different city's which the told me that I had panic attacks that was causing me to do that . About a month it continued and same episodes continue and went to the hospital which the we doctor told me I had Asma and perscibed me an enhailer about a could of weeks after It was getting worse where I was admitted to the hospital that they couldn't get my hard rate down from 245 they injected 9 medications in to the IV and with in each time they put medication into my IV within 5sec my heart rate went up they had to fly my to Texas Methodist hospital which I was admitted the and was in icu for about 5 days had so many test ran that day that they also told me that the enhailer they gave me made everything worse then it was sometimes I hate my life cause I go to doctor visits knowing am I the only young one here older people just stare at me....I'm am still having episodes everyone I'm awhile and also feeling much more tired ...I just sometimes don't know what to do no more.?!

[tika169]

Hi I was dignost with Svt 2 years ago when I was 19 now I'm 21 And on medication .the medication seems to help a bit but I sometime have episodes .before I was dignost with Svt I was getting dizzy spells black out and tingly all through my body to the point the when I all that would accrue at the same time I would have like a hot flash go though as well I felt like that for several month and couldn't take it anymore So I went to the doctor and hospital in two different city's which the told me that I had panic attacks that was causing me to do that . About a month it continued and same episodes continue and went to the hospital which the we doctor told me I had Asma and perscibed me an enhailer about a could of weeks after It was getting worse where I was admitted to the hospital that they couldn't get my hard rate down from 245 they injected 9 medications in to the IV and with in each time they put medication into my IV within 5sec my heart rate went up they had to fly my to Texas Methodist hospital which I was admitted the and was in icu for about 5 days had so many test ran that day that they also told me that the enhailer they gave me made everything worse then it was sometimes I hate my life cause I go to doctor visits knowing am I the only young one here older people just stare at me....I'm am still having episodes everyone I'm awhile and also feeling much more tired ...I just sometimes don't know what to do no more.?!

[ireneo]

Many people go in, have an ablation and are good to go. That's why they say ablations are so successful. And people who are cured the first time in have no real need to come to a forum like this any more.

In my case, I have several different types of arrhythmias going on. That makes it a bit more difficult to correct. Like someone who falls and breaks his arm, gets a cast put on and in 6 - 8 weeks is healed compared to someone who had his arm crushed and needs multiple surgeries and treatment to fix it. It's just more complicated.

My cardiologist didn't realize the first time in all the problems my heart had. From the monitors I wore it looked like plain old PSVT. But then they found some other nonsense going on. He said it was like the 4th of July. LOL Plus, as sometimes happen, they do the ablation, can't trigger the tachy and it looks like the ablation was successful. Only a few months down the road, the tachy shows up again. That happens on a rare occasion. I just got lucky.  LOL again.

Hope that helps explain.