Ep study scheduled. Any experiences/encouragement

[hockey_player04]

Ep study scheduled for October 20th.  I have been dealing with a mystery tachycardia for about 14 years now.  Have. Had every other test and could not catch it.  I have made it to the ER only to have it quit before hooking up 12 lead.  It is infrequent (1-4 times a year) and happens during athletic activity and can last around 15 minutes.  I am asymptomatic other than the fast fluttering and the anxiety it produces.  However, every time I am active the possibility of an event is in the forefront of my brain.  I'm sure I would have more events but I NEVER push myself due to this fear.  I guess I am just getting tired of having this fear.  Any experiences or advice would be appreciated.  Thank you all so much.  I have been a reader of this board for a long time and it truly has helped.

[tom_h]

That's the attitude that I had when I went for it.  Why don't you ask your electrophysiologist to give you something that will really lay you out for the procedure. I was fortunate in that my electrophysiologist uses general anesthesia whenever possible.  I was totally out from right after getting onto the table to waking up in the recovery room with a good 5 hour nap under my belt and no more SVT.  I got a shot of Vallium in my IV line just prior to going down, and could barely keep my eyes open long enough to scoot onto the table.  Despite my relaxed state, my physician had no problem activating the SVT.

[hockey_player04]

HI tom.  I have worn a long term recorder and didn't capture the tachycardia.  I has actually done this twice.  My EP has worked with me on this for many years now and is only at this point suggesting EP study.  He is suggesting this mainly because we haven't caught it and it is really messing with me.  He did say to me that he may not be able to get it to go but I have heard of people with known arrhythmias that they still couldn't get to go.  He said he could rule out the usual suspects and make sure there is nothing major hiding out.  I guess I am just very eager at the chance to be rid of this or at least know more about it.  I'm tired of not knowing and of course my biggest fear is a case like Rich Peverly.  

[tom_h]

Michelle is correct regarding the level of pain for this procedure.  I've had orthopedic surgery for a broken shoulder blade and separated AC joint that was the most God awful pain I ever experienced.  This is nothing by comparison.  You will get up within several hour after the procedure and demonstrate to the nurse that you can walk to the bathroom, and void. ater that, you're on your way.  There are no stitches.  Entry to the vessel (vein or artery, I forget) in your leg  in made with a puncture.  within 2 days, it's merely a red dot. by the crease of your leg.  You may limp a little for a week or two as it may be tender.  Also I felt "heartache" for a week or so, enough to pause for a moment until it passed.  It was nothing that Tylenol or Motrin couldn't take care of.

About your fear of SVT.  If it is indeed SVT, it's typically not a dangerous event.  Michelle and I had nearly a lifetime of SVT.  Mine first started at 6 years of age.  It was clocked in the hospital at 312 beats per minute.  It had been beating like that for nearly 24 hours when discovered.  I didn't let it hold me back.  Rather, I challenged it, dared it to happen.  No question that it sometimes beat me, but I wasn't about to go down without a struggle.  You can suit around waiting for the next one to happen, or you can confront it head on and live a near normal life with an occasional inconvenience.

Here's a question for you:
Have you worn a long term recorder yet?  The key in getting it fixed is actually seeing it.  No offense intended, but if an electrophysiologist wants to work on you without even seeing what you've got, I'd find a new electrophysiologist.  It's a big payday for him when he gets to work on you.  Based on what you're saying above, no one has ever seen your heart "in action" yet.   A long term recorder, one you wear for month or more stands a good chance of capturing your particular arrhythmia.  Once seen, a diagnosis can easily be made, and now you're on the road to a cure.

[MichelleP_3811]

Until it is actually captured on a monitor it is hard to say exactly what is going on.  This said, most svts besides afib are pretty easy to fix so long as they can induce an episode while you are in the study.  This can be a bit tricky for someone who is only having rare episodes.  I had avnrt my whole life but it only because active in my middle 30s and it wasn't until my 40s that I got it ablated.  I was pretty active by the time I went in and because of that the doctor got it going on the first try so I was in and out pretty quickly.  The procedure itself wasn't bad at all.  You will likely be sedated and able to fall asleep.  I was pretty scared to do it but it wound up being a piece of cake.  This said, I was very active so it wasn't hard to map mine.  I can imagine if it wasn't the doctor would have to spend a lot of time revving up your heart which can imagine may be a bit more taxing than I went through but it the EP feels confident he can find your spot it may be worth a shot to be free from threat of another episode.  If you want to read about mine you can click on my name and read my journal entry.  I was pretty terrified to do it but came out of it very surprised how easy it was.  Not without discomfort but nothing compared to having full on abdominal surgery.  Best of luck with it and let us know when it is.