Hello...
Do you need to be refered by your primary care Dr to see the Cardiologist or can you make the appt without a referral? Either way, I think that you should let a cardiologist, more specifically, an Electrophysiologist, treat you for these issues. They specialize in this area and would be the best ones to tell you what you should or shouldn't do. I see my PCP for yearly physicals and such but my heart and the electrical disturbances are left to my cardiologist and EP Dr.
What source did you reference when you said that you heard or read that SVT can cause heart failure or heart attack. This isn't true, unless you are in a continuous state of SVT which I don't imagine could be at all tolerable for many.
The ER Dr is correct about Atenolol. People who take this beta-blocker have reported that it can reduce exercise intolerance. While BB's work best at treating symptoms of SVT, CCB's (Calcium Channel Blockers) have been used instead and these will not interfer with exercise tolerance. Some examples are Amlodipine (Norvasc), Diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR), Nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia) and Verapamil (Calan)
THe symptoms you described with PVC's is a common occurance, and is definitely a common thread here in the forum...
OK with all that said, I can't tell you what to do, but if I were in your situation, I would be making a call Monday morning to schedule an appt. with the cardiologist:)))
Let us know what you decide...:D
Thanx for the helpful info. I just saw my primary care doctor today and she said i don't need to see a specialist at all. At least not right now. She said to keep taking the Atenolol. Come back in 3 or 4 months and if i dont keep getting the SVT i don't need to go to the specialist. She said that my MVP is mild, only slight reguritation, hasn't worsened since i was diagnosed about 15 years ago. She said all the PVC's and PAC's and SVT are all not serious at all. Though i did hear that SVT can cause heart failure, heart attack, ect. Does anyone know if this is true? I just had an echo and ekg, blood test, ect. done when i was at the hospital with my SVT attack. All were normal. The doctor said my heart was in good shape except for mild MVP and the electrical problems. I was also wondering if anyone knows about MVP syndrome, were people with MVP have high levels of adrenalin in their bodies. I have always felt like i do. Today i asked my doctor about it and she just said that she didnt need to check me for that because i dont have the symptoms of that, sweating, weight loss, ect. She just said the adrenalin is naturally released when under stress and that there no way to prevent it. Also before my SVT attack i exercised almost everyday, riding bike, lifting weights but i have been too scared to do it since. The exercise never caused my PVC's but i'm afraid it may cause SVT. The Er Doc that saw me said it would be hard to exercise on the Atenolol, because it would be impossible to get my heart rate up, and i would get tired. She also said the exercise may or may not induce another attack of SVT. But my Doc i saw today, said i could an should exercise and that i dont have to worry about having another SVT attack when exercising because of the Atenolol. Hmmmmm, i'm confused, LOL. Well i was wondering if anyone has any more info on this? Also when i eat spicy foods, it induces multiple PVC's, that seem to come several in a row its only happened a few times years ago, so i stopped eating them, is this normal? Also i notice being cold can induce PVC's and warming up gets rid of them. I know this sounds strange, but its true. Is there anyone else here who as had that or heard of those things causing irregular beats?
Thanx
Brooke_38 didn't mention MVP (Mitral Valve Prolapse). I understand many (most?) can live with MPV as long as the seft atrial isn't being stretched/enlarged from the back pressure from the ventricle.
Have you had an echocardiogram study? That will discover all the structual facts.
If the left atrial is englarged, that may be the cause of the PAC - it should be checked, I believe, if it has been several years since last tested. My situation was the left atrial was increasing in size over a period of years, and finally resulted in having to have a mitral valve repair done in November 2007. I'm not saying that is your situation, just that I know the situation can change and recommend being "current" on you echo study.
Best of luck, and find the calming news I tried to provide. One key to feeling better is believing you are better, not denial, just a positive "can do" attitude.
Hello..
It is good that you are scheduled to see an EP. How severe is your MVP? (trivia-mild-moderate) SVT isn't considered a life threatening ahrrythmia. Of course there are many different types of SVT's. The 2 SVT's that by themselves not life threatening are Afib&Aflutter. Both of these do, however, have a tendency to increase your risk of stroke due to clot formation from the pooling of the blood in the atria, related to the quivering activity that occurs.
Are you at in danger from SVT with MVP? I don't believe that you are, I haven't read or heard of any increased risk from that. Of course, this is just my opinion based on what I know, the EP you are seeing would be the best to predict any incresed risk that this may carry.
If the info you have read is on the internet...I would caution you from trusting alot of what you read. Many sites do not have the correct information or the information that they have are based on very rare cases. Your best source of info would be from the Dr himself.
In regard to the sensations you are feeling from the PAC's vs PVC's...this is totally normal. PAC's can cause what's called "cannon A waves" which is the result of the beat occuring when the valve is closed. PVC's will be felt lower in the chest because these beats originate in the ventricles.
Magnesium has been proven to reduce symptoms, along with avoidance of caffeine, nicotine, MSG, reduction of stress etc. Many times you are born with this problem and it lies dormant for many years to come. Whether it's inherited or not can be disputed.
Good luck with your appt. and let us know how it goes:)