Controlling my reaction to PSVT attack

[DS09]

I have been diagnosed with PSVT - I went to emergency during an attack and it was recorded on an EKG so there is no question.  It occurs every month or so, lasting from 15 minutes to 1 1/4 hours. I need some help in controlling my reaction - I get very frightened and try to remain calm, but feel I'm probably making the situation worse with my fear.   Is there any danger in just lying down and trying to go to sleep during an episode?  Some reassurance that PSVT is not dangerous and is not going to kill me, and some strategies that others may have tried to end the episodes as quickly as possible, would be greatly appreciated.

[Jerry_NJ]

There is a lot of experience in this Community on your posted subject, I'm sure you'll get some helpful input.

You say you have been diagnosed with PSVT, so I must assume you are under a doctor's care.  You didn't mention any medications to help you with the troublesome symptoms.  If you do not have any medications for help, I wonder why.  Again, being under a doctor's care I think it safe to assume you are not in a dangerous position, and I see nothing wrong with trying to get relief from symptoms by resting, even going to sleep if that is possible.

Hope you get some expert experience inputs.

[ireneo]

You didn't mention your heart rate during a PSVT episode. Mine never breaks 200 bpm but in the past, before my ablations, I remember feeling like you do. The heart was pounding and racing and I felt crummy. Mine would last up to 45 minutes. I would lie down and rest till it passed.

Then I found out about vagal maneuvers and that cut a lot of the PSVT down to a few minutes at a time. Have you learned about those? My favorite is to take a breath, hold it and bear down like going to the bathroom. It was uncomfortable as my heart pounded and jumped around but I could feel the rhythm drop back to normal then. Some people cough, bend over or splash cold water on their face.

Did you have any testing done besides the EKG? You may need an echo to make sure your heart is in normal condition. If so, then most PSVT will not kill you. But if you have it often and at high rates, over the years it may take a toll on the heart. As Jerry mentioned, there are medications out there to ease the PSVT. Since yours only happens once a month or so, you may be able to do the "pill in the pocket."   Some people have the medication available so when they have a tachy time, they take the pill and it will bring the rhythm back to normal again. But you really should see a cardiologist to get all your questions answered.

[barb47198]

Hello,

I'm like you -- every time I have an episode of SVT my anxiety and panic take over, and tend to make matters worse. So in addition to my regular daily meds (Tiazac and Acebutolol), I take an Ativan as soon as a bad SVT starts. Just being able to do something -- even just taking a pill -- to try and make the event better seems to help a lot. I do the vagal maneuvres also, which help some of the time.