SVT every day

[daniel_melb]

I am a 33yr old male who has been living with SVT for about 20yrs. For the first 18 of them I performed Vagal Maneuvers to end episodes (usually within 3 minutes) - this would happen at least once a month, possibly more with too much drinking/coffee/smoking/salt etc (being naughty). Getting sick of trying to explain to people why I was bearing down, holding my breath or laying with my feet in the air and panting like a nutbag, I decided to get some help. About 18 months ago I approached a cardiologist who put me on Atenolol, 25mgs daily. It worked a treat for about 3 months - with only one brief, and slower than usual SVT episode.

But over time I noticed Atenolol had some annoying side affects. If I forgot to take my daily med it would be guaranteed that I would have an SVT episode at some point that day. Then I noticed that Atenolol was failing to protect me even if I had taken it. After 12 months I noted that my SVTs had returned to pre-medicated levels. And in the last week I have been experiencing SVTs 3-5 A DAY. This has left me unable to do much at all in an attempt to maintain a regular heart beat. Evan walking will set it off. I am off to see my cardiologist in two days to find out if my heart is planning to explode on me. I think I'll be talking seriously about ablation after this week.

So was just wondering, has anyone had any similar experiences with this kind of SVT frequency?

[nicolette36]

hi hun,i recently had an ablation done for my svt,like you with time my symptoms were becoming uncontrollable,i ended up on high dose bisoprolol since a smaller dose did not work,but i had no quality of life with all the side effects........exhaustion,dizziness,low bp.........so i was recommended for ablation and i can honestly say it has changed my life.i am no longer on meds or constantly aware of my heart and what it is doing.i highly recommend getting it done.

[ireneo]

Your story brings back memories. I've had arrhythmias all my life but no one ever told me anything about them (docs don't talk to kids much, at least not back in the 50's). I remember laying on my back and raising my feet too trying to get my heart to stop racing. It wasn't until my mid 20's that a doc told me about valsalva (bearing down). That helped me for years. And when we lived in Denver my heart was bratty like yours - stand up, move too quickly, lift something and the heart would go tachy.

In 2000 I got my first ablation. The procedure isn't as bad as it sounds. And it can make such a difference in your life. You don't have to have so many SVT episodes a day. Talk it over with your cardio.

[lagoya]

hi
ablation can cure svt or at worst decrease it's severity on the person and most are able to come off meds which is good in the long term.i too was having svt attacks probably more than 3-5 a day and a whole load at night and eventually went or should i say begged for ablation -------its worth it u will see a lot of posts in here of people feeling so much better afterwards --there's great support in here and if u do decide or your ep deicide's to ablate let know and we will support u all we can

take care

[mabebesc]

Hi Daniel,
My name is Betty.  My story is very similar to yours.  I am now 52 years old and had SVT for 36 years.  I learned how to deal with it by holding my breath and squatting down. I never had to go to an ER and my episodes never lasted more than an hour and a half. In 1991, I decided to go on medication Nadolol 20 mg daily. It worked for 6 months (no SVT) but then slowly the episodes started returning. I have lived with SVT episodes occuring 1-3 times a month all these years. I finally decided I couldn't live with the constant anxiety of an SVT starting up.  The final straw for me was about a month ago I went for a couple of days to my daughters house in Boston and while I was there felt a thump and thought "OH NO, please  don't start now!  Thankfully, it didn't but I was so anxious my whole visit anticipating it starting, I couldn't enjoy myself.  I acgtually came home feeling so upset..
I had my ablation this Monday and it was the best thing I could have ever done. I had put it off for all these years because I was so scared to have it done. I have to say that with the help of these wonderful people on the forum,  I found the courage and support I needed to go forward.  The ablation was so easy.  I can't believe how much worry I put myself through for nothing!!  If I can answer any questions for you or be of any help at all, please let me know. We all know exactly what you are going through!
Betty

[daniel_melb]

Hello to all the very friendly and helpful people who have taken the time to leave a comment to my original post. I am feeling a great deal more relieved learning that others have been through, and emerged from, similar experiences.

I have to admit to being quite frightened by the prospect of ongoing SVT (after many years of finding them an inconvenient nuisance) now I am struck down with multiple episodes every day. I could handle an episode every now and then but over the last week it has consumed every waking minute and caused a great deal of anxiety. Ablation seems like the sensible option and from reading through your comments, not as scary as the procedure itself implies.

I will continue to post here with updates, hopefully as my condition improves.

Many Thanks - Daniel

[mabebesc]

I would highly recommend the ablation.  How I wish I would have taken care of the SVT years ago.  Don't let fear of the procedure stop you. My life would have been so different had I done the ablation when I was in my 30's.  You are still so young and have so many fun years ahead. No one should have to deal with SVT -it is such an anxiety producing nuisance.  Good luck and please keep us posted.
Betty

[PikaPika88]

I'm from Melbourne too.  The nurse told me in St Vincent Hospital that they don't do ablation there.  I don't know is it true?  I've mine one done in Royal Melbourne Hospital back to 1985.

I'm still having my SVT but they brush me off.  The ED doctor at the Royal Melbourne Hospital told me or warned me that, not allow to complaint my heart there any more.  

I hope you'll go well with your ablation.  

[daniel_melb]

Hello - just an update.

Visited the cadio today and he has moved me on to to Sotalol 80mgs 2 x daily. Anyone have any comments regarding this B-Blocker?

I have also been wearing a Holter Monitor for about 3 hrs now and it has caught two episodes - both terminated by Valsalva under 10 minutes. I was planning to stay off the medication until I managed to induce the SVT but now I don't have to! Only time in my life I think I was pleased to have an attack!

After some follow up ECGs next week I will be referred to another doctor who will perform an EP study and then hopefully an ablation. How long does the whole process take, will it be weeks or months before ablation can be performed?

Hi PikaPika88 - shame St Vincent's don't do ablations, it would have been my first choice of hospital!

[nicolette36]

you have done the right thing hun,my ablation took 3 hours,dont know about the whole referall process,UK girl here..........

[lagoya]

hey
u are going in the right direction with all the tests and such i guess it depends on how fast u get an appointment with the ep and when he deicides to do the study with possible ablation --
i think sotalol is a beat blocker and a class iii anti-arrhythmic it can be used for rhythm probs and high bp i have not been on this so thats all i can say if u go into the health topics at the top of the page it may be listed in there if u want some info on it
if u are worried about side -effects etc rem not everybody gets these

keep posted what happens next and best of luck

[litleman]

Hi ,
Have just joined and I noticed you are from the UK like me.I have had SVT all of my life and I am booked for ab;ation in oct 09 , I am really scared , plus I am a nurse.People say the procedure is awful.I am also frightened of being worse than I am now.I suffer with SVT frequently when I am anxious and coffee, tea etc, but on the other hand I am fit and well.Being an aesthetic nurse I dont want to end up with a pace maker or something worse, call me superficial but I cannot help it. Have you got any thoughts?
Out of interest did you get a panic attack along with your SVT episodes or did you cope with it ?Over the years I have found Doctors very disbelieving and judgemental until they see the rythmn strip.Hope you are now fine, Fiona

[raeve]

Hey Daniel, don't know if u still reading this forum but I had SVT for 25 yrs, violent episodes too ! Completely cured it by cutting ASPARTAME and PHENALYNINE out of my diet, cutting down on all stimulants and eating smaller meals more often and staying hydrated. Also learn the vagal manouver to control episodes. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener known on food packaging as 951 and it's in a hell of a lot of foods in Aus ! Google it,u might be surprised.
Beware the the additives and preservatives !!
Steve
0437 783 837, perth.
give me a ring if u want more info, cheers