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SVT vs Anxiety

In the past, I've confused my SVT with anxiety or panic attacks. Whenever I get really anxious, I constantly fear I will go into SVT and have to go to the ER. I hate when you have to get the shot of adenosine in the ER :( I've also never had panic attacks prior to being diagnosed with SVT. So me knowing I have SVT causes me anxiety and then leads to a panic attack. Any insight on this matter? Maybe on how to distinguish between the two? How to calm down? Isn't anxiety a trigger of SVT?
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Avatar universal
I have suffered from AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia for about four years. It began after the birth of my son, maybe from the stress, I am not sure why. It seemed to settle and it wasn't too bad until I had a miscarriage last year and then it became worse. The attacks would last for longer and they would be between 200-250bpm. I hated the feeling, the suddenness and the inability to get them to stop. My trip to a hospital whilst on holiday made me anxious all the time and because they sometimes just started from picking up something from the floor I felt scared just to move! I ended up last week having a catheter ablation procedure and I would really recommend it. Although I don't know for sure if I am cured, the doctor said there was a 92-95% chance and I am confident. I have some chest pain and irregular beats after but no attacks so far. I was terrified to have the procedure but it was really easy and I was asleep the whole time. Please if you have SVT have a catheter ablation. Find a really good doctor and hospital and get it over and done with. I still feel anxious because I am used to always worrying about it and its hard to stop but I think time is a great healer.
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I was just diagnosed with SVT after being told I was having panic attacks for 1.5yrs. I just had the ablation and have made a short Utube video which I hope will help others

http://youtu.be/swNLAQA2mUk
Avatar universal
Thank you for your helpful posts. I experienced my first episode of svt whille on a train in august 2013 my heart rate was at 170 bpm by the time i arrived at ER. It eventually went away hours later. They kept me overnight but could see nothing wrong with my heart and discharged me next day. Since then I have an episode at least twice weekly. My cardiologist gave me a seven day monitor to wear. She said the results on showed ectopic beats but no arrythmia. She did not want to give me beta blockers becuase I have asthma and gerd. She did not feel I necessary needed medications and the extra beats were benign. I am a 47 year old woman who gave up smoking 2 years ago.
I never had the problem until i suffered from gastric reflux disease. I wondered if there was some connection.
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Avatar universal
Thank you guys for all your help/responses!! Any other suggestions for valsalva maneuvers that worked for you guys? I'll try anything! I just want to avoid the ER so if a valsalva maneuver can help, I'll do it.
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1423357 tn?1511085442
I suppose everyone has there own technique.  Mine was to sit on a step as it placed my knees close to my chest and gave me a sort of seated crunch position that I found effective in performing the maneuver.  A standing Valsalva never worked for me.
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995271 tn?1463924259
I echo what is being said about a valsalva maneuver.   Just keep repeating it until it works.  It's also a good distraction if you are starting to panic.
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1423357 tn?1511085442
I had a self-sustaining case of SVT.  Once it started, it would not drop out on its own.  It would just run on and on and required intervention to slow it.  Before I left the hospital back when it first happened when I was 6, the physicians there showed me how to do Valsalva.  The next time it happened, I tried it and it worked.  So that's what I used all of those years.
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Avatar universal
Tom that's awesome! I'm happy for you. I hope I can have a success story like yours. I'd just be terrified to get an ablation! Mine is not that bad right now. I'm 23 and have only had around 3 somewhat "bad ones" that lasted like 15 minutes or longer and other smaller ones that probably lasted a short period of time. And only had to go once to the ER for the SVT since I didn't know the maneuvers. What did you do to convert it? Thanks again Tom!
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Avatar universal
Thanks Michelle, yeah I think I need to ask more questions from my cardiologist like what causes my SVT, what kind I have, etc.
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1423357 tn?1511085442
To answer your questions: I had nearly a lifetime of SVT having had my first episode at six years of age.  SVT became intertwined in my daily lifestyle.  Having learned how to convert it after the first episode, when it started, I'd move to the sidelines, convert it, and move on.  I was always anxious when it would start, always wondering if this episode would be the one that I couldn't stop.  In the 54 years that I had it, I suppose that I had hundreds of SVT episodes.  I was able to successfully convert each one. I was assured over and over by many cardiologists that my condition was not life threatening, and I suppose those two facts are what made me cope with it for so many years. Instead of buckling to it, I challenged SVT by participating in sports requiring high respiratory output.  It often won,but I was determined to not let it control my life.  I imagine that I'd still have it if it were not for my cardiologist who after seeing my pulse rate of 225, became concerned that my aging heart would not be able to withstand the frequent events which had grown to about five episodes per month.  He convinced me to undergo an EP study and ablation.  1 year, 2 months, no SVT!
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1807132 tn?1318743597
Cardioversion is generally used for afib.  Adenosine usually works for accessory pathway svts like avnrt avrt.  I think it is rare they would ever need to cardiovert for the pathway svts.  You likely have an accessory pathway svt but would need to get that official diagnosis from your cardiologist.  
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Avatar universal
Hi Jcrow. I have not heard of that. I take it, you've done this? Is this kind of like a valsalva (spelling?) maneuver? Please inform me about this. Thanks.
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Avatar universal
I've never been electroconverted. I've had the adenosine but I believe if that didn't work I'd have to go through the electrocardioversion. I'm not really informed on electrocardioversion. How was it for you? What do they do? Has anyone offered the idea of an ablation to you? I hate going to the ER for adenosine even though I've just done it once, I just hate having SVT period. I need to learn to accept it, even though I rarely have it. I also am trying to do calmer things. I'm reading, listening to soft/slow music, doing yoga/pilates, and meditation. I hope these will work for me over time. I will take a look at the books you recommended, thank you :) Glad to hear you're doing better. I also quit my job too. We gotta take care of ourselves. Well I hope you take advantage of calming activities and that we'll lead more relaxed lives. Take care of yourself and I will too. Thanks for your help, Delta.
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Avatar universal
Have you tried getting a chiropractic adjustment, a pinched or compressed nerve in the cervical or upper thoracic spine can easily throw-off the normal signals of the vagus nerve causing heart palpitations, anxiety and even SVT.
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1569985 tn?1328247482
I originally made an appt. with a pyschiatrist because I was shaking.  I'd started a new job and was under a lot of stress.  I'd had an Afib episode when my husband had a serious surgery a year before.  Everyone told me I was having panic attacks and I was being told to take anti-depressants.  When I saw the shrink, he said I wasn't depressed, but I was anxious.  Later I found that the symptoms I was having were classic Afib.  My episodes would come on with no warning and I didn't feel anxious, so I was having a hard time believing I was having panic attacks.  Talk therapy helped me calm down some, it wasn't wasted time or money.  I did go to the ER with the shaking and they found nothing.  The times my heart has gone into tachycardia I haven't been in a position to check my heart rate.  Because of my meds, my heart rate is "normally" low now, in the low to mid 50's.  So 70 is fast for me.  During my Afib episodes it was up to 180 and I could slow it somewhat by my breathing exercises, but I could not get back into normal sinus rhythm.  As my Afib progressed, it would convert back to normal on its own.  The last 2 times I had to be electroconverted.  I left my stressful job in July and I am just now starting to feel calmer.  My work situation the last 2 years may have contributed to my worsening Afib.  Meditatiion helps me, also deep breathing, visualization and yoga if I would get back to it -- that's a New Year's resolution.  It sounds like you are working on the panic and getting better at handling it.  I think it's comes along with the heart issues.  A good book is "The Sky is falling"  I don't know the author -- it helped me a lot and is available at the library and probably online.  Another one that helped me a lot is "You can't afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought."  It's coping with serious illnesses.  I would recommend both. I would cover all the bases, therapy, meds, 2nd opinions.  Try not to get discouraged -- this can be managed.  I wish you luck.  
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Avatar universal
Have you ever been to the ER to help your panic attacks? Or have you learned how to calm your heart down? What would you say was the fastest heart rate you calmed down by yourself? I'm glad to say that lately I haven't needed to go to the ER for panic attacks alone since I avoid the "what if" statements and the negative thinking. I'm also taking yoga and trying to live a healthier lifestyle and am taking anxiety meds too. I just one day, don't want to have to rely on meds to calm me down so I'm hoping meditating or yoga or peaceful music or exercise help me. And hopefully the anxiety will disappear overtime. Thanks for your feedback Delta.
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Avatar universal
Yeah I have panic disorder and luckily now I don't have to go to the ER to deal with my panics. The one main reason I went to the ER with the fast heart rate was because I felt at the time it could be SVT or couldn't be stopped without the help of the ER staff. But luckily now I know to not fear having SVT and calm myself by not having negative thoughts of "what if" and usually my panic goes away quickly. No need to visit the ER! Now for the SVT, I've been to the ER once for it and for the first time ever. Before, it would go away on its own and I didn't even know it was a heart problem. They diagnosed me right then and there at the ER. So I do believe the SVT caused me this panic disorder or high anxiety because I constantly worry about going into an episode and having a shot of adenosine isn't ideal. But I'm improving with my thoughts. How did you cope with SVT? Did you have an ablation?
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1569985 tn?1328247482
Here's a breathing exercise you could try to slow your heart down -- it works for me.  
1.  Breathe out thru your mouth, empty your lungs.
2.  Breathe in thru your nose to the count of 4.
3.  Hold for a count of 7.
4.  Breathe out to the count of 8.
Repeat 4 times.  After you are used to it, you can go to 8 times.

This may seem simplistic, but i have stopped a rapid heartbeat with it. I also take a low dose of Xanax for anxiety.  I was diagnosed with panic attacks and basically, they didn't come on until I started having episodes of Afib.  Yoga, meditation, trying not to "what if," all help.  I am on an antiarythmic medication now, so no Afib for 8 months, but some pvc's, pac's and tachycardia.  I would not accept an diagnosis of anxiety alone.  Good luck to you.
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1423357 tn?1511085442
SVT is here.  Anxiety is over there.  The two are distinctly different.  However, one may initiate the other.  When I got one of my many SVT events, I felt anxious, and I appeared anxious to anyone observing.  And I know, that during moments of high anxiety, it could very easily initiate an event.  You've had an event recorded, and you've been confirmed to have SVT, so you have a baseline to work from.  You can be treated for anxiety neurosis and/or panic disorder. But your SVT still exists.  My wife had severer panic disorder, but yet never had SVT.  Her heart raced during an attack, but it was merely sinus tachycardia.  My point to you is you need to treat the two differently.  If it's confirmed, don't accept a physician's diagnosis that you have anxiety only.  You may need to be treated for both.  That said, I went unmedicated for frequent SVT fron my teenage years until my mid 50's.  I just dealt with it, and moved on.  Good luck!
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Avatar universal
Alright, I will definitely keep exercising and try not to worry as much because it is limiting my enjoyment of life :( But I do have hope. Thank you so much Michelle and I hope your situation gets better too!
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1807132 tn?1318743597
You shouldn't go by what I say in terms of getting your svt episodes treated.  I have read 30 minutes tops but you really need to go with your own instincts.  I did let mine go too long.  I don't express it to tell people to not go to the ER but rather to note that you can have longer episodes and not die.  Svt is serious and needs to be managed but it is not something to be afraid of.  Your heart is very resilient.  So just use your best judgment.  If you can't get the episodes to stop on their own then just go to the ER.

As for exercise, when you exercise your heart rises differently then it does with svt.  The svt is more of a manic beat as opposed to an elevated normal sinus beat.  An svt episode or 2 has been triggered when I exercised, mostly just after I have stopped but it was triggered far more often when I wasn't doing anything at all or just bending down.  You really can't live your life worrying about having an attack.  That just isn't living.   But I promise you taking up some cardio will make you feel much stronger and healthier.  : )
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Avatar universal
Oh my gosh, an 8 hour and 12 hour episode??? That would make me sooo uncomfortable. But I do get what you mean about at first, like feeling that it's normal or everyone must go through this. When I first had SVT episodes, I just kinda dealt with it, waiting for it to go away, which it did after minutes. But now that I'm older, I was like wait a minute...I gotta get this checked. All I've been dealing with lately is panic attacks and anxiety which I can control now by avoiding the negative thoughts of "Oh it could be SVT". But yes, next time I actually have an SVT episode rather than an anxiety attack, I will use those maneuvers. How long should I wait for it to go away before I go to the ER? I would just be worried that if you wait too long, you'd be causing damage to your heart. But I'm glad yours has turned into more of a success story in the end. I will definitely take a look at your journal.

Oh and speaking of exercise, how did you allow yourself to do such cardio? I just hate the feeling of the heart rate going up, even though you know your exercising...because isn't exercise also a trigger for svt or could be? Makes me think I should get a stress test. I'm taking yoga (easy yoga) and walking here and there. But even when I do yoga, I get a little worried about my heart.

Thanks Michelle.
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1807132 tn?1318743597
I grew up having the episodes so I thought they were normal and everyone had them.  As I got older I started to smoke so when the episodes got worse I thought I was actually hyperventilating.  They generally only lasted 5 minutes tops until about 3 years ago I had an 8 hour episode.  I looked up online what I was feeling and realized at that point it was my heart.  I really can't tell you why it never frightened me.  I would feel like I might pass out and it was hard to breath but I never felt I was going to die.  I partly think I trusted the episode would stop so I didn't worry about it.  After the 8 hour episode and going the doctor to be told I am fine I decided I would take up a cardio routine.  That was probably one of the best decisions I could make.  After I got my heart a little healthier I was actually able to tolerate the episodes really well.  I could almost function.  I had to sit and be calm until it passed but I didn't feel quite as out of it as I did before I started taking up cardio.  The only problem is the episodes though they didn't feel as tough didn't really stop.  I was still getting them almost weekly.  And it was a 12 hour episode that prompted me to go back to the doctor.  This time I was sent to a cardiologist who right away kind of knew it was svt and I was offered an ablation from the get go.  

My ablation was a piece of cake mostly because I was very active.  I stressed a little about doing it and so the pvcs were going crazy which caused me to have 7 episodes the week I was having the procedure.  So when I got in it didn't take much to get the svt going and like I said if they can get it going they can ablate pretty easy.  If you do indeed have the avnrt it really is one of the easiest fixes of them all with the main complication being the accessory pathway being too close to the good pathway.  If it is they can't ablate.  Mine wasn't.  If you want to read my journal entry click on my name and go to my page.  There are some horror stories but I think there are more success stories than horror stories.  It is just most people only get on these kinds of sites when they are having problems.  But for all it is worth mine was one of the best success stories around.  

Looking back I realize the pvcs were a big trigger for the svt.  And I was having some untreated stomach issues at the time that I didn't realize I had so eating was a trigger for the pvcs as well.  I don't think I would have stopped the episodes completely but if I had gotten a handle on the pvcs I may have lessened the amount of svt episodes I was having.  That said, I don't know that everyone's svt will progress.  It won't go away because it is structural not lifestyle related.  But everyone is different.  I smoked for 25 years.  It may have compromised my breathing a bit which also leaves you vulnerable to pvcs triggering the svt.  The doctor says no but I think my lifestyle may have had a hand in it at least partly. In any event, you do have to be prepared that the pvcs won't go away.  They are totally unrelated to the svt.  They can trigger each other but the pvcs are a different problem.  I did have a bad bout of them in Oct that were really bad, about 10,000 a day for around a week.  They actually made me sicker than I ever felt with the svt.  But they have settled back to where they were before the ablation, having a handful a day at most.  And my heart feels calmer than it has felt in years.  

So my best advice is to keep an eye on any stomach issues you might have, work at releasing stress and take up some cardio.  All these things will help you have a healthier heart and will help keep your rhythm problems in check or at least manageable.  Also, read up on vagal maneuvers to try to get the svt to stop once it starts up on you.  You basically bear down like going to the bathroom while holding your breath.  Or try gagging or coughing to see if that would stop it.  If you can figure out how to stop your svt then you may not need to go to the ER to get it to stop which I hear is just dreadful.  I never went and it sounds like I am lucky because it sounds like the adenosine is quite nasty.  Well you can attest to that yourself.   Either way the best thing you can do for yourself is to take charge of this.  You may not be able to completely control it but if you can take charge you might not feel as anxious about the whole thing which might be making your situation worse than it would be for you.  If you can keep the episodes to a couple a year you may never need an ablation especially if you can get them to stop on their own.  Ok, take care and if you have anymore questions just let me know.  
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Avatar universal
Oh it's okay rilesnic. I know I have SVT. But I just experience anxiety attacks that I've confused with SVT. I hope your situation gets better as well. :)
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Avatar universal
How could you stand having a fast heart rate for so long??? I feel if it doesn't go away in like 15 minutes (when I know it's SVT), I have to go the ER just because I'm so scared and it's so uncomfortable for me. I would love to read your journal. Did you choose to be awake? How sedated were you? I want to be asleep because I'm so terrified of the procedure and all the horror stories I've read. I'm also quite anxious myself. Do you think if I were to knock out a lot of the anxiety the triggers of svt or skipped beats would go away? or the majority of them? Is it always a guarantee that your SVT will get worse with age? I'm hoping that isn't so. Is your Svt cured with the ablation??
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