SVT attack

[nlkbck]

Hello, I am a 27 year old female. I have just experienced my first Supraventricular Tachycardia(SVT) attack. I was just walking down the hall at work and became very dizzy, sweaty, and it felt as though my heart was pounding out of my chest. Luckily I work at a hospital so I wired myself up to a cardiac monitor and my heart rate was 168, by the time I was wheeled to the Er my rate had jumped to 223! They gave me an Adenosine injection and within 1 minute my heart was in normal sinus rhythm. But I still felt short of breath, my arms were tingly, and still felt light-headed so they proceeded with an EKG( Normal Sinus), a chest xray-(clear), a CT checking for a P.E.(Clear). My blood work was a bit screwy...the major concers were that my D Dimer was +1592 and My potassium was low. I was also given a Echocardiagram after a day of still feeling a bit light-headed and short of breath, and fatigued. (Normal results). I was given a clean bill of health and was told that another bout of SVT may or may not reoccur. I was also told that my fatigue and SOB was still my body readjusting. That such trauma on the heart releases hormones that will make you feel pretty crappy for a few days. And that I need not follow up with a cardiologist.
It has been 2 days since my SVT occurence and I am still feeling fatigued and like I need more air, like I am short of breath. I feel a slight tightness in my chest.
My question to you is, IS THIS NORMAL, and when will these feelings start to dissipate?
Please get back to me with your thoughts/concerns and or advice.
Nicole

[anacyde]

I have SVT episodes myself, though mine are usually quite short and break by coughing hard or, if that fails, cold water on my face.  I've had them since I was 16 and I'm now 28.  They've become quite frequent lately.  Where they used to be infrequent and long, they are now more frequent but short.

I can't say how your SVT will affect you specifically, but I often feel the sensations you're describing, and usually independently of my SVT episodes.  I find anxiety is the largest culprit behind my SOB and dizziness.

Hope you find relief soon.

[sb786]

Hi, i am also 27 years old and recently diagnosed with svt. i also have been given a clean bill of health and told not to worry. After the SVT attack it took me about 5 weeks to get over the attack and accept it and then i had another one! now i'm still coming to terms with this one!
i'm really struggling this time because i am now suffering from missed beats too. i was only having a couple first now i am having tons. i really don't know what to do. my cardiologist says not to worry about the PVCs but i can't help it, i'm afraid that the PVCs will turn into a dangerous arrythmia, in fact i'm scared that the SVT will also turn into a dangerous arrythmia! I spoke to my cardiologist about the SVT and he assures me that the SVT is never going to be dangerous.
i have tried to post a question to the doc but just can't!! I just want to ask if these PVCs are dangerous? My cardiologist caught 5 on a monitor and says not to worry but that was before, now i am having at least upto 50 a day! sometimes i have 4-5 in a row. :(

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hello Nicole,

It is true that people respond to situations like this differently.  I have patients that feel a fatigued for a day or two after the SVT -- it can be a pretty stressful event, as you now know.

If the shortness of breath continues for a much longer, you should see a doctor.  I doubt this is anything serious, but it is much easier to evaluate face to face. The fact that the SVT started suddenly and terminated with adenosine suggest that this was a specific subset of SVT and is usually very treated with ablation.  I agree that this is only a concern if it happens again and either you do not want medical therapy or if medical therapy fails.  Medical therapy is usually with a beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, or other antiarrhythmic medication.

Thanks for posting and good luck