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Avatar universal

AVNRT, SVT and Acute Anxiety

Hi
I'm hoping to get some reassurance probably like most people with anxiety. My problem stems from the fact that I do have Arrhythmias. I get "extra beats" from time to time and when i'm not anxious I tend to ignore them. Ten years ago I was diagnosed with SVT namely AVNRT and my cardiologist has mentioned that he has seen evidence of a sino atrial reentrant disturbance. I am taking Bisoprolol to control my infrequent episodes of AVNRT and maybe get one or two a year lasting a few minutes at most now it is under control. My problem is that I am currently experiencing acute anxiety which is causing palpitations and of course extra beats, I have become terrified that the extra beats will become AVNRT and due to my severe anxiety my body will not be able to cope and it will kill me. I have no structural problems with my heart and all the usual tests were carried out when I was first diagnosed. It is extremely difficult living with these arrhythmias when anxious as my whole anxiety episodes center around my heart. Please could you give me your medical opinion on my case and whether I have reason to be worried or should I take these arrhythmias as a nuisance that will be treated if and when they arise if they do not stop by themselves.
I really appreciate your response.
Kind regards
Mel
8 Responses
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Avatar universal
Other than all the drugs you are taking I also expeience the same thing, my anxiety centres around my heart beat. This may be a shot in the dark, but do you have a fear of dying?? I know this may sound silly as essentially most people are afraid of dying, but is it something that you think about more than you should - potentially dropping down dead? If it is then it may be that, that is your trigger. You mentioned that when you are not anxious you are able to ignore the abnormal heart beat, again like me - take some comfort in the fact that you are not alone.

I am not a religious man, infact completely the opposite - and this is where the shot in the dark comes. The only people I know who are not afraid of dying are people who believe they are being looked after by a higher being and that after they die they will go onto some other place. I know this sounds mad, especially if you are like me and don't really have a religious bone in your body. But beliving in something higher than your self may help. If you did believe in a god of some kind, dropping down dead wouldn't concern you as much. Therefore that feeling of anxiety that surrounds you when you are having a bad day I'm sure wouldn't/couldn't be fuelled by the fact that death may be imminent! Do you see the method to my madness???

There are many religions out there and although they are the cause of much trouble in the world, they still have there place, many people use them as a source of strength as you could do in this case. If you do, tell me how it goes, as it is something I am thinking of looking into.

regards,

Tom    
Helpful - 2
230125 tn?1193365857
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I will add that there is no magic bullet to cure the anxiety.  Medications may help, but biofeedback is probably just as useful.  If it is impairing your quality of life, it might be worth seeing a psychiatrist to learn to control the anxiety.
Helpful - 1
230125 tn?1193365857
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It sounds like your main issue is anxiety.  In your post you mentioned that you only have these concerns when you are in anxiety mode.  This is very common.  It sounds like you have the understanding this is an anxiety problem, the next part is learning to convince your self that it is just anxiety.  People with structurally normal hearts do not die from AVNRT. If it bothers you that much, you might want to consider having it ablated so you don't have to worry about the AVNRT anymore. It is a relatively straightforward procedure with a low complications risks.

I hope this helps.
Helpful - 1
4953977 tn?1361528648
A related discussion, SVT/AVNRT was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for taking time to read my question. I have SVT and had this once in a while like maybe every year. Now I have had SVT every couple of months. I have had extensive test and have a very healthy heart, but they said I have a extra wire that sometime will miss and cause SVT. My heart gets up to 189 usually. Several times I have went to hospital and had Adenticard to convert. But recently it just goes away as quick as it starts after about 15 mins. My questions is now that I am in perimenopause could this explain it happening more frequent. And does SVT get worse. I have been told this is a benign condition but not life threatening for a healthy heart. What is your imput on that. How does the extra wire just get there anyway.
thank you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for taking time to read my question. I have SVT and had this once in a while like maybe every year. Now I have had SVT every couple of months. I have had extensive test and have a very healthy heart, but they said I have a extra wire that sometime will miss and cause SVT. My heart gets up to 189 usually. Several times I have went to hospital and had Adenticard to convert. But recently it just goes away as quick as it starts after about 15 mins. My questions is now that I am in perimenopause could this explain it happening more frequent. And does SVT get worse. I have been told this is a benign condition but not life threatening for a healthy heart. What is your imput on that. How does the extra wire just get there anyway.
thank you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Tom
Thank you for your post and most definitely I have a fear of dying, I'm a person that is constantly thinking, I mentally go through scenarios before I make decisions and I am a very negative person. Unfortunately I have been plagued all my life with varying degrees of anxiety and the main focus for all of this is my fear of dying prematurely. When you actually find out that you have something wrong with you no matter how much you are reassured by professionals you kind of think, I was right! ("I told you I was ill" will be on my gravestone!) lol. Seriously though I don't think what you said was mad at all. Some people find great comfort believing there is something after death and strange though it may sound I like to beleive this too. I would have more faith in a good clarevoyant than a doctor and to some that would be silly. We all die, its life's only definite, my hope is to have a quality of life and not spend it all fearing it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yup, my life to a tee bedhead.  I take and SSRI to try to curb my anxiety but hasn't done too much I'm afraid.  I too live in constant fear of these things and would love to find out how to not worry about it!
Helpful - 0

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