Benign or Malignant?

[Mom2four85]

I thought it would be a good thing to start a poll to see some numbers for community members arrhythmia's.

Have you been medically diagnosed with arrhythmia's? If so, what is your diagnosis? Please explain below with your diagnosis or type of arrhythmia.  

Have you found a direct cause of  your arrhthmia? If so, what?

(it's early so let me know if I left something out)

Arrhythmia's Originating in the Atria

•Atrial fibrillation

•Atrial flutter

•Supraventricular tachycardias (PSVT)

•Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

•Premature supraventricular contraction or premature atrial contraction (PAC's)

•Sick sinus syndrome

•Sinus arrhythmia

•Sinus tachycardia

•Multifocal atrial tachycardia


Arrhythmias Originating in the Ventricles

•Premature ventricular contraction (PVC)

•Ventricular Fibrillation

•Ventricular Tachycarida (VT/VTach)

List of possible causes:
Ischemia
Certain medicines such as digoxin, which increases heart contraction
Myocarditis
Cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic or dilated
Myocardial contusion
Hypoxia
Hypercapnia (CO2 poisoning)
Mitral valve prolapse
Smoking
Alcohol
Drugs such as cocaine
Caffeine
Tricyclic antidepressants
Magnesium and potassium deficiency
Calcium excess
Thyroid problems
Chemical (electrolyte) problems in the blood
Heart attack
Adrenaline excess
Lack of sleep/exhaustion
Stress

[tom_h]

SVT (AVRT)  Atrioventricular reentry tachycardia (AVRT) This results from the presence of two conducting pathways creating a reentry circuit very similar to AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). My particular type of AVRT is referred to as Circus Movement Tachycardia because of the circular "ring" the electrical pathway forms.

First symptoms appeared at 6 years of age, and continued for 54 years.  I had a self sustaining tachycardia, meaning once it started it would persist until outside intervention terminated it.  I used Valsalva to convert every episode and never needed professional intervention.

I was successfully ablated in November of 2010 and remain SVT free today.

[MichelleP_3811]

SVT (AVNRT) (AV node reentrant tachycardia)

AVNRT is an accessory pathway condition where one is born with some extra fibers in their heart that mature into having the ability to conduct electrical currents.  It is congenital.  

I have had symptoms all my life but the episodes only happened once in a blue moon.  Once I hit my thirties my extra pathway apparently matured enough that I started to get weekly symptoms with episodes lasting a minute to the max was 12 hours.  This I have been told is typical.  My heart rate would reach 230bpm.  

When the episodes first started to become more frequent they were quite difficult to deal with basically knocking me on my butt but I adopted a daily cardio routine a couple years ago and it really did help me to tolerate the episodes a lot better.  I could almost function and felt less like I was going to pass out.  I would obviously not recommend exercising during an episode but cardio exercise can really help.  Though always check with your doctor first before taking one on.  

Triggers could be just about anything but I did notice there was definitely a higher incidence with a leaning forward postural change.  Basically bending forward was a big trigger but not the only trigger.

Anyways, after about 10 years of trying to self manage the condition and being informed that it will never go away I had an ablation that appears to have cured the problem.    

[MichelleP_3811]

Do you know what type you had?  WPW, AVNRT, AVRT?  My doctor did tell me that some people's bodies heal the ablation.  I guess kind of nice to know your body knows how to fix itself but kind of frustrating when it's something you don't want fixed.  Ah that must be frustrating for you.

[merileegal]

I had SVT (AVNRT) until my ablation 3 months ago. I had it for over 20 years. I used meds a few different times but didn't like the way I felt on them. I chose to convert through vagal manueves which worked until earlier this year. I still have PACs which I've had since my early 20's.

Triggers for me are caffeine, stress, too many carbs, going too long without eating, certain supplements, msg, and when I was younger, my hormones affected them.

To Krissycar: Going to the dentist is worse than having the ablation done. I'm so glad I don't have them anymore and that I don't have to depend on meds  to fix my arrythmias.

[lulustone]

I was diagnosed with PSVT (paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia) several years ago, said to be due to accessory pathways.  I underwent ablation which was considered a cure because I did not have the rhythms for several years, but have only recently begun to have them again.

[Krissycarr123]

Dec 2010 - finally diagnosed with AVNRT after 20 years of being called panic and anxiety
Very anxious, previously agoraphobis
Medically converted Dec 24th, 2010 after 3 hours of 188 BPM
On
Bisoprolol 2.5 mg for three days noe -no side effects
Doctor reviewed Dec 24th attacks - 5 beats of consistent A-Fib and shows 2 circuits each pumping out different heart beats - one regular and one irregular
see electrophysiologist next month - terrifed of ablation and hoping that bisoprolol will stop symptoms and attacks
attacks only triggered by stress and adrenaline rushes

[yarrow]

Benign monofocal PVCs, cause unknown, worsened by panic attacks.

Mild to moderate aortic regurgitation, monitored via yearly echos.  Possibly related to very mild Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (causing over-elastic chordae tendineae) or to valve damage from bout of Reactive Arthritis some years ago.

'White Coat' hypertension (documented--the only case my cardiologist has ever seen).

[soliloquy67]

Still in testing stage to find cause of recent onset PVC's (hours of them for a couple episodes with every 4-5th beat).

Had echo which only showed (as told by GP) Mild Mitral Valve Regurg. Currently on last 6 hours of 48hr monitor but noticeable pvc's have declined to nil in last 12hrs.

Drinking OJ, eating bananas, drinking 2 litres of Smart Water a day and taking 200mg Magnesium and three 1000mg fish oil caplets daily. Also trying to be more active after a very sedentary lifestyle.

Will update with a vote and results of monitor/diagnoses when I have it. So far the GP is going with "benign". We will see.

[Mom2four85]

wow thank you all who responded so far =) hopefully we can keep this going and more use the poll :P  - I think it would be a very helpful thing for new members who struggle with finding answers

I'm learning so much new stuff about everyone and the things we face daily.

[is_something_wrong]

PACs, tachycardia (probably sinus), variable blood pressure.

Benign =)

[SDalb]

Sept of 09 diagnosis, Atrial Flutter, Oct had ablation for Flutter. 10 days later went into Afib.  Was on flecanide and metoprolol until August 2010 when I had a PVI ablation, on sotalol since. I have been in NSR for about 50+ days.Sotalol has been cut in half.  Infrequent PAC's, that do not last more than a couple seconds.
Flutter and Fib seemed to have been triggered by exertion.  Couple of times episodes occurred when resting.  

[ireneo]

Benign atrial issues:  PSVT, PAC's and atrial flutter (flutter was corrected during first ablation). Also have benign PVC's. Sounds like I had some NSVT after my stress test. No concern.

Seems I was born with this since I've had them all my life.

[jennyfi1234]

frequent pvcs, svt, 1st degree heart block
mvp with mild regurgitation and leaflet thickening
told cause of pvc is possible mvp or unknown
told cause of svt is possible mvp or unknown
told heart block is due to prozac

[kevk]

HOCM malignant PVC`s, VT, VF.

First ICD implanted in 1991 after EP study Only two shocks, Plus meds.

Never needed any trigger.

[joshuamom]

SVT (AVNRT) (AV node reentrant tachycardia)
Rate Dependent LBBB (Left Bundle Branch Block)
PVC's
IST (inappropriate sinus tachycardia)

I was diagnosed in Feb of 2009 after being chemically cardioverted at the hospital, after having attacks for over 20 years.  Was told it was panic and anxiety, until they caught it on ECG.  Because of the LBBB, my SVT looks like VT on an ECG.
I had the AVNRT ablated on Oct. 20/2010, so far so good!  Just PVC's now, which I am ok with.
My triggers are PMS (hormones), stress, lack of sleep, eating, alcohol, breathing (lol)
I am on Bisoprolol 2.5 mg (baby dose) to get me through as my heart heals, and asprin 325mg for 6 weeks post ablation

[Janpes]

SVT (AVNRT)
Supraventricular Tachycardia (AV Node Reentry Tachycardia)

Born with an extra pathway in heart.(never knew it) Heart structually fine, works fine, no blockages or problems.
Diagnosed Sept 2010 at age 36
Frequent small SVT attacks with 3 major ones
Chemically cardioverted once
Triggers were usually anything, alcohol, moving from one position to the next (esp. bending to pick something), playing on the Wii with kids, eating...basically anything!
Had ablation October 2010 (so far successful as am pap free for 5 days now)
Take Magnesium 250mg, Somac 40mg and Warfarin 6mg daily (Warfarin ends in 2 weeks) then I will take Primospan 100mg daily.

[Mom2four85]

Malignant Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia

I have frequent pvc's, pac's, psvt & VT