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Avatar universal

Chances of SVT coming back? i have almost episodes?

I had a catheter ablation done for my svt more than 2 years ago and so far i havent had a episode. But some times i randomly get this feeling of svt comming up and my heart speeds up for like 1 second and then stops. As if it wants to start beating fast but then somethings blocking it. Like a mini epsiode. Only last 1 second, im just woudnering if this is a sign of my svt coming back or is this nothing to worry about. Thanks!

terry
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Avatar universal
I had an ablation done 11 years ago. For the first few years I felt awesome but over the last 4 years I've been having these almost attacks. Hospital said during one of these episodes that I have an extra heartbeat now n my doctor put me on medication to control my heartbeat because even after the procedure my heart rate wouldn't go under 100 bpm. I'm still getting used to the meds but hopefully nothing worse comes with it.
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Avatar universal
I just had an ablation last Wednesday. It was so easy! I was semi awake during, which was actually kind of cool. Nothing hurt, my doc caught the SVT very quickly and then tried to find again, he tried 100 tines and nothing! Yay! I feel amazing and even though I have felt some SVT symtoms, they only last a few seconds. Looking forward to my new future!
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Avatar universal
I had the cardiac ablation over ten years ago, but like many of you there would be times the event was going to happen again: the fast heart rate, the dizziness, but it would stop there. I would wait for the "flip-flop" and recorded heart rate of  (~on one occaision HR 247!!), but thankfully it wouldnt happen.  These "almost" events have happened for years with no change.  Until last Sadvice?unday. I was driving, my heart started pounding, dizziness, fading to black...this event was worse than ever before.  and another one a couple of days ago.....
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1 Comments
Avatar universal
I am 3 months post ablation & have had excellent results. I was ablated for AFIB, A-flutter & SVT (5 hour procedure). I still have episodes of feeling skipped beats, but no tachy, irregular beats or flutters. My Dr. told me this is normal & nothing to be concerned about since the heart is still healing. Ablation has made a huge difference in my well-being & quality of life. I have also stopped drinking alcohol, caffiene & cut way back on sugar which were triggers for my heart problems.
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244602 tn?1215975628
premature atrial contractions are a major trigger of PSVT attacks.   By themselves they are normal and lots of people get them.   Nerves, stress, lack of sleep, caffeine, asthma medications, and coming down with a cold are among the things that can trigger them.   It isn't unusual to get strings of them.   By themselves they are nothing to worry about.  

Of course one still gets them after an ablation!   In fact for the first several weeks you might have alot of them because of inflammation of the heart from the procedure.  
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1423357 tn?1511085442
What you're experiencing is very normal.  It happens to just about everyone following an ablation.  You may need up to a year before your heart settles down.  Expect short runs of SVT, and skips.  Extended runs of SVT should be noted and told to your physician.
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Avatar universal
I had my ablation yesterday and it was the longest 2.5 hours of my day. But doc said it was 98% successful so here's hoping.  

I saw this thread because I am having those little flutters that were the onset of the svt attacks I had but it just dies down.  

Thanks for this thread. I will ask the doc when I see him again on the 4th and I will post his answer to the phantom attack.
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1423357 tn?1511085442
Here's the thing....  When an ablation is performed, the th pathway causing the SVT is literally burned either by heat (RF energy) or cryogenically (freezing).  This causes a barrier of scar tissure to form literally becoming a road block in the conductive path.  The path still exists. The physician has just set up a barrier to prevent the electrical pulse from reaching its destination.  If the physician doesn't quite get all of the conductive muscle, he may leave a little thread of tissue which will support occasional conduction.  Also over time, conductive issue may form over the scar which will once again support conduction and you'll get full-blown SVT events again.
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Avatar universal
I had my procedure done about nine years ago when I was 12 and am still experiencing episodes where I feel my heart is going to start racing but doesn't. I wasn't worried about it but it seems like each time the feeling happens it lasts longer each time. Not sure what to think f this but happy to know others are experiencing the same thing.
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Avatar universal
hi,
i was taken from my job by ambulance with a 220 heart rate also...
with my line of work i was told ablation was the only way i'd be able to return to my "safety sensitive" position...i had alot of anxiety about having the procedure but everything went over without a hitch....
the few months leading up to the surgery i was on metoprolol 10mg
to prevent an episode...if you're worried about the procedure and you don't need to have it like i did....my doctors told me i could be on the medication forever or have the ablation but without ablation my job wouldnt medically clear me...
so i would see if medication is an option in your case the only drawback is you're on it forever and your body could eventually adjust to the dose and they would have to up it...
best of luck and i hope this was helpful
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1903111 tn?1333213054
Thats why we are on this awesome blog.
I am not the kinda patient that takes a pill blind. I research everything.

When we are at the Dr, we have, what ...20 minutes to ask questions?

My last doctor gave me a booklet, and wrote me notes. I liked it.
Especially when I expressed my concern about new med. He wrote that anti-arrythmics taken by a young person (me) with a healthy heart (me) and in a low dose and he wrote in all caps WILL NOT HURT YOU.  In 20 minutes he really did get to know me. LOL
I am still scared to take them and I start tomorrow.  I feel like I am taking poison.  :(
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102999 tn?1326855784
LMAO - too funny.

I am the same way. I want to know actual names and terms and details. My current EP seems to avoid this like the plague. Its annoying.
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1398166 tn?1358870523
follow up... I have not had,  in any time frame I can recall ANY indication of SVT.  So based on what I wrote 7 months ago: I'm **more** solid now.

Current question: No. The only way I think you can use the word "every" with SVT is: Every SVT is a little different. I never had PIC, PAC, ACT, PVC, IRS, AFIB, DOG, LOG, or FUBAR before any SVT. I do not have anxiety. Hell, I don't have SVT anymore.

I'm not sure if I'm the type docs love or hate, but I'm pretty up front with them that I want things explained to me in the the most specific language they can muster. Tell ME - the same way way you'd tell your colleague. If I don't understand... I can work a dictionary or Google or the local Med School library.
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1807132 tn?1318743597
I am not totally certain that is totally true.  It really is anything that disrupts the normal beat cycle of the heart and gives the heart a chance to fall into tachycardia.  Mine were probably mostly started by pvcs or maybe pacs but in the early days I never felt anything except a fast beat starting all of a sudden.  But to be honest I would think that theory would mostly apply to avnrt that needs the pause to allow the secondary pathway to complete the circuit but I would think the other wall tachycardias could be triggered other ways but I am not a doctor.  
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102999 tn?1326855784
So does every SVT episode start with a PAC? If this is true...and PACs continue after ablation...it would seem silly for me to have one I think. Most of what I have and what gives me anxiety and less quality of life is the PACs.

Didnt mean to hijack the thread...just found some of the comments interesting..
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1807132 tn?1318743597
If you can find a good EP cardiologist with a good record the success rate for SVT correction is super high, up to 98% with a very low risk of complications around 1%.  It is also actually a very simple procedure for the patient with the anxiety before hand being more difficult to deal with than anything else.   Also, just so you can calm your nerves, if your heart is structurally normal and healthy then the svt is not anything of major concern.  It shouldn't have an undue harm on your heart though you will want to manage it and you may eventually want to get an ablation to avoid having any more episodes.  Most people who have them find their lives are improved by doing the ablation.  Especially if the svt was starting to disrupt their lives.  So good luck with the cardiologist but overall you do not have anything to worry about.  Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing.
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Avatar universal
Hi guys,

I've had palpatations, dizziness before but never to the extent which i did on thursday whilst playing football. After a couple of mins they died down and i went home thinking nothing of it. My heart was still racing and my girlfriend took me to the hospital and i was put straight onto an ECG with HR of 220. The doctor said he was going to refer me to a cardiologist for and ECHO scan as I have SVT. Now i'm extremely worried as i've been reading up about it and nobody seems to have a good story to tell.

All of you have had the ablation done a while ago, has it hampered your lives in any way?
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1655526 tn?1330655629
The heart needs to learn to deal with the PAC that precedes the SVT. That is probably what you were feeling. I had my ablation done in June and what you describe is how I've felt. You can feel it coming and then the heart just seems to stop and then a few fast beats. My ep told my thoser were short runs of PACs, nothing to worry about. The PACs are still going to be there but the SVT should be gone forever I hope. I've had it happen at least a dozen times since June. At first it was really unnerving and I would get a little panicky too. Now when I feel it, I just pause a second, think it through and know it's just a PAC.
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Avatar universal
Hi everyone, I'm 37 years old -I had an ablation done on 7/25/2011-so far some skipped beats and just today I was driving and I felt like it was going to start up...that feeling you get where the whole world stops around you and all you can do is wait..... my heart sped up really fast then stopped...then I was just left with a really bad anxiety attack to deal with.

I just want this to be over...SVT has put my life on hold for the past 2 years. Been on and off meds ...trips to the ER....I thank you all for this blog reading all your comments makes me feel alot better.  

  
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1423357 tn?1511085442
What he said ^^^^^
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1472718 tn?1462633391
I had my ablation done last December and haven't had an episode since, though like most everyone else, I every now and then get that feeling that an episode is trying to start up, but it never does. In fact, I had one early today, it lasted a few seconds. My heart didn't actually start beating fast, I just got that funny feeling like I used to before it would start, but nothing came of it.

I have to say that having the ablation was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My quality of life has greatly improved, I can do more strenuous activities without worrying about trigging an episode and I seem to have more energy.
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Avatar universal
thanks a lot guys for the reply. You all put my mind at ease. Im also hyper-acute when it comes to the rhythm of my heart thats why i try to avoid weed as much as possible because it makes me more paranoid. Ill go to my doctor and get a referral for a cardiologist because my old one was at sick kids when i was 18. Once you're past 18, you're considered an adult here in The Canada lol. anyways thanks again!!
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1398166 tn?1358870523
Ha! I just looked at the Airman Medical form... it asks "Have you ever in your life..."  Oh well. Will have to review that next time.
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1398166 tn?1358870523
What Tom said.

I've had that feeling of (and you all KNOW what we're talking about) "Oh boy, here we g-uh... nope."  But that was closer to the procedure.

I've seen some blips of "SVT" on my heart rate monitor that I wear when running, but have never felt ANYTHING - so I think they're just weirdness in the device.

All that being said: I wouldn't seek any treatment for "Uhhhh, nope." I've been released from cardiology and want to answer "No" to any questions on an insurance card, application for Airman's Certificate, etc... regarding "medical conditions."

Besides, I think, most people here are... how does one put this delicately??? "Hyper-acute to the rhythm of their heart."  I am included. But, I don't worry about it.
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