Does SVT curtail exercise?

[loosil]

Was diagnosed with SVT today after wearing a recording monitor for 2 weeks which clearly showed skipped, rapid
heart beats. It seemed I was most calm, even at rest, when the events occurred.Just beginning to gather information about this. I had been on Toprol for 2 weeks, but doctor determined I should take Verapamil now, since I have
had some asthmatic type breathing symptoms for nearly a year (connected with esophageal reflux and post
nasal drip) and Toprol could interfere with lungs.
I am scheduled for an angiogram next Thursday to check for blockages. Basically in good health, never had heart
problems before. Heart history: my 96 yr. old mother had pacemaker put in after heart attack 4 years ago. All her arteries
are blocked yet she is seldom short of breath.  Dad died of atheriosclorosis (sp?) at 87 with no check ups or doctor visits. I am a female in late 60's and wondering if SVT curtails your ability to exercise. I like to walk, swim, do Tai Chi, yoga stretches (carefully) and wish I could still jump rope, well, silly dream.     Thanks for reading and responding.
JA

[tom_h]

Actually, the safest route is probably ablation.  If you have a confirmable SVT, it may be easily cured by going this route and you can get on with a normal life, free of meds.  We're always here if you have questions concerning it.

[loosil]

I've been on the verapamil for months now and when I asked the cardiologist whether I might come off, he said we
'd have to go the route of ablation if I did and that is something I am not
comfortable doing.  I take 120mg which I thought was high and he said many people take a much higher dose. He seems to think that the pill has solved the problem........I'd had the svt episode during the stress test and noted that my heart was doing "a racing thing"  and "did he want to know that?"
Of course he could see it on the read out anyway, that's when I had to wear the monitor for 2 weeks and had a couple of episodes while wearing it.
I think I am having side effects from medicine, i.e., lower energy and I think it takes away muscle tone. Although I've lost weight, my muscles seem to be flax and I do not like it. Never had this problem before. Verapamil also lowers blood pressure, but mine is always on the low side anyway. Perhaps that is why my energy isn't as upbeat as it used to be.    

[MichelleP_3811]

I am sorry you are so frustrated.  I know going through countless doctor and hospital visits can get tiring.  I am however, unclear on what form of svt you have.  You say you have had this since you were a youth and were told it was an svt which indicates an arrhythmia originating in the upper chambers of the heart.  Most of the svts originating there are not life threatening.  Even Afib which is one of the more dangerous arrhythmias is more of a stroke risk than immediate risk.  So I guess I would first find out exactly what kind of svt you have.  

If you have avnrt, avrt or wpw an ablation would definitely benefit you.  Medicine actually does not work to stop those types of tachycardia.  The medicine may slow your heart rate down during an episode but it wont stop them from happening.  If you happen to have afib, which I find odd if this has been happening since you were a youth.  Afib is more of a condition brought on by underlying heart disease, though it is not unheard of in youths.  In any event, that condition can be a bit more tricky to treat because the ablation site is larger than the other svts.  If however you did have afib you should be in the minimum on blood thinners to reduce your risk of having a stroke.  If you are not on blood thinners than I have to assume you have one of the more treatable arryhthmias.

In any event, if you haven't been to see a cardiologist I would go see one.  If you have I might find another one.  Give them your history along with any medical documents you have and see what they have to say.  The problem is ablations are expensive, crazy expensive in the US.  Not sure how much they cost in other parts of the world.  If you don't have insurance it may be one reason you haven't been offered the treatment.  But I don't know your situation.  

What I do know is svts in general are not life threatening even in the long term.  I actually never went to the ER once during my 10 years of weekly episodes.   Prior to that I only had them once in a blue moon.   I can't tell you why but I never felt threatened by the episodes. The eight hour episode did knock my body for a loop and it was what spurred me to get diagnosed and ultimately treated but I went 2 years before the ablation was done with more constant episodes.  During that time I adopted a cardio exercise routine which helped me to be able to tolerate the episodes much better. If you are unable to have an ablation for whatever reason I would consult the doctor about clearance to exercise and I would definitely do a little running or something.  It will help you tremendously.

Hopefully I have been able to help.  I wish you the best of luck getting this all sorted out.  Keep us posted.

[shiona]

oops - not so brilliant at working out posting....  apologies for the 2 posts of the same moan.  Although, am just a bit hacked off, so saying it twice maybe ain't such a bad thing...  and any comments welcome.  It is good to get hacked off and have a 'spill' - and everyone else is more than welcome to have a moan back, or a hacked off schpeil (? - is that how you spell it???) back, or a downright grump.  Nothing like a proper grump.  Grumps rule...  

[shiona]

I've had SVT episodes since I was 12 and am now 51.  Was told originally it was hormones (being adolescent) and not to concern myself over it.  And never have.  The last 5 years-ish have have recurrent episodes, although infrequent, have always needed that I go into hospital to get an injection of Adenisone as I can no longer use other physical methods to slow heart-rate.  I've now had this condition for nigh on 40 years (next year's the anniversary!  lol) and have always been told that it's not a problem.  That's been fine but recently have been 'given a row' over waiting 15 minutes before calling an ambulance - advice given some years ago by hospital after an episode.  What concerns me, aka, sort of freaked me out, is that I was told to phone ambulance immediately, otherwise I risked complete circulatory collapse.  Didn't know that one, so looked it up...  apparently, not quite a heart attack, but to all intents and purposes, might as well be.  Joy - er, not...  Feck that one.  And to be honest?... feck the consultant that I saw...  2nd one, and even younger than the first.  I do not want to be on beta-blockers for the rest of me puff.  Would rather try the ablation - well, it's supposed to be 85-95% effective.  She, the consultant, said that she thought medication was the best optionn - and that any side effects could be sorted by changing brand/medication.  Hmmmmm.....  As we say here - "feck that for a carry on....."   Am now on max dose of atenolol and still getting episodes and also now increased episodes of SVT - c.r.a.p. I am just so feckin' annoyed.  I want it sorted!!!  I think 39 years is maybe enough???    Grrrrrrrrrrr,,,,

[shiona]

I've had SVT episodes since I was 12 and am now 51.  Was told originally it was hormones (being adolescent) and not to concern myself over it.  And never have.  The last 5 years-ish have have recurrent episodes, although infrequent, have always needed that I go into hospital to get an injection of Adenisone as I can no longer use other physical methods to slow heart-rate.  I've now had this condition for nigh on 40 years (next year's the anniversary!  lol) and have always been told that it's not a problem.  That's been fine but recently have been 'given a row' over waiting 15 minutes before calling an ambulance - advice given some years ago by hospital after an episode.  What concerns me, aka, sort of freaked me out, is that I was told to phone ambulance immediately, otherwise I risked complete circulatory collapse.  Didn't know that one, so looked it up...  apparently, not quite a heart attack, but to all intents and purposes, might as well be.  Joy - er, not...  Feck that one.  And to be honest?... feck the consultant that I saw...  2nd one, and even younger than the first.  I do not want to be on beta-blockers for the rest of me puff.  Would rather try the ablation - well, it's supposed to be 85-95% effective.  She, the consultant, said that she thought medication was the best optionn - and that any side effects could be sorted by changing brand/medication.  Hmmmmm.....  As we say here - "feck that for a carry on....."   Am now on max dose of atenolol and still getting episodes and also now increased episodes of SVT - c.r.a.p. I am just so feckin' annoyed.  I want it sorted!!!  I think 39 years is maybe enough???    Grrrrrrrrrrr,,,,

[loosil]

Thank you both for your very helpful answers; I am going to resume exercise and
I appreciate the reminder not to be a slave to pills when there might be alternative
ways to deal with this condition. DId you have an ablation Tom?

[bbxx]

I have only had 2 episodes and was never told not to exercise. I am pretty sure (though I am not a doc) that you can still exercise. My episodes were not during exercise.