Aa
EP study....
I'm feeling so down. I had an EP study yesterday and they couldn't map my arrhythmia. They were pacing my heart and it didn't want to go off.
I feel so down. I opted to go without sedation so there was a better chance of finding it. I was so hopeful this would be the end of it all. Just a week ago I was at the shops and my heart was racing out of control and I had chest pain along with it. A week later I'm in a cath lab and nothing...
I guess luck wasn't on my side. They diagnosed me with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia or Atrial Tachycardia. My EP said I could have Atrial tachy and it just didn't go off during the study so they couldn't map it.
I am having a 3 day monitor starting tomorrow, and seeing my EP again in two weeks for a follow up.
I guess I just have to keep going. I am very disappointed and really starting to lose hope. I'm so sick of my symptoms coming and going, there will be days when I feel fine and OK and then all of a sudden everything comes back. I just want to move on. I'm 22 and it feels like everyone else is out living their lives and I'm here trying to figure this out.
Must push forward. I'm sorry for the whine, I'm just feeling a bit heart broken. Maybe I just have to live with this.
Is there anyone out there with any success stories or any words of advice on IST?
I feel so down. I opted to go without sedation so there was a better chance of finding it. I was so hopeful this would be the end of it all. Just a week ago I was at the shops and my heart was racing out of control and I had chest pain along with it. A week later I'm in a cath lab and nothing...
I guess luck wasn't on my side. They diagnosed me with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia or Atrial Tachycardia. My EP said I could have Atrial tachy and it just didn't go off during the study so they couldn't map it.
I am having a 3 day monitor starting tomorrow, and seeing my EP again in two weeks for a follow up.
I guess I just have to keep going. I am very disappointed and really starting to lose hope. I'm so sick of my symptoms coming and going, there will be days when I feel fine and OK and then all of a sudden everything comes back. I just want to move on. I'm 22 and it feels like everyone else is out living their lives and I'm here trying to figure this out.
Must push forward. I'm sorry for the whine, I'm just feeling a bit heart broken. Maybe I just have to live with this.
Is there anyone out there with any success stories or any words of advice on IST?
I just had my first ablation attempt done on the 7th and mine would not detect either. My Dr said he tried twice to set it off but both times were unsuccessful. He said it was due to me being so nervous and scared. If that is the case then my heart should have reacted to this procedure. I am feeling like you...disappointed...hopefully when I have my follow up appt he will discuss more options. Good luck to you. Hope you find some relief soon...
1 Comments
Was this for pvc's?
Wow this is so good to hear I'm not alone. My dr couldn't induce SVT either so I was told to do more monitoring. Got no clue what's going to happen now. Feeling really fed up. I made a little videoNo laughing but I made this little vid to help others going through this, but also so friends and family can better understand. Dont laugh I sound like a robot lol
Check out this video on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/swNLAQA2mUk about my experience which might help others
Check out this video on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/swNLAQA2mUk about my experience which might help others
1 Comments
I watched your video, Sarah. While your EP study was unsuccessful in getting you into SVT, you have done a great service to those with our condition to perhaps move towards getting theirs looked at. Your situation is interesting, because Ive noticed a direct correlation between event frequency and the ease in finding and ablating the location. Yours doesnt follow what Ive seen here on the forum. It will be 7 years this week that I had my ablation for left sided AVRT. Fortunately, mine was extremely easy to trigger. A mere touch of the catheter againt the heart wall set it off. Still, I was in the lab for about 5 hours. I remember nothing as I was under general anesthesia. In fact I barely remember scooting onto the Cath.Lab table as they hit me with a syringe of Vallium just before wheeling me away from my cube. I hope you get the opportunity to go on again, and I hope they get it the next time.
I had an ablation done 2.10.2010 and I was worried the whole time that they wouldn't be able to induce the paps, Oh how wrong I was. As soon as he neared the heart with the caths it started kicking off and feelings of being short of breath started to pop up.
I asked my doc for something to calm me down, but he refused and said it is easier to be without the meds as sometimes the paps don't start up so easily.
Cardiologist said my heart is very sensitive and everytime they ablated the paps came back. After 10 burns he threw in the towel and said he didn't want to risk it anymore incase of AV node block. There is a 50/50 chance that I am cured. He said he burnt enough to affect the paps, but a repeat ablation after 1 month should clear up the loose ends. He couldn't get enough frequency on the cath to get a good burn as my heart would race and race until he stopped.
The procedure itself was very pleasant apart from the heart paps. I would recommend it to anyone who has this terrible problem. I had no pain meds at all and my wound is closed and healing well.
I think it was a great experience to be able to watch on the screen what they were doing, to see the heart beating and even ask the cardiologist about the process. I have always been interested in medical things so for me this was an experience, one I will never forget.
The most boring part of this though is after the procedure and having to lay still on your back for a long time, in my case 6 hours plus 1½ hours for the actual ablation, so total of 7½ hours. I was sooooooooooooo bored and fed up that when the time was up I was literally jumping from the bed. Stayed overnight for observation then went home after breakfast.
Good bit of advice though, go and pee before you go in for the procedure cause those 7½ hours can be a long wait if you don't want to pee in a bedpan ;)
My bladder got shy when the male nurse was holding the sandbags on my wound with the bedpan under me :(
I really hope you go back again for another try, after my ablation I think I will go back as many times as it takes to fix the problem, even if it means putting in a pacemaker.
Take care
I asked my doc for something to calm me down, but he refused and said it is easier to be without the meds as sometimes the paps don't start up so easily.
Cardiologist said my heart is very sensitive and everytime they ablated the paps came back. After 10 burns he threw in the towel and said he didn't want to risk it anymore incase of AV node block. There is a 50/50 chance that I am cured. He said he burnt enough to affect the paps, but a repeat ablation after 1 month should clear up the loose ends. He couldn't get enough frequency on the cath to get a good burn as my heart would race and race until he stopped.
The procedure itself was very pleasant apart from the heart paps. I would recommend it to anyone who has this terrible problem. I had no pain meds at all and my wound is closed and healing well.
I think it was a great experience to be able to watch on the screen what they were doing, to see the heart beating and even ask the cardiologist about the process. I have always been interested in medical things so for me this was an experience, one I will never forget.
The most boring part of this though is after the procedure and having to lay still on your back for a long time, in my case 6 hours plus 1½ hours for the actual ablation, so total of 7½ hours. I was sooooooooooooo bored and fed up that when the time was up I was literally jumping from the bed. Stayed overnight for observation then went home after breakfast.
Good bit of advice though, go and pee before you go in for the procedure cause those 7½ hours can be a long wait if you don't want to pee in a bedpan ;)
My bladder got shy when the male nurse was holding the sandbags on my wound with the bedpan under me :(
I really hope you go back again for another try, after my ablation I think I will go back as many times as it takes to fix the problem, even if it means putting in a pacemaker.
Take care
I really feel for everyone and totally know what you're all going through.
MonkeyLover and MollieRose, how are you all feeling now?
Bypeep, have you had your study yet? Hope you're well!
I really know how tough it is. MonkeyLover, I'm very depressed about all of this too. I want my life back!
I won't give up!
MonkeyLover and MollieRose, how are you all feeling now?
Bypeep, have you had your study yet? Hope you're well!
I really know how tough it is. MonkeyLover, I'm very depressed about all of this too. I want my life back!
I won't give up!
I'm in the same boat as you. Had an EP study on August 27 and was supposed to be having an ablation to fix my SVT. The Dr was unable to reproduce an SVT and instead I went home with a diagnosis of IST (inappropriate sinus tachycardia). I was put on Toprol, which is making me feel awful. I also think the med plus the combination of being let down about Thr procedure is making me depressed. I just don't understand how 4 doctors (2cardiologists & 2 Electrophysiologists) could be wrong about what was wrong with me. All of them reviewed my event monitor readings right in front of me and told me with certainty I had SVT! I'm wondering if I was overly sedated bc I told them ahead of time how anxious I was for Thr procedure & to knock me out good! The medicine isn't working. I've had two episodes since starting it. I don't see my EP til October...I'm hoping he can figure something out for me bc I can't live like this anymore. I'm young & have a small child to.care for.
Best of luck to you and keep us updated.
Best of luck to you and keep us updated.
Mollie,
What was your specific arrhythmia? As scared as I am for them to induce the three that I have, I'm hoping they can. Doubled-edged sword there.
What was your specific arrhythmia? As scared as I am for them to induce the three that I have, I'm hoping they can. Doubled-edged sword there.
Hey, so sorry the EP study didn't bring the necessary info :( I had my EP study/ablation done 8-24-10 and they too couldn't induce my specific arrhythmia, but could get enough information from the way my heart was structurally and how it reacted to irritation and stimulation (the other arrhythmias it went into,etc.) to do the ablation. I did have some problems with the procedure in that I got an infection at one of my groin incision sites and since they had to use silver nitrate to stop the bleeding it caused a chemical burn effect. It wasn't too bad, I'm just taking an antibiotic now :) I also am having what my cardiologist thinks is some temporary tachycardia while my heart "heals" from the procedure, so I'm taking Bystolic for a week or so so I don't feel the effects from the tachycardia. The procedure really seems like a success so far though as I haven't had any episodes of syncope (and I had been having about 6 a month beforehand with episodes of pre-syncope too). Ah, I'm rambling..sorry. I really hope they can get you to feeling better. I know what it's like to be young and feel so left behind because of your health :/
Hi there!
It really isn't bad at all! I would definately do it all again and very well may have to.
You will be fine! I was so nervous, but it was nowhere near as scary as I thought. There were doctors everywhere asking me if I wanted any meds, and they kept asking how I felt and was during the procedure. Everyone was so nice.
The only discomfort I had was when they were putting in the catheters. I felt some pain so they put more local into my groin, and took it slow. But the pain was minor.
They then said I'd feel the wires moving, and I did feel the wires moving up towards my heart. It doesn't hurt at all, it's just a strange sensation. I knew when the wires were near my chest as I felt my heart beating all over the place! It was kicking so strong, but didn't hurt at all. Just felt like lots of PACs. I felt dizzy for a few minutes, and it was explained to me that our bodies can recognise when there is a foreign object in it and it can make you feel a little strange. But the dizziness passed very quickly.
They then started pacing my heart and I found it so interesting! They showed me the screen and I watched my heart bouncing everywhere.
They knocked me out about 45 minutes into it, as they needed to see my resting HR at complete rest, without anxiety etc, as they think I have Inappropriate Sinus Tach, or Atrial Tach that they just couldn't set off.
My study only went for about an hour and a half, and I was only awake for about 45 minutes of it. I keep wondering if they would have been able to set it off if they went at it longer, as I know atrial tach is one of the harder ones to set off.
All in all though, it was not a traumatic experience and I would not hesitate to do it again. The only thing that is sore now is the leg wound, it just feels like a bad bruise and is not severe pain at all.
If you have any questions please feel free to send me a message =]
What kind of tach do you have?
It really isn't bad at all! I would definately do it all again and very well may have to.
You will be fine! I was so nervous, but it was nowhere near as scary as I thought. There were doctors everywhere asking me if I wanted any meds, and they kept asking how I felt and was during the procedure. Everyone was so nice.
The only discomfort I had was when they were putting in the catheters. I felt some pain so they put more local into my groin, and took it slow. But the pain was minor.
They then said I'd feel the wires moving, and I did feel the wires moving up towards my heart. It doesn't hurt at all, it's just a strange sensation. I knew when the wires were near my chest as I felt my heart beating all over the place! It was kicking so strong, but didn't hurt at all. Just felt like lots of PACs. I felt dizzy for a few minutes, and it was explained to me that our bodies can recognise when there is a foreign object in it and it can make you feel a little strange. But the dizziness passed very quickly.
They then started pacing my heart and I found it so interesting! They showed me the screen and I watched my heart bouncing everywhere.
They knocked me out about 45 minutes into it, as they needed to see my resting HR at complete rest, without anxiety etc, as they think I have Inappropriate Sinus Tach, or Atrial Tach that they just couldn't set off.
My study only went for about an hour and a half, and I was only awake for about 45 minutes of it. I keep wondering if they would have been able to set it off if they went at it longer, as I know atrial tach is one of the harder ones to set off.
All in all though, it was not a traumatic experience and I would not hesitate to do it again. The only thing that is sore now is the leg wound, it just feels like a bad bruise and is not severe pain at all.
If you have any questions please feel free to send me a message =]
What kind of tach do you have?
Sian,
I'm going in for a non-sedated EP Study on Thursday and am freaking out about it. I've never had any major health problems and the thought of them invading my heart is terrifying me.
Might you be able to describe your experience for me so that I can try to get a grip on this before I totally chicken out this week! LOL
I'm going in for a non-sedated EP Study on Thursday and am freaking out about it. I've never had any major health problems and the thought of them invading my heart is terrifying me.
Might you be able to describe your experience for me so that I can try to get a grip on this before I totally chicken out this week! LOL
Thanks so much Cindy707. =]
I'll get there. I really appreciate your support =]
I saw my cardiologist this morning and he said they can discuss a sinus node modification with me but that it's quite risky. He said there's also stronger meds I can try but he doesn't know if it's wise because of my age. (22)
It's upsetting that they couldn't trigger it, because not long ago I had one of my worst episodes with a HR around 200bpm and horrible pain. It's definitely paroxysmal. The EP study went for about an hour and a half.
I see my EP guy on the 22nd September, so not too long, and we're discussing what to do next and whether to make another attempt. He asked me to stay off my beta blockers until I see him next, to see what my heart gets up to, and I'm putting on a 3 day monitor tomorrow. He said the more monitors they get, the better. Helps point them in the right direction.
I shall keep you posted =]
Thanks again!
I'll get there. I really appreciate your support =]
I saw my cardiologist this morning and he said they can discuss a sinus node modification with me but that it's quite risky. He said there's also stronger meds I can try but he doesn't know if it's wise because of my age. (22)
It's upsetting that they couldn't trigger it, because not long ago I had one of my worst episodes with a HR around 200bpm and horrible pain. It's definitely paroxysmal. The EP study went for about an hour and a half.
I see my EP guy on the 22nd September, so not too long, and we're discussing what to do next and whether to make another attempt. He asked me to stay off my beta blockers until I see him next, to see what my heart gets up to, and I'm putting on a 3 day monitor tomorrow. He said the more monitors they get, the better. Helps point them in the right direction.
I shall keep you posted =]
Thanks again!
I am so sorry that they didn't catch this but it may not be a bad thing sian333.....i really can't comment on the IST because thank godness i haven't experienced that one...just lots of others. If they couldn't generate the issue thru the epi or whatever they chose it may very well be that they are just random episodes....the monitor is a great thing for them to catch anything that pops up...i am so sorry that you didn't get your answer....i've been watching your posts almost daily and now how important this was to you....i wouldn't stop bugging the doc till you have your answer...you can't keep worrying so much about this and as the saying goes...the squeaky wheel gets the oil....keep at it sian and don't back down.....i'm rooting for you.....
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Heart Rhythm Community
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
Salt in food can hurt your heart.
Get answers to your top questions about this common — but scary — symptom
How to know when chest pain may be a sign of something else
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
