Aa
Heart issues are really getting me down ...
I feel like I've posted alot about this already but I'm just so unhappy about the affect that tachycardia and arrythmia are having on my life. I feel like I can't do anything anymore without triggering an attack or panicking in a way that triggers an attack. I always have to be so careful that I am in a place where I can get help if I need it and from which I can escape if I need to, and there's so many things I want to do and can't. I used to love walking in the many ravines near my house, but I am so afraid now. If I had an episode on a hiking trail in the middle of the woods, what would I do? How would I get to a hospital? My heart would probably just beat faster and faster until I fainted or died. The other day when I took a walk I wasn't even in the ravine and I was having an episode so my heart was going at 180! I can't even imagine what would have happened if I wasn't in a place where I could call for help if i needed it. I want to travel in the future but I'm so scared of getting on an airplane: what if I had an episode there? Who is there to help at thousands of feet above ground? I feel like I have to think about everything I do so I don't get in a situation that could be dangerous. I have been staying home more and more and losing interest in so many things I once enjoyed. I feel like I am climbing a mountain of depression towards a cliff of disaster. No one else has to feel like this: why do I?
Sorry to rant, but I am getting so frustrated. It is so hard to enjoy life when you are constantly worried about keeling over. I guess what I am asking is for advice from those who have learned to live with SVT and tachycardia; or is it really possible??
Sorry to rant, but I am getting so frustrated. It is so hard to enjoy life when you are constantly worried about keeling over. I guess what I am asking is for advice from those who have learned to live with SVT and tachycardia; or is it really possible??
I had an ablation and this has seemed to help thus far. If you are from Canada, try Toronto General Hospital, they are the expert heart hospital. Dr. Nair is amazing, I couldnt say more about him!
hi im katy...I feel the same way im not sure if I have svt or not. it all started my heart rate was really fast always like I couldn't even walk from one room of my house to another without it going extremely fast and light headed and really dizzy/weak. my dr put me on digoxin to keep my heart rate down. well was doing pretty good on that for awhile but then started feeling heart feel like it slowed down sped back up and skipped around. so they also put me on atenolol for rhythm (bad idea) that mixed with digoxin dropped heart rate too low also was having really bad chest pain, they took me off that and im still having chest pain and seems heart rate has gone crazier since they stopped that. I have all symptoms of supraventricular tachycardia one dr says he think I have it other said no I don't and stopped my digoxin now im feeling horrible and hopless like they'll never figure it out. also dr put me on anxiety meds and also calcium beta blocker for my bad swelling... sorry long story does anyone with svt think that my situation sounds like svt? I have been in and out of ER and dr's for months its so hard to even work without getting sent home. can anyone help?
Normally you would have high levels of anxiety before having a panic attack.Then your heart starts beating faster and will gradually go back down once your calmed back down.Svt can stop abruptly.With svt for me it can happen at anytime.Even when Im sleeping or just laying down watching tv. Bending over,reaching above my head ,or any odd movement can bring it on.Its very strange how it happens.The symtoms between the two can be very similar.Sweating,dizziness,shortness of breath.Svt can cause bpm over 200+.I would say find a good ep doctor, it took me till I got to my 3rd cardiologist to tell me what was wrong. Ask to wear a events recorder if you do believe its your heart.The doctor will be able to tell if its svt by looking at the rythym of your heartbeat if it goes onto svt. Have you ever had previous heart problems? Does your family?If so that would be more of a reason to have you put on a events recorder.
Good descritpion of SVT above. Somtimes mine would hit while I was dozing off to sleep and was calm as could be. It would go from 70 to 250 in a single heart beat and for no apparent reason. Then when it was done, it would go back to normal rhythm in a single beat. Usually I would have a lot of PACs (premature atrial contractions) during the day prior to one. Then afterward my heart was even more unsettled for a day or two sometimes a week. Anxiety is nervousness, that fight or flight feeling you get when you fear something and it can lead to an SVT attack.
I had decided not to have an ablation because I don't get them very often. However, I've learned through the years to thwart them by watching what I drink or eat. Stress was the biggest problem because that is a little harder to control. I also learned to recognise that feeling that precedes an attack. First I'd notice that hollow feeling in my neck and things getting a little dim and that's when I automatically took the deep breath in and that stopped the attack. I talked to my ep about continuing on that track and he actually agreed until he looked at my monitor results and said 250 bpm was just too fast and I really needed the ablation. He said it was an easy fix. He was worried that one would result in fainting while doing something like driving and I had to agree with that. It was also a constant worry during those times when I would feel my heart beating out of whack not knowing if I would be able to catch it or not. I'm glad I had it done so I don't have to worry about it anymore.
I had decided not to have an ablation because I don't get them very often. However, I've learned through the years to thwart them by watching what I drink or eat. Stress was the biggest problem because that is a little harder to control. I also learned to recognise that feeling that precedes an attack. First I'd notice that hollow feeling in my neck and things getting a little dim and that's when I automatically took the deep breath in and that stopped the attack. I talked to my ep about continuing on that track and he actually agreed until he looked at my monitor results and said 250 bpm was just too fast and I really needed the ablation. He said it was an easy fix. He was worried that one would result in fainting while doing something like driving and I had to agree with that. It was also a constant worry during those times when I would feel my heart beating out of whack not knowing if I would be able to catch it or not. I'm glad I had it done so I don't have to worry about it anymore.
Just wanted to add my support to everybody else's. I know exactly how you feel. I have conquered a little bit of my fear, I am able to go places again, but like you, I won't go anywhere I couldn't get medical help immediately. We went for a trip in the mountains and I was afraid to go up a very steep hill to get to a cave. And terrified to be in a cave. But I made myself do it and I lived through it with no adverse events. Stayed in the hotel that was closest to the hospital..that made me laugh when I thought about it..but it was a nice hotel! And I'm sure in most all of us, anxiety is the gas that fuels a lot of the fire but we DO have a real electrical problem with our hearts. And there is nothing more frightening than your heart racing out of control.
Not quite sure how to explain the difference between a pure panic attack and SVT. When I have a panic attack my heart rate usually will not jump from say 70 bpms to 190bpm. It will start beating faster and faster and then faster still. When it stops (panic attack), my heart rate will slow down but gradually. In SVT in an instant, you may feel a little skip and boom! your heart rate is 190bpm. And it stops just as quickly and is totally back to normal. And SVT will definitely cause you to have panic. Hope this helps.
Not quite sure how to explain the difference between a pure panic attack and SVT. When I have a panic attack my heart rate usually will not jump from say 70 bpms to 190bpm. It will start beating faster and faster and then faster still. When it stops (panic attack), my heart rate will slow down but gradually. In SVT in an instant, you may feel a little skip and boom! your heart rate is 190bpm. And it stops just as quickly and is totally back to normal. And SVT will definitely cause you to have panic. Hope this helps.
Wow, interesting merileegal: I didn't think docs would even consider doing an ablation on someone who had attacks less than like once a week. So glad to know you're doing well!! Maybe I am a good candidate ...
And no, donna, I'm not positive it's SVT that I'm going through ... it feels usually like a panic attack, but I thought that the latter simply brought on the former, not that they were two different things. Can you explain the difference in more detail to give me a better idea of which one I am suffering from, if not both? When I had my holter monitor on, it caught an attack and all my cardiologist said was that my heart was beating really fast ... I think like 184 beats per minute at the highest that time. He didn't mention SVT, I just figured from reading up on my condition that this was the official name for what was happening to me, and an effect of my panic, not a whole different thing ...
I'll talk to my cardiologist about my diagnosis, as well as about a potential ablation.
If I get in to see him that is. Always takes so long to talk to the right people. Hopefully I can get things under control for the most part in the meantime. :0
And no, donna, I'm not positive it's SVT that I'm going through ... it feels usually like a panic attack, but I thought that the latter simply brought on the former, not that they were two different things. Can you explain the difference in more detail to give me a better idea of which one I am suffering from, if not both? When I had my holter monitor on, it caught an attack and all my cardiologist said was that my heart was beating really fast ... I think like 184 beats per minute at the highest that time. He didn't mention SVT, I just figured from reading up on my condition that this was the official name for what was happening to me, and an effect of my panic, not a whole different thing ...
I'll talk to my cardiologist about my diagnosis, as well as about a potential ablation.
If I get in to see him that is. Always takes so long to talk to the right people. Hopefully I can get things under control for the most part in the meantime. :0
Are you absolutely sure it is svt? After reading your first post again ,I wonder if it is panic attacks your having. Ive had anxiety attacks years ago,and they feel totally different then svt.Have you ever been put on a events recorder to capture any of these attacks? I was put on one for 30 days,but it only took about 2 weeks before I had svt issue. Maybe you should ask your card.about being put on a events recorder.That way they'll be able to tell if it really is a heart problem.
I also wondered if I was a good candidate for the ablation because I only had 3 or 4 attacks a year as opposed to some in here who have them weekly. Of those that I had I could usually do a vagal manuever and convert them back within a few minutes until this year and it took longer to do so. That was scary to have my heart race at 250bpm and feel I had no control to get it back to normal. I talked to my ep about whether I was a good candidate because they don't happen a lot, and he agreed with me until he reviewed my monitor reading and saw the SVT and said that was just too fast and I should have the ablation. I'm now 2 1/2 weeks post ablation and things are going great. After 20 years of having this, I know what it feels like when this monster is about to show its ugly face and that happened about a week after the ablation. It felt so weird to brace myself for the attack and ....nothing.
Like you, I didn't know when the attack would come and wherever I went I worried about having one. However, I did discover many years ago on my own that if I stayed calm on the onset of the tachycardia and breathed in as much as I could until I felt like my lungs could hold no more and breath slowly out, that my heart would convert on its own back to normal rythm. Later when I talked to a cardio, he said that was a vagal manuever and then he told me some others I could use like bearing down as if I were going to the bathroom or dunking my face in ice water. When I started using these I felt less threatened by these and even in control.
I hope you get in to see a good cardiologist soon. My cardio told me that many people who are being diagnosed with anxiety attacks are actually having SVT attacks. Good luck.
Like you, I didn't know when the attack would come and wherever I went I worried about having one. However, I did discover many years ago on my own that if I stayed calm on the onset of the tachycardia and breathed in as much as I could until I felt like my lungs could hold no more and breath slowly out, that my heart would convert on its own back to normal rythm. Later when I talked to a cardio, he said that was a vagal manuever and then he told me some others I could use like bearing down as if I were going to the bathroom or dunking my face in ice water. When I started using these I felt less threatened by these and even in control.
I hope you get in to see a good cardiologist soon. My cardio told me that many people who are being diagnosed with anxiety attacks are actually having SVT attacks. Good luck.
Thanks so much for the support everyone ... as always, if nothing else it is nice to know that I don't suffer alone.
I am going to go to see my GP about this again soon ... he referred me to a cardiologist in the past who said that anxiety is the culprit, and I will live. I'd love to see the cardiologist again and give him an update, as well as talk more in depth about my concerns. It's just hard to know whether to go to a cardiologist or a psychologist: I can never determine if my problem is physical or mental. And it's not always easy to see these people anyway: in Canada, psychologists cost loads of money, and I'm pretty sure I can't get in to see a heart specialist until I go through my GP which takes awhile ... but at least it's free. Not the worst, but not the easiest thing in the world either. I wish I had my own private doctor, lol.
That's why I hesitate to have an ablation: I sort of thought that was for people whose hearts were constantly beating way too fast: this only happens to me periodically, and usually when I'm nervous. Am I really a good candidate? What exactly would this do for me? If I go to see my cardiologist again, I'll definitely mention what you all have said, and see what he says. As I'm young, hopefully that will be a last resort. I would love to be able to solve this problem by calming down rather than resetting my entire system.
Gah, I just want to go on living as I used to but I won't give up yet and I'm glad no one else has either ... stay strong everyone!
I am going to go to see my GP about this again soon ... he referred me to a cardiologist in the past who said that anxiety is the culprit, and I will live. I'd love to see the cardiologist again and give him an update, as well as talk more in depth about my concerns. It's just hard to know whether to go to a cardiologist or a psychologist: I can never determine if my problem is physical or mental. And it's not always easy to see these people anyway: in Canada, psychologists cost loads of money, and I'm pretty sure I can't get in to see a heart specialist until I go through my GP which takes awhile ... but at least it's free. Not the worst, but not the easiest thing in the world either. I wish I had my own private doctor, lol.
That's why I hesitate to have an ablation: I sort of thought that was for people whose hearts were constantly beating way too fast: this only happens to me periodically, and usually when I'm nervous. Am I really a good candidate? What exactly would this do for me? If I go to see my cardiologist again, I'll definitely mention what you all have said, and see what he says. As I'm young, hopefully that will be a last resort. I would love to be able to solve this problem by calming down rather than resetting my entire system.
Gah, I just want to go on living as I used to but I won't give up yet and I'm glad no one else has either ... stay strong everyone!
I know exactly how you and others feel.I was told I had svt last year,but have dealt with it for longer than ten years.It really does effect every part of your life.I know how hard it is not to think about it constantly,but of course the more you dwell on it , it can make palps worse.I try to stay calm and not let it get me down.Stress for me is a factor.I dont think you need a psych. to deal with this.They cant fix your heart.I think you need a good ep doctor to see how it can be fixed.Even if its with meds to start,and then go from there.Im on atenolol,and it seems to help alot with the anxiety part.Im hoping to get mine fixed in august,so I can actually start living again and doing the things Ive been avoiding for so long. Hope you feel better soooon ☺
I know what you mean; I'm sorry you're having to deal with this also. I get so frustrated with doctors who just don't understand and wish they taught dr's about the effects these things have on our minds. I remember telling my original cardio I was suffering depression she said I can't deal with that go see your primary, not even caring to say anything - I'm sorry or I understand.
When things happen like me fainting into the side of the tub hitting the tile and severely spraining my heck 2 weeks ago, it really makes me worry i may not wake up from one of my episodes. They said it wasn't my heart BUT my icd showed EMI during that time - scares the heck out of me even more - there was no EMI...so now I'm afraid to even go to the bathroom alone.
I can't handle it any more...I finally broke down and made an appt with a psych dr july 12th and I'm hoping this will help me deal with what's going on or at least find ways to cope that I can do since I can't exercise; there has to be an answer. Have you thoght about going to talk to someone?
When things happen like me fainting into the side of the tub hitting the tile and severely spraining my heck 2 weeks ago, it really makes me worry i may not wake up from one of my episodes. They said it wasn't my heart BUT my icd showed EMI during that time - scares the heck out of me even more - there was no EMI...so now I'm afraid to even go to the bathroom alone.
I can't handle it any more...I finally broke down and made an appt with a psych dr july 12th and I'm hoping this will help me deal with what's going on or at least find ways to cope that I can do since I can't exercise; there has to be an answer. Have you thoght about going to talk to someone?
I feel the exact same way. That's why I panic in a car, even if I'm the rider, when we travel long distances. I watch the clock until we get to the next town. So instead of enjoying our beautiful country, I'm counting miles to the nearest medical help. I do not believe I would have panic if I didn't have heart rhythm problems, as I never had panic before these crazy beats and tachy. I too get very frustrated with why do I have to feel these. I just continue to hope that one day science will find an answer for us that will help. You're not alone in how you're feeling, Hang in there.
There are so many out there that share your pain and frustration. I sometimes think doctors themselves fear a patient who comes to them with electrical problems of the heart and they become very frustrated with knowing the correct thing to do. It made a big difference for me when I was finally sent to an ep who knew exactly what to do.
I see you're from Canada and I know health care there is different than it is here. Are you able to choose the type of doctor you want?
I see you're from Canada and I know health care there is different than it is here. Are you able to choose the type of doctor you want?
Hi Gothic Beauty
I can relate to what you're saying, as I lived the same way for too many years. During the first part of this year, my SVT became much worse than it had been and even the beta blockers couldn't hold back the SVT anymore.
Are you currently on any medications? Do you have a cardiologist or an EP? If not it might be worth scheduling a consultation with an EP to see if you would be a good candidate for ablation. I know it can be scary to think about, but ablation ended up being the right solution for me and a lot of others on this board. I am SVT free for the first time in 45 years. I never realized how awful I felt and how my world had shrunk until my SVT problem had been fixed. The depression cloud has also lifted. Sure, I still have problems like everyone else, but without the huge SVT/tachy health burden hanging over my head, my remaining problems are manageable.
I had learned to live with SVT and tachycardia, but in retrospect it wasn't really "living", it was "existing" in fear and unhappiness on a daily basis for years. I always kept my cell phone fully charged and on or near me at all times. And had programmed in the police and rescue numbers on speed dial, just in case.
I did go on vacations, but the worry was always there. And on one memorable vacation I had an attack going up the stairs on a steep cliffside and had to be carried the rest of the way to the top by my boyfriend (now my husband) and another gentleman, which was very embarrasing. At that time, we didn't know it was SVT.......former doctor #1 had diagnosed me as being a "hypochondriac" with a possible "anxiety disorder". (I diagnosed him as a "quack" -- my diagnosis was more accurate than his. LOL)
As bad as things were over the years, I never gave up hope that someday this problem would be fixed, and finally it has been. Please don't give up......there's got to be something a good cardiologist or EP can do for you......it's just a matter of finding the right doctor who can and will help you.
I care.......and I wish you the best.
Jannie
I can relate to what you're saying, as I lived the same way for too many years. During the first part of this year, my SVT became much worse than it had been and even the beta blockers couldn't hold back the SVT anymore.
Are you currently on any medications? Do you have a cardiologist or an EP? If not it might be worth scheduling a consultation with an EP to see if you would be a good candidate for ablation. I know it can be scary to think about, but ablation ended up being the right solution for me and a lot of others on this board. I am SVT free for the first time in 45 years. I never realized how awful I felt and how my world had shrunk until my SVT problem had been fixed. The depression cloud has also lifted. Sure, I still have problems like everyone else, but without the huge SVT/tachy health burden hanging over my head, my remaining problems are manageable.
I had learned to live with SVT and tachycardia, but in retrospect it wasn't really "living", it was "existing" in fear and unhappiness on a daily basis for years. I always kept my cell phone fully charged and on or near me at all times. And had programmed in the police and rescue numbers on speed dial, just in case.
I did go on vacations, but the worry was always there. And on one memorable vacation I had an attack going up the stairs on a steep cliffside and had to be carried the rest of the way to the top by my boyfriend (now my husband) and another gentleman, which was very embarrasing. At that time, we didn't know it was SVT.......former doctor #1 had diagnosed me as being a "hypochondriac" with a possible "anxiety disorder". (I diagnosed him as a "quack" -- my diagnosis was more accurate than his. LOL)
As bad as things were over the years, I never gave up hope that someday this problem would be fixed, and finally it has been. Please don't give up......there's got to be something a good cardiologist or EP can do for you......it's just a matter of finding the right doctor who can and will help you.
I care.......and I wish you the best.
Jannie
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