very scared

[RainLover71]

I have just been diagnosed with VF,is this the end of the line,my doctor's face had a worried look about it--someone help me please

[RainLover71]

Thanks,I will learn more about my condition and how to live with it.The information on this forum has been excellent--thankyou.

[MichelleP_3811]

I am glad to hear that it is more atrial related then ventricle.  This is good news hopefully with a resolution possible once everything has been looked at.  I will keep you in my thoughts that all this can be fixed and reversed.  Do keep us posted on how you are doing.

[RainLover71]

Hi Jerry,this diagnosis no doubt will change my life but I will do whatever it takes to comply with specialists.I don't go to the gym anymore,I just walk the dog as a form of exercise and I eat very healthy,don't drink or smoke.The public health system here in Australia is not good,this is why my second opinion was from a private specialist.I am going to take things easy from now on but my anxiety levels are rather high at the present time.I require more testing aswell.

[Jerry_NJ]

I read you post minutes after you made it but wasn't able to translate what you said given what I understood about VF.

We've had much better luck with ER doctors here in the USA, at least my wife has.  It included an unrelated detection of cancer that was promptly scheduled (within  a couple weeks) for surgery following a number of other tests by specialists.  The fact that your ER doctor diagnosed you as VF and released you is frightening in itself.

From what you have received here and from what I have read in other posts about SVT I think you can stop worrying and focus on getting yourself scheduled for EP testing.   Does Australia have government managed medicine?  If that means you have long wait times for attention by a specialist it appears that you have only to deal with the SVT discomfort, and that is not an emergency, but, if the picture in your avatar is you it is clear you are a serious weight lifter.  I understand physical strain of heavy weight lifting puts heavy stress on the heart.  I am not a fitness trainer, but that is what I recall.  So, I'd suggest you go easy on the weight lifting until you get the heart condition worked out

The enlarged heart is another matter, it could be related to high blood pressure, you didn't mention having that noticed.  As already mentioned the enlargement may be related to heavy weight lifting, again just a comment from a questioning mind, not a diagnosis of your problem source.

[RainLover71]

Thanks tom,I feel so much better after reading that info and am trying to educate myself about this condition.I'm glad I went to the specialist because the doctors in the ER got it wrong.I'm glad there is hope and I will do all I can to get well.I think my stress levels need to come down and I should start walking the dog again.You're a true inspiration--54 years with this condition & it seems like you are doing very well.This forum has been extremely helpful--thanks again.

[tom_h]

I love ER doctors. I had a broken and separated shoulder, and my ER doctor said it was only bruised.  Two surgeries later with screws and immobilization, my "bruise" was fixed.  I digress....

SVT is certainly the better dagnosis.  I had 54 years of SVT; 6 to 60 years of age.  I finally desiced that I had had enough and got it fix by cardiac ablation.  

I had been on a beta blocker for quite a few years, but it did nothing to prevent episodes which occured about 3-5 times per month.  So my cardiologist recommended a couple of electrophysiologists, and after speaking to them, I made my choice, and had the procedure done.  I had a type of SVT that was very easy to initiate, the area of concern was located, and the errant conductive path was destroyed with RF energy.  I left the hospital the same day, stayed home the following day, but actually went out the second day and returned to work by the fifth day.

So, I hope this gives you a thumbnail view of how you can rid yourself of this problem. SVT typically isn't dangerous, but it's a pain, and it interferes with your daily activities.  Mine happened anywhere.  From driving on the intersate, dinning with my wife, to the ahtletic activities I participate in.  The procedure literally restored a normal life to me.  Even at 60, it's never too late.

[RainLover71]

Thankyou,I'm just trying to absorb all of this.I will take your advice as my experience in heart issues is not good.It was very scary but I'm glad I know what's wrong now at least.I need to ask as many questions as I can.

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

I had SVT attacks (1 was recorded while I was hooked up on the ECG in Cardio ICU), cardiac mapping was done and I had successful Cardiac Ablation in Nov. 2007.  I had an estra AV node and that is what caused the SVT's.

I would really recommend that you go to an ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIST and get some tests done and possibly ablation.  I just can not stress it enough that you HAVE TO go to an Electro-doc and not just a normal Cardiologist for this.  If the Cardio-doc doesn't do the ablation properly, you can end up getting a pacemaker!

So the Ablation is not without risks, but the Electro-doc specializes in this and you could have a great outcome like me!  Think about it and let me know if you need further info on this.

[RainLover71]

Thanks dave,the last few days have been a nightmare but now I have some answers even though more testing is required.Thanks for explaining what SVT is because I am trying to learn about my condition now.I am still regularly experiencing these fluttering feelings in my upper chest region,it's a strange feeling,hard to explain--like butterflies in flying in my chest I guess,they come and go and then my heart will beat fast..

[dave1726]

   Wow!!! Yea, SVT and VF couldn't be two more different things. VF, which you obviously did not have (because you were posting about it on here and not in a dead, thank God) is something that you could stay concious with for about a second then you go into cardiac arrest and unless shocked out of it you die. VF really does not spontaneously resolve. It technically could, but that's way too technical to get into, just know that it won't 99.99% of the time. SVT on the other hand simply means the atriums of your heart produce an irregular, very fast rhythm. You see, normally the heart is controlled by the SA node (the heart's natural pacemaker). Sometimes other focal points decide to play pacemaker. If the point is in the atriums it's an atrial arrhythmia and if it's in the ventricles it's a ventricular arrhythmia. After three consecutive irregular, fast beats it is considered an arrhythmic tachycardia, with SVT being the atrial variety ("Supraventricular tachycardia" meaning superior to the ventriclels, with the ventricles being inferior or below the atriums), and VT being the ventricular variety. SVT is caused by a number of different things (AV node re-entry being the most common), but compared to VT it is completely harmless in terms of mortality, as it does not affect hedodynamic stability. Unless you ever develop A-fib (don't even worry about what that is in your case) you can rest assured that any arrhythmias you are feeling are truly benign in nature. Why? Because you live off your ventricles not the atriums. The LV sends blood to the body and the RV sends blood to the lungs. The atriums do not pump blood to the body or lungs, they just receive blood and fill the ventricles with blood. There are various treatment options for SVT if you wish, but honestly if you can deal with the symptoms you could nothing about it the rest of your life and you will die of something else when you are old, not this. Great news for you.

[RainLover71]

I saw the specialist and she said it's SVT not VF and the ER doctor made an error in diagnosis,I am still scared but need to learn more about this condition.I'm glad I paid to see a specialist because I needed a second opinion.I feared for my life.I will be having more tests.Thankyou all for the information.

[tom_h]

If you really do have VFib, please educate yourself on this condition as quickly as possible so you understand how serious it is.

[spade22]

Also- as the other posters have mentioned these heart arrythmias can be very successfully treated with betablockers, pacemaker, or an ICD.

[spade22]

I have the same Q as Michelle: you sure the doctors said V-Fib and not A-Fib or V-Tach?  Was it a cardiologist that saw you at the ER or a regular doctor?

What doesn't make sense to me is if you did have V-Fib,  you shouldn't have  been released from the hospital at this point (you would need an ICD implant).  Also, V-Fib needs to be treated within seconds - where you given a shock?

I guess what Im trying to say is there is the possibility of misunderstanding or misdiagnosis because some of what you have written doesnt seem to be consistent with V-Fib.

[RainLover71]

I will let you know and I will try to calm down,thanks to both yourself and Tom.

[MichelleP_3811]

Yes, I know.  Anything with the heart is very scary but do try to zen out as much as you can.  It will really help to calm your nerves.  Write down all your questions so you don't forget.  Maybe pow wow with someone to go over what you want to ask and they can add things that you might have missed.  If you can bring someone do so in case you are too nervous to remember things.  They can take notes for you.  Good luck and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[RainLover71]

Thanks--I need to ask as many questions as I can tomorrow,this has really scared me.

[MichelleP_3811]

VFib is about as serious as it gets but I would wait to hear from your Cardiologist before panicking.  Were you passed out at the hospital?  It is likely going to be important for you to have your enlarged heart evaluated and steps taken to try and correct the issue if possible.  If this can be done you may be able to correct and avoid any more vfib/vtach episodes.  But you definitely need to see a cardiologist for a full work up.  Hang in there and try not to stress too much.  The stress will add undue exertion on your heart that you don't need.  Try to do some deep breathing and relax as much as possible until you see the doctor.    

[MichelleP_3811]

I will also add that if you have either it is important to have your heart fully evaluated to find out why you have the condition and what issues of the heart or heart disease need to be addressed.  Control the underlying conditions/issues and you may be able to avoid further episodes.  But as Tom said, most conditions can be managed to some degree but do follow up and follow your cardiologists advice.  Take care and feel better soon.

[RainLover71]

I see a specialist tomorrow but the doctors at the ER said V-fib,they also said my heart was larger than normal,2 irregular ECGs.How serious is this condition?

[MichelleP_3811]

Are you sure it was VFib and not VTach?  How were you diagnosed with VFib, did you have an event that you almost died from?  VFib is basically a disorganized beat in the ventricles that can deteriorate quite quickly but VTach is more of a regular but rapid beat coming from the ventricles.  Well a beat coming from the ventricles is not normal but the heart can be sustained to some degree with it as opposed to being in VFib which needs converting quite quickly.  VTah it is also important to get it converted to normal sinus rhythm if it sustains and doesn't convert on its own within 30 seconds but it is less of a threat then VFib though both may indicate a need for an ICD to ensure you do not go into arrest.  Please clarify with your doctor whether or not they said VFib or VTach and if VTach was is nonsustained or not.  

[RainLover71]

Thanks for you help,I need to learn more about this condition now that I have it and must inform family,friends and work.I have to deal with the reality of it all,it scares me.

[tom_h]

First, I'd try not to panic over this, but rather stay on top of it in order to work to a resolution. There are all sorts of things you can try; from antiarrhythmics to implantable defibrillators.  In the meantime, I'd inform people close to you of your condition so they know what to expect and how to react.  Does your employer have portable defibrillators available?  If they do, your colleagues should know where they're located and how to use them in case of an emergency.  It may hurt to even do a couple of drills so they're prepared in the event of the real thing.  I'm not sure if untrained layperson can be taught to administer a  "precordial thump", but if that can be done, someone close to you should then learn how. This is a condition that can be controlled, but I'd work quickly and closely with your physicians to get you protected.