How long should I wait in tachycardia

[LindaTX]

I've been doing great....no a-fib.  However about once a month I get an episode of tachycardia that just comes out of nowhere.  It started this morning at 7:30 and is continuing at 145-150 BPM.  I took a couple of Digoxin, nothing.  Then I took a small clonazapam a couple of hrs later.  My BP is normal so hesitste taking a BB (Toprol).  Don't want to have to go to the H.  Is there anything out there I can take or do to get me out of this.  I did put a call into the Dr's office a few hrs ago...no word back.  Any ideas?  I thought I had posted something similar to this the last time this happened but I can't access any of my older posts, just the one current page.  

[cindy707]

Sorry you are going thru this...definately been there on that one.  They were able to take care of my SVT during the ablation for the atrial fib among other things...just a thought LInda you may want to ask the doc about carrying around a pocket pill called Multaq..its the big gun of converters thats intended for you to avoid the E,R,........fortunately i only had to take it once since my ablation but i'll tell you what it was a good call the doc made...my doc tells me that i have to go by measurements of severity before i take it...for me its if i start getting runs of electrical issues i take a beta blocker and give it 45 min. if it doesn't covert i am to take a second one (i am on a super low dose) and if within another 45 mins. it doesn't snap out of it i have to take the Multaq....like i said it only happened once and the pill is a miracle as far as i am concerned.....there is no worse feeling in this world then laying on a guerney in the E,R, with a nurse sitting on a chair next to you with that IV in your arm and them pushing a converter med into you and praying like theres no tomorrow that it'll work...to me streamlining the situation is the way to go you just have to find a solution that works for your body.....i'd check into it.

[DeltaDawn23]

How are you doing?

[DeltaDawn23]

Glad you converted on your own.  I agree with you about the ER -- and the hospital.  Once you're in, you're at the mercy of the system and lose all control over your life it seems.  I also hope I don't have to go back in.  I am 9 weeks out from my conversion and doing ok, so maybe the Norpace is working.  I am also able to exercise (up to 35 minutes) with no skips -- so I'm a happy camper.  

What's the 3rd degree block mean?

[LindaTX]

Delta, you're right and I forgot all about the breathing method and I couldn't access my older posts.  I got through that episode on the 9th and woke up the next morning in NSR.  Well, Sun. night it happened again and Mon. morning it was worse so we headed to the hospital....diagnosed with SVT...spent last night in the hospital. I hadn't been on here to see your post. They tried to convert me with adenosine but it didn't work...they were going to try again but they saw a 3rd degree block on my ECG and I got scared and told them I wanted to wait on any conversion.  I finally did convert on my own today after they started me on Toprol and Flecainide. I got out this afternoon and I swear I hope I never have to make another trip to the ER.  I may end up having to have another ablation...for SVT.

[DeltaDawn23]

As I recall, you tried my breathing method and a Xanax last time and it helped.  Breathing pattern:  Exhale all air through mouth.  Inhale through nose to the count of 4, hold to the count of 8, Exhale to the count of 9.  Keep your tongue pressed to the roof of your mouth.  do this 4 times and when you get used to it, you can go to 8.  It definitely slows my heart rate.  

I have gone 3-4 days with Afib with a rapid ventricular response giving me a hr in the 140's 150's, sometimes higher when I'm moving around.  Next time, I'm just going to go get con verted because it wears me out.  

Good luck . . .  keeping you in my thoughts.

[ireneo]

It's not unusual to have some heart involvement with lupus. You have a lot going on in your body. What about Raynauds? Do you have that as well? That's a type of vasospasm that will cause you to be very sensitive to cold or stress so that your hands and feet get icy cold and turn a bluish color. I have that and it's a bit embarrassing at times. In any case, keep in close touch with your rheumy to manage the lupus and sjogrens. The cardiologist can help with the arrhythmias. Mostly make sure the two talk to each other.  LOL  They need to work together to make a plan for you. My daughter in law has lupus and I know it can be managed. You don't need a flare.

[Theresa64]

Hi,
OMG. It sounds like you all are describing me. I just recently got out of the hospital. I was rushed there due to rapid heart rate and chest pain. The end result was Apical left ventricular thinning and low attenuation which suggest possible ischemic insult.
I don't know exactly what that means, but reading the posts, I am scared to find out. I have many episodes of rapid heartbeat with chest pain. Sometimes there is hard pounding in my chest and it feels like my heart is skipping beats and then tries to catch up to itself. Then I get light-headed and short of breath. I was diagnosed with A-fib and I have Lupus SLE and Discoid. I also have fibromyalgia and sjogren's dieseae. Someone please help.

[ireneo]

I've used the valsalva maneuver for years ( take a breath, hold it and bear down as if having a BM) but it doesn't work so well if the tachy has gone on very long. My cardio told me I should go in to hospital if the tachy went more than 30 minutes. I imagine a lot depends on the rate. Your rate is fast but not so fast as to cause you to pass out from poor perfusion. I still can't imagine going on for hours is good for you either.

[donna4140]

Well I have Atrial tach or (svt) pretty much the same.I know that standing on your head will not work for afib Atleast I dont think it will,but it works every time for my svt.Normally if my husband isnt around to help I just put a pillow on the floor ,and put my feet on the end of the couch.As long as your legs are up in the air it should work.

[LindaTX]

Thanks Jerry for your help.  I'm trying not to freak out...the last episode like this lasted 3+ days and I was extremely tired from it.  I did just now get a call from my Dr's office and was told to try a 25 mg Toprol followed 3o min. later by a 100mg flecainide in hopes it woiuld slow down my heart or convert it to normal.  If I've still got this going on i nthe morning I guess I'd better have my husband drive me to the ER. Thanks again Jerry for your quick response.

Donna, I guess I have either a-flutter or atrial-tachycardia.  I might try your suggestion anyway...if i can manage to do it.

[bexarooney]

No I just have atrial ectopics and sinus tachy. It last a few seconds at a time. I was worried about the scarey stuff like v tach but I don't have pvcs, not had 1 caught on any off my tests , just atrial ectopics so I guess that's a good thing!!

[donna4140]

It still does scare me when it happens,especially when Im out and cant do anything about it.It kicked in this morning about 5am while moving in bed.I had to wake my husband and he helped me stand on my head.It stopped.  Do you have svt?

[bexarooney]

Does it scare you or are you over the fear now? I get flutters about 3 times a week and they scare the hell out of me!

[donna4140]

My heart does flutter and sometimes an occasional thud.For the most part my heart does beat fairly normal.Until svt kicks in.

[bexarooney]

Do your regular palps feel the same? I mean do u get flutters, flip flops, hard thuds etc

[donna4140]

For me svt always feels the same.I usually get palpitations before my svt starts.It is extremely fast and regular rythm.My fastest rate was 242 when I went in for my ep study.

[bexarooney]

Donna, sorry to ask another question!! Do your palps or "attacks" feel exactly the same or do they vary abit? Thanks

[donna4140]

Do you have svt? I have svt and when it happens stand on your head.It really does work for me within a few seconds.  

[Jerry_NJ]

In it my belief that a resting HR of 150 can be given some time to pass.  I don't have a number, but if you don't get anything from your doctor or have the HR go back down, I think a trip to ER is in order.

I am unfamiliar with a program that allows the patient to decide what to use and when... but, one dose of beta blocker that has been prescribed to you shouldn't cause any long term low BP problems, I believe.  At least that has been my experience, even the slow release BB is mostly gone in 24 hours.  Again, my "guess", I don't have a number for my "mostly".

Good luck.