Is there a risk?

[260]

For years my heart has gone through episodes of speeding up.
It usually goes from 98 to 260 bpm and can last up to 30 min.
I am waiting till the Kids are older before going for an ablation
because I just don't feel comfortable taking the chance on surgery.
Since I am unwilling to have the ablation right now, the hospital will not
do the electrophysiology study at this time because they like to
do them both at the same time.
My Doctor suspects I have doubled pathways.
Am I facing any kind of an added risk for heart attack or stroke
by just living with the fast heart episodes for a few more years?

[260]

Actually, away from home is easier for me, because there are no distractions.
I just go someplace very quiet for a few minutes, close my eyes, picture someplace
like a pretty lake and try to breath the episode out.
As far as everyday, it sure helps if you don't work in a high stress job.
I've been lucky, my employers understand that I have this little glitch that crops up
once in a while and that I have to go someplace quiet to breath it out.
They know my work is good and they know everyone has some kind of glitch that
they have to deal with.

[mabebesc]

Thanks for your list! Have you ever tried just holding your breath? How long do your episodes last and do you ever have symptoms like dizziness, etc.?   What do you do when you are away from home?(Sorry for all the questions!!)

I'm thankful I feel fine when it happens other than my anxiety level goes way up. So far, I've never had to go an Er to get it stopped. It's funny, I've tried the face under water and holding my breath, but that doesn't work for me.

When my hubby is home, just being around him makes me feel less anxious when it starts up.  What I really hate is worrying if an episode is going to start if for example, I'm out for the day with friends, or if I'm on vacation,etc
.
I don't know anyone who has this.  No one in my family and not any of my friends. I am so happy I found this website because no one truly understands what it's like unless you go through it yourself.

Thanks for your info-it really does help!

[260]

lol....heres a list of things I do

1. Go to the fridge, take out two cans of pop, sit in favorite chair and hold cold cans on either side of my neck.
Try to take deep breaths in and out to regulate breathing and slow heart.

2. Fill sink with cold water, put your face in the water, don't forget to hold your breath.

3. Have someone that you love put their hand firmly on your chest, focus on that hand and try to take deep breaths in and out.
Sometimes just knowing that person is right there helps a lot.

4. Hold a dog or cat that you love, try to take deep breaths and regulate your breathing to slow things down.
Cats are great because there is something so relaxing about that purring sound.

5. If you are overweight, try to lose weight because for me it decreased the number of times my wonky heark goes off.

Good luck, these are just things that I do and may not work for everyone.
Remember to go into emerg and get help if it goes on too long.

QUESTION: In my family there are a few people who have this very same heart thing, has anyone else found this to be true.

[mabebesc]

Hi,'
How do you get your SVT to stop? Does it just stop by itself?  I have had SVT for 30 years. I am 52. I too am scared to have an ablation done. I am so tired though of dealing with this and always worrying when an episode will begin. I can stop my SVT by holding my breath but sometimes I have to do this for an hour and a half. My SVT lasts anywhere from a few seconds to an hour and a half. What a nuisance! If I have to go an Er in the future because I can't get it to stop or if I start to get symptoms when it happens, then it would be an easy decision to have the ablation done.

[260]

I know stats are good on ablation but no surgery is foolproof and I'm not ready to end up with a pacemaker or worse if there is a tiny human error.
I hate the fast heart but I've learned to live with it.
I would consider an implantable device if I could get one, because it does not involve any lasers burning away tissue, just adding a bit of help.
I'm not sure if they have one that can slow it yet, because that requires the device to overtake the 260 bpm and re-regulate the beats to normal.

[770shelia]

My doc says SVT is not life threatening. But the more I read there are types of SVT that rarley can turn into ventricular fibrilation which is very life threating.Also if it atriel fibralation it read that increases your risk of a blood clot and stroke. Everyone is telling me that abaltion risks are extremly low and I have decided to have the ablation done on July 14. I am scared but I can not live worrying about having an attack all the time. You can try meds but my doc says they make you tired and can cause weight gain.
BTW..I have a 13 month old and am doing this. I never want him to see me scared during an episode

[260]

I think if I lived in the USA where I could choose a good doctor to do the procedure, I would consider it, but here in Canada you just take pot luck and hope for the best.
I would feel a lot more confident if I had the option of researching a doc before hand.

Yes, most of the time I can breath it out, but once in a while, I have to go into emerg for the iv push.
I've had it since I was a kid but it got more severe after turning 30.

[nicolette36]

ive been told svt isnt life threatening as in you wont have a cardiac arrest but with my last attack which lasted 11 hours i was also told there is a risk of blood clots forming during a prolonged attack,not sure if this is true,a nurse told me but i have never heard that again.my attacks started off 12 years ago and like you with the odd short episode,infact mine were of no more than 10 minutes at most,then i had nothing for a couple of years,then back again all the time getting progressively worse till the last time when i had no choice but to go on long term beta blockers.i was on 10mg bisoprolol and they severely affected me,i was exhausted,i have kids too but no energy in which to go out and do stuff with them,so i agreed to the ablation which i had done 8 days ago.so far so good,they ablated 2 extra pathways.i have noticed already my heart seems more settled unmedicated,the few days before my procedure i had to stop the meds and that wasnt good,so in comparison i can definetely tell the difference and once i have fully recovered i am looking forward to a renewed energy without the fear of having an attack.

[maggiemag]

Gee, it sure doesn't sound like much fun!  Has it been documented as SVT?  260 is kinda really fast!  My lifetime best is only 240!  Do you go to the ER to get converted or are you able to self convert?  IF you have a structurally normal heart, I think you could tolerate even a rate that high for 30 minutes without going into failure.  I don't think the risk would be for heart attack or stroke.  But I am not a physician.  Personally, if you need to go to the ER and it happens every few months or so, then I would think it would be harder on your children than having an ablation.  I myself do not consider an ablation as *surgery*, but I may be in the minority.  It really isn't bad and if you have a very experienced EP, then I think most can be ablated on the first try.  Be wary of someone who isn't as you don't want them practicing on you and need unnecessary further ablations.  You will be soooo happy if they are successful.  I never knew when I would get SVT and it almost always lasted long enough to have to go to the ER, so it was a major inconvenience.  Good luck in making the decision.