PSVT

[Kendal]

About a year & a half ago I experienced a couple episodes of PSVT & went to see a rhythm specialist. At the time, I only had 2 episodes. We did nothing at the time, because I didn't feel it was frequent enough to go on a beta blocker. Since that time, I have had several episodes- maybe once a month. These episodes don't always result in a fast heartbeat, but they do cause alarm because they hit suddenly & I get lightheaded, almost like im going to faint. I also get flushed & can feel my heart beating irregularly. After a couple minutes, im fine. On occasion, it will also result in my heart becoming very rapid & if I do some deep coughs, I can get it back to a normal rhythm. My question is, should I go back in to see the rhythm specialist & tell him that they have increased? When I saw him I had only had the 2 episodes & now I have this about once a month, or once every 2 months, usually when im stressed out or really tired. They dont always result in the rapid heart rate, sometimes it's just the irregular beat, along w/the feeling of fainting & feeling flushed. Is this anything serious? Ive heard beta blockers aren't really fun because they lower your blood pressure & make you feel pretty crappy. What are my alternatives?


This discussion is related to arythmias  from stress and smoking at 31.

[Kendal]

wow Cindy, you were right! I was going to call my cardiologist this week, but this morning I had a psvt episode & ended up calling 911 because I had passed out!  It all happened so fast, I had woken up, taken a shower & the next think I know, im having a psvt episode w/a rapid hear rate & then got dizzy, so I sat down on th edge of my bed & then passed out. When i came to, I was on the floor & my dog was licking my face. It scared me so much, I called 911. My heart rate peaked at about 190 bpm. Anyway, I called my rythum specialist & he's prescribed Diltiazem- which is a calcium channel blocker. Im not real thrilled about the med after reading about it.. It sounds like it lowers your blood pressure, but i'll give it a try before doing the extreme..which would be Ablation. My question is, do you know if these calcium channel blockers are very successful in controlling PSVT episodes?

[Kendal]

wow Cindy, you were right! I was going to call my cardiologist this week, but this morning I had a psvt episode & ended up calling 911 because I had passed out!  It all happened so fast, I had woken up, taken a shower & the next think I know, im having a psvt episode w/a rapid hear rate & then got dizzy, so I sat down on th edge of my bed & then passed out. When i came to, I was on the floor & my dog was licking my face. It scared me so much, I called 911. My heart rate peaked at about 190 bpm. Anyway, I called my rythum specialist & he's prescribed Diltiazem- which is a calcium channel blocker. Im not real thrilled about the med after reading about it.. It sounds like it lowers your blood pressure, but i'll give it a try before doing the extreme..which would be Ablation. My question is, do you know if these calcium channel blockers are very successful in controlling PSVT episodes?

[Kendal]

Thank you Cindy for your advise! I also was recently diagnosed w/a Pituitary tumor & it has affected my hormones. My TSH & LH are low.  I also have IBS & a dystonic cervical neck tremor. Im wondering if any of these thing's can possibly be related. I dont currently have any caffeine, I dont drink or do drugs & very rarely do I drink alcohol. Ive noticed that the last several episodes that ive had, have been while visiting my parents & it's always stressfull over there! I think I will go in to see a specialist. Just wondering if I should see a rhythm specialist? or ?   You have a great weekend as well!  Kendal

[cindy707]

Hi i read your post....you definately need to make an appt. because it sounds like the incidents are getting closer and closer and you want to ensure that nothing else is going on with you.  Beta blockers and the type are different for everyone....there has been absolutely no change in my life since i went on antenolol on a low dose a couple of years ago.......basic alternatives are that you monitor everything that is going on with you so that you can avoid the episodes until you get in to see the doc.....things like making sure that you get a full nite of sleep, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, stay away from anything that has caffeines in it like coffee, iced tea, colored sodas, energy drinks, no red wine......anxiety and stress can 100% set these off so you need to look at the cause and effect of this.....is the stess you are undertaking worth what it is doing to your body? Regardless of what you do you need to have a follow up appt. for insurance of your own well being.............good luck Kendal have a great weekend