Can you have TRUE SVT without Extra Pathways

[Kasper87211]

Can you experience an SVT without having AVNRT, or WPW etc.. etc..?
Thanks!

[is_something_wrong]

Kasper,

What you need to know, is that EVERYONE will get SVT (and other arrhythmias) if their adrenaline levels are high enough. An injection of 10 mg adrenaline will cause V-fib in almost everyone, for example. There is no need to be afraid of V-fib though, the body is not able to produce adrenaline in such amounts. But it's an example - hormones such as thyroxine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, etc - will increase your heart's "irritability" and dispose for arrhythmias and premature beats.

In my case - I've got a completely healthy heart (at least that's what the doctors say - and I'll have to trust 3 cardiologists, 2 internists and 10 GP's) and if my adrenaline is high enough, I get tachycardia in the mid 200s. It's impossible to say where it origin (even on an EKG) but is's supraventricular. If I stop and take a couple of deep breaths, it normalizes in seconds.

My point was - you don't need to have re-entry circuits to get an arrhythmia. And you can get arrhythmias in a healthy heart, if you're anxious enough. For me, a beta blocker works excellent. Just a small dosis - and I can forget all about stress-induced arrhythmias.

[cindy707]

hey Kasper i doubt there isn't any one of us that hasn't felt that way and i think it would be inhuman not to....so you aren't being a worry wart and aren't being over cautious trust me we have all been there with SVT.  You have to try to remember when you are in the E,R, that everything magnifying for everyone just like going to the doctor raises our blood pressure etc.  You cannot let this take over your life...you have to keep telling yourself Kasper that YOU have SVT it doesn't have you so that means you have to find a way to deal w. this because you ended up in the E,R, doesn't mean you will or won't again.  I swear no wonder the FDA made Fentanyl so hard for anyone to get....its supposed to be 100 times more powerful than morphine and that is some tough stuff.  It is great tho that as you posted earlier that each week you are improving little by little so tht means in no time at all this may very well be a memory to you.  Putting the weight back on Kasper is one of the best things you can do for yourself here so that your body absorbs and rids itself of everything as its supposed to and your heart won't be struggling so hard because of being so underweight.  Just hold on a little longer Kasper but if the episodes start getting progressive you need to call your doc and let them know...we're here for you my friend.....

[Kasper87211]

im just so afraid to do anything. Im afraid to pass out, im afraid to experience what i Felt in the ER.

New things are horrible for me. And Im a very anxious worrier

[Kasper87211]

Well i was in the ER for SVT, But I had a bunch of other issues. Im Very underweight, I was Fentanyl Withdrawling, Very dehydrated and malnourished. I am on TPN right now and my blood pressure is getting a bit better every week. Putting a few pounds on also.

My hemoglobin is 10.0 so i am anemic.
I also just got my magnesium to normal also.

A lot of things contribute. So i guess i need to get a normal B.P / Weight and hemoglobin before we can officially DX and IST. But i think 300bpm is SVT or AVNRT because i dont think anxiety and all those issues can do that. maybe, maybe not.

but my 3 week moniter did Show 1-2 SVT in the beginning. "not normal" sinus rythem.

[cindy707]

Hi Kasper....you don;'t need to have any underlying issues to have SVT or Superventricular Tach and it can be a stand alone.  It is one of the most common types of tach and one of the most treatable.  I had it and chose to have an ablation done to get rid of it along with a couple of other things 3 years ago and never had another episode of SVT after the procedure.  Mostly its just the scariness of the situation when the episodes pop up but again is one of the most treatable w. a pretty good success rate.  Taching is taching and its all scary no matter what type you get because no one wants to feel like your heart is going to jump out of your chest or beat in an irregular pattern...did you get diagnosed w. it or someone you know?  Let us know we can offer up our experiences to put things into perspective for you we hope......

[Darlingorla]

Thanks a lot for explaining what the various tachycardia's are ...very insightful

[is_something_wrong]

Yes.

Atrial Ectopic Tachycardia can be caused by increased automaticity (increased pacemaker abilities). Junctional Ectopic Rhythm is caused by AV nodal increased automaticity.

AVNRT is caused by reentry in AV node. WPW is an extra pathway creating a large reentry between atrias and ventricles. AET (described above) can be caused by reentry in atrial tissue, or the reason mentioned above. Afib is a multiple reentry process, Aflu is a large reentry in the right atrium.

.. and of course sinus tachycardia :)

The increased automaticity tachycardias are quite rare, by the way, and they are usually short.