Post Ablation Tachycardia

[ocmama24]

Hi,

I'm a 39 year old female who just had an ablation 8/9/11 for SVT and I was told that it was (AVNRT).  We (including the doctors) believe that the ablation was a complete success.  Last week I woke up with a heart rate of 240bpm that scared the living daylights out of me.  To begin with, even before the ablation, I never had an episode wake me up.  My SVT attacks were always in the 240bmp range so I wasn't alarmed by the speed, just the fact that it felt little different and that I I thought I wouldn't have to deal with it again.  I went to the ER to see if I could get an EKG on it...of course, by the time they hooked me up it had slowed down.

Is it possible that the ablation was still a success and that this tach episode was just from heart irritation?
Am I just being hopeful?

My cardiologist wants me to start on Lanoxin (.25mg).  My blood pressure is pretty low so he thinks this would be the best med for me.  He thinks maybe this will get me through the next few months and that maybe I can wean off of it after that.  Ugh, I'm just frustrated that I need to start medicine since I had the ablation so I wouldn't have to take meds.

Any insight would be appreciated!

Thank you!

[ocmama24]

Thank you so much for your replies!  I'm really glad I stumbled across this forum - it's good to know I'm not alone in this world of funky heartbeats!

I definitely have those moments where it feels like my heart is going to go all tachy on me and then it doesn't.  That's what makes me feel like the ablation was successful.  Then again, I suppose it could easily be another faulty pathway acting up.  I guess for now, it's sitting tight and waiting for another episode to happen...and hopefully I can get an EKG on it.  Or maybe the Lanoxin will help.  I traveled to San Francisco for my ablation so my EP is there too.  For now, I'm just keeping my cardiologist here in the loop.  I think I'm just bummed to be back in the not knowing what is up stage again.

Thanks again for your replies!

[MichelleP_3811]

I had an ablation for the same thing about 6 weeks ago.  I have noticed what feels like some sort of short circuit or vibration type feeling that I use to get that would precede the tachycardia but the tachycardia is not triggered now.  I would think if yours is getting triggered the ablation may not have been a success though I have read that one may have an episode or two before they are finally gone.  This may have something to do with the way a person's heart heals.  I would surmise that it may take a bit for the scar line that should block the signal to get set but I would consult the doctor if that is what is going on.  If so the medicine may just be temporary.  I also read that if the first ablation is not successful usually a second one is though I am not sure that is something you would want to hear.  Regardless, ask your EP what he thinks.  Good luck and keep us posted.  

[tom_h]

I've been on the forum for close to a year now, and in that time I've seen a lot of forum members who've undergone an ablation procedure talk about brief runs of SVT following their procedure.  I had one last November for AVRT, and experienced (and still do) some very short runs of SVT, perhaps a half dozen to a dozen beats.  But then it drops out.  I don't think anyone who has had a "successful" ablation reported SVT of this duration.  If it lasted that long, I'd question the success of it.