SVT - Was your pre-ablation experience the same as mine?

[blimpus77]

Hello all,
I've been suffering from SVT for about a year now...prior to this, I was athletic.  I was a runner and sports were my life.  My SVT started all of a sudden after getting injured and having to take some time off.  At first, I didn't think much of it, but now it seems to have taken control over my life.  

Fast forward a year later, I'm now awaiting an ablation this April.  The reason why I'm posting is I'm wondering for those of you who have had an SVT, if your symptoms were the same as mine?  I'm hoping the ablation is my fix, but I'm starting to worry that it may not be the only thing going on...so I figured I'd ask everyone here since many of you have been through this.  

Here's what I'm experiencing:

Constant Tightness!  -  In my chest/stomach/throat.  It's consistent throughout the day, though, and I have varying levels of tightness.  Usually when I feel especially tight, my SVT episodes are more prone to trigger by something like bending over.  My HR is still my resting range when this happens (~55 bpm), so I don't think I'm in SVT.  Did any of you have this between episodes?  Did the ablation fix?  

PAC's/PVC's ?  - Not sure if this is what I'm experiencing, but when I'm walking or something, I get a weird feeling in my chest.  Almost the feeling in your stomach when you're on a rollercoaster...except the feeling is in my chest and for just an instant. Are these PAC's/PVC's?  If I get an episode, I also tend to get these things much more often for the next few days.  

Fatigue!  -  I get fatigued after my SVT episodes...primarily if it occurs while "trying" to workout (see my next item).  If I feel it hit during a workout, I usually stop immediately, and can convert it relatively quickly...but afterwards the fatigue hits, and it doesn't last minutes or hours...but it can take me down for days.

Exercise Intolerance :(  - As I said, I was pretty athletic before this happened.  I used to be out running or playing sports 6 out of the 7 days a week.  I still try to be active and am careful trying not to push it too much as to kick of the SVT.  I used to run marathons.  Now when I'm just walking for a bit, I get fatigued and almost feel ill afterwards...again, although my HR goes up slightyly, I don't feel like I'm in an episode.  I guess this is the most worrisome...did any of you get exertion fatigue pre-ablation?  Even between episodes?  Did an ablation help fix?

Anxiety! -  Ok, I know just about everyone with SVT has some form of anxiety.  Do you think your anxiety manifested themselves into physical symptoms?  I do wonder if any of the things listed above are primarily caused by my anxiety.  What's  your experience?

My cardiologist didn't find anything on my stress echo or blood work, and pretty much focused on the tachycardia.  My EP (one of the best int he country) said straightforward that he couldn't say if everything was directly related to the SVT...which is why I turn to the real experts.  The ones who have live or have lived through this experience.  

Thanks so much for your input...I've been reading other posts on this forum and they have been so helpful.  For those of you who are currently suffering through this or other heart issues, I do wish you all good health!

[MichelleP_3811]

Your symptoms sound fairly typical though I didn't necessarily have chest tightness all the time I did feel all sorts of things with my heart that got to a point I was having daily symptoms.  You are probably correct that the very quickly little blips and things you feel are pacs or pvcs.  They are completely unrelated to the svt but they are a big trigger for people falling into svt and it is likely after your heart gets a little over worked by an svt episode the ectopics may ramp up in response because they can be activated by the heart being irritated.  So the two conditions though unrelated do kind of feed off each other.  Get rid of the svt and you should eventually see a decline in your ectopics as well.  I have but it can take a while.  I had a few instances where I felt extreme hard to function fatigue after and svt episode but it was usually after I let it go to long before getting it to stop.  If you are having extreme fatigue I would suggest taking it easy until you get your ablation done.  The heart is a very resilient muscle and if yours is a bit over stressed it should get better once you get the svt corrected and you stop getting the episodes but for now try to baby your heart as much as you can to give it as much rest as possible.  Also do be patient after you get your ablation for your heart to get it strength back.  It will come back but the heart is a bit slow to recover but it will.  I would even suggest trying to not overdo your workouts even after the ablation for maybe at least the first 3 months. It is not that I am recommending you stop all exercising until you are fully past this. Exercising does help keep your heart strong it is just that you may want to not push it too hard or you could be making things worse.  Well hang in there, this should hopefully all be a thing of the past within the next few months.  Please don't hesitate to ask questions and keep us posted on how you are doing.  Best of luck and stay strong.

[blimpus77]

Thanks for your reply...I really appreciate it.  What you said about having an irritable heart could be very true.  I know I've tried to keep up with my running, even if it's a fraction of what I was used to.  Sometimes my symptoms would force me to stop completely for upwards of a week or two.  Perhaps even then, it was too early to start up again.  

It's a little worrisome having the constant tightness.  Sometimes I think it's my stomach causing all my issues, but have had tests and nothing has come up.  The only concrete thing that I do have is the SVT...so I figure I'll try to fix what I know and keep my fingers crossed that the other symptoms will follow.

Thanks for the well wishes.  I'll be sure to post how things go in April.  It's just good to be able to come here and get support from the community.  I'm a newbie to the site and do appreciate the feedback.