Should I seek further testing?

[Ashalee403]

I'm a 25 year old female and I've had episodes of SVT and PSVT ever since I was a young child. I never knew what to make of these heart racing episodes so I didn't get checked out until 2 or 3 years ago. When I go into a SVT episode, my heart rate seems to go out of control, so fast I think it's beating out of my chest. Also when I'm experiencing one of these SVT episodes I break out in sweat and I start to loose my vision and I'm ready to pass out. SVT happened to me once while driving and it completely freaked me out because my vision was fading away and I was seeing stars. I've worn the halter monitor twice, and I've had 2 ultrasounds done on my heart. The first time around they recommended beta blockers. Which seemed to keep my heart at a steady comfortable pace. After I was booted off of my mom's insurance plan I couldn't afford the Toprol anymore so they gave me a generic Metotoprol. The generic Metotoprol they gave me made me feel even worse! I felt like it was hard to breathe or almost like something was sitting on my chest. So I quit taking the generic and figured if I felt better without it why bother. Just this past year I had sharp chest pains and went to the doctor and went through the halter monitor and ultrasound again and this time they found that I had a slight case of Mitral Valve Prolapse. I made an appointment with a cardiologist and they told me not to worry and it wasn't anything major that could kill me. They wanted to do a table tip test which was going to cost outrageous so I never ended up getting it done. I guess my question is....will the Mitral Valve Prolapse or SVT/PSVT cause me serious problems down the road if i don't continue testing to find out whats causing them?  

[merileegal]

I started getting SVT episodes in my 30's. I had quite a few to begin with and was put in digoxin which after awhile made me feel lethargic and I would sometimes get sick on it. So I went off and discovered vagal manuevers which stopped the SVT. Later when they kicked back up again, I went on tambocor which again made me feel awful, so I stopped and decided to just rely on vagal manuevers again. During a  period of years, I would only have a couple a year, and, as best as I can remember, maybe none. Over the last few years they've kicked up again and vagal manuevers have always worked until early this year so I had the ablation.

Has your doctor talked to your about vagal manuevers? Your attacks sound a lot like mine. First, things getting a little dim before the heart starts pounding, and it does feel like it is pounding right out of your chest. The most important and best thing to do is to stay calm. That puts you in charge of the monster. Remember, it isn't life threathening. Then find a vagal manuever that works for you. Also try and determine what foods or drinks might trigger the SVT. I was sensitive to caffeine and stress and the two together spelled SVT.

I also have mild MVP and like the others was told it was nothing to be concerned about. My cardiologist mentioned it almost in passing.

[tom_h]

Think of this way: MVP is a mechanical problem, and SVT is an electrical problem. If you've had SVT episodes 3 years apart, your condition probably doesn' warrant an ablation....yet.  You may find that may change over the years. Just understand that SVT is not a dangerous condition, and a mild case of MVP isn't a problem. I found Metoprolol in any form to be ineffective for SVT, although it often prescribed. Perhaps it's because it's cheap and easily tolerated.

[bbxx]

If your mvp is mild, it shouldnt get any worse. (I am not a doc,this is what the doc told me)
The SVT/PSVT--everyone is different, so no one can say one way or the the other for certain, but it (appears) it often does get worse.
If you are having more issues with it, several people on here have had ablations for SVT and seem to be doing quite well. I am sure they will pipe up here soon. I have had SVT a couple times (3 years apart)