I'm 27, female, mother of two. No maternal family history of cardiac problems, paternal history unknown. Nine weeks into my second pregnancy (6 years ago) I began having episodes of SVT. At ten weeks was put on Toprol (50mg, I believe), then topped out at "max dosage for adult" at 26 weeks and put on bedrest for the duration. All EKGs normal except for SVT. ECG at 25 weeks showed some MV regurg but otherwise normal. I was told it would probably stop after I delivered but it didn't. Stopped medication after delivery. Twice since then the SVT episodes became so frequent and debilitating I've gone back on medication, Cardizem 100mg last time (2 1/2 years ago) and Toprol 50 mg this time (three weeks ago). Up until the last few months the symptoms were always the same. I'd usually start feeling nauseated, dizzy, and light-headed, then I'd feel my heart pounding and racing and it would slow to normal within 15 minutes to an hour. My heart rate was 120 to 140 bpm during SVT, ER caught it at 160+ bpm at 26 weeks pregnant.
In the last few months I've had quite a bit of left-sided chest pain, even outside of an SVT episode (upper abdominal x-ray and ultrasound normal). My symptoms are more severe at lower HRs, there's more pounding, the episodes are lasting longer and are happening far more often. I'm also feeling very loud, hard single beats at least once nearly every evening and this is also new. Episode at work in July ended up in ER. I took HR at 160+ at onset, EMT got it at 140+ 25 minutes later, 95 at ER 45 minutes after that. Oxygen normal but hyperventilating (tingling arms, feet, and face even with controlled breathing).
115/65 BP, 60 bpm resting HR but irregular rhythm, normal EKG three weeks ago. Meds x3 wks now, helped at first but now not as effective. No stimulants except nicotine (half pack a day, moderated based on how my heart's acting that day). Other triggers-exertion was raising it to 140+ bpm and even with med it still goes over 120 sometimes, anxiety-related SVT is usually just rapid HR. Family doc ordered an ECG and a Holter, done 12/19, results on Thursday, with probable referral to cardio for follow-up. He says it doesn't sound like 'classic SVT' and wanted to look further into this. Mentioned ablation, says I'm too young to deal with this for the rest of my life. Do you have any input into this? I'm more or less wondering what he could mean by it not being "classic SVT".