svt, and control

[holidaygirl]

A few years ago I had a few "palpitations", and I had a 24 hour tape , which showed a few SVTs. The consultatant said verapramil would stop them, but as the frequency was not that often, it was probably best to leave alone.
   Sometimes I go for days without any flutter, and sometimes I have  a few each day . They are VERY mild when they occur.
   However, I was on Holiday in Malaysia recently, and had 2 glasses of white wine. I had a flutter, but it went on and I could not stop it by cough or pressing on jugular vein. It must have lasted 20 seconds, then I had this tachycardia of about 180, which went on for at least 2 hours. I went to bed with it, and when I woke up it was gone.
  I have had no further problem since, just the odd, usual flutter.
I can "live " with this..but do you think the tachycardia, was okay, or was it VT. I am worried that I may go into VF if it happens again.
   Do you think I was in any danger, and should I go on a medication, if normally my symptoms are mild.
      Thank you.

[cindy707]

Hey there...well it sounds like you are one of those unlucky people that alcohol sets them off....i am unsure however why you would press on the jugular vein and not press in and do a circular motion massage on what i believe you probably mean the carotid artery.  They tell us to press in and do a circular motion counting to 5 in one direction and then reverse directions.  You have to remember not to do this on both sides at the same time or you may end up on the floor.  Its funny you do what alot of people do and that is go to sleep hoping to wake up with it gone......my opinion is that if your pulse rate is going that high it needs to be addressed and if the doc says its okay you need to remember to pop and aspirin in your mouth, the cheapo kind and chew it up if you can.  This doesn't mean you are going to move into V Tach at all...it is what it is....but you need to let your heart doc know what happened.   They may want you on a lite beta blocker to control these episodes....you need to find out if its tach or a fib my friend and the only way to do that is with a diagnosis from a heart doc not self diagnosis...i could make the call what will it cost you?

[no_fate]

Sounds like you should avoid alcohol and if possible
try to find out if there are any foods or eating habits that may
interfere with your heart beating normal.

I for example can no longer eat big meals and must avoid
foods which irritate my stomache, otherwise I risk having a lot
of PVC's and periods of NSVT.

In my case, using prebiotics (molkosan) and probiotics (yakult, actimel)
help a lot to keep the stomach in check.
I've no idea whether you should go on meds.