atrial tachycardia

[amiey2217]

has anyone been diagnosed with this? I am 28 years old and had an ablation for SVT a year ago. To say the least, it has been difficult since. I have now started with what seems to be new arrhythmias. my doctor mentioned atrial tachycardia or runs of afib. What are the symptoms you experience with atrial tachycardia or afib and how was it diagnosed for you? I would really appreciate some help. It looks like another ablation is in my future and I would love more information to help me make an informed decision about what my next step should be. Thanks in advance.

[amiey2217]

i did not have the lump in my throat. i did feel like i couldnt take a deep breath or catch my breath though. i am also happy that the dr wants to know where to go first. he said this way i will hopefully have to have less ablate if he knows which area is most troublesome. i would be interested to keep in touch with you and see how things go with your recovery. Thanks again for your input. It really does help to know that I am not alone and others are experiencing the same things. I often fear that if something dangerous were to happen, like a heart attack, i would ignore it cause i am so used to dealing with symptoms that are so similar. Thanks again1

[Brandie51]

Thank you for the response.  My cardio caught the SVT during a stress test and referred me to an EP doctor who discovered the left atrial tach during my EP study & ablation procedure.  I want to feel normal again and get rid of this lump in my throat b/c it worries me that it could get worse and block my air way eventually.  I can't help but fear that something else is wrong.  Did you get the lump and if so, when did it finally go away?  I think it's a good idea that your doctor is mapping out your arryth before the ablation.  This way, he/she will know exactly where to go during the procedure and hopefully reduce the time you are on the table.  I understand that it is extremely frustrating but hang in there.  Good luck!  

[amiey2217]

Brandie51:
yeah that is very similar to what I have been experiencing. I also had very similar symptoms to yours post ablation. My EP diagnosed me with pericarditis immediately following. The constant burning in my chest and tightness lessened over time but took a long time too get better. I cannot say that it is completely gone and it has been a year. I would say it got significantly better after about 3-4 months though. How was your atrial tach diagnosed?? was it on an EKG in the ER? My EP wants to an implantable loop monitor to help map out the arrhythmia more before I go for another ablation. This whole thing is getting very old and I would love for it to go away. I guess I have to just be patient. Thanks for your story!

[Brandie51]

I was diagnosed w/ atrial tachycardia in August after 3 trips to the ER from severe attacks.  When I would have an "attack", my HR would spike in the 200s, BP would spike, extreme tightness in my chest and throat w/ a burning censation that would radiate down my left arm, lump in my throat, flushing, numbness in extremeites, weakness, faint like feeling, metallic taste, completely dry mouth and hollowness throughout my entire body.  Are you having these symptoms?  It is the most horrible and scarey feeling.  Tried to manage it w/ beta blockers but suffered horrible side affects from the meds so I saw an EP doctor in Nov and had an ablation.  He discovered that I had left atrail tach but thinks the ablation was succesful.  He noticed a few more "spots" that MIGHT have to be ablated later but was able to burn the big group of bad cells causing the attacks.  Spent the night in the hosptial and was discharged the next day.  6 weeks out I am not having any attacks and do feel better but I still get a burning censation and tightness in my chest and throat and feel my heart flutter from time to time when my rate spikes a bit.  I also have what seems like a constant lump in my throat.  Does anyone else have these symptoms post ablation?  My EP doctor said that these symptoms after ablation were normal and it could take months to disapper.  How do I know if it's just healing or if these are the other spots acting up on me?

[amiey2217]

dlgcustom: I went in for an ablation for svt and they found several other things that needed to be ablated. although i did find it uncomfortable, it wouldnt keep me from doing it again. What happened after was the problem. I have had really bad, debilitating pericarditis starting mmediately after. Although it has decreased in severity over the past year, it still very much interferes with my life.

[dlgcustom]

Amiey, How was your fry?

[dlgcustom]

Hey Amiey. Yes, pericarditis from afib fry. Have had for probably 1.5 yr. after fry. It has been bout 1yr. sence svt fry. It's not bad, a little uncomfortable at times. I too would do it again, i dont end up on the floor trying to stop episode any more. Cardioligist didn't do much for me. The ep. got things going. Took more than a year before i saw ep. Still wish i could get cardio conditioning back, i could work harder on it. Svt fry was 2 spots. Cake.

[cindy707]

Thanks for the post.....i too altho i don't talk about it much had a rough time DURING the procedure and had to be converted 5 times on the table and flatlined 2 times but hey.....i'm still here and game if i have the chance for a better way of life which i def. got.
Like i said what better place for something to happen?  Better than being in line at Starbucks and your cardiologist sounds great if he/she takes the time w. you because they aren't all like that but mine too was amazing.  With med. science we have a pretty huge safety net around us now so that is why i am so supportive of the procedure.  I probably was one of the more serious cases on the table or at least he told me i was #1 out of 1500 that made him really earn his money.....so see there is justice after all.....my God what they charge now.....shoulda been a heart doc i think!!!!!

[amiey2217]

dlgcustom: your ablation resulted in pericarditis?? mine did as well. how long did it last? i have had it on and off (about two weeks between each episode) for a year now. i would love to hear more about your experience since you have had an ablation for each of the things that i have.
cindy707: i have had extensive talks with my cardiologist. i had such a bad experience the last time with the ablation, that i am very hesitant to do it again, but want my life back. I have the feeling that I may go ahead with the ablation in the hope that it will at least give me a chance to get back to the way things were. thanks for your help and words of encouragement!

[cindy707]

Hi A-
I'm sure your cardiologist (hopefully) sat you down and explained w. an ablation that in more times than not they are successful. Its been three years since mine and i have done great since but.....within the last couple of months i've had a couple of episodes of A Fib and the last time had to be chemically converted in the E.R. (no biggie).  I ran back to the heart doc as fast as my little feet would carry me...of course back to that same old same old for a couple of days thinking the ablation failed.  It did not....what he explained to me is that w. A Fib sometimes new passageways of errant electrical activity pops up and may be a one time occurance, a weekly, a yearly, a 10 year or never again he said its more scary than anything.  I take antenolol very small dose every morning w. the aspirin he said to take for me and he gave me something called Multaq that he said w. A Fib allows you to basically convert yourself within an hour of the episode.  I could talk to your heart doc and see if its right for you.  What does it feel like?  Pretty scary at the moment......feels like your heart is beating like crazy and totally irregular w. A Fib , sometimes you get that pounding up around your neck and jaw, a little pale, a little sweaty but everyone is different.  I would not even hesitate a moment if they wanted to give me a tune up and go back in with the ablation because it was so simple of a procedure and what better place could you possibly be if something went sideways on you on the table?  All they're doing is basically mapping our hearts activity and see where its mis-firing and zapping it w. either cryo or heat and closing those pathways off and redirecting them the way they are supposed to be (kind of like our kids i think).  You need a sit down with the doc and go over the pros and cons if you didn't have an easy time of it and for that i am sorry.  I feel very blessed that he gave me alot better way of life and those feelings that i was going to die at any moment are long since gone because i know the worse scenario is another ablation and to me its a no brainer.  Write a list of questions down, google out all you can find out, A Fib he told me is the easiest and most successful to perform and with the best results...i would want my life back....good luck to you and i hope all goes well for you..................

[dlgcustom]

Hey Amiey. Had some (not much) svt when i was 16, then went away. At 30 they came back in a big way. Long story. Progressed over 7 years into afib. First cardioligist said i had anxiety. Put me on busbar. Busbar worked pretty good, but only kept adrenalin, cortisol down. He put me on digoxin, made me worse (another story). New cardioligist did a 24hr holter. Nothing. I had to be persistant! After months got 30 day monitor. Bingo. He apologized. finally saw EP. Another 30 day monitor. Monitoring was called short, and put in hospitol for afib abation. I feel if i had ablation for svt much sooner, never would have afib. 6 mos. later had svt fry. Afib fry was much worse. Pericarditis, FRIED, couldn't do any thig for 2 mos. EP said they did alot of frying. Go to the best you can find. I could go on and on.