SVT? Please read...Feeling a bit lost.

[sian333]

Hi there,

I'm 22 year old female. Normal weight for my height, have a healthy diet. Used to be a light smoker, but have cut down and then quit since this started happening...

About 6 months ago, I had my first episode of SVT. I'd just smoked a cigarette, and walked up my flight of stairs at the apartment. I went inside and a few minutes later, noticed my heart hadn't slowed down + was going extremely fast. I felt dizzy, and couldn't stand up. I called 911. When they arrived my heart was 167bpm...and going up and down all over the place. They ran some tests at the hospital and everything came back normal, just a fast heart. It eventually slowed right down and I was sent home.

Five weeks after that event, I was waking up and all of a sudden felt light headed....I then noticed it was because my heart was racing again. It was going very quick, but not as quick as the time before hand. It eventually slowed down after about 15 minutes.

These events then continued...and I had one episode of SVT at least once a month....more often around the time of my period, too.

I saw a cardiologist, wore a 24hr monitor, did a stress test, had an endoscopy....all came back normal + passed, however he said i had trivial mitral regurgitation and that it would fix itself most likely, and that it's common with young woman, no dangerous and that it wouldn't cause my palpitations. He said he didn't capture the SVT so couldn't treat me for having it, but could give me a low dose of beta blockers for 3 months to ease symptoms. He told me I had anxiety issues. This frustrated me....I get anxious over the symptoms...the anxiety doesn't bring on the symptoms. I've had lots of blood tests, always normal. I stay as calm as I can when it happens, and have stopped being scared of it, I just get annoyed by it!

My GP also tested me for H. Plyori as I had indigestion issues, and burped a lot. I was also tested for clots, results were negative thankfully!

It's been 6 months since my first episode, and I've started to notice a pattern. I've noticed they tend to happen when I bend down for something, or after eating, especially carbs. I have quit smoking since I know smoking has been a trigger for them....but sometimes it seems nothing triggers them, they just happen out of the blue! Also, I ALWAYS need to go to the bathroom after the SVT.

I've lost count of how many times it happens. I've had about 4 or 5 times where it's gone super fast...and this tends to only last a few minutes....sometimes last 5 - 10 minutes or so at max. It sometimes races then stops, then races again. It starts and ends quickly. But then will seem to be at around 100bpm for some time after the episode and gradually slows back down, can take an hour or so sometimes....sometimes even more for it to get back into normal resting rate...which for me is from 65-75bpm.

Just recently I've started massaged my eyelids (as my doc told me to) when it happens and that really helps slow things down.

It's been happening a lot lately, and it's really starting to affect my quality of life. I was at a good friends party and had to go because my heart was acting up and I felt ill. I sometimes get the shakes and feel really light headed. I just want to feel normal again.

Is it normal to feel light headed first? And then realise your heart is beating fast? This is the way it happens with me. I feel ''spaced'' out for a sec, have tunnel hearing for a split moment, then realise my hearts hammering away.

I'm thinking of going to get a second opinion... I also get abdominal pain in the lower side of my abdomen, normally on my right hand side....I have asked for it to be checked but the docs act as if I'm too young to have anything serious happening, so they don't check it + just say it might be indigestion. I also have been getting headaches a lot more often, I assume this is just because it can be exhausting. I've been drinking a lot of water and that helps...

I'm meant to be going on holiday in September and just really want this outta the way. I don't hold back and just keep living my life, full steam ahead + keep positive.... but recently I felt so light headed while driving I had to pull over....to find it was my heart racing again. It's starting to stop me from driving, because the last thing I'd want is to faint at the wheel and run into some poor person! I just want to live my life =(

I feel like I sort of have an answer....but not a solution.

Just because the doc didn't catch it on the monitor doesn't mean I don't have it, right?

I just know when something's up with my body, and I know something isn't right....

Any advice would be great...

Thanks for reading <3

[sian333]

Thanks heaps for the responses.

I will definately push it if it continues on! It's hard when the cardio's don't think anything is really wrong and that SVT can be managed yourself. I really don't want to get on beta blockers.

I'm not sure how fast my heart has actually got, I know once it was definately close to 200bpm, but this only lasted about a minute.

Normally it's around 160 ish when I have an episode. I've also noticed sometimes it happens when I simply swollow.

Do you guys sometimes feel a pressure in your head when your heart starts racing? Sort of a tension headache. I always notice that first then realise it's cos my heart is racing. I guess it must be the rush of blood that makes me feel spaced out momentarily.  

I'm doing a six week detox, no booze, smokes or caffeine and sweets, and I'm going to see how that helps.

I drink tonnes of water and that always helps a lot! I also have tried Manuka Honey, because I was travelling when this all started + my doctor said I could have picked up an infection which can cause some runs of SVT. So I just started taking it as a ''why not''....and strangely, it's started helping. I also have to had to take anti inflammitory meds because a doc at ER said I had chostocondritis. I wonder if that could cause SVT? Because whenever I take the anti inflammitory meds, my SVT goes away.

Hmmm...anyway, I'll keep investigating and never give up!

Thanks for all your advice = )

<3

[IaneFortin]

I was fortunate enough too see an EP with-in a month and a half from when I was givin' the choice of ablation. But I would say that yes to get things rolling faster you need to push a bit on your end to show people that you  really want answers and not just transfered telephone calls ;).

When I had my episodes they would vary in duration. some could last a few minutes as my biggest went on for 2 hours and had to be cardio-verted in the hospital. Stopping them was often a different position, lying down, Crouching forwards, Coughing, a deep breaths were things that could stop it suddenly, if they didn't work they would self terminate as quick as they came.

In my worst 4 months I was getting an episode every 2 days, varying from 180 to 230bpm

Everybody is different when it comes to what triggers an attack, for you maybe Smoking is something that triggers' it. Stopping or slowing down your habit of smoking is a win /  win for you either way :)

Just  don't give up it takes time to get everything in line and fixed, but it can be fixed.

Iane F.

[Darlingorla]

Rubbing your eyeballs is a vagal maneuver which works for some people - I tried it, and it didn't work for me.  The bearing down maneuver works most times for me and also the carotid massage.

[bob139]

I'm not sure how rubbing your eyelids might help in converting SVT. I would imagine it helps relax you and get your mind off what is going on. SVT is caused by a small patch of tissue that allows re-entrance or looping of your heart's electrical system.  Anxiety can trigger or exacerbate SVT, but often occurs out of the blue for no apparent reason.
Yes I get short runs of SVT where they will start and end quickly, sometimes many times in an hour.

If when resting you feel a hard beat or two you may be also experiencing PVC's (premature ventricular complexes). These are quite common and in some people occur many thousands of times in a 24 hour period. The typical PVC feels like you have skipped a  heartbeat followed by a big hard beat. Some people feel them, others don't.

Avoiding caffeine is important with arrythmias. Avoid anti-histimines and decongestants like sudafed. Anxiety plays a role and learning to relax should help,

[Darlingorla]

I agree with the others - it sounds like SVT, possibly AVNRT, but there are a few different types of SVT ... Try the vagal maneuvers:  my cardiologist told me to lie flat on the floor, with legs elevated (for me on a stool), take a deep breath, raise your head and bear down hard like you are taking a bowel movement for 10 seconds, release/relax, if one time doesn't work do it again, it may take 3/4 times but it does work.

You may have to call 911 to get the paramedics out who will capture the event on an EKG - they are very good at handling these situations and will 'coach' you through doing vagal maneuvers.  

[sian333]

Thanks heaps for the response!

I will just need to push it with the specialist...

How bad would your episodes get lane? Did you have to push with your specialist to get a proper diagnosis?

Do you think things like smoking can simply "trigger" SVT and once it's triggered once then it's there?

I can't wait to get to the bottom of it all. Not giving up!

[sian333]

Thanks for the response Bob. =)

I believe it must be SVT...as I've done a lot of research and know that my episodes start and end quickly. Lying down ALWAYS helps too.

Docs at ER have told me it's runs of SVT, but always just give me fluids and send me on my way.

Thanks for the tips, I'll put those in with my other 'weapons' as I like to call it. I also find that massaging my eyelids really helps slow my heart down.

I may have to ask for a holter to last longer....maybe one of the two week ones. The thing that bugged me is, my cardiologist said my holter was fine....but then when I said I had some episodes in that 24hrs he said ''oh? did you?" as if he hadn't actually looked at the readings...he just skimmed over them.

I had an episode of SVT when having my endoscopy + the doc saw it, he didn't think anything of it and said I could try beta blockers.

They keep just brushing me off as anxious and that it was causing it....but it's NOT the case. I know what anxiety is....and yes, initially I got anxious by the symptoms, anyone would. But the symptoms would always start first. Nowadays I have the symptoms and I'm not anxious over it anymore, yet the symptoms are still there....now how is that anxiety?

Sorry to rant...just letting off some steam! Haha. It can be frustrating not being taken seriously. Luckily I have a good GP though who is very lovely, and will ask for another cardiologist and another opinion. I think I also need to push for a scan of my abdomen, purely because I get a lot of pain not far from my kidneys, recently I felt pain then immediately after felt a weird falling sensation + then my heart went all tachy on me. I want to rule out adrenal growths...because I continue to get pain in that region. I hope I don't sound like a hypochondriac, like I said....you know in yourself when something isn't right with your body.

A question for you Bob....when your heart is resting, does it sometimes also beat slow but hard? Like hard beats? Sometimes mine does this....and then races up + then slow again. This is usually after I eat. Just wondering if it's typical of SVT sufferers?

Thanks for reading : D

<3

[IaneFortin]

Hello Sian,

as bob as previously stated it is quite normal to feel lightheaded during an episode of SVT. Your heart pumps so fast and the blood flow doesn't follow the number of contraction. While you are having an episode the best thing to do is too not panic. Getting a hold of yourself during attacks is the single best thing you can do as panicking will only make it worst ( you don't want some adrenaline in there as well ). If your cardiologist has confirmed that you have SVT then don't worry too much about it being life threatening ( it isn't ). There are a few ways to help prevent or even stop SVT for good. The first is medication, there are a lot of different types with different functions and usually aid in day to day living. The other would be like bob stated, an Ablation. Should you doc send you to see an Electro-physiologist, bucause meds do not help or you seem to have to many attacks too often, then you are on your way for a chance of  a permanent cure. I recently have gone through ablation procedure after dealing with SVT, specifically AVNRT and have been with-out symptoms or any discomfort for a month now ( see my post )

Finally, you have found this site, with all the helpful people on it who have gone through the same situations you have. So you are already on your way to dealing better with your constant problems and should be a little less worried about the outcome.

Take it easy, it's the best thing to do right now and like someone told me here, get proactive and find a solution with the specialist they are there to help you.

Good day.

Iane F.

[bob139]

I'm sorry to hear that you may be experiencing supraventricular tachycardia. It is not unusual to experience lightheadedness.  I've had them since age 12 and I am now 63.
I even served 20 years in the military with it, so if what you have is truly SVT it will not
prevent you from leading a fairly normal life. The symptoms you describe do sound like SVT but there are other things that could cause them. Typically my SVT will start when resting and will only last for 10 or 15 seconds. I take meds for SVT but it does not stop it entirely. If the SVT lasts longer I will usually try to convert it by holding my breath and then coughing. You can also try bearing down as if you would in a bowel movement. Another conversion technique is to splash very cold water on your face. Perhaps you can have your doctor order a holter monitor that lasts more than 24 hours so the pattern can be verified. Verapamil and digoxin are drugs used to treat SVT. There is a procedure called ablation which can stop SVT entirely.

If you have any other questions I might answer from a patient perspective please let me know.