Tachycardia & palps driving me nuts

[johnnyky]

I have skipped beats usually about 20-30 per day and random runs of tachycardia. It's driving me nuts. It seems worse after I exercise or exert. I'm not out of shape, I don't smoke, (used to). I've had every single cardiac test I can imagine they told me my heart is structurally normal but even last night again when I'm desperately sleepy I can't fall asleep because my heart races, even after 50mg Metoprolol and .5mg of Xanax. Why is this happening? Also, when I stand up or change positions suddenly, it races too. I can't take much more of this. Going back to see the cardiologist in 2 weeks. Why would this be happening? I had an echo test done in april and it came back normal. Do they also look for any blockages? I'm only 33.

The beta blockers have ruined my sex life, and now I have to take Cialis. But I take 50mg Metoprolol twice a day and I still have symptoms. Shouldn't it have eliminated all the symptoms? My cardiologist mentioned me trying Caridzem but unless it will stop the tachycardia once and for all and let me be active again I don't want to take it.  Don't think I'd do an ablation either, way too risky sounding for me, plus half of the people I see on here say they don't work. So what's left? A different medication?

[researcher09]

I second Michelle's opinion.  Make sure the EP do a high volume of complex ablations if your issue is beyond the right atrium, ie left atrium or the lower chambers.  Those ablations takes a lot experience and skill.  Major complication risks (tamponade, stroke and death) are rare at the experienced centers, unless the patients are already in heart failure and the procedure is done as a rescue procedure.

[MichelleP_3811]

In some instances ablations are tricky while others the success rate is extremely high.  Afib and pvcs can be hard to ablate but run of the mill reentry svt is super easy to fix with very low complication rates.  I had avnrt and had it ablated 4 years ago and have not had an episode since.  Afib unfortunately sometimes needs a couple of ablations for success and even then it may not totally work so I guess I would ask what type of tachycardia are you having, afib or svt or something else.  How fast is your heart beating when you get it?  Does it start and stop in what feels like one beat.  If you have run of the mill svt and are pretty active, which it sounds like you are, then svt may be a good option to think about.  The amount of ectopics you are having are low so that isn't a problem but meds will not cure you of tachycardia.  In general they will slow it down but will not prevent episodes.  The only real cure for any type of svt is ablation.  That is if you are having svt or afib and not just sinus tachycardia.