Supraventricular Tachycardia :: RFA Worth The Risks?
May 20, 2014
I'm a 25 year old female who has recently moved to Singapore with her partner.
I began attending a specialist in Glasgow in 2010 after minor palpitations that would always disappear on their own or with a forced cough. The longest lasted 10 minutes. They never caused me too much concern and after lots of tests and ECG monitors, which returned nothing, I put it at the back of my mind. My Dr. suggested it was a minor AV Node SVT and that we would just monitor it over time.
Last Sunday morning I woke out of my sleep at 0630 with a severe attack. Nothing would stop it at home. After 15 minutes I made my way to the nearest A&E where I was injected with Adenosine (not pleasent) and was kept under observation for the rest of the day before being sent home being doing that I had SVT. I had no caffeine or alcohol that night and made sure that I rested well.
The following morning I was woke out of my sleep at 0530 (an hour apart - strange) with another severe attack and followed the same process at A&E. Again, I was kept in for observation for the rest of the day before being sent home with Verapamil, to be taken as and when required.
The following day I was tired, extremely anxious and now afraid to be on my own or fall asleep but I had no palpitations. I followed my no caffeine and no alcohol diet hoping for the best but by Wednesday evening, after leaning over, another attack presented itself.
I have an appointment with a specialist here in Singapore on the Thursday the 22nd and it can't come quick enough, this whole thing has flipped my world and has put everything on hold. Even with a supportive partner, not having my family here has been an upsetting experience. My Dr. in the UK has suggested that I have RFA done to cure the condition once and for all. I'm terrified of the risks but don't want to have to take medication for the rest of my life either. My other problem is, do I get RFA done here or back in the UK when i'm home on leave in July? Should I wait or could I be making my condition worse?
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Does anyone suffer SVT only after alcohol?
I don't drink a lot, but I've found I only get symptoms about 5 hours after drinking alcohol. No other time!
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About a year ago I asked my doctor to diagnose the episodes I had been having most of my life.
These episodes that made me feel detached, listless, dizzy and sometimes short of breath, would last for 10 or 20 minutes or sometimes two hours. The doctors, I had previously presented to, could find nothing wrong with the lungs or heart. I was once sent to specialist who thought it might be a type of migraine.
Anyhow my doctor thought it might be atria palpitations of the heart so I asked him if the next time I was in town, and had an episode, could I come in to see him. He arranged for an alert to be put on the receptionists' computers so I would get a ECG reading/printout immediately.
And so it happened, the resultant reading showed the heart beating 140 bpm ( should be 70 bpm for me)
“Ahh SVT!” the doctor cried, - Supra Ventricular Tachycardia, the electronic pulse finds a quicker way to go but in doing so causes the heart to beat faster.(Not as serious as Atria Tachycardia.)
“Don't drink any alcohol, coffee or tea.” said the doctor.
There are techniques on how to reset the heart back to normal.
I found the best way was to just lie down on the carpet for 10 minutes or so. It was a relief to actually know what the condition was at long last. I could live with it, or so I thought.
There were times when I couldn't reset it and it would last longer and made me feel completely debilitated.
Not wanting to go through the ablation surgery or have a pacemaker fitted, (not having any faith in these procedures), being a Christian I decided I should pray about it and leave it at that.
With a busy life and everything happening, now that the family had arrived from England and living with us, I had forgotten about that prayer time. Then one day, about three or so weeks later I said to my wife “ you know I haven't had an SVT episode in over three weeks?”
So in my next prayer session I thanked God in faith for the healing.
That was six months ago, and, praise God, I haven't had another episode. I drink the occasional glass of wine with my meal and drink coffee and tea every day.
I sometimes get the flutter in my 'solar plexus' area, that previously would indicate to me that an SVT episode was about to start, but now it just stops.
The only cures I have seen offered are ablation, dietry, drinking lots of water and taking a supplement of potassium. I didn't try any of these.
I haven't read of any 'spontaneous healing's for SVT, such as mine, have you?
So I do believe that God can heal you. It just takes honest fervent prayer.
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I'm Feeling generally weak, if I push through and do things regardless, eg walking up stairs, I end up shaking and get palpitations. Depending on how much I've done that can last for days and I end up in bed. I've cut out doing so many things that basically all my heart has to do is keep me alive, I worry about if it deteriorates further, what's going to happen?
If I get a day where I feel stronger I will take full advantage and do as much as possible.
does SVT affect anyone else like this? I haven't had an actual episode for years but can feel one trying to override the meds sometimes.
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I was diagnosed with SVT years back and have had 2 ablation ops with no success. Too near my AV node. Exercise is the main catalyst for an episode with myself(rapid heart,sweating,have to stop, feel faint) but have the odd flutter and increased heart rate at any time. However i have stopped drinking Caffeine and what a difference. I have not had any episodes whilst out running for about 3 months now( used to be every other run) and have confidence in entering 10k runs and completing them without having to stop. I am going to start playing squash again and really test out my hypothesis.Also, i am not noticing my heart jumping or bouncing during the day now. Just wanted to share this with others as stopping caffeine as really benefited me. I check all labels on soft drinks and obviously no coffee or tea.
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Hi, my eleven year old son has been diagnosed with SVT. He has had one attack, over a month ago, that lasted over an hour and resulted in a trip to the ER. We were referred to a cardiologist who recommends ablation. I am worried about the risks of the procedure versus the risks of just waiting it out, seeing how frequent and/or severe his attacks become.
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Does anyone on here still eat chocolate? Does anyone find it causes worse episodes?
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I have had the 24 hour ecg and waiting for results and on lowest dose of beta blockers. However I am eager to start work but do get breathless and feel my heart rating whenever I move really. Doctors have advised me to not go to work as "if I have an episode while driving to work or at work what am I going to do?" Says the doctor. I work in retail and I know that I'm standing up all day constantly on the move so it will be making my heart race. I am worried about my health and work but if tests do come back that I defo have svt will I be like this for life not able to work in a physical job like retail? Or on tablets all my life? We're you told you couldn't work due to it or how do you work with it?
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For the first time, last year I experienced SVT. The first episode lasted for about 5 hours, and the second attack lasted for 7 hours. Both times I was admitted to Hospital. I am interested to find out how long these attacks can last.? I believe that I read of someone having an attack which lasted for many weeks. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Go to your doctor or pharmacist and obtain a 20ml syringe. When you suffer an attack loosen the plunger in the syringe by moving it up and down the barrel several times. Put your lips to the spout at the end of the syringe and, blowing as hard as you can blow the plunger fully to the end of the barrel. If your eyes do not pop out you will find that your heart rate has returned to normal. When this treatment was first given to me in A&E I found it hard to believe. Now I use it successfully with every attack.
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I am 24 years old now and have had SVT since I was 7. Normally my attacks are very infrequent and I can go months without an attack. Each attack only lass around 5 - 20 mins. However today alone I have now had 3 attacks. Two of them being at work. I have been to the GP in the past 12 months who referred me back to the hospital however because I wasn't having an attack at the time, the ECG came back fine and I feel as though I waste their time, however the pain and the increasing frequency of the attacks are now worrying me. I have stopped drinking energy drinks and high caffeinated drinks such as coffee, and have stopped smoking as these were thought to be potential triggers. As you all know, SVT can strike at any time. Do you all get attacks when asleep too? Its horrible. I feel so drained now. Sorry for complaining, I do feel bad on all you who are severe suffers and I am whining about a few attacks a day.
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I had my first attack 10 years ago and then had them every couple of years. Despite seeing a heart specialist for 8 years and having every kind of test - nothing was diagnosed and I was discharged. I had friends telling me I was suffering from stress, panic attacks, anxiety etc. 4 weeks ago on my 60th birthday I had a severe one - it woke me up - and I ended up in hospital. A week later I had another severe one - again through the night, actually at exactly the same time and again was taken to hospital where I was given the injection. After 3 hours I was sent home, and then within 5 minutes had another one - back to the hospital, where I was kept in for 24 hours - I was put on beta blockers. I have had 5 attacks in the last 6 days, 2 only a few minutes, 1 lasting 15 minutes, another lasting 45 and finally had to go to hospital again as I had it nearly 3 hours - they doubled my betablockers. I also have low blood pressure and the second time I called the ambulance they couldn't even get my bp.
All of my attacks seem to occur through the night or when I am relaxed. As I live on my own I am now scared to go to sleep. When I lie on my left side (the way I always go to sleep) - I feel the blips and know it is going to start again, so I am trying to sleep on my back or right hand side. When having one, I get throat/neck pain have an incredible urge to pee, and belch a lot - I don't suffer from indigestion normally.problems? :?:
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I was diagnosed with SVT from an early age, and spent most of my childhood going to and from appointments at the children's hospital. Eventually, after many many episodes (and of increasing length!) I was suitable for an ablation. I had the ablation at aged 17, however, unfortunately it did not work and I had an episode 6 weeks later - frustrating! However, it has somewhat modified it and my episodes are less frequent and the length of episodes has decreased substantially from 3 hours to just 5 minutes! So I would definitely recommend the ablation surgery, although it didn't quite have the desired effect for me it has improved the condition and the effect on my life. I now control my episodes through the various maneuvers suggested (and with success thankfully.
My question is, how do people with SVT get on with exercise? I have always been keen to compete in sports, especially during school - however the severity and frequency of my episodes before the operation meant that this tailed off a little. I am now 22 and I am keen to get back into running, moreover, running distances for charity etc.! I am just a bit apprehensive about overexertion and effects on my heart! I would thoroughly appreciate any help/advice about how much exercise people tend to do! especially those who have been diagnosed with SVT from birth or a young age.
I am due to run the race for life in a few weeks, and have been running a little in preparation for that. But I am keen to get back into running longer distances with a view to doing half-marathons/marathons. Has anyone run these kind of distances with SVT?
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Just want to inform people of my experience taking the Cerazette pill.
I had happily been taking the Microgynon for a few years when I forgot to get my prescription one month and ended up not going back on it. I went to the doctor as I felt so much better for coming off the Microgynon, I had lost weight and just felt happier within myself.
I saw the doctor and spoke about all my options, I am dead set against the implant and the injection, I thought I'd prefer to go on a pill again.. I was prescribed the Cerazette and thought nothing more about it.
I went to see the doctor about an on-going knee complaint, a few days prior to my appointment I noticed I had a lump to my left shin, I showed the nurse the lump, she reassured me it was nothing and it would go away. I wasn't 100% convinced.
Around two weeks later, my knee still being sore, the lump had only got bigger and I now had a swollen ankle, I went back to see a doctor, I saw a locum doctor who was concerned about the lump on my leg and queried "?osteosarcoma". I asked the doctor at the time if my swollen ankle could have been caused by the pill but she said no, it would be "lateral". The next day I went for an urgent x ray on my shin, the lump was painful. I waited four days for my results and went back to the doctor, this time I saw a different Locum doctor- My results showed no signs of a sarcoma, that day I was sent for blood tests and an urgent ultrasound was requested.. In the meantime, I found a second lump on my other leg, just under my knee, it was also painful. Five days later, my blood results came back and I was hopeful to get answers about my ankle. Blood tests were fine, not even my inflammatory pointers were up, the doctor was pleased but also confused as to what it could be. I was told I would referred to a specialist consultant and I was still awaiting an appointment for my "urgent" ultrasound.. Three weeks later and I have only just had said ultrasound. The radiographer said he was confident that I do not have cancer, which is brilliant news. I may still be referred to a specialist as they are still unsure as to what is wrong with my ankle, however, my mum has been doing lots of research and considering I am only 21 and on no other current medication other than the Cerazette, we could not think of anything else that may be causing these problems. On Thursday, I took it upon myself to stop taking the Cerazette, it is now Tuesday and my ankle has gone down considerably, the lumps on my legs have also reduced.
It has really made me think, putting all these hormones in our bodies is not good ladies and you really should be careful with what you are taking. I know plenty of girls that take these pills and have no problems what so ever, but there are plenty of other girls, like myself, that have had bad experiences with them and it is really really scary.
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Hi! I'm going to preface this post with some background information: I'm 19 and I've been suffering with constipation for my entire life (my parents have videos of me straining to have a BM when I was still in pampers). It wasn't until last year that I was diagnosed with constipation by delayed colonic transit and put on Miralax to help move my BM's.
Unfortunately, because this diagnosis came so late, I've been straining to have BM's for the past 19 years, changes in lifestyle (diet, exercise, fiber supplement, etc.) all for naught. This straining led to hemorrhoids, which brings me to this forum. I've been dealing with hemorrhoids since elementary school, and when I have a flare up, I'm practically debilitated from the pain– my last flare-up kept me awake for 3 days straight and gave me multiple migraines. The flare-ups happen once every few months, but can last up to a week.
I wanted to know if anyone on here has had a hemorrhoidectomy, and what their experience with the procedure was like. I'm figuring that my hemorrhoids are AT LEAST a stage 3, and the surgery looks like the most permanent option. Also, if anyone has constipation by delayed colonic transit and as a result have developed hemorrhoids: how have you dealt with it? What has worked for you?
I see a lot of the post-op for a hemorrhoidectomy has to do with the intake of fiber, but too much fiber can actually make me MORE constipated. :(
Any thoughts, opinions, or personal experiences would be a LIFESAVER. Thanks for listening to my rambles!
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I am crying with pain as I write this had an mri yesterday which revealed prolapsed L3 ,4 and 5 . wet myself and the other as had no feeling in that area , they wanted to do surgery but I discharged myself to be reviewed in 6 weeks , I have a very physical job , I ride and compete horses , is the surgery worth it ?
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I have been taking Amiodarone for 2 months now for cardioversion as I have AF. I have been told that it is unlikely to be successful but that I might as well give it a go. So far I have had no problems at all - I take 200mg daily. I will be on it for a maximum of 4 months so my specialist says that I am unlikely to run into problems which he says are usually connected with much longer term use. My message to others is - please don't be afraid of this medicine - it's at least worth a go in the short term to see if you can tolerate it. The chance of getting rid of AF is just too important not to take it. As I say, so far, I am lucky in being able to tolerate it amongst at least 8 other meds which I take. I was very afraid to start with but now I just see it as "another pill to take".
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my daughter is thirteen weeks pregnant and has been in touch with chicken pox at the contagious stage. what are the risks to her and her baby. she has seen a doctor and is very upset.
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I am deciding whether or not to get a stapedectomy done, and my doctor told me that it is only a 0.1% chance (1 out of 1000) that i will go completely deaf. i think i am going to go through with it...since i have been partially deaf my whole life, and am excited to hear the difference.
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I recently had an encounter where I accidentally may have used the towel which the sex worker just used to clean herself. What are the risks of stds for this action? Do I need any testing?
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i have been on atorvastatin 20 mg for about 4 years now. i was on simvastatin but i had muscular problems . just lately it's all you have been hearing on the news is there seems to some doubts about statins do the benefits outweigh the risks and what exactly are the risks , does anyone actually know.
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