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.
View 2 RepliesI 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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
View 1 RepliesDoes anyone on here still eat chocolate? Does anyone find it causes worse episodes?
View 2 RepliesI'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?
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?
View 3 RepliesFor 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.
View 4 RepliesGo 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.
View 3 RepliesI 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.
View 2 RepliesI 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? :?:
I have most of the symptoms except flu and headaches, I'm on medication but just waiting for test results. I was just wondering how long does it take for the blisters to appear then turn into ulcers, then the time frame until they pop, and scab over?? So I have a rough idea if what is happening down there is normal or should I see a dr again.
Is salt baths, keeping it dry and weeing in water the only remedies to help?
I also have a white liquid discharge that likes to come out of my vagina is this normal?
Can you still have oral sex because I've read you don't really know when you're shedding?
And it can only be transferred skin to skin or if someone touches used underwear or damp towel?
I am a 53 year old man. I have an enlarged heart' and copd. 3 or 4 times a day I have a coughing episode that lasts 15 min. It consists of coughing, gagging, dry heaves and clear liquid or spit. Always immediately after sexual climax this happens. No other pattern is noticed. I also have some form of ED. What is this?
View 1 RepliesI've had this nasty gout episode for four days now and I am reading conflicting information, perhaps a few of you with some experience can help. First, is it better to apply heat, cold or both? Second, will walking around and staying active even through the pain make it worse, better or stay the same? Third, is there any prescription out there that works without any nasty side effects? And lastly, knowing that I have gout, is it really necessary to see a doctor?
View 6 RepliesI'm a 51 y.o. female. I had my first (and hopefully only) episode of atrial fibrillation 2 1/2 days ago, very early Monday morning. I had my husband take me to the ER where I was diagnosed, then admitted for treatment. I was given calcium channel blockers, and I converted back to sinus rhythm about 3 hours later. I was also given a shot of a blood thinner. Upon discharge, I was given prescriptions for baby aspirin (81 mg 1x day), and 50 mg metoprolol (a beta blocker) 2x day and told that I would probably be on the meds for 3+ months at least.
Before I continue, here is some more about my overall condition. I am generally in v. good health. I am 5' 6" and weigh 116 lbs. I do not smoke, or drink alcohol or consume caffeine in any form. At a minimum, I walk briskly for about 1 hour a day; but I also add between 10-30 minutes of more intense aerobic exercise 3x a week. I have a low stress lifestyle -- retired early, no financial concerns, great marriage, lots of friends, love my life.
My blood pressure when tested in the ER was 117/70; all the tests came back normal. Lipids: Cholesterol 143; HDL 57; LDL 76. Thyroid -- on the high side of normal, but still w/i normal range.
My pulse rate (with the beta blockers) is currently 68 and my blood pressure is 100/70.
Anyway, about 3 weeks ago, I suffered sudden sensorineural hearing loss in one ear and was put on an 18 day high dose, tapering course of Prednisone. My attack of atrial fibrillation occurred about 3 hours after what would have been my next dose of Prednisone, but wasn't because I had finished the course. So, in my mind, it is highly likely that this attack was precipitated by Prednisone withdrawal. Too much of a coincidence otherwise, no? My cardiologist agreed that it was likely, but still thought I should be on beta blockers at least medium term.
But here's the thing. I am just not doing well on the beta blockers. I feel like sh*t. I actually feel worse than when I was in a fib. I am so tired and I cannot focus on anything. I feel basically like a nonfunctional zombie. How on earth can I live like this for 3 months? Why should I?
I realize you shouldn't just stop beta blockers cold turkey. But I am going to see the cardiologist on Friday and I am just going to beg him to help me get off them and not put me on anymore more meds at all (except maybe the baby aspirin I can deal with).
Does this make sense to those who know about a fib? Yes, if I keep having episodes, it makes sense to help get medication for them. But for crying out loud, I just had one episode in usual circumstances. Couldn't I just wait and see if I have more so I don't have to spend 3 months as a vegetable?
I'm recovering after a really bad flu. I am still coughing really bad and dry. This morning after a severe episode of coughing i ended up vomitting. Because i had nothing in my stomach i was only spitting and forcing my stomach into vomiting. After it ended i spit a little blood. What can it be and to whom should i address myself?
View 1 RepliesDoes anyone know if Sotalol causes rebound tachycardia when weaning off of it (or if you miss a dose). The last few days my resting rate when I woke was 84. That's not normal for me. My rate is low 60's or High 50's most of the time.I am a 38 year old male (very athletic and in shape) and I work out vigorously 6 days a week. I don't know what could be causing this. I had an Aortic Valve replacement in 1992 and has been stable ever since. I am 6'0" tall 197 lbs 11% body fat. Low cholesterol LDL 61, HDL 52, Triglycerides 82. It seems like my normal day rate is elevated about 12-13 beats. I am very confused by this and a little worried.
View 1 RepliesI've started working out every day pretty intensely, as I'm trying to get very strong. I'm a seventeen year-old girl, and I was recently diagnosed to PACs and tachycardia, much to my surprise. I was completely unaware of these conditions until I went to my annual physical (which was the event my doctor discovered the conditions), two specialists, and had to wear a holter monitor for a day. My heartbeat is usually around 120, but the holter revealed it fluctuates anywhere from 56 to 173 BPM when I am not exercising. I have no idea how fast it goes when I exercise intensely or even at all.
Basically, I want to know if it's safe for me to be doing intensely strenuous exercises and intense cardio. I really want to be super strong and fit, and I know there are certain limits of mine involving cardio. Ex: I can't run a mile in under ten minutes because my heart prevents me from being able to breathe enough. But I use the stairmaster regularly and do intense muscular workouts, and I just wanted to make sure I'm not putting myself in danger.
I've got idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. I have Afib with this and keep getting extreme tachycardia which means I have to go to hospital to get it controlled. I have asthma too. I'm in Europe and have good doctors - I was in hospital Saturday night into Sunday - I called my doctor as my heart was beating so fast and irregularly, and it was having long intervals of no beats - I have a stethoscope and could hear nothing at the apex and I've been taught how to auscultate, and I was very very breathless. She was very worried and sent me to hospital. After being stabilised, I saw a a cardiologist who did loads of tests and said my heart was very much more dilated than before. On discharge I've been given 02 to breathe if I feel breathless.