Does anyone else worry about their SVT or do you just accept it as a harmless nuisance. I can't stop worrying about getting another attack, how do you accept it and live a normal life again?
There's no really telling when you will get another SVT, they can be really random and anxiety can certainly trigger them. My advice to you would be talk to a EP and see what your options are. I know I hated taking medication. So many bad side effects. I opted for ablation, but in my case it was wpw and svt. It was a success, but the recovery is also a journey too.
I spent a long time worrying that I would die and wasted about a year of my life living in constant fear of another attack! It happened again and I got rushed to hospital, I am now on the list for an ablation and when I saw the consultant a few weeks ago, he told me this 'it will not kill you and will not cause cardiac arrest, don't worry about it it's merely a nuisance to you, an inconvenience'
Since then I've got out of the house I've lived everyday and if it happens I can go to hospital if needed. I've just become single after 5 years and have a 2 year old, I have to say I have never felt so good and I can only imagine what life will be like of the ablation is successful. Go out live your life and tell SVT it won't ruin you like it has so many people. You can live with SVT just take it day by day. I'm on metoprolol beta blocker and I have to say I think it's brilliant for me. Good luck I hope you get through this it's not nice but it doesn't have to control you xx
So far I've chosen not to have an ablation...and so between the med I'm on (Metoprolol) and being very cautious with triggers, caffeine, spicy foods, low potassium, dehydration, etc it makes me worry less.
Hi. I too have SVT and for the most part, I try not to think about it but after some severe attacks, I'm a mess for a good 10 days or so. I've just been to A&E again for the second time this month. I've seen the Cardio and he's refered me to St. Thomas for Ablation so I'm living in limbo. As I'm sure you know, everytime there is a heart flutter I freeze!! It's terrifying. I've been to A&E 3 times in the past 45 days. First time, in route a bump in te Ambulance shocked my heart back to normal. (246bpm) Second time, bumps didn't work. I waited 9 hours to call 999 at which point I tried to get up and blacked out. At A&E I was given Adenosine and it was terrifying! I saaw my life pass before my eyes.(168bpm) The drug slows the heart then shocks it back to normal. Yesterday, I had another attack at work and 999 was called. At hospital, (245bpm) I was again injected with Adenosine but it didn't take so they had to do it again, stronger and I lost it. I felt my life slipping away from me while everyone was telling me to calm down I wasn't going to die!!! Luckliy, the second injection worked and I was back to 100bpm, blood tests were all fine and I'm back home AGAIN!!! Every day I feaer another attack as I never know when or why one will happen. I've had SVT while sitting in a bubble bath, having a conversation, talking to a student....never any reasons for my heart to go svt. I will call the Cardio tomorrow and hopefully, we can move this appt forward as I can't keep going to A&E every 4-5 weeks!!!!! I don't accept the SVT. I hate it, curse it and wish it would just stop BUT I try not to obsess as that isn't helpful either. Talking to people helps a lot. Best wishes to you. I hope your svt gets treated soon.
I just found out Friday I have SVT, along with the PVCs i knew i had. I have asked for a consult with a cardio dr and am waiting for that to happen. In the mean time what does everyone do? Do people work, shop and go about their normal live. I hate these things :-(
Hi so sorry you are suffering too!! I've had it for almost 2 years but only got diagnosed last September! I go out and go to work I enjoy my life and think if it happens then I can get the help I need. Try to keep calm if it happens and use techniques to try and stop it yourself. If it doesn't help then go to your local hospital or call 999 if needed and they will help you. You can live with this. Take it as a blessing that you've been diagnosed and soon hopefully it will be a thing of the past. Don't worry it won't kill you just go about your life!! Message me anytime x
I've had SVT for over 50 years. Remember, the last resort is medication and surgery. I have fought back, using Healthy habits and lifestyle. And it works! Your heart is a muscle and requires many things, including a good diet and exercise. The better you live, the more control you will have. And I haven't allowed it to get in the way of my ambitions and dreams! Focus and love yourself! I've done everything from joining and doing 6 years in the Marines, to bodybuilding and professional cycling. Yes, I've had episodes in the most awkward places, but you must remain vigilant! Here's a picture of me at 49, winning a 5 week Crit Series.
You have really learned to make the most of a bad situation. I hope i will be that brave. I will know more once i have an appointment with a cardo dr. I'm really hope they can reassure me. This forum helps so much.
I have been really good today :-) I have COPD on top of all this so hubby and i went out and walked 1/2 mile today. I came home and took my pulse and it was only 102 . I guess i'm thinking i will be in constant SVTs but i see that is not how this works. Thanks so much for the talks
1 day at a time, you can turn your life around. Returning to Health can do nothing but bring you into a focus that no one can stop. Remember, Goals are vital to a change that will last. If you need to lose weight, write down how much. If you are on medicine, do everything to get off of it. COPD can be debilitating, so make sure no smoking of any kind. Exercise and Proper Diet is crucial in bringing your mind and body together so you can feel your inner self. Good luck!
Yes I live with it. When it starts I take a betablocker. Sometimes it doesn't work so I go to hospital after a few hours, sometimes I carry on for longer if I have things to get done.
I come from a generation where SVT was tolerated, not medicated or abalated unless it occurred for several hours per day. Now people are getting a risky ablation procedure after only one episode and on long term medications which have their own risks.
In 30 years I've travelled wherever I've wanted, run triathlons, pushed out twin babies at age 38 after carrying them to term. To even consider letting such a minor condition stop me from doing a single thing I want to do is ridiculous. I get really frustrated at hearing young people restrict themselves to being at home because they had a few episodes and get a few ectopic beats. I think people in America need to visit a few hospitals and see what real illness looks like.
Can I ask what betablocker you have and the doseage please
In my case, I experienced my first episode when I was 17 in high school, back then all the episodes lasted less than a minute, and usually occured once or twice a month, so I could live with it.
But things have been different since I started swimming and boxing few years ago, especially when I compete, it's definetly going to trigger an episode that will last at least half an hour at 200 bpm. This is very sad because I'm a good swimmer and I really enjoy boxing, now I basically said goodbye to both activities.
I'm thinking of getting an ablation so that I can train and compete without worrying about another episode. If it's AVNRT and the reetrant pathway is close to the His bundle, I will probably find a EP who can do cryoablation to minimize the risk.
I find it so sad that some of us SVT sufferers end up giving up things we love. I have been assured by my cardio that exercise in and of itself can't trigger SVT. As our problem is one of an electrical nature, it can happen any time, anywhere. I had an attack while soaking in a bubble bath which ended in me going to A&E. I know we are all different and our experiences are all varied but fundamentally, we are all similar. My first episode was when i was 14, then 21, 23 then nothing for over 20 years then BAM...every 4-5 weeks. I feel the ablation is the best way forward for me. I wouldn't like to comment on whats best for anyone other than myself. All I do know is SVT, when frequently reoccurring, is difficult to live with and it can make ones life hell. I wish you all the best.
Hello. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. In the meantime, I work full time and attempt to live as normal a life as possible. I refuse to let SVT define me. I also have Fibromyalgia so when I have an SVT attack, my fibromyalgia flares up for about 10 days after. Nightmare, yet I still go on. I have what I call flutters every day. I can be walking around and suddenly, feel my heart beat hanging, like the beginnings of an SVT attack. My first instinct if FLIGHT!!!!!! I've been referred to St. Thomas for an ablation and am presently waiting confirmation of a date. I think we all, 'hate these things' but we have to go on. Best wished to you.
Hi. My GP put me on betablockers but the Cardio told me to stop taking them. He said, the betablocker in itself takes 45 to absorb and have any impact on the SVT. I weened mysself of of them. I know we are all different but not taking the BB makes sense really. I was initially given the BB as a pill in the pocket. When I had an attack, I took a BB, waitied and no help so I took another. (said up to 2 at a time) still nothing. My heart was going at 246 bmp. I ended up in A&E with an injection of adnesone which is horriffic. Talk about it's nick name, The Grim Reaper!!! My life flashed before my eyes.
I just think we need to think different it's not easy my episode four hours always when I sleep it's not easy I pray a lot
I've tried accepting it as a harmless nuisance but it has brought out extreme anxiety for me. I have a hard time doing things I love like volleyball, running, hiking etc all because I'm afraid it's going to happen. I've tried beta blockers but didn't really help me and I had bad side effects from it. Currently debating getting an ablation but I'm only 23 so I'm worried about that too 
you will get another attack and it will happen when you least expect it. but the thing is that its just like many other harmless condition out there. it is like a migrane or less really.
I was traumatised when I had my first attack and then the second and third happened within a few months. when I had my 2nd attack, however, I figured out how to stop it. I just used positional changes like squatting down or lying down and breathing slowly as nothing else helped. I now get maybe 2 attacks per year and I stop them within a minute. no more rushing to A&E in panic. it has become a condition I can control and I am in charge.
I do mostly get attacks when i havent slept enough or am dehydrated combined with anxiety or caffeine or new situations in life.
Be confident about it and have a few maneuvres ready for when the next attack happens. Figure out what stops it for you to gain confidence.
You will be alright! there is worse that could be wrong with you than svt!