Recent Svt

Heart health and blood vessels
1

Hi I'm a 26 year old male, I'm healthy, but a smoker, have been for 9 years, although I'm slowly cutting down to a stop.

On December 12th 16 I have my first svt, It lasted about 16 hours, I just tried to ride I out, very silly I know, average of about 210 bpm. I went in am ambulance to a+e and it terminated on its own shortly after.

During this time I had gastroenteritis so I was feeling poorly, I was extremely dehydrated also, after svt I was very fatigued and tired for several days.

I then got a viral infection on my chest, same on or a different one I don't know, coughing up sometimes green, sometimes clear phlem, but just as this seemed to be clearing I had another svt 10.1.17 around 176 bpm, this had to be terminated at the hospital using adenosine, which took the 3rd attempt and it was at double dose (awful).

I have passed a all major and minor blood tests, every is normal, and healthy, chest x-ray clear.

Cardiologist appointment next week.

I have cut out alcohol and caffeine( I'd love a coffee :-(, as I was consuming quite a lot of caffeine) I drink just water and decaff tea and have opted for a more healthy balanced diet.

Beetween the first and second episide, I kept experiencing random episodes that would last 5-15 mins, where I would feel weak and shakey, my head would feel fuzzy, and I'd get slight palpations but my heart rate was normal, if not slightly rasied.

After my second incident I am getting them more frequently and they seem slightly stronger, with added dizziness, I can feel chest discomfort also, they pass and I feel okay again.

I have just been given bisoporol 1.25mg, and apart from loose bowel movements I don't immediately see any side effects, although I could be wrong.

During an svt I am very calm, to a stage where medical professionals think I've had it for years, it is during these dodgey incidents where I feel uncomfortable, I was checked out by a doctor whilst one was occurring and she saw nothing amiss.

I was wondering what these smaller incidents could be?

I apologise for the long winded comment, and I'd like to thank users for there help after reading the forums here you have been a great to help me keep as calm as possible during this recent turn my body has decided to go on.

If you need more information please ask.

Cheers Craig.

2

Hi Craig. Sorry to hear you're having this trouble. I'm male aged 58 and living in Ireland.

I cannot be certain because I have no qualifications, but almost all the symptoms you've described do seem very like SVT.

I might have some bad news about the caffeine I'm afraid. It triggered my SVT so acutely that I had to cut it out and use decaff instead. But after a while I started getting 'break throughs' that only stopped when I cut out decaff aswell. There is only a small amount of caffeine in most decaff stuff, but for some of us that's too much so it might be worth trying to elimate it.

Possibly slightly better news on the alcohol and tobacco front would be that booze and cigarettes definitely did not trigger SVT for me (some of the worst and most frequent episodes were while I was off both for a good while). Others here might have had different experiences but, despite what some medics say on this, I would want very good proof before giving up life's simple pleasures.

I've gone from smoking about 40 a day for the best part of 40 years until giving up about 18 months ago because mild emphysema showed up on an unrelated MRI. I gave up completely two days later and haven't had a fag since. I had struggled several times earlier with nicotime patches and sweets etc. but I found that a vaporiser with high nicotine fluid worked really well. I still use one all the time but with reducing nicotine level. If you decide to try a vaporiser it would be worth getting a good one (c. £70-150) that smokes 'mouth to lung' like a cigarette. The cheap ones are not as reliable or effective and can be messy to use. Ask if you want me to recommend a particular kit.

Personally, I rarely let SVT go on for longer than about an hour or so before thinking of heading to A&E so your 16 hour stint does seem very excessive (and possibly a bit too risky). I found that at least half of the time I did head for A&E the SVT stopped of its own accord before being seen by a doctor. White coat fever perhaps scared it away.

I don't remember bisoporol causing loose stools, but others here might have reacted differently. If it persists do mention it to your GP or specialist.

It seems that most of us SVT folk have otherwise healthy hearts and many are otherwise in very good health, so its not surprising your other test results are good. SVT appears to be mainly caused by a minor physical tissue abnormality near the heart we are born with. From what I understand this can cause our natural pace making pulses to flow in two directions, like in a loop, when they should only flow one way.

Many GPs aren't familiar or knowledgeable about SVT so its good you're seeing a specialist. If he confirms it is SVT ask him about having an ablation. 

I had SVT for about 20 years until I was cured of it by an ablation about 5 years ago. I went from about 6 episodes a day to not a single one since the operation/procedure. I only wish I had it done earlier!

Even if an ablation is not possible for you for you, it should be quite controllable when your meds are adjusted to your particular needs and when you learn the best avoidance path and techniques for making it stop once it starts.

Wishing you the best, and do let us know how it goes with the cardio smile

3

Thanks for getting back to me

The two major incidents are almost certainly svt called a cardiologist to confirm whilst in a+e, although there is no offical diagnosis.

The small episodes don't seem to trigger like an svt, just come on and go when they want, doesn't seem to be any heart rate change or sort, I get a stronger heart beat during them though, although with what I have read there can be changes for a matter of seconds so I'm guessing I could miss that( no awful thud like the big ones)

How long did it take you to recover? I seem to get very tired for several days afterwards. Although I wasn't 100% during either one so that could be a factor.

Cheers

4

Recovery from episodes varies. I have heard others here mention that like you they were very tired for a day or two afterwards. Personally, I usually felt fine (but a bit nervy) as soon as the SVT stopped.

Like others, you will now be extremely sensitive to changes in heart rhythm (for fear SVT is about to start). You will now be aware of minor jitters and flutters that non-SVT folk aren't and you just didn't notice before. I think this will lessen as you become more used to SVT, and perhaps as your meds settle, but probably wont disappear while you still have the condition. 

I'll say to you what I wish I had convinced myself of 25 years ago Craig: SVT episodes will happen no matter what but they will not kill you, just try to pretend you don't have SVT until the bloody thing starts. Apart from avoiding your particular triggers, don't change your life, enjoy it!

Oh, and have an ablation as soon as they will do it!

5

Yeah I'm guessing they take time getting used to.. The anticipation is slightly getting to me, but I'm sure I'll get used to it as soon as I learn to control them.

And yeah I have been feeling every niggle and twitch since, which is annoying but I'll get used to it.

I'm sure I will feel a lot better after I see the cardiologist as you said previously, most Dr's don't really know much about them. I've sort of been checked over and sent on my way so far, I've got told what I'm having an that is all. I have done all the reading on it online and on pages like this.

I will get back to you after the cardiologist.

Cheers for your time.

Been a great help.

6

This is a repeat, Bedford, so you may get two responses from me.  You seem to be doing well with your SVT, and I'm optimistic for you.  Maybe you can use these experiences as additional motivation for your smoking cessation efforts.  Success there could well add years to your life.  What a fine result that would be.  Take care.  

7

Just to update.

Went to see the cardiologist, was in and out in 10 minutes.

I left nothing for him to look at, and since I had two well documented svts, which I was able to show him an ecg off.

He put me on the waiting list for an ablation 3-5 months waiting list ,so hopefully the svts behave themselves until then.

Cheers.

8

Hi all

I would just like to ask another question.

I would like someone to describe the difference beetween a large episode( big thud, trip to a+e) and smaller ones?

I'm almost certain I'm getting smaller ones, just brief movement in chest, then a randomly increased(although not high) heart rate, that takes a few minutes to settle, I'll also feel a little dizzy and off during these, this doesn't usually last longer than 10 minutes.

Cheers.

9

Really great news about the planned ablation. Hope it works out as well for you as it did for me. 

In my case, the main differences that I can remember and describe between SVT episodes was about duration. The 'thuds' (usually a single one) mainly happened as the final event of the episode.

I'm sure palpitations were stronger at some times than others but I don't really remember thinking 'oh its one of that type of episode'. 

Apart from often feeling weak, edgy and anxious during episodes, I don't rember much faint-like dizziness.

I do, however, remember feeling that way from medication I was given for SVT. Once my pharmacist accidentally gave me tablets that were too strong and they caused dizziness for a few days before I realised the mistake. It also happened when my specialist tried new beta-blockers because I kept getting 'break throughs' from the older meds. Those particular beta-blockers made me feel so ill that, with the agreement of my cardio, I stopped taking meds altogether for SVT. I chose the odd SVT episode instead of feeling permanently rotten. Eventually my SVT became so frequent and nasty that I had to have an ablation.

It would probably be better to talk to your GP or Cardio about the finer details, but symptoms and sensitivity do vary a lot between patients so the source of what you are experiencing could be quite 'normal'. 

10

Just spoke to an afib nurse and he described what I was having as just been sensitive to any normal heart changes, such as eptopic heart beats. And that it was just a rush afterwards whilst my heart got its rhythm back.

I have also had two instances of the thud which didn't take either, I sort of hold my breath and it didn't know kick off like the previous svts. Which he said was good and it means the tablets are helping. As for the fatigue headache etc, he said that will be the bisoporol but because I haven't had an episode that they are the lesser of two evils, he also said that there is a fair chance that the side effects may lessen with time.

Also said about the anxiety and that it probably wasn't bisoporol as this sometimes used to lessen the heart rate of people with extreme anxiety, although he couldn't say with 100% certainty, I'll just have to see how that goes and hope it calms down.

I'm just going to have to go with it and try and remember that I'm technically fine although I feel poo and that if it happens it happens and I know what to do.

Cheers again for your help again ciaran

11

Some of us can identify very well with your experiences, Bedford.  Hope we'll soon hear promising reports from you.  

Several forum participants have recently mentioned "strong thuds" from their hearts.  I've experienced them for decades, and I'll offer my "civilian" take on them.  A normal heart contraction (beat) results from an electro-chemical contraction command being generated by the heart's natural pacemaker, and then being transmitted to the rest of the heart by a network of conducting fibers. If things go well, this message helps contract, first, the two "collecting" chambers of the heart (atria), then the two most important (by far) pumps of the heart (ventricles). For a a fraction of a second or so after contracting, the heart is doing the physics, chemistry, and biology needed to get ready for the next beat (contraction), and isn't ready to nicely contract again. 

Sometimes, things don't go well. A premature contraction command can be generated but, since the heart is not ready for it, nothing much happens.  

To me, one of the neatest parts of this complex story is the heart muscle's elasticity. This amazing organ in you and me works, in some ways, as does rubber. If given a chance, stretched rubber elastically rebounds.  So does your heart muscle.

Back to the premature contraction command. In this situation, the "missed" contraction means the heart has extra time to fill with the blood returning to it from the lungs and rest of the body. That extra blood means extra stretch of the heart muscle.  Now comes the next (this one "on time"wink contraction command, and the extra-stretched heart muscle rebounds as did the ball off  Beckham's foot.  There's some other stuff going on, but this is fun to write about.  We SVT people tend to be excessively tuned into the beats of our hearts, so these "extra" beats (they're actually premature, not extra) play in our heads as does the opening to Beethoven's 5th. Some body positions allow our chests to act as amplifiers, and an uncomfortable deal becomes worse.

The good news is that these premature contractions are no big deal for a healthy heart.  Particularly good news news for me since, some days, I have more than a thousand of the obnoxious hammerings.

I'm truly guessing on this next stuff.  I've, too, noticed these thuds at the end of some of my SVT episodes.  I'm, thus, very glad to feel them then. SVT has much to do with abnormal heart pace making.  I suspect that end-of-SVT thuds occur when some sort of premature contraction command momentarily knocks a screwed up electrical pathway out of business, thus allowing a normal pace making pattern to resume.  That's my understanding of how adenosine works.

Probably enough already, but very recent research is strongly suggesting that moderate coffee consumption is not harmful for most heart dysrhythmia people.  Of course, it's Monday, and that story may change by Thursday, but I like what I'm reading on that stuff. 

Wishing you the best.