Tachycardia

[Rubyray]

I have had four instances of tachycardia since July 1, 2020. Each one lasting a little longer. I have AFIB but these instances did not feel like AFIB. I talk to my cardiologist in a couple of days. Has anyone experienced 15 or 30 minutes of tachycardia? For no reason I know of.

[Padayn01]

What do you do to bring your heart rate down? or does it go down by itself?

[Rubyray in reply to Padayn01]

I take 1/2 of a one mg lorazepam. If my bp is high which it always appears to be when I have the tachycardia. I take 1 mg clonidine.

[Hidden]

Try the Valsalva manoeuvre when SVT kicks in. Google it to find out more but you simply pinch your nose, close your mouth and clench your buttocks and breathe out as hard as you can through every orifice (and I mean every 😳) as hard and for as long as you can without having an embarrassing accident.

Best down in a private environment of course, but it does work for many (including me!!). I think stress and anxiety triggers tachycardia.

[Rubyray in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the tip FlapJack. I will try it.

[Tapanac]

I too have Afib and flutter with occasional bouts of tachycardia up to 240+ beats per minute which is like a running stream and only monitors can tell. The first time it happened I kept thinking it would go away, and stuck with it from approx 5am until 8pm, but it didn’t so ended up in A & E where I was treated with medication through a cannula. This cleared it that time, but I was told if it happened like that again to call an ambulance. Then it happened 11 times between November and Christmas. Eventually I was given a cardioversion which cleared it all up until I was given an ablation. And whilst waiting put on bisoprolol and flecainide and apixaban. Then about a year later another emergency cardioversion, again because of a very high heart rate.

From what you say (and remember I’m not medical just going on my experience) 15 or 30 mins is not too bad of tachycardia, but always be on the safe side and either call 111 or get advice from 999 if you’re really very worried. I know we are all worried about calling perhaps unnecessarily during this awful virus time, but I have been assured by all paramedics that it is perfectly ok to call.

All the best

[Rubyray in reply to Tapanac]

Thank you for that information. I appreciate your help. Have a good day.

[Lucymoo]

Hi I often get bouts tachicardia up to about 180 a few days a week lasts from a few minutes to an hour....just have to slow down till they stop. PSVT is a pain but I’ve been reassured not life threatening and advised by my cardiologist need to think about going to A&E if I feel really ill when it happens and so far just feel mainly breathless if that helps?

[Rubyray]

Thank you Lucymoo. I feel more confident about the tachycardia knowing someone else has experienced it. It was pretty scary at first.