Confused again, nervous & scared

[Doggiemomma]

My heart tripped out tonight (Nov 8) at 9 o'clock while I was relaxing watching the TV. It's still tripping.

My Kardia reading says it's steady but fast at 125 bpm, & has been that for the past 3 1/2 hours. My evening meds (Flecainide 150 mg which I take twice a day -- & I take Pradaxa too) did nothing perhaps because Flecainide acts on rhythm, not rate?

However, the last time I went to Emergency, with 155 bpm (this was the bpm for over 24 hours), I was told first that it was tachycardia, then on discharge papers, saw that I had SVTs.

Last time, I went back to normal sinus rhythm in the Emergency Room after an IV in my arm of metoprolol. Please correct me if I'm wrong... metoprolol does NOT affect SVTs, even though it's a "rate" drug? I do take extend release metoprolol every morning at 9:30. My electrophysiologist/specialist isn't around right now to contact & he's not in his office on Mondays. My confusion is why would Metoprolol work on SVT when I *thought* I read that it doesn't?

The 'nervous & scared' part of this post is because I have once again tried intervention strategies without success, am experiencing "The Big Pee" (pardon me if I've offended), and so now I'm going to try & relax in bed, but if I'm still having these at 6 or 7 in the morning, and then I'll have hubby drive me to the Emergency Room. I'm also at the max dosage for the Flecainide, and the metoprolol has my heart rate in the low 50s most of the time.

Input from your own knowledge base and experiences would be appreciated, and I know this is not a medical advice site.

Is this happening once-every-month-or-two cause for an ablation????

Thank you so much! I'll check back and post an update when I'm able.

Doggiemomma

[Doggiemomma]

Update: Hubby dropped me off at the Emergency Room. Blood was taken, x-rays, and hooked me up to a 12 lead ECG machine. Again, the medical people there couldn't tell if it was SVT or some form of AF, because the refraction (?) rate was different & something about the p-waves. I received an IV dose of metoprolol, which did nothing...then 10 minutes later, the second IV dose of metoprolol. About 30 minutes after the second dose of Metoprolol, my HR started going down to *sort of* within normal limits quite quickly--it dropped dramatically to 50 BPM, then went up to being in the 60s for beats per minute.

I'll have a phone conference today or tomorrow with my electrophysiologist to see what's what.

[secondtry]

'Once every month or two..' is maybe not ablation first but a review of medication and lifestyle changes as it needs to be stopped.

[KMRobbo]

If I ever get back to the sort of situation you are in every month or two, I would be screaming for another ablation.

[willec49]

Flecainide is used to restore normal heart rhythm and maintain a regular, steady heartbeat. It is also used to prevent certain types of irregular heartbeat from returning. I think it may also affect rate because it delays one of the up strokes.

[momist]

I'm not medically qualified, so probably shouldn't be saying this, but I wouldn't believe that 'this drug is only for rate' and 'this one is for regularity'. All these drugs will have side effects, and anyone with AF is likely to have a different response to anyone else.

I would like to ask why you are so afraid? Yes, it is uncomfortable and usually extremely inconvenient, but not often associated with causing death directly. Very long periods with very fast heart rates will eventually harm the muscle of the heart permanently, and enlargement of the chambers can occur, but it is not likely to happen to you if you are under medical supervision.

My way of dealing with fear is to learn as much as I can about what I am frightened of, and then I know the worst and can deal with it as best I can. Good luck, and let your EP advise you on your next course of action.

[cuore]

I agree with KMRobbo , plus momist has given you good advice about warding off fear. You must have already had your phone consultation with your, electrophyiologist and hopefully ablation was discussed.

[Oldiemoldy]

I had an ablation in April 2019 and also stopped drinking alcohol just as a precaution. Still have occasional Afib attacks, but they are shorter. Still feel tired and grumpy the day after... My EP doctor said Afib won't kill me but to make sure I keep taking my Xarelto anti coagulant - because a stroke might kill me, or, worse, leave me a debilitated mess.

That said, just sitting around last night chatting with a friend, the Afib started up for no discernible reason. Very disconcerting. took my pill in pocket (metroprolol) and a small dose xanax to sleep. Better today, confirmed by my Kardia. did some deep breathing exercises too - seems to help.

Good luck to us all with this darned stuff.