Been told I have SVT

[Byke]

yesterday my heart started to race, I phoned 111 and explained to them that my heart had been racing for about an hour and I was getting tingling in my legs. I was told to go to A and E, I asked if I would be ok going in the car with my husband as last time this happened I was told to wait for an ambulance. He said I don’t know I’m not medically trained, but asked someone there who said it was ok, so not sure about staff answering calls with no medical background. When I arrived there I was taken straight into resuscitation. As my heart would not slow down I was given something into a cannula which stopped the heart and then re started it, which was not particularly comfortable. After reading the ECG he told me that this was not PAF which was diagnosed about two years ago but STV. But he did not tell me much about this so not sure what this is, but said it could run along PAS. Then told me that thyroid test was high and to have bloods taken again for this to check it out. He has told me to call my doctor and tell him I need the blood test done and to arrange an appointment with a cardiologist , this may take some time as we cannot get through to our doctors very easily, and when my husband rang a couple of weeks ago he was told there were no doctors in surgery this morning and only two doctors taking any calls, so a bit worried. Has anyone else been told they have PAF and SVT and if so how they manage this. Thanks

[Czech_Mate]

Not sure if I can offer any medical help. I just want to say that I'm also confused with what exactly is my problem. I have a pacemaker to stop my heart beating slower than 60bpm. It also monitors what my heart is doing. At last week's check I was told that it sometimes goes fast, speeds of 200 to 400bpm were mentioned. I'm not aware of these; sometimes I feel weak, lightheaded and breathless and I'm never sure whether it is better to rest or push things a bit.

I spent a few days in hospital this week for tests after a suspected small stroke. Still not sure if it was anything serious.

At least there's no pain so I take life at it comes, avoid negative things and smile at folk as much as possible, never know how far a smile will go. I use to work at things to see improvement; now I go slower and look at and listen to the wonders of nature.

I try to ask meaningful questions but I don't really understand the answers; perhaps I don't understand my questions.

[Byke in reply to Czech_Mate]

thanks for your reply. I like you ask lots of questions but don’t always understand the answers. My heart rate was at 186 when I went to hospital and was taken straight into resus, this on its own is scary, but after the treatment to bring it back into normal beats he told me I have to contact my doctor to arrange an appointment with a cardiologist, and also that my thyroid reading is high so to have that re tested. I don’t know what he means by this, but will do it. I hope all goes well with you xx

[Fazerboy]

Hi, I had svt about 5 years ago. All of a sudden my hr would go from say 70 to 130. It usually happened if I got stressed (adrenaline rush) or if I bent down (to tie laces etc). I found out by accident that if I lay on my back and relaxed for a minute or so I could reset my hr. It might be worth trying. My svt got progressively worse and I had an ablation about 3 years ago. All good since then.

[Byke in reply to Fazerboy]

hi, thanks for your reply. I went to hospital with heart rate of 186, which then went up to 198 I was taken into resus which was quite frightening, and was given medication straight into artery which brought the rate straight down but didn’t feel very good. I have had controlled PAF for three years now, but he told me I have SVT . I asked what the difference was and he said PAF heart rate goes up and down, SVT it goes up and stays up. He also said that I need to see a cardiologist and have thyroid blood test done again as it was high. I will ring doctors but it takes at least an hour and half to get through and then can’t speak to a doctor for some time. Not sure about SVT but sounds frightening. xx

[Fazerboy in reply to Byke]

Mine never went over about 180 (which I could cope with for short periods). Yours sounds more serious. I wouldn't worry about svt (I think AF is worse). Svt seems reasonably straightforward to stop with an ablation whereas AF is more difficult to deal with. Good luck.

[Easternmost]

Hi,

I am undergoing tests for SVT following a recent 4 hour episode of heartrate reaching 220bpm. I am now on 2.5 Bisoprolol morning and night. I also take an anti coagulant Rivaroxiban and have an underactive thyroid.

I had an ablation for atrial flutter in October 2020 and enjoyed 2 years episode free - I am now 55 (female) . Disappointing that the ablation didn’t last longer and I struggle with the unpredictability of episodes - fearful of travel, but there is a lot of great support on this site.

I should also mention that I am caffeine/alcohol free, try and aim for 10,000 steps a day.

[Byke in reply to Easternmost]

thank you for you reply. Heart rate was 186 when I went to hospital and taken into resus which was frightening. It then went up from there, I was given medication into the artery which brought the rate straight down but didn’t feel very good. I have had PAF for three years now, but doctor said this episode was SVT and I need to see a cardiologist, so I will try to get through to doctors to sort this out. I’m finding this quite disturbing but I’m sure will get sorted out. I like you try to be caffeine free, do t drink or smoke and try to get 10,000 steps in a day. Hope all is well with you xx

[ChadL]

Hi Byke, I was diagnosed with SVT two years ago. I'm on Flecainide and Metoprolol, I also take Magnesium twice a day. I recently had an episode and landed in the ER. I was told by a cardiologist that my episodes may be triggered by acid reflux. I've been taking a PPI and fingers crossed so far no more issues.. stay hydrated. Hope you feel better soon!

[Byke in reply to ChadL]

hi, thanks for your reply, strangely enough I have recently started having acid reflux but haven’t put the two together. The doctor said thyroid reading was higher than normal so I put it down to that, I really need to talk to a cardiologist and ask a lot of questions, I will definitely look into the acid reflux, and I’m not sure how to stop that apart from the antacid tablets. Thanks for this, it has given me food for thought. I have started to drink more, I probably haven’t been drinking enough. Hope you keep well xx

[ChadL in reply to Byke]

I was shocked when the cardiologist told me about the reflux! I was like what?? I had started having reflux a few months ago.. about the same time the tachycardia flared up.. I would have never guessed at the possibility they were related! Definitely speak to a cardiologist and keep a log of when your have your episodes if it's around the same time as the reflux... I take Omeprazole in the mornings and eat lighter meals at night.. i take a probiotic and i cut out spicy foods and anything that would trigger my reflux.. that way I can see if the tachycardia flares up again and at least see if it may be the possible cause..

Hope you find some relief soon.. episodes are no fun ..🫶🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[needlestone]

I suffered with daily SVT multiple times per day, heart rate up to 250 bpm when on monitor for 3 years. I was put on flecainide, could not tolerate side effects so got a RF ablation that helped. After ablation I continued to have many ectopics until eliminating aspartame, sucralose and wheat/gluten. Now I only get short bouts if I drink alcohol, which is rare and it passes quickly. I also had high thyroid numbers before ablation and could not tolerate pharmaceutical Levothyroxine. Now I have my Levothyroxine made at a compounding pharmacy and have no trouble taking it.

I just watched a heart summit that suggested over load of toxicity in the body as a possible cause of heart problems. In my last house, where all my trouble started I am certain I was exposed to mold. I am no longer there and many of my sensitivities have gotten better too. Who knows, but so far I am doing well since 2016.

[lovetogarden]

Oh, how scary that must have been! Glad you were able to get to the hospital and they got it under control. I have SVT as well. There are a number of different types of SVT and ablations and meds can help with them. The Arrhythmia Alliance has a great (free!) online webinar on Living with SVT. I found it quite informative!

heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/...