Unanswered questions update - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

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Unanswered questions update

Rachelanx50 profile image
17 Replies

Well first off thanks for all of you who replied to my last post about my sudden rapid heart rate I've been frustrated for a while with no answers appointments are like 6 months apart I'm due to have a 24 hour heart monitor on the 17th which I think will be useless as I can't predict when it happens maybe once or twice a week so 24 hours is a waste of time so I decided to do some research of my own and came across Dr Sanjay Gupta on you tube who explained my symptoms!! Supraventricular tachycardia it just makes sense does anyone relate and how to deal with it medications or otherwise

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Rachelanx50 profile image
Rachelanx50
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17 Replies
mjames1 profile image
mjames1

You're putting the cart before the arrhythmia horse :) You cannot diagnose SVT or any other arrhythmia, from Dr. Gupta's videos, or anything else for that matter except an EKG.

And yes, if your episodes are only twice a week, you will probably miss it on a 24 hour Holter. That leaves you either asking for a 7-14 day ekg patch, or getting a home device like the Kardia 6L or Apple Watch and taking an ekg during these episodes.

Once you know exactly what arrhythmia you're dealing with, then you and your doctor can formulate an intelligent plan of action.

Jim

Rachelanx50 profile image
Rachelanx50 in reply tomjames1

Hiya Jim first of all thank you for your reply it's reassuring when people like you are there to give advice so quickly I'm not normally one who seeks a diagnosis from any other source other than my cardiologist but as I said in my previous post we don't have one at royal stoke we are under the care of a cardiac nurse who isn't yet qualified to issue a prescription! she couldn't even advice me if I could take hayfever meds to cut a long story short i have no faith whatsoever in being diagnosed hense my last post I have had 6 members of my family diagnosed with SVT so it makes sense really?? By the way I'm an oncolagy nurse so iv come across this condition many times

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toRachelanx50

From what you say, then *probably* SVT, but as an oncology nurse you know better to find out for sure. And not really that hard with a Kardia 6L which is relatively inexpensive. If you get it, use the six lead function during the episodes, as better for diagnosing SVT and flutter.

So what does Dr. Gupta say about treating SVT? When I had it, beta blockers and calcium channels blockers didn't help. It just broke right through. Depending on how it's affecting your quality of life, you can either: 1) just treat the episodes; (2) try and prevent them with a daily anti-arrythmic like Flecainide if you qualify; or (3) get an SVT ablation which has a very high success rate.

What worked for me to get out of an episode was the "Modified Valsalva Manuever" which can be performed alone or with a partner. If not familiar, google it and there are some videos.

But again, first find out what it really is. Flutter, atach and SVT can present very similar. Even afib can act like that sometimes.

Jim

Rachelanx50 profile image
Rachelanx50 in reply tomjames1

Thanks Jim I've got a Kardia when i have an episode it just comes up as tachycardia. I'm on flecanide bd and bisoprolol prn. I'll let you know how I get on

Autumn_Leaves profile image
Autumn_Leaves in reply toRachelanx50

I suggest you forward your Kardia tracings to your GP and take it from there. Your GP may forward your tracings to cardiology for an opinion if they are not sure about what’s going on. I’ve had 2x 24h ECGs since I first reported AF episodes and neither caught any AF. The only way I could catch AF episodes was on a Kardia but they were acceptable for a diagnosis when I eventually had a cardiology appointment. I agree with James, you can’t self diagnose arrhythmias.

Rachelanx50 profile image
Rachelanx50 in reply toAutumn_Leaves

Hi i have recorded the episodes on my Kardia they are stored in my history for when i go for my appointment on Monday. I'm not self diagnosing myself I'm just relating to the symptoms I'm having

wilsond profile image
wilsond

It sounds like either Atrial Flutter which I had or SVT which my god daughter had.Both of us were treated quite successfully with Flecanide and a betablocker for years ( my goddaughter had it from age 3 until 12) both of us had successful ablations. I am waiting for my sign off appointment to stop Flecanide now and goddaughter is already.

These type of arrhythmia have a high level of successful intervention so fingers crossed for you!

Rachelanx50 profile image
Rachelanx50 in reply towilsond

Thanks wilsond, just need to get it sorted I'm already on flecanide so ill see what they say at my next appointment

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman

SVT is a general term for when the lower part of the heart beats too quickly (i.e. a sustained pulse of 100+bpm). The cause of the SVT is usually AF, next AFl, then sometimes other causes.

I bought myself a Wells AI ECG monitor that can work for up to 24 hours and it has caught lots of what might have been missed otherwise. Much of my problem isn;t AF at all but runs of PACs and PVCs for instance. You might think about that if it would help you find out what is happening.

Steve

Autumn_Leaves profile image
Autumn_Leaves in reply toPpiman

Could you please specify which model as it seems there are several Wellue?

Rachelanx50 profile image
Rachelanx50 in reply toAutumn_Leaves

AliveCor Kardia mobile

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toAutumn_Leaves

I think there are only two for home use but I agree they seem to sell several ECGs and other medical devices.

The first one I bought I see they call the Wellue 24-hour ECG Monitor. This I use much less now since buying their handheld device, but my oh my, it is wonderful as it can run for up to a day, including while you sleep; also, the AI generated report is very comprehensive. It amazed and pleased my doctor. It works alongside a free to download computer program on a laptop (not a mobile phone).

The second one I bought was their Personal ECG Monitor with Touchscreen. This is great for everyday use - so easy and, so far reliable. This seems also to be called "Pulsebit". It also creates an AI report, but this is not as full as the other device and needs a mobile smart phone with their app to do this. Without that, the device itself shows only "Irregular Heartbeat", but does show the full trace.

Both are best bought direct as, from Amazon, only the 24-hpour monitor seems to have the AI analysis (although I suspect both do, since the small one if bought from Amazon must surely use the same app). There is always a good discount available when bought direct as far as I can see. Their delivery service is superb and the products arrive from China but within the week (to the UK, anyway).

I hope that helps!

Steve

Rachelanx50 profile image
Rachelanx50 in reply toPpiman

Very much so Steve thanks as always I'm going to look into it

JOY2THEWORLD49 profile image
JOY2THEWORLD49

HI

I found CCB reduced my H/R within 2 hours. Diltiazem 180mg reduced H/R by 105bpm.

The Bisoprolol did not.

Hope this helps.

cheri Joy. 74. (NZ)

Rachelanx50 profile image
Rachelanx50 in reply toJOY2THEWORLD49

Thanks Cheri joy I'll keep that in mind

lovetogarden profile image
lovetogarden

I have Atrial Tachycardia, a form of SVT. And yes, heart rate jumps hugely in a flash and drops equally quickly. And randomly. Most aggravating! Maybe a longer term monitor? You’ll be very lucky if a one day monitor catches it. Mine is fairly well controlled with meds, though I hate being on the meds. Tachycardias can be often be ablated, similar to afib ablations. But as scary as the tachycardia can be, my doctor assures me I’ll live to be a very old lady. lol, it was all I could do not to say, I want to be a happy tachycardia-free old lady, not a cranky one! 😂

Hope you can get some answers from cardio folks.

Rachelanx50 profile image
Rachelanx50 in reply tolovetogarden

Thanks so much feel alot more calmer now

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