Unanswered questions update

[Rachelanx50]

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

[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 in reply to mjames1]

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 in reply to Rachelanx50]

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 in reply to mjames1]

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 in reply to Rachelanx50]

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 in reply to Autumn_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]

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 in reply to wilsond]

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

[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 in reply to Ppiman]

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

[Rachelanx50 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

AliveCor Kardia mobile

[Ppiman in reply to Autumn_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 in reply to Ppiman]

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

[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 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thanks Cheri joy I'll keep that in mind

[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 in reply to lovetogarden]

Thanks so much feel alot more calmer now