When Arrythmias heal themselves.

[JillyBeau]

My cardiologist explained to me that the heart cells that cause problems with arrhythmias (specifically SVT) are unstable and can die/disappear in time. Has anyone experienced symptoms which do disappear for no known reason?

[mjames1]

Yes, specifically what was diagnosed as AVNRT, a very common SVT on the right side of the heart. I was getting SVT episodes sometimes several times a week for a little over a year and then all of a sudden they stopped. One ep's explanation was similar to what you were told. That was the good news.

The bad news is that they were replaced right away with atrial flutter or some other SVT that did not disappear by itself. Also, during this entire time, my Afib burden gradually increased.

So because of all this, I ended up with both and an aflutter and agib ablation.

That's my story but hopefully in your case it's just limited to SVT and it will go away by itself. But if it doesn't or if your lifestyle is impaired, SVT ablations are less invasive than a fib ablations with about a 95% success rate. So no need to suffer if you want to go the ablation route.

My SVT trigger seem to be certain foods and when I went on the low FODMAP diet it helped to some degree.

It's also important to have a proper diagnosis because different SVTs can mimic each each other. An electrophysiologist.(ep) is best that that versus a general cardiologist.

One characteristic of SVT versus say atrial flutter is the higher heart rate ( flutter around 139-160 and SVT around 180) and the way that it stops and starts within a heartbeat.

Also SVT episodes are more amenable to the "modified Valsalva maneuver" which you can look up on YouTube. Preferably it's done with a second person to raise your legs however it can be done by yourself lying on the floor and putting your legs up on a chair or couch, etc.

Jim

[CDreamer]

My only experience of SVTs was following second ablation, which I understand is not an uncommon experience. Gradually they lessened and disappeared around the 9 month post ablation mark.

[Peony4575]

I had SVT between the ages of 28 and 31 didn’t take any drugs it went away . Both my children had episodes in their 20’s my son badly he was hospitalised for it , and theirs just went away as well

[RoyMacDonald]

My SVT seems to be diet and exercise related, but as I've had a stroke, that increases the risk of having another so I keep taking the Apixaban just in case. I'm over 80 now though and having eased off on the exercise, just limited it to walking, seems to have helped and I never get any SVT episodes now.

All the best.

Roy

[Ppiman]

That’s interesting. I’ve never heard that. Heart cells can die and if they do, never be replaced, so what he said sounds plausible.

I have also read that if a heart enlarges, which it does say if we are very overweight, then losing the weight does shrink the heart (but not always back to normal shape and size). An enlarged heart has no more cells, so each one has become stretched - and stretched heart cells are much more prone to ectopic beats and arrhythmias like ectopic beats and AF.

Steve