After months and months of misery, and my consult with a second EP,.I decided to proceed with a local ablation at Abbott in Minneapolis. I have Atrial Tachycardia/SVT and it has been a long road with no relief from meds, lots of side effects, rough sleep. It was a rough pre-op with my EP recommending anything and everything to induce the rhythm. (Do not try this at home!!). So I had a Pepsi, took a Sudafed, proceeded to have dinner. Then had a couple of alcoholic beverages, stayed up most of the night, and drank black coffee at 0500am. Needless to say, I felt like garbage! Went in for my ablation, which ran late, but lots.and lots of PACs and runs of SVT.
Once in the lab, they tried to map the PACs first so that they could ablate them also, but about 10 minutes in, my SVT kicked in without induction and maintained throughout the subsequent mapping, induction of anesthesia, and ablation. They decided to go ahead and try to ablate the PACs as they have been extremely bothersome. They determined left atrium and crossed the septum and tried to initiate with iso and washout, but no luck. They did, however, get the SVT. I almost cried when I woke up. Thank God for the SVT showing up!!
I am cautiously optimistic that a majority of my issue will be fixed. It is entirely possible,.however, that the PACs and short SVT bursts were also coming from the left. All in all though, it was a stellar experience, with a great EP, and team, and it was super cool to get to watch the initial mapping of the SVT. Man did I lay on that table thanking God (and Sudafed, coffee, and wine) for that SVT.
Will keep everyone posted. Am going to start a supplement program tomorrow to try and tackle the PACs. . Got all my supplements at the house and ready to roll. Thanks for all who have been and are rooting for me! You guys are fantastic!
Oh, and as a side note, I slept last night, symptom free and unencumbered by any arrhythmia for the first time since Mid-December 2023!!! Woohoo!!!
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MeganMN
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I get similar symptoms (along with occasional AF) and have been told an ablation might help, so will be following your progress! Well done for coping with the ablation so well. The atrial ectopics are disturbing. When I read from others here that a few deep breaths and they will go, and that they are benign, I just think... I wish!
As for alternative therapy, I wouldn't hold out great hope! I would simply avoid bloating and any pulling or stretching of the diaphragm area if possible. The Pepsi you drank showed you how well boating can induces ectopic beats. If I lie on the bed with my feet on the floor, the stretching of my abdomen sets of ectopics instantly.
Thanks Steve. Unfortunately, it is going to be a much bigger issue that they couldn't get the ectopics mapped. I am essentially right back where I started for that. Nothing stops them. Literally nothing.... Will probably be talking with the EP today to look into Verapamil. I am so bummed.
I was told Ca++ blockers like verapamil aren't as good effective at reducing ectopic beats so it will be interesting to know what your EP says.
With increasing AF and ectopics, I was prescribed a higher dose (from 1.25mg to 2.5mg) of bisoprolol several weeks ago and, initially, it seemed to help. Now, though, the ectopic beats are as frequent as ever, if not more so and, my, I do feel so washed out at times with what I called bisoprolol chest ache.
I don't. Nothing I try has worked. The EP I see suggested an ablation might help. They are variable and worse when I am tired out - as today (from insomnia). They are harder to deal with than AF, I would say, since the episodes go on for so much longer.
Finally got my monitor results. 26% burden of ectopics/bigeminy. No SVT though, which is good. They are having me start Propafenone. They have also offered another ablation...
That is a mega level of ectopics, Megan! I get around 20% for long periods but over the 48-hours of my Holter, it was far fewer, although the first day of that was unusually quiet. It seems like your ablation has stopped the SVT in its tracks. On top of the ectopics, if I push myself too hard, I get short runs of what looks like SVT (or AF - I can't tell but my Watch reports only "fast heart rate").
I have my appoitnemt on Friday, and an MRI next week. The specialist has suggested flecainide if the MRI shows all is well structurally (fingers crossed as nothing feels "well" these days).
Thanks for the reply. Yes, my PAC burden just keeps going up. And up. I am happy to have the SVT gone. I now have Inappropriate Sinus Tach with the PACs. Both are potentially as damaging in terms of Atrial Cardiomyopathy. I took my first dose of Propafenone this afternoon. Hoping for some improvement.
Worrying times (for us both), but I have an elderly friend and my son a colleague of 76, who have suffered with AF and its ilk for many years and are both well! I try to focus on that when the struggles bubble to the surface in the cauldron of fear that can sometimes be my mind!!
Agreed. My EP called me today and we chatted. They are going to do another 48 hour monitor, have me send some of my home ECG strips, and consider having me start Verapamil. They want me to restart the Bisoprolol. But it doesn't do much other than make me feel rotten.
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I get around 20% for long periods but over the 48-hours of my Holter, it was far fewer, although the first day of that was unusually quiet. It seems like your ablation has stopped the SVT in its tracks. On top of the ectopics, if I push myself too hard, I get short runs of what looks like SVT (or AF - I can't tell but my Watch reports only "fast heart rate"). 
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