Sometimes, I suddenly experience a very strange, rapid heartbeat. It feels different from the usual fast heart rate—it’s like a jackhammer switched on at full power.
So far, these episodes have only lasted a few seconds. I initially assumed it was supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), but I’m now considering the possibility that it could instead be ventricular fibrillation (VFib).
VFib frightens me. It’s the one that causes sudden cardiac death. Without a defibrillator nearby, VFib kills in five minutes or less.
Since I haven’t had the chance to catch it on an ECG, is there any way to differentiate between SVT and VFib? Can AFib progress into VFib?
I don’t know if anyone here has experienced VFib and lived to tell the tale, but if so, what did it feel like?
VFib will definitely be on my list of questions at my next appointment with the electrophysiologist. But to be honest, if VFib strikes, I don’t think I’d want CPR—VFib often causes severe brain damage, and in that case, death might be the better outcome.
I believe the best option for VFib is an implantable defibrillator, but how does one get it before it’s too late?
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snak3eyes
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Whatever it is, rest assured that AF does not progress to VF unless you have something like WPW syndrome or a severely compromised heart. One is atrial, one is ventricular and both have somewhat different mechanisms for that beat to pass through them.
Some AF drugs can cause ventricular conduction issues with some people . Bit most people have AF and live their life with AF into old age.
It’s highly unlikely its ventricular fibrillation. You’d know if it was as you suddenly feel like you’re about to die and it doesn’t just stop on its own! You can’t breathe, and you usually collapse. My brother has been resuscitated twice now in VF and although he has a defibrillator that kicks him to try and stop it, it’s doesn’t work every time. We have a genetic conduction issue. He also doesn’t have any brain damage… your anxiety is going to eat you alive. Stop imagining dooms day and I mean those last few comments kindly.
It could anything and in all honesty, it’s all only guesses until you catch it on an ecg. It could even be as simple as something like a few PVCs or PACs in a row.
I experience almost every arrhythmia you can think of and I know from experience that they all feel different at different times. Don’t stress yourself guessing.
a fib is extremely hard to catch unless you are in an episode when they are testing you. The Holter monitor did nothing for me so my EP gave me a loop recorder. It is about an hour long procedure where they implant a device. they only makes a the size of a pencil eraser because they make a pocket similar to the one they do for a pacemaker. than two weeks they had answers. Meanwhile, I had been put on anticoagulant from the first visit and the doctor to think he knew what he was dealing but obviously they need to be sure. I have all four chambers involved and I’m still here. You need to get your head a little bit. Listen to your doctor if you lay there or sit you can feel every little thing your heart does and it will make you crazy. Everyone has changes in their heart rhythm, depending on what you’re doing. If it starts and won’t stop that’s different. I had tachycardia for six months constantly. It was my own fault not finding another doctor ASAP because of what was going on my brain wasn’t working right my legs were not working. I’m not sure what else would’ve I had not found my amazing doctor EP.
if it were ventricular, you probably wouldn’t have to worry because you’re right very few people survive. As a medic we were told sometimes you just can’t save someone. So I wouldn’t even worry about that. I don’t know how far along you are in your journey. It’s gonna take time patience lots of learning and learning curve. you need to learn about your body as far as what helps trigger a fib. Sometimes it doesn’t take anything that you are aware of. It could be food or over eating. It could be stress and anxiety if they knew all the answers maybe they could come up with a cure, but it’s like trying to find that one small the Dyke where the water is dribbling out it’s almost impossible at least right now. They are working on things daily. I am living proof of that because of what I have and the fact that I have a normal life that I never thought I would feel again.
my EP told stop checking my numbers and get out of my head and also remember all the other parts in your body that could be doing something at the time. When they help you control a fib, you will feel much better but it doesn’t happen with one thing usually it’s gonna take time takes a few months for your body to get over the trauma. Don’t be afraid ask questions either here or especially with your doctor. If it’s urgent, you need to go to emergency. I had a feeling one night when I was just laying on the bed reading all of a sudden it was as if a horse kicked me not once it felt as though it could’ve made me fall over if I had been standing up. I have a 24 seven with my pacemaker. My doctor will know before I do that. There is a problem. if they are not 100% sure on things yet maybe they will consider the loop recorder for you. It can last up to five years you don’t even notice it’s there and they took it out when they put the pacemaker in. It comes out the same way it went in and it’s the size of a small battery.
no we can’t be cured yet but if you have a doctor, that’s on the ball you are get help
my doctor about the implant to find out exactly what I was dealing with. They have a tech that almost like around your and he gets a almost like a cash register receipt that tells him everything that has been going on time, etc. they had I was having over 300 episodes one more daily
it’s like trying to eat an elephant. You have to go one bite at a time. Yes we all want it. Taken care of but a fib is a nasty thing. It does what it wants. When you get that feeling, I would journal it including what you had been doing or what you had just been eating or drinking, etc. and how you are feeling emotionally see if you can find a common denominator for the odd failing you are getting. I come from law enforcement. I am a firm believer and common denominator answers. It really does put a picture together. Let us know how you do and what’s going on with you they get the answer the sooner they will be able to try to give you the right stuff. Don’t get frustrated if your meds keep getting changed they want the right one for you. We are not one size fits all.
Within AF you do get short salvo's of fast beats, probably the same morphology. These can be classes as Fast AF or as Non Sustained VT.. Also if it's tracking what the Heart "thinks" is a P Wave it can go into SVT/AF.
Don't worry. VF wouldn't feel anything like a jack-hammer ! You would feel very little at all other than an eerie absence of anything until you blacked out after a few seconds. If your jack-hammer episodes happen fairly frequently, maybe ask your GP about a 24 hour monitor to check things out. OK, I'm no medical doc, but IMO the worst it's gonna be is non-sustained VT which whilst not ideal is not that big a deal unless the episodes are >30 secs.
Thanks for your concern, I’ve been checked out fairly recently but not had a monitor which would show up whatever it is if worn long enough. I don’t mean to sound morbid but at my age my hope is to die quietly in my chair from a cardiac arrest rather than a slow decline with something distressing and undignified. So not too concerned about random blips ☺️
wow! I may have Afib. Not sure. I was told this week my rhythm was off by a vascular Dr. was shocked. What is Vfib? I am not familiar with that. Hope you get some answers soon. I am waiting in hospital for answers. I know how scary this is. Hope you feel better soon.
VF is the deadly heart condition resulting from cardiac arrest, which is why a defibrillator is such an essential part of the first aid (CPR) applied to a victim of heart attack, toxic shock, suffocation etc. It must be corrected within minutes or death will inevitably ensue.
This is certainly not what the OP is experiencing, which is short runs of tachycardia (fast heart rate). They are very common; I get them myself and they are generally considered benign.
I think a rapid forceful heart rate isn't uncommon in atrial conditions. You won't feel anything supraventricular - how can we, from which nerves? What we can feel, so far as I know, is limited to the valves thumping to, affecting more peripheral sensory nerves that we can feel.
You are doing what we all (well me...) do at times - worry ourselves to death!
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Recently diagnosed with PSVT 
SVT after swallowing
Ablation next Wednesday
