Anyone had an ablation procedure

[Fazerboy]

Hi, I'm new here. I have a high heart rate at times. I have a linq recorder implant at the moment. It looks as if I have SVT and I am on a waiting list for an ablation procedure. My choice seems to be either live with the svt as it is or have the ablation. My question is, has anyone had an ablation and did it work?

[Jamzy28]

I have a high heart rate all the time I am waiting to see my cardiologist on the 7th December to see what's going on when did you get it.

[Fazerboy in reply to Jamzy28]

Hi, I noticed that my heart rate would jump from say 90 to 150 for no apparent reason about 3 years ago. It usually drops on its own. I do quite a lot of cycling so I bought a garmin hr monitor. This showed the spikes and high hr episodes. I found that if I lay on my back I could usually reset my high hr back to normal. I now have a linq recorder that means I can record high hr episodes and send the data to my cardiologist. I see him again in December. My hr is ok about 99% of the time hence my not being sure about having an ablation.

[daisy2311]

I have SVT which is controlled by bisoprolol. I was offered the ablation but declined as my SVT happens very rarely and at the moment the medication controls it well. Lots of people on the forum have had ablation. My GP agreed with me that it is probably not really required for me currently. I guess it depends what your doctor recommends and also how much it affects your life.

[Fazerboy in reply to daisy2311]

Hi, I do quite a bit of cycling to try to keep fit. I sometimes get a high hr when on a cycle ride which means I have to stop and see if I can get it to drop or I have to ride home gently with my hr at about 150. I probably get a hr spike about 3 times a week. I can live with this. I'm not on any medication. My resting hr is about 45 -50. I don't want to go on betablockers because I don't want anything that may lower my hr.

How often is "very rarely"?

[daisy2311 in reply to Fazerboy]

I had my first event in 2011, the second in 2012 and then two in 2017. I say events because this is the only times to my knowledge. During these times my hr hits 190 and has to be reversed in hospital by adenosine.

[Fazerboy in reply to daisy2311]

Quite rare then really. Pity about 2 in 2017. Also a bit of an issue if you have to go to hospital to get it sorted. Sort of puts mine in perspective. I'm maybe weekly but it either drops on its own or I get it to reset by lying down.

[daisy2311 in reply to Fazerboy]

The doctors told me that there can be 10, 20 years between events. I could probably leave it a bit longer before going to hospital but I don't want to chance it..it isn't life threatening in itself but left too long it can be..the doctor described it to me as it being like your heart running a marathon and left for a period of time this obviously isn't good. The doctor said that the beta blockers reduce the chance of it happening by 60 percent, so not fully, but there are no guarantees of success with ablation and I feel that the risks are somewhat downplayed generally so in my case I'm leaving well alone unless anything changes.

[Hidden]

Although some people have it as nothing else has helped, ablation isn’t the *only* option available to manage SVT. Have they not offered you medication in the first instance or discussed that with you? If they haven’t, I’d be asking the question why not, but I can only assume that there’s clinical grounds from the loop recorder to offer ablation straight away. I had my first ep of SVT in 2009 (aged 26) and my hr was so unstable I was kept in for 9 days, it would shoot up to 200 just talking, but ultimately released on a high dose of bisoprolol. Between then and 2015 I had quite a few minor episodes that resolved after a few hours, then had a second massive episode in 2015 triggered by local anaesthetic that saw me back in resus having adenosine to stop my heart again. I switched to a calcium channel blocker earlier this year as I was having issues with the beta blockers, but generally speaking my SVT is really well controlled by meds. Have you been given (and are you following) all the advice regarding food stuffs e.g. avoid caffeine, ginger, dark choc, white choc etc.?

[Fazerboy in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I've had loads of ECG's etc and other monitors. My high hr episodes are rare so not easy to record on an ECG, this is why they gave me a linq recorder. It seems that I have SVT but it isn't 100% confirmed because they really need to see an ECG from a 12 lead ECG.

My cardiologist has discussed betablockers but I don't want to go on these partly due to the side effects and because my resting hr is in the low to mid 40's and I don't want to take anything that my lower it. I have had a couple of times when I've fainted (probably due to low hr).

I think a rise in adrenalin causes my hr to jump (sort of fight or flight mechanism) and sometimes it stays high.

I hadn't thought much about caffeine etc but I don't drink coffee etc.

It sound like your episodes are far worse than mine. My worst case was when my hr went up to about 160 and stayed there for about 3 hours.

[Hidden in reply to Fazerboy]

My episodes are pretty rare really - I’ve had the two majors that needed A&E (HR over 240 on both occasions for more than an hour and feeling *really* ill with the second one in particular) and I probably had an average of 5 more minor eps each year in between the two biggies where I’d hit 160ish for a couple of hours even with daily beta blockers. To the best of my knowledge, I haven’t had a single ep in the last two years and very definitely not since switching from bisoprolol to a calcium channel blocker (touch wood), but going 10ft from the sofa to the kettle raises my hr into the 130 range. It settles again really quickly when I stop moving, it just seems I have a very reactive heart rate now. When I’m on the treadmill I easily hit 180+ and I struggle not to hit that level doing anything more than a moderately brisk walk. But again, it drops back down quickly when I stop, and a 7 day halter last year showed no issues when it was doing it. I can appreciate why beta-blockers are a no go for you with a low resting hr, but I’m not entirely sure that ablation is the only other choice. It’s not an option for everyone (myself included) but it might be worth mentioning that there are people who don’t medicate for SVT if it’s not causing them problems e.g. they feel fine in themselves during an episode, the bouts are infrequent, short lived and the rate is not hideously high. Have you tried valsalva/vagal manoeuvres to stop an episode? They’ve never worked for me, nor does carotid massage (only to be done by a medically trained individual!), but some people can stop an episode that way, which also reduces the need for meds if they fall into the mild/infrequent episodes group. Another technique some use is plunging their face into cold water.

Adrenaline spikes - natural and otherwise (such as local anaesthetic) - can absolutely trigger SVT. This is because SVT is usually triggered by ectopic beats and ectopic beats can be caused by adrenaline surges. This isn’t a complete list, but some of the other things that are known to be able to trigger SVT in those susceptible include:

Exercise (but that’s why you try and keep your hr down)

Alcohol

Caffeine (not just coffee, but anything containing caffeine including tea, soft drinks, some painkillers and medicines - I’ve discovered it’s in more things than you’d realise (or expect!))

Dark chocolate

White chocolate

Ginger (regardless of fresh, dried, biscuits, whatever)

Medications containing ephedrine (and pseudoephedrine)

Some asthma medications

Essentially it’s things known to have a stimulant effect in the body. Stress and excessive tiredness are also known to be triggering factors for ectopic beats and therefore linked to SVT. What will trigger me may not trigger you and vice versa, or a person’s attacks might be genuinely entirely random, but through experience I know that caffeine is generally not in my best interests from an SVT point of view, nor is ginger. Dark chocolate and white chocolate are ok in small amounts, but a rich desert made from dark chocolate will almost certainly set me off, as will one of the Covonia cough mixtures without fail. I’ve never had SVT as a result of alcohol, but when I do occasionally have a drink, it does increase my hr significantly, so I know not to chance going for a run after four beers 😂 I also always ask for local anaesthetic that doesn’t contain noradrenaline, as my major ep in 2015 was triggered by lidocaine given to have a filling 😑

Going back to your original question, there are a few people on here that have had ablation, either for SVT or AF, and from what I’ve seen most have had a good outcome. Hopefully they’ll come talk more usefully than me waffling on, but I can tell you that if I was given the option of it I would take ablation without a doubt, it’s just not something I’ve ever been offered. Or even discussed. I’m not going to lie, whilst I don’t worry about it, the idea of not having a niggling uncertainty that I’m not going to end up in resus at the drop of a hat would be amazing.

[Fazerboy in reply to Hidden]

Wow, a lot to digest. A few points. My high hr episodes, say 2 or 3 a week are easily manageable. I either sit and rest for a minute or so until my hr drops or if it doesn't I find that if I lie on my back it will usually reset my hr. Not always easy if I am in town on a rainy day! I've tried the valsalva manoeuvres and they didn't work but my lying down is sort of similar I'm told. I've read on here that drinking very cold water can help, I'll try that one day.

i'm not sure if I have ectopic beats, I'll ask my cardiologist. What I do have though is that when I'm cycling I use a garmin cycle computer to record where I've been, how fast etc. This also reads hr from my hr monitor (chest strap). When I've done a ride I can download the data and look at my hr graph. This sometimes shows spikes within the first mile then settles down (not sure why). Sometimes it spikes and stays high (160 ish) for say 5 mins or until I lie down to reset it. I've noticed that many a time before the spike it has dropped say from 70 to say 55 then gone up to about 140, the drop before the spike being my point. I've also noticed that it happens at stressful situations (traffic junctions etc) and if I'm more tired say after a longer ride then this is when I struggle to get it to drop.

Back to my original question though, although the risk of having problems after an ablation are low, my svt is easily manageable so I have mixed feelings at the moment.

[Twobells]

Yes, as the SVT was uncontrolled. It got to the point of no return my hert rate was over 250 beats per minutes several times a day. Meds never worked so I opted forabltion which was done in 2015. Never looked back cured it.

[Fazerboy in reply to Twobells]

Brilliant result. Are you on any medication for it now?

[Twobells]

No not for SVT, However, I have had a heart attack, but this is not related to SVT. As SVT is an eletrical fault whereas my heart problems are a plumbing issue.

I was so pleased when the ablation did the job as medication neer worked. Although there are risks like everything else its better than having to go to casualty to have adenisine. I have never had any SVT.

If it affecting you a lot and tiring you out go for it.

Please don't worry ablation did not cause my current heart issues.

Goodluck with it

[Fazerboy in reply to Twobells]

Thanks.

[Dottyboodaisy]

I did have an oblation in 2013

Very successful made big difference. Need about three months after to feel normal

[Jewel7]

Hi, my husband had an ablation 31 years ago. It was very successful, he had the normal recovery time and then back to work. The surgeon said that its very rare that they come back. He now has an aortic valve regurgitation and due for surgery but the ablation procedure he’s never had a problem with.

Regards,

[Fazerboy]

Thanks all. I had an ablation in Oct 19. All ok. I see my cardiologist on 24 Jan 20 for a 3 month review but all seems good at the moment.

[Hidden]

I was due an ablation for Svt but I put it on hold because of the coronavirus. I,m 73 and petrified it will cause a stroke, they are throughout my family. I will be called again in 3 months.

[Fazerboy in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I wouldn’t worry about an ablation when it is for svt. As I understand it it is a relatively straightforward procedure and in most cases it is successful (mine was).

I think of it as my heart was beating very fast because the electrical signal was taking a short cut when it shouldn’t. The ablation blocks the shortcut so the heart beats as it should.

I’d have a chat with your consultant and mention your fear of a stroke.

I was 63 when I had my ablation just over a year ago now.

[Hidden in reply to Fazerboy]

Thanks for your reply.

[Thanks55]

I got mine a few weeks ago the doctors say it takes eight weeks or so to settle down so we will see