SVT

[Stumpy47]

Hi, I suffer from frequent Episodes of SVT & on occasions a resting heart rate as low as 34 bpm, what is the likelihood of being fitted with a pacemaker? I'm feeling impatient waiting for results etc.

[IanMK]

Hi Stumpy

This isn’t a straightforward question. A pacemaker will not stop your SVT. You need to discuss this with your Electrophysiologist.

Speaking from experience, I fully understand your frustration with the time it can take to diagnose and treat some heart conditions but there are no short cuts I’m afraid.

[Stumpy47 in reply to IanMK]

Thanks, I think my Cardio is looking at an ablation for the SVT, I just wondered if any one has had a pacemaker fitted at the same time to deal with a slow heart rate as no one seems to have picked up on the bradycardia as yet, I dread having the SVT ablation without the Bradycardia issue being dealt with.

[Stumpy47]

Update, after 10 stubborn SVT episodes where Adenosine had to be administered. I am now booked in for an Ablation ,my cardio says if a pacemaker is not fitted now I will most certainly need one in the future. So I'm now looking forward to being svt free hopefully, after managing them for some 40 years or so. Best wishes everyone.

[Padayn01 in reply to Stumpy47]

Sorry if you mentioned this but what medication are you on for your SVT?

[Stumpy47 in reply to Padayn01]

Low dose of Bisoprolol 1.25 mg. I had my ablation yesterday 15th May . Now taken off meds & waiting for things to settle down.

[Padayn01 in reply to Stumpy47]

Great News, hope those nasty SVT's go for good, good luck i have my ablation in August

[Stumpy47]

I'm now 4 weeks post ablation, & still getting spikes of svt & since coming off Bisoprolol I do not feel as tired or bradycardic as before (used to drop as Low as 34 now none below 45 bpm) but no persistent runs of svt. My sleeping has greatly improved from poor (2 hours to wide awake for 2 hours ) to now periods of 5/6 hours but still get a lot of ectopics & hoping they fade away in the coming months !!! Looking forward to getting my driving licence back asap! Does any one else suffer poor sleeping? Best wishes to you all it's great reading all your notes & experiences & very reassuring thank you.

[Padayn01 in reply to Stumpy47]

When you say spikes of SVT what happens do you feel as if its coming on or do you feel something different in your heartbeat?

[Stumpy47 in reply to Padayn01]

Hi since my Ablation I still find my heart rate increases dramatically as if an svt is going to start up to 160 bpm with even light exercise but the heart soon recovers back to a normal rate when resting of about 55-70 bpm, they are though nothing like the full blown SVT runs lasting hours, where the heart is pounding & accompanied by heaviness/tightness in the chest. I'm now almost 10 weeks since ablation & thankfully have had no svt runs since. Iam booked in for another 72 hour holter on the 2nd of Aug which I hope will show up these spikes & ectopics I still experience. Good luck with your own upcoming ablation, I'm still glad I had mine (NO MORE ADENOSINE) Yee Haa!

[Padayn01 in reply to Stumpy47]

Great news that’s it’s slowly coming together for you I hate SVT and really want to come off these beta blockers

[kitzabella]

How are you now Stumpy47? do you take any meds?

[Stumpy47 in reply to kitzabella]

Hi Kitzabella, I had a pacemaker fitted 2 weeks ago for Bradycardia (daytime as low as 39 bpm, 72 hour Holter picked it up) so Cardiologist/EP felt it was the best option, which is set at 60bpm low rate & allows my heart to increase it's rate on demand.

It was sore for a few days but Paracetamol was enough to control any pain, though sleeping on your side I would not recommend for a few days at least!!

I now have very few noticeable ectopics & certainly less shortness of breath just moving around was tiresome! I'm back on 1.25mg of Bisoprolol & 20mg Omeprazole but feel fantastic I am so thankful.

There may be more improvements to come after my first interrogation in about a month. It was such a quick procedure which took just an hour (less than an ablation takes) I booked into hospital at 07-30 & discharged at 12-15 pm just under 5 hours. Best wishes.