Palpitations, mild SVT - advice required

[Bartacus]

Hi,

I’ve started to have palpitations and I’m looking for advice from anyone who’s had a similar experience.

I’m pleased to say the cardiologist said my heart was fine and only found evidence of ectopic beats and some short episodes of SVT. He suggested my palpitations were caused by stress and anxiety.

I don’t feel particularly stressed - and I still have the palpitations!

On his (suggested) instruction my GP prescribed Bisoprolol daily. I am reluctant to start taking these on a regular basis as my heart only races in certain situations.

Other than caffeine, which immediately provokes a very rapid heart rate, my palpitations occur in the following circumstances:

1) When my stomach is full or ‘feels’ full

2) During times of ‘normal’ stress: e.g. public speaking, job interviews

3) Exertion in hot weather - typically about 150-160bpm even when resting

4) When I drink alcohol - I wake up in the middle of the night with bpm of 150+

5) Sudden mild exertion - running upstairs, running for the bus, pretty much anything!

I realise my condition is not serious and I am very grateful. But the palpitations are having a big impact on my life. The summer was particularly difficult.

Does anyone have a similar experience?

Has anyone used beta-blockers in these circumstances?

[Fazerboy]

Hi,

I suffered from svt which started very mildly and rarely and got more frequent etc until I chose to have an ablation. My heart rate would race in stressful situations which I linked to when my body released adrenalin. I actually found that if I lay on my back for about a minute or so and relaxed my hr would go back to normal. May just be worth a try. Another thing is, ask your GP or cardiologist if you can take Bisoprolol as a PIP (Pill in Pocket) as opposed to taking it daily. Caffeine and alcohol are well known triggers so you may need to cut these out. Your choice of course. Good luck.

[Bartacus in reply to Fazerboy]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Really helpful. I've just read some of your other posts / replies and there are similarities with my situation. I cycle as well - or I did - until I found my heart was jumping quite a lot when I first started out - but then settles.

Could I ask was it anything in particular that made you go for an ablation?

[Fazerboy in reply to Bartacus]

Hi, I'm not sure how many of my posts you have seen but they outline my sort of journey. Briefly, I started about 4 years ago. I'm now 63. I was cycling about 100 miles a week of about 4 x 25 mile rides type of thing. I noticed that I got very tired for no reason at times. I decided to use a garmin hrm that I had for a Xmas present. It showed my hr spiking at times. I saw a cardiologist and he did some tests and said there was nothing wrong. I knew this was rubbish. I monitored my rides and noticed that the high hr got more often etc spiking when I got very tired or got a surprise or a shock or anything. I eventually saw another cardiologist, I had ecg's and a holter monitor etc. Eventually I got an implant recorder. I can record 8 mins worth at any time. This showed that I had svt. I put off having an ablation for 6 months mainly because I was frightened of the risks. My svt got progressively worse and I decided that my fears were largely unfounded. I asked on here as to whether anyone had regretted having an ablation and no one did. I took the plunge and had an ablation 3 weeks ago. It went well. I now swim 3 times a week and am cycling up to 10 miles at a time. I aim to increase the distances again in spring.

As to why the ablation, I found low dose of Bisoprolol 1.25 mg daily stopped the svt but it made me very tired. I also decided that the longer I waited the more the rogue electrical signals would set their rogue pathway and the worse it would get. I decided that the earlier it was dealt with the better. I think svt is easier to fix than say afib etc. I actually had AVNRT (Google it). I hope this helps. Ask more if needed.

[Bartacus in reply to Fazerboy]

Thanks for the reply - it's much appreciated.

[Dee1982]

I have palpitations quite often l have been diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation and l have a heart murmur l think I have afib to because I have irregular heart beats all the time it can vary at times skipped beats ectopic beats fluttering sensation fast heart rate l think it’s some kind of arrhythmia

[Bartacus in reply to Dee1982]

Hi, I'm very sorry to hear you are experiencing such problems. If you think you have arrythmia then it's probably best to get some medical attention as soon as possible.

[Jacey15]

I would take your heart rate after lying down for ten minutes then stand up and take your heart rate after 2, 5 and 10 minutes. If it's a lot higher on standing I would ask to be investigated for postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The POTS uk website is very good for info. Your symptoms sound very like it. I am on 10mg bisoprolol and it helps enormously.

[Bartacus in reply to Jacey15]

Thanks, that's interesting because someone else mentioned that to me - I will certainly do as you suggested.

[esherm]

I take bisoprolol as a pill in pocket type dosage (so only when my SVT plays up) and it does help! If I have symptoms/palpitations I’ll take a tablet then it helps prevent me having anymore symptoms that day.