Unsustained VT

[Caravan-lover]

Hi folks, after being told my EF was back up to 55% with optimum meds, the consultant wanted me to wear a monitor for 72hrs ... just had the letter with the results back & have now been diagnosed with unsustained VT with bisoprolol being prescribed.

Just when I thought I was getting on top of thing this happens 🥴 has anyone got any advice?

[istimewa]

Unsustained VT is a better situation than sustained VT, is the first thing to know.

VT or ventricular tachycardia is a form of arrythmia, where the abnormal electrical activity originates somewhere in the ventricles (not from the atria, upper heart chambers), and its rate is very fast usually. On the ECG, VT looks like multiple, repeat up spikes and down troughs.

The problem with VTs is that IF they continue/persist and are long runs, the chances of sudden cardiac arrest increase. So the doctors are always concerned when they observe VTs. The first thing they want to know is that the runs of VTs are short and episodic only. They do not wish to see long runs of VTs because the chances of sudden cardiac arrest increase with long runs or so-called persistent/sustained VTs.

When they take the decision to recommend an implantable defibrillator, programmed to shock the heart if an episode of VT lasts longer than X seconds, they consider factors like how often VTs occur in someone daily and how long the VT runs last. The implantable defibrillator would send out a shock of electricity to disrupt the VT and prompt the heart to 'snap out of it' and adopt normal sinus rhythm - that is the purpose of the defribrillator. The intention is to interrupt the VT run, in order to get away from the risk of a sudden cardiac arrest ASAP.

So, if they tell you that your VTs are unsustained and short runs, you are in a preferable situation than if the VTs are persistent or long runs. I too have been told that I get short runs of VTs, in amongst the variety of other arrythmias recorded during my 7-day Holter monitoring (including atrial & ventricular ectopics, SVTs & VTs). So, the Holter monitor recordings prove that I seem to have a smorgasbord of different types of abnormal heart rhythms, like a minestrone soup, which I wish I didn't have. About 50% of these episodes of arrythmias in me are silent (asymptomatic) and I am unaware of them, whilst the other 50% I do feel and am aware of because I feel unwell when they happen.

You may wish to discuss with the electrophysiologist what factors need to be considered if/when it is appropriate to consider an implantable defibrillator or the role of any other arrythmia medications besides bisoprolol in addressing VTs in your case? I too have been put on 2.5 mg bisoprolol per day, which has given me endless problems of profound fatigue affecting any ability to function at all. Not to mention very troublesome persistent constipation and multiple, recurrent aphthous mouth ulcers. So it has been a long, challenging path for me so far. Good luck!!

[Caravan-lover in reply to istimewa]

Thank you for your reply very informative ...I understand better now. I could do without your side affects though!