Which condition should I be most worried about

[AustinATV]

Hi . This is my first post on a forum of any kind, so apologies if it doesn’t quite make sense.

Over past 8 months I have suffered severe SVT, requiring visits to A&E. this led to a loop monitor being fitted and echocardiogram being carried out. Monitor recorded a 30second heart pause and I have just had a pacemaker fitted. Diagnosis of ecg was mild Aortic Stenosis. Valve area 0.9cm2 mtv 37mmHg.

I am told I will be sent for another ecg in 18months. I am still short of breath and having dizzy spells. What should I be most concerned about? The SVT for which I take a beta blocker, the slow heart rate which hopefully the pacemaker will deal with or the AS which appears to be seen as not serious . Thanks for your time.

[Hidden]

I suggest you talk to the BHF Heart Helpline nurse who will be able to give you a professional opinion

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[AustinATV in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I didn’t know about this, I will do.

[Ageingfast]

hello Austin and welcome to our forum

Many of us will try to give you comfort and ideas, based on our own experience. So we only can tell you about our own problems or possibly about our immediate relatives.

So I am happy to tell you that slight stenosis will be monitored by having scans The results will hopefully remain slight for some years. The stenosis might become moderate and then more frequent scans will be made. In my case within a year the moderate stenosis became severe and I had a new valve fitted. Eg an AVR.

Stenosis is medic speak for blockage.

Actually I found the AVR a pretty amazing operation. I didn’t need to be alarmed nor concerned, but I did worry a lot. But the operation in the cardiac ward was wonderful. Why I worried about it I don’t know. Success rate is better than 99%. There was a long recovery period but then all my breathlessness evaporated and I got my life back.

So please don’t be alarmed about slight stenosis.

It can be sorted if it becomes a problem.

Sooty

[MummaSoap]

Hi AustinATV

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have got such a lot going on at the moment.

I have experienced episodes of SVT but nothing as severe as yours and mine corrects itself without medication.

As hard as it is, I would say try not to worry about any of them. Equip yourself with knowledge by speaking to one of the BHF nurses as suggested earlier in the thread and then find ways to help yourself to stay calm as anxiety and stress can exacerbate symptoms. Personally I have found highly stressful/emotive situations to trigger SVT episodes and increase my heart symptoms like palpitations and ectopics. I use grounding techniques to focus on my breathing and bring myself back to my present.

I hope you find techniques that work for you and start feeling better soon!

Keep us posted with how you’re doing 🙂

Best wishes

Soap

[AustinATV in reply to MummaSoap]

Hi Mumma Soap

Thank you for taking time to reply. I have found some techniques that help, however sometimes hospital and drugs is the only solution, so is life I suppose 😀

Best wishes

[MummaSoap in reply to AustinATV]

Oh I agree completely; if only breathing techniques conquered all the ills of the world!!

Sounds like you’re doing all the right things; I found getting my head around the adjustments to my life really difficult because I’m not a patient lady, particularly when it comes to myself and I hate to think that I’m causing a worry to others, especially my family 🙈

I hope you get the help and support you need, in whichever way necessary for you.

Best wishes

Soap

[Afibflipper]

Maybe you’ve done so by now but, as LowerField suggested & I can vouch, the BHF nurses are absolutely excellent