Having SVT right now

[SBsvt]

I wanted to check if anyone else has these episodes.

I haven’t had an episode for a few weeks, before that it was 6 months ago. It’s not a regular thing but it lasts between 45 mins to over 2 hours, it’s been an hour so far right now. Always seems to come in the early morning around 4 or 5 am. I’ve had many ecg’s and tape machines and captured irregular patterns but never caught these episodes of non stop arrhythmia because they are so infrequent (and it’s 4am)

It’s not really the pace it’s more how weird it is, like firing a gun into an oil drum or something just totally random, and I can’t get back to sleep and makes me sweat.

I’m 47 and it started 5 years ago, I have bisoprolol but forget to take it. Anyway I’m terrified my hearts gonna stop, or just grind to a halt.

Are there any other remedies or anything I should be asking for?

thanks

[Poyfob]

Hi SBsvt,Hope you're feeling better this morning.

My son is 20 and has been suffering with svt's for around 2 years now. He also had another svt episode last night, 10 days since his last one. They usually happen every 6 weeks.

The advice he has been given, is to call for an ambulance if they last more than 15 minutes. This then gives the your cardiologist the ECG so that they can see what is happening with your heart during a svt episode.

Usually my son can stop his svt himself at home, but has needed to have his heart reset with Adenosinein hospital before.

There are two methods that my son usually finds helpful for stopping his svt before 15 minutes to avoid calling an ambulance. These were suggested by doctors.

The first is an ice cold bottle of water, or something out of the freezer placed on the back of the neck.

The second is to blow into a syringe.

Both methods usually work quite well, but if not successfully after 15 minutes, he was advised to call for a ambulance.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes

[SBsvt in reply to Poyfob]

Many thanks for your reply, very grateful. I did try to get to a&e once before but it (quite predictably) stopped before I got there. One thing that does have an effect on my svt, which is not a remedy exactly just something you eventually do, is standing up. Due to being 4am I’m always in bed, after lying there for a while I’ve noticed that the act of standing up sometimes stops it dead. Not always though. Not sure if that’s of any value to your son.

Interesting re the blowing and cold I’ll give that a try next time. Thanks again.

[Poyfob in reply to SBsvt]

Awww no worries, I really hope it helps.Apparently the blowing into a syringe and cold on the neck are frequently used techniques used by doctors before having to intervene using Adenosinein.

There is quite a bit of information about it online too. It's something to do with a nerve that can interrupt the svt.

Thank you for the advice for my son with standing up during a svt, I'll definitely get him to try that too.

In the meantime , I definitely think it would be worth you considering calling for a ambulance if you have another svt episode lasting longer than 15 minutes. The paramedics told us never to worry about calling a ambulance for svt's, and it means they can print out a ECG within minutes of you making the call. This will definitely give your cardiologist a better insight to how your heart is functioning during a stv. We found my son's svt would always stop if we tried driving him to a&e too, so it was missed on the ECG by the time we got there the same as you.

I really hope you're feeling better and wishing you good luck with getting your svt under control.

Best wishes

[PVPVPV in reply to Poyfob]

Vagus nerve.

[Poyfob in reply to PVPVPV]

That's the one, thank you PVPVPV 😊.I couldn't remember for the life of me what it was called.

[Westie2012]

You would need to speak to a medical professional regarding medication or other ways to help with your symptoms . I have to take bisoprolol every day , my cardiologist reduced my dose from 5mg a day to 2.5 and I’m ok on that dose , he wanted me to stop it to see if I was ok without taking it but after just a couple of days of not taking it I was getting lots of tachycardia episodes so I now take 2.5mg once a day and that prevents tachy episodes . A few months ago I’d run out of it and had to wait a couple of days for a repeat prescription and my heart rate rocketed when I was walking just a short distance so I know I need to take it every day . Can you set a reminder on your phone so you don’t forget to take it ?

[SBsvt in reply to Westie2012]

Yeah I think after the other night I’m going to make more of an effort to take it regularly. My bisoprolol is 40mg but because these episodes are so far apart I just forget to take it. I also don’t really notice any effects when I do take it (for stress/anxiety etc) so it’s less on the mind.

Best

[SBsvt in reply to SBsvt]

Oops not bisoprolol sorry, that one made me feel weird, I changed to propranolol!

[Crystal614]

Hi, I have been diagnosed with SVT. I take Flecainide every day to control this. Just a suggestion, have you thought about buying a KardiaMobile so you can record these episodes yourself when they happen and show them to your doctor.

[SBsvt in reply to Crystal614]

Ah that’s a good suggestion thanks I’ll take a look. I do have a Fitbit, which is good, but mainly alerts you if you get Atrial Fibrillation, which I was worried about before confirming svt.

Best

[Alison_L]

”I have Bisoprolol but forget to take it”. I think you’ve answered your own question xx

[SBsvt in reply to Alison_L]

Yeah I initially got it for anxiety to take as and when (which I don’t think really did much to be honest), but it also works for controlling svt so I need to make more of an effort now. Thanks

[Himala]

The beta blocker will slow your heart down. If I forget to take my Bisoprolol I get angina and a fast heartrate about 36 hours after the missed dose. It's a withdrawal symptom I think. Write a note for yourself to take it after breakfast every morning. 😊

[Choccie55]

I have SVT and take 2.5mg Bisoprolol daily which generally keeps episodes in check and when I do have one keeps the heart rate lower. But my episodes have got more frequent with age which is very common so I’ve decided to have an ablation. I can self convert using the valsalva manoeuvre - but you should check with a doctor to get the go ahead to use it. Arrhythmias are notoriously difficult to catch but I know people who use gadgets like Kardia to show their cardiologists. Make sure to keep well hydrated and rested to avoid episodes. Some say magnesium supplements are helpful but again do not self medicate.