Hi, I'm just after any information or experience from others about a cathetered ablation for SVT? I'm in the UK and recently been diagnosed with this terrible condition, after a stay in the hospital and many tests the doctor has said it's svt and I'll need this treatment, I'm an anxious Andy anyway so this news has made me so much worse I can't function with the anticipation and worry of going through this procedure, I know everyone is different but some personal experience from others would really help, also I take propranolol 80mg slow release beta blockers and was told I'll have to stop them 5 days before the procedure, I've been taking them everyday for over 10 years and have been informed they should never be stopped abruptly so thats then another huge worry, any help or information on this would be hugely appreciated thank you in advance
Svt and cathetered ablation - British Heart Fou...
Svt and cathetered ablation
Hi, I have SVT. Nearly 3 years ago an attempt at ablation was made, unfortunately the cardiologist could not pin point the exact area it was coming from as my heart would not stay in SVT long enough to do the ablation (typical). I also had to stop beta blockers for 5 days before. It triggered several episodes of SVT. I had a loop recorder implant at the time. So this was recorded. On my discharge I was prescribed Flecainide which controlled these episodes. However, I am having problems with my heart rhythm once again and I am waiting to hear from the cardiologist. So I will have to wait and see how it goes. I had been on beta blockers for the best part of 40 years. A long time. I no longer take them as my cardiologist who treats me for MVA has recently taken me off them. Good luck with the ablation.
Thank you for replying it's good to hear your experience with it, I know everyone is different but hearing im not alone in this does help, thank you
Your definitely not alone in this. Hopefully others will be along shortly to share their story.
I have had two successful ablations for SVT and two unsuccessful. These procedures made me extremely anxious. I am not saying they are risk-free, but if you trust your EP and are at a good hospital, try not to worry. I still feel anxious thinking about the last one because I was awake most of the time, but it is really an amazing thing that they can even do that procedure! What a blessing to have an opportunity to be free from the SVT and not need meds! It is hard to stop them prior to the ablation, but just try your best to stay calm and focus on the end goal- NO SVT!!! Wishing you all the best! You got this!!
Thank you I appreciate you replying, has your SVT been cured now from the ablation? Im not sure what to expect to be honest, I'm not the most positive person in the world 😆 but I'm trying to keep calm and upbeat about things, I'm not sure when I will receive my appointment but fingers crossed it's not too long away
Hi Srs,I had the very procedure you'll be having back in 2010. My heartbeat used to go from 70 to around 250 in an instant. You'll have experienced something similar I'm sure. I had an ablation, which was really straightforward, and was kept in overnight mainly because they needed to keep an eye on the entry wound in my leg. The op was a success and 14 years on , whilst having the odd small episode, my life has been SVT free. It's a common ailment, easily treated, with very good outcomes.
In my case it also proved lifesaving because during the procedure they discovered I had an aortic aneurysm and a diseased aortic valve. To this day I would have been unaware of these life threatening conditions but for that simple ablation. Those conditions have also now been successfully dealt with.
Try not to worry too much, the procedure is really straightforward and doesn't take long. Regarding your meds contact your team who will give you the best advice
All the best
Hi silversurfer, thank you so much for your response it helps massively to hear about your positive experience, I catastrophise in my mind and suffer with really bad anxiety so you're experience with this is so good to hear! I know it's a necessary procedure for me and I can't wait for it to be over and done with, so glad they found and successfully treated your other heart issues that's absolutely amazing, and I think it's marvellous you're now pretty much symptom free, I appreciate your reply more than you knowThank you ❤️
I had svt about five years ago. I didn’t want an ablation but my svt got worse so I eventually went for an ablation. No problem at all, no meds, no svt since. If I need another one at any time I’d just go for it.
Hi fazerboy, thank you for your reply that's great 🙂 and fingers crossed 🤞 I have the same experience with it, nice to hear your positive outcome, thank you
I had the procedure last Friday in the Midlands. I was awake for majority of the time, the procedure took around 2.5-3 hours. I wasn’t scary as I did a lot of reading and spoke to folk before hand, so I had a good idea of what to expect and experience. Unfortunately for me my heart wasn’t playing ball that day. So no ablation was done! I am totally gutted. My consultant just put me on Flecainide, so far I’m still getting lost of episodes still! I can’t take beater blockers as my body doesn’t like them. I back in 6-8 months time to see consultant to discuss what’s next!
Thank you for your response, oh no that must be so disappointing! You did super well to lay that long too and just get on with it, I know once there I'll probably do the same and just get on with it, I hope you find your solution at your next appointment but 6-8 months is a long time to wait,Thinking of you and hope you're sorted soon ❤️
Hi I don’t have SVT but loads of ventricular ectopics and recently had a catheter ablation. I was awake during mine although I think in SVT cases they may put you out completely. I felt really cared for and safe during the catheter procedure which was incredibly well organised NHS at its best. My friend has recently had two catheter ablations for tachycardia. The first did not work but the second fixed it
Hi, thank you for your response that's good to know and hope you and your friend are on the mend, in my opinion the NHS don't get enough credit for the work they do, whenever I've been in the hospital they've always been incredible, thank you for taking the time to share your experience with me
I had a cardiac ablation for SVT this February. Like you, I was extremely anxious to the point where I had a breakdown as we pulled up to the hospital 😂 honestly if I known then what I do now, I would not be nervous. I couldn’t feel a thing, and it wasn’t painful / nerve wracking during. They do this day in and day out and you will be in totally safe hands
Oh I'm having constant daily breakdowns about it 😆 I'm not functioning properly at all right now, it's so good to hear your experience of it, thank you so much and I'm glad you got yours sorted out 😊
I was exactly the same honestly, it made me ill, I now know where the phrase ‘sick with worry’ comes from 😂 honestly though it was so fine, it’s the unknown, but I would not hesitate or be worried now I have experienced it. If u have any questions feel free to message me x
Thank you ever so much 💕 I really do appreciate it, I'm slowly feeling kind of ok about it x
I had SVT for 50 years, but only a few times a year, then I developed AFib as well 10 years ago. I had refused an ablation for SVT many years ago, as it was all very new then and the Drs hadn’t had much experience, so I considered it too risky. Roll on to early 2022 and I was offered an ablation for the AFib, which I had in September last year. While they were doing it, the SVT showed up, so they ablated me for both AFib and SVT. I was told it went well, so am hoping neither return. I was very nervous and thought about cancelling it several times, as the wait was 18 months, but kept my nerve and it wasn’t too bad. They talk you through it all and look after you well. I had it done under local and sedation. It was a bit uncomfortable a few times, but I was told this might be uncomfortable for a few seconds and it was bearable. They’ll give you more local, if needed.I had no problems afterwards, apart from runs of ectopics for a while, but I was reassured by the people on here that it was normal. This site is so helpful.
I had my ablation done at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester by Dr Sandilands, who has done over 2000 ablations, so is very experienced.
It will be worth you going for it, if it stops the SVT and they say ablations for SVT are usually more successful than the ones for AFib. Good luck.
Hi, thank you for your reply, it's so good to hear that after suffering for so long you're now on the road to recovery, I'm staying positive about it well trying to and just waiting to see what happens I think I may need to see my GP to discuss this and also my anxiety around it all, I reckon that may help, thanks again for sharing your experience
I suffered on and off with anxiety, but I found hypnotherapy helped me. Best wishes.
I had an EP study, but they didn't proceed to ablation. I would say the procedure is unpleasant, but not at all painful. The unpleasantness comes from lying there having induced palpitations, it just doesn't feel good. At the end I was given some kind of medication which made me shake uncontrollably and that lasted about 15 minutes or so. I did not like that at all and hadn't been prepared for that in advance. Everything else I was expecting- you can see videos of the procedure online. I think you can be given a light sedative, I wasn't offered that though. Speak to the doctor in advance and tell him/her that you're anxious. They will be used to that.
I'm sorry you went through that, I'm not surprised you didn't appreciate the uncontrollable shaking I wouldn't either, glad you're on the mend now though 🙂 yes I'll try and find a video of the procedure online and go from there, thank you for sharing your experience
Hi, I’ve had SVT for over six years and have an ablation booked for the end of August at Hammersmith Hospital in London. I was offered one after my first episode and so wish I had said yes as my episodes have just got more frequent. I’m nervous too but ultimately just want to get my life back as SVT has affected my mental health and quality of life. I’m scared to go out alone and limit where I go and traveling. I’ve joined a few facebook support groups and it’s great to listen to other people’s ablation experiences. Most people say the anxiety before is way worse than the actual procedure. I’m also nervous about coming off the beta blockers 5 days before. I’ve got a phone appointment with the cardiac nurse two weeks before the ablation so will ask lots of questions about what to expect then. You will have this appointment too. I’ve received a letter from the hospital about what to expect. I will go in at 8am and all being well home early afternoon. It will be done with a local anesthetic and light sedation as it’s easier to trigger the SVT. Catheters are inserted at the groin and a study of the hearts electrical system is carried out to identify where the extra pathway is. It is then ablated and hopefully cured. The main risk is bleeding at the groin so a nurse will press on your incision for 15 minutes then you go to the recovery room where you have to lie still for a while after the procedure. You will need to have someone collect you and stay with you overnight. There is a very tiny risk of needing a pacemaker but the EP will not ablate if the pathway is too near the heart’s natural pacemaker. It is considered a very safe procedure suitable for the elderly and patients with underlying conditions. You need to take it easy for a few days after and can’t do any heavy lifting or drive for two days. The heart takes time to heal so you might experience some palpitations for a couple of months afterwards. I’ve been told my type of SVT - atrial tachycardia - has about a 90% success rate for ablation. I just hope mine is a success so I can get my life back. I’ve done a mindfulness course via NHS Talking Therapies to help me cope with my health anxiety and it has helped. You can self refer online. I hope you get your appointment soon. I was told the waiting list for ablation is about six months. I was referred in mid January and appointment is end of August. Wishing you all the best ❤️🩹
Thank you so much for sharing your story with me it really is appreciated, I too wish you all the best for your procedure I wish mine was coming up so soon, I can relate to everything in your experience with SVT and just want it over with now, would you come back on here and let me know how you get on with your ablation and also the stopping of your beta blockers? It would be fantastic to hear more information about your experience, thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with me, it really does help ❤️
My pleasure - I will certainly keep you posted on how things go. It’s nice to share with people who understand what you are going through. Take care 🩷
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