ventricular Tachycardia

[SharneeYvonne]

I collapsed with a VT (not SVT as I’ve been told that’s different?) 18 months ago and after collapsing a second time. Two ablations I’ve been told my etopic and vts are coming from a rarer part of the heart that they don’t think they’ll be able to get to and my symptoms although uncomfortable my vts are being kept at bay with meds. Feeling really lonely deflated and just emotionally ruined from the experience being only 32 thriving with a business 18 months ago. Just looking for people who have any advice been through anything similar. Anything really!

[Identiy]

Have you been given a diagnosis as to why you are getting VT? Have the doctors mentioned words like myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, HOCM, cardiac scar tissue etc. It would be good to know the cause, then the correct advice regarding the VT can be given - for example, have they advised supervised exercise or any form of cardiac rehab.

I have had atrial fib, non sustained VT, SVT and vpcs over many years. Now 75 and found my confidence returned when I was able to exercise and improve fitness. If they advised exercise, I would think that you need to start in a cardiac rehab facility which is designed to get patients confidence back after a cardiac event.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine completely as I found these caused some of the arrhythmias.Get weight to a BMI of around 25 to 27 as this will mean less strain on the heart.

Ask where the lesion they cannot get to is and request a second opinion from an experienced ventricular ablation expert as new ablation techniques are emerging constantly .

[SharneeYvonne in reply to Identiy]

nope they’ve found no reason as to why I have the sustained or non sustained VTS. Normal heart, normal structure. They cannot work out what’s happened! I’ve had pulse field ablation and dr Ernst up at Brompton used her magnetic technology but neither have helped! I’m under two hospitals but I could get a third opinion for sure!!! I’m super fit (thankgod!) and have cut out alcohol as I had drank a few days before both times when I collapsed!! I’m on flecinide and Verapnmil which does keep the sustained VT’s at bay I’m just uncomfortable with all my etopic betas and unsustained VT’s! In terms where it is I don’t quite understand myself even when they explain and the last time I asked it was simple “it’s coming from a really odd place especially for your age” especially because there is no cardiomyopathy or anything like that! So weird but a third opinion may need to be seeked!!

[Identiy in reply to SharneeYvonne]

when you get VT, how do you know it is VT and long does it last?

[SharneeYvonne]

Unsustained? I just feel my heart almost switch and I can just feel it’s completely out but only lasts a few seconds. Sustained VTS sometimes I’ve collapsed others I’ve just felt my heart racing so fast and it can go upwards of 244. I don’t have them anymore other than a couple of seconds as my meds are keeping them at bay but the VTs lasted anywhere from 6/7 mins when I collapsed or 12/15mins!

Hard to know how long before I was diagnosed though. I had a few bad stints but thought it was anxiety!

[Choccie55]

Hi, I have SVT and also had an unsuccessful ablation as an area was too near the AV node to ablate safely without risk of a permanent pacemaker. I have now been prescribed Flecainide alongside Bisoprolol which keeps my episodes under control. It’s frustrating when the ablation doesn’t work as it would be so nice to be arrhythmia free. I understand how you feel. I did a mindfulness course through NHS Talking Therapies which helped with anxiety around the issue. You can self refer online. Please know that you are not alone. The new meds have been a game changer for me as I’ve not had an episode since so that’s given me much more confidence to go out alone etc.

[SharneeYvonne]

yeah I don’t think they talk about the success rate enough. It sounded like a done deal to me so to have no relief after two ablations is just devastating knowing I’ll feel these rhythms forever. I have paid privately for therapy which starts today! So hopefully that helps lift a cloud. I can’t do the beta blockers due to severe asthma but I’m hoping there’ll be something else maybe a different combination they can try! Thankyou for the message as it is lonley going through this alone and no one understands the discomfort I’m in as you can’t explain it