Losing hope with svt symptoms

[Key30]

Hi I'm new to this but thought I ld write a post and see if there's anyone else feeling the way I do. I'm 30 years old and had symptoms on svt for nearly 7 years ago but with no diagnosis as never caught it on an ecg, I'm on beta blockers, which help but still get episodes of palpitations which frighten the life out of me, literally, since all these problems started I have been too scared to do normal things, I don't go out anywhere or enjoy anything for fear of having an episode out and embarrassing myself as I get really scared. It has ruined my life and everytime it happens I think I am going to die. My heart goes out of rythem and when I'm having an svt episode my heart can go to 200bpm

[meganwest2124]

Hi , @key30 i felt excatly the same before i got diagnosed had multiple episodes but they never managed to catch them. Finally.they caught it and now i am on Atenolol but i still get palpitations . Hope you get a diagnosis .

Megan x

[maria40]

I had to struggle for a diagnosis but it was finally picked up an a seven day ECG. But though on bisoprolol I still get attacks from time to time and they are frightening. I was reassured when I saw an electrophysiologist who told me that though they feel frightening they are not life threatening. Keeping stock still and deep breathing really help but I'm fortunate in that my attacks last only minutes. Unfortunately, most of my episodes do seem to happen when I'm not at home. But people notice less than you might think so if you can keep calm while it's happening you won't feel embarrassed. I had what felt like an enormous attack during a pre-Christmas lunch but kept still, tried to see straight and no-one seemed to notice. The only time I had an attack that drew any attention was before I was on bisoprolol and it was a big one when I really thought I was going to pass out in M & S. But then people were very kind and gave me a seat and a glass of water- ok I'm a lot older than you but I'm sure the same would happen to you.

I've tried to cut out coffee but it doesn't make an enormous amount of difference so I still have the occasional cup as well as the odd glass of wine.

Keep asking your GP for further ECGs until something shows - this is what I did , don't worry about making a nuisance of yourself, you need to find out what's going on.

Good luck!

[kevrd]

Hi key. I've just started on beta blockers and found them great. Consultant confirmed I gave wolff parkinson white syndrome, extra bit of heart flesh as he said it that short circuits the heart. It is scary when svt happen but don't let it control ur life. I still run, cycle, cross train and weight train 5-6 days a week and if I get an episode I just sit around, relax myself and slowly breath deeply in and out. Works for me. Have you been checked for WPW syndrome?

[art195]

Incredible ! I could have written this post myself ! I have exactly the same situation . I live on my own and i am terrified when it happens usually in the evening aout 2 hours after eating a meal . Nobody seems to understand how frightening this is . Had all the hospital tests including angiogram but all they say is ' you will have to live with it ' . Its so difficult !

[Hidden in reply to art195]

I had attacks of svt for many years, the doctors did not seem to be concerned , they did not last long but lately as I,vet got older I had a few attacks that would not stop, I went to A and E and they would slowly go down from about 150 bpm. February this year I had the big one 197 bpm. This time they put me on adenisone and it slowly came down, I am waiting for an appointment at Papworth hospital to see a electrophysiologist. I broke my ankle 11th this month, when i had the operation my heart took off, I wasn't aware of it because I was too sleepy, I couldn't,t take in enough air only. I,m on bisoprolol 1.25, it helps but I still get the ectopic heartbeats. It has ruined my life also, I avoided a lot of upheaval because my heart would feel as if it was jumping out of my body.

[Evefay]

Mine won't stop by itself. I have to be taken to the ER and given a medicine called adenosine and it is very scary. I take atenolol but still have it 2 or 3 times a year. They may try an ablation if meds don't work. It's not as bad as afib though but I don't have that much right now. I hope you can get the help you need.

[maude]

Hi I ignored palpitations that lasted half an hour or so for years, others said it was probably panic attacks/stress. Three years ago the episodes increased and were lasting for several hours accompanied by migraines making me feel very unwell . My daughter pushed me into seeing a GP, he referred me to a cardiologist. I had a heart scan, ECG and wore a monitor for a week. Nothing was caught. I was advised that the next time the palpitations occurred to go to A&E which I did. I was taken into the resuscitation room and attached to an ECG which showed that I had SVT 189 bpm. This episode was halted with an injection of adenosine. The Doctor told me other ways that might halt the palpitations; Blowing hard on my thumb whilst pushing as if going to the loo, which has worked if I do it early enough. Put your face in cold water. Massage the Carotid artery. I was given Beta blockers the dosage was upped 3 times, these made me very tired. I was referred to a cardiologist at The John Radcliffe at Oxford where I was told I could have an Ablation. At the moment I have opted to carry on with medication I take verapamil (a calcium channel blocker). I Don't feel as tired as I did with the Beta blockers. I still have episodes but not as frequent and they don't usually carry on for long. Stress, bending, constricting my chest, singing, being over tired can be triggers. I have learned to deal with this and don't get into a state about it anymore. I relax and wait for it to stop. I was told I should go to A&E, I wouldn't advise others to deal with it as I do but I figure by the time I have arrived at the hospital and gone through triage etc, hopefully it will have stopped by itself, which it does. I think I will get around to having the ablation eventually as I do struggle and get out of breath going up hills and I'm not as fit as I used to be. I think this may be the medication slowing me up? When it's happening get someone to take you to A&E and hopefully it will be caught on an ECG. As you can see by these posts you aren't on your own. Try to relax and don't let this condition stop you enjoying life!!

[Deks in reply to maude]

I have been going through the same. I get short episodes but sometimes it goes on for several hours where only adenosine can stop it, which is scary. I am on verapamil as well and it helps. I ran out of the medicine once and experienced the episode again. So I recommend you not to stop your medication.

[craig1104]

Reading this has been a revelation to me. I had started having palpitations when, as a student, I was teaching undergrads, and one afternoon we didn't attempt to leave the classroom until after the building was locked! I was 22 then, and am 50 now. Between then and, I would say, my late 30s I would have frequent episodes of fast regular beats. On one occasion it lasted for about 4 hours, and it could be frightening. Sometimes I would also feel my heat miss a beat or a 'wobble', which would cause me to cough. I had tests in 1999 and they decided there was an electrical short circuit that they would 'burn' out. The treatment never happened as they lost my records. But I have to say that although the palpitations were frequent and sometimes scary, they never affected my life to the extent you describe. In fact, while I still have the wobbles that cause me to snort or cough, I cannot remember the last time I had a significant episode of palpitations. I suspect it was at least 10 years ago. I do feel they were related to stress, and while I can still feel stress, the palpitations have not returned.

[jleith]

Hello, I have been having SVT since 10 years old but only diagnosed after more frequent and lengthy attacks four years ago age 44. I am not on medication but use physical methods and they are very effective. I either blow hard into tip of 10ml syringe, you feel lightheaded when doing it and sometimes takes a couple of attempts. Another really effective one I learned from self help guide on this site is to make your self retch, I did this last week so whole episode only lasted 30-60 seconds - what a relief! Look for the guide, it talks about blowing using thumb rather than syringe.