SVT change of symptoms

[maria40]

I was diagnosed with SVT some years ago and my symptoms - lessened by bisoprolol - have been a feeling of faintness for a a few seconds folllowed by rapid heart beat for a few minutes. However, recently I have experienced much longer periods of rapid heart beat, not always signalled by faintness and causing some chest pain and discomfort. I don't know whether to increase my bisoprolol -currently 2.5mg - or wait until I can get GP appointment. Any advice would be welcome.

[Hidden]

As no one else has replied to you maria40 I'm going to suggest that it can be wise to check out chest pain, so you might consider going to either your GP surgery or to A & E when it happens so that you can have an ECG taken while your heartbeat is so fast. Alternatively it is possible that your GP can loan you a pocket ECG monitor for use when an episode occurs. There's also the Kardia device.

I own up to mentioning my SVT only once in 20 years to my GP and it went untreated all that time. When eventually I had an echocardiogram it was found that I had a mildly enlarged left atrium.

I hope this is helpful.

[maria40 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. I will try to get an appointment with my GP tomorrow. I'll also investigate the Kardia device.

The last time it happened was while I was at the cinema with a friend who had very much wanted to see the film. I didn't want to disturb her so I simply sat it out wondering if I was having a heart attack. My heart rate went back to normal after half an hour or so but it was frightening - and I missed a chunk of the film! I have had 24hr ECGs in the past which have shown the erratic heart beat but nothing else.

Thanks again for your advice.

[RichardE in reply to maria40]

Just want to back up what Rellim2 has said.

I've had SVTs for a few years and recently started to get slightly different episodes. I've seen my GP and although he thinks it's probably just ectopics he's going to get me on a 24 hour monitor to confirm what's going on. That's certainly helping allay my fears, knowing that it's being looked into.

I've also used the Kardia to capture palpitations to show my GP, but the 24 hour monitors give more acurate and detailed information to help the doctors diagnose what's going on.

But if you're getting any chest pain or discomfort it really makes sense to get it checked out ASAP. Your doctor can either set your mind at rest if it's something and nothing, or get you the treatment you need to manage it.

[maria40 in reply to RichardE]

Thanks you for that. I'm trying to get through to my GP and am hoping to get an appointment this week.