SVT and heart catheter

[kierstenlynn24]

I have suffered with SVT for a good 6 years. I have decided I would like to go through with the catheter ablation. I am very very nervous as I suffer from severe anxiety. I know this is what I want to do though. I want to enhance my quality of life and finally live without worrying about my episodes. I just need reassurance. I am a 19 year old female. I don’t think there is anything I should worry about, but I just need to be reassured. What are all of your experiences with a catheter ablation? What do I expect??? Thankyou!!

[hmmcall]

I have had four reasonably painless ablations with no medical complications (however, the procedures have not solved my arrhythmia issues). It sounds like you have weighed up the risks vs potential benefits, but my advice would be to ask you EP about success rates for your particular condition and how they define 'success' too. It has been tough on me mentally when the arrhythmia returned soon after. Saying this, I wouldn't hesitate to have another if there was a good chance of solving my heart issues.

[kierstenlynn24 in reply to hmmcall]

I asked my cardiologist about the risks and he explained that the worst he has seen throughout the years was one woman needed a pacemaker. So that reassured me. I don’t think my SVT is extremely severe because I had an esophageal test done to see if my SVT is life threatening and it isn’t. So I guess i’m just looking for reassurance and finding out what to expect.

[Ninetyninepercent]

I had an ablation in May 2016. I was nervous and really eager to have my SVT episodes behind me. It supposedly had a 99% cure rate for my AVNRT. The procedure itself was fine; recovery was fine. I wasn't cured because of the proximity to the sinus node. It's not easy living knowing an SVT episode is around the corner at any moment. I would definitely try again if I thought I could be cured.

[kierstenlynn24 in reply to Ninetyninepercent]

Yes that is one of my biggest fears. I panic when I don’t get much sleep, I panic while exercising due to never knowing when I will have an episode and those are big triggers. I don’t think my SVT is so severe it would come back. It has not gotten worse, I would say it has become significantly better. So I hope for the best and want to put this behind me.

[Ninetyninepercent in reply to kierstenlynn24]

Best of luck to you!

[kierstenlynn24 in reply to Ninetyninepercent]

Thankyou! I was just researching the proximity to the sinus node. So if my extra heartbeats are close to the sinus node, there is no way I can have it cured??

[Ninetyninepercent]

I didn't have any mapping prior to the procedure, but I know my docs had every reason to believe I could be cured. I think for me they only found out the exact proximity once they were underway and had begun ablating. After the procedure the EP said he would have to get too close to the sinus node. He said if he would have gone too close then I would require a pacemaker, and he didn't think that was a fair trade off at this point. Although it's a possibility for if/when it gets worse.

I am going for a second opinion with an EP at the University of Pennsylvania in July to see if there is anything else that could be done. I would love to be cured and hope that some new technology or procedure will be available.

[kierstenlynn24 in reply to Ninetyninepercent]

I see! Well I really wish you the best of luck! I know how it feels to want this condition gone. I appreciate your kindness and your help!

[Ninetyninepercent in reply to kierstenlynn24]

Thanks! Best of luck to you!