New to svt and can’t sleep

[Brittanystedman]

Hey there!

I am a 23 yr old F. I have been experiencing symptoms since I was 16 when my first visit to the er came back with nothing. Well I was visiting family a few days ago and I had an episode. I went to the ER with my highest rate at 210 bpm. Well I was diagnosed with svt. I then proceeded to make an appt with my EP. it’s still a week out and I’m having such trouble sleeping. So terrified of what could happen. And I’m so scared that it’s something more. I also think the little discomfort I’m having in my chest is due to me having anxiety about this. Has anyone else experienced chest pain or stomach pain in the days following?

Help me out?

[2468abcmuk]

Hi

Also have svt and it’s scary but once I was put on verapamil I never had another attack and that was over 25 years ago

Took a while to be diagnosed as in those days I just put it down to stress and so did my doctor till I turned up at A&E and they did tests ect and was diagnosed x

[IanMK]

Hi Brittany,

Sorry you're going through a difficult patch. It is difficult sleeping when your heart is doing a Rumba.

I understand that you're scared but try not to worry. Many of us have gone through the same thing that you are going through. Chest discomfort and 'gas' are quite typical, I think. The best thing you can do is to try and de-stress and take whatever steps you can to reduce your anxiety. Hopefully you will feel more at ease after being reassured by your EP; it's only a week away. No prescription meds to help you?

Take care.

[Brittanystedman in reply to IanMK]

The ER didn’t give me any medication. I had some gas last night but for the most part I’m more stressed it’s something more, or something was missed. I find comfort in knowing I’m not alone in this but even though I wasn’t having any arrhythmias last night my anxiety made it so hard to sleep. I am not sure if there is any tips you or anyone has to help with this anxiety. Because it was giving me chest pain, arm pain, and stomach pain which in return I started thinking it was something more.

Thank you.

[IanMK in reply to Brittanystedman]

I'm sure you're worrying unnecessarily and assume that you had these pains and discomfort when you went to ER. If these have come on subsequently, though, then you should get them checked out urgently.

To reduce your anxiety, try controlling your breathing so it is slow and deep (Google 'breathing techniques').

[Brittanystedman in reply to IanMK]

When I was in the ER I told the doctor that I had experienced sharp pains in my heart the day before while on an airplane and he kind of shrugged it off and attributed it to the svt. I didn’t feel any pain when I was there, not that I could remember. But when I am not thinking about it (which is rare) the pains are not there. But when I lay down to rest I start to hype myself up for some odd reason.

[Hidden]

I'm afraid I took a very casual approach to my SVT for about 20 years. I first noticed it in 1990 and had a formal diagnosis eight years ago. Although I now have AF, I don't feel I am much worse off now than I was all those years ago. I haven't had a heart rate faster than 150 but I think lots of people do. I feel I'm as good as normal when my heart is behaving itself which is most of the time.

[Brittanystedman in reply to Hidden]

I have had it for a while so I know the basis of caring for it. But this last time is different with a diagnosis for some reason. I’m just not sure if the pains from anxiety I’m feeling are normal or not.

[Hidden in reply to Brittanystedman]

Anxiety is always a great boost for all ailments! But pain can, of course, be a warning and it can be better to err on the side of caution and get something of no significance checked out rather than ignore something that may need attention.

Your EP appointment may well reassure you. In the meantime I hope you can overcome the anxiety a little.

[Brittanystedman in reply to Hidden]

I am always cautious. But when will I know it’s time to go to the ER

[Hidden in reply to Brittanystedman]

Generally, if you have pain, have gone pale, feel ill or struggle to breathe you should seek help. In other words if there is something very wrong other than a fast pulse.

As Ian has said above, breathing techniques may help.

[Tompalp18]

Hi,

I’m 25 years old from UK and I developed SVT. I had symptoms of ectopic beats which originally I was told I would grow out of but I didn’t, I then developed SVT with my highest rate of 286 bpm so believe me I know exactly how you feel.

I had a procedure called an ablation where they burn the pathway in your heart that is causing the issue, I was awake for the whole thing and it was painless, the recovery was boring because your not really allowed to move about much but I haven’t had an SVT since! I still get ectopics and discomfort but one step at a time I suppose.

If it is just SVT it will ALWAYS pass trust me my anxiety was sky high at the start too it’s only natural.

You can read my post on my page for me about my story and see if it relates to you and you may find a bit of comfort there.

Happy to answer any questions you may have too... I have had it for about 9 years so I’m very familiar with this stuff.

Thanks and I wish you all the best

[researchx]

im curious what happens next.ive bad insomnia-stress all my life especially in my neck like my nervous system is tweeked.in my 50s i got a dx of svt -it is hard to catch sometimes.keep us posted.i wish i could get xanax .it helps what feels like a heart condition and lulled me into slumber for yrs untill the crackdown here in the US.some cardiologists actually prescribed it too.

[Brittanystedman]

I want to thank everyone for their kind words. Yesterday and the days prior were the first time I had experienced anxiety of that high degree. I was beside myself. I was scare. No not scared terrified. I am so in the dark waiting to go see my EP. I did all natural remedies for my anxiety. I listened to binaural beats to start. Those started to pull me out. And then second. I cried. I cried a lot and aired my concerns with my husband and my mother. And speaking to my mother crying while my husband held me well that. That was it. I was able to come back to my body. Do some breathing and proceed to tell the anxiety I am stronger than you. And you need to leave. And I slept through the entire night last night and feel like ME again.

[Hidden in reply to Brittanystedman]

This is good news! The more nights you have like that, the more you will start to feel less ill at ease and both your anxiety and your SVT can start to take a back seat. And hopefully support from your husband and mother - and your EP - will help you to move onwards and upwards.