SVT and Adrenaline, anyone?

[rhoffman86]

Hi everyone! I have a question. Does anyone else ever have SVT induced by an adrenaline rush? 85% of my SVT episodes occur from adrenaline while the other 15% occur from overheating or exertion. If I find myself in a stressful situation (public speaking, dealing with someone who is irate, playing competitive sports, etc.) I will have an SVT. Am I the only one that this happens to?

[meadfoot]

Stress does it for me like a bad charm.

[rhoffman86 in reply to meadfoot]

I am sorry. It is awful

[Mycal]

I really can’t say since I do not feel my SVT episodes. The only way I know that I have them is when they show up on 24 Hr ECG or on my ICD monitored remotely at the hospital and at Boston Scientific.

The fact that I do not feel them may have something to do with the ICD as one of it’s jobs is to prevent SVTs before they become VFib events and stop the defribrillator from engaging and administering a shock to stop the VFib.

[dgrimley]

Yep, I had an ablation which managed to get rid of most SVT episodes. What's left are the stress-induced ones which sadly are the worst for me.

[KRG13]

Mine have no clear triggers but I have felt them very strongly while under stress. A couple of fights/confrontations ended with my heart on its own trip with the hr racing to 190+. I had to stop mid way and lie down to catch my breath. Felt like panic then but I was told it wasn't.. Was just the arrhythmia

[JackieAVNRT]

My SVT didn't happen with intense exercise. It just happened whenever. I was laughing and having a good time, it happened. I was relaxing a baby shower, it happened. I get my menstrual cycle it would happen. I was 7 months pregnant and it happened. Although exercise can aggravate it, there is no clear indication what sets it off. Mi had AV node reentrant tachycardia. My heart rate would go above 300 bpm and only had a few events a year where I would need adenosine. The rest were managed with metoprolol xl and vagal maneuvars would stop them. I was lucky to find an electrophysiologist who has done thousands of SVT procedures. He actually saved my dad's life, which is a whole different topic. I'm 41, he said it was my age and good health why I probably never passed out from an episode, but it was concerning how they just would start at any time. I could be driving and have one. They can get worse with age and do not go well with other health problems. So he felt with avnrt that it would be 90 to 95 curable. I had the procedure done January 9. He said it took a lot of adrenaline to get it started, I was in there almost 4 hours. But he got it to go and burned the spot. Off the metoprolol and not one episode. I'm also losing some weight after having my heart rate suppressed for so long.

[Kellyjelly in reply to JackieAVNRT]

Almost identical story to mine, relaxing, laughing, periods, pregnancy, I had episodes then too. Like you they would just happen for no reason at all, bang and I was in SVT! Your rates were higher than mine, I can imagine you felt shocking with rates that high. Glad your ablation was a success and you are feeling better 😊

[JackieAVNRT in reply to Kellyjelly]

Thank you. 300 BPM, I would feel the beat in my stomach. I know that sounds weird, but it was scary

[rhoffman86 in reply to JackieAVNRT]

I generally always feel my heart beat in my stomach especially when trying to sleep. I’ve been like that forever. Super uncomfortable.

[JackieAVNRT in reply to Kellyjelly]

Also, it's been three months and still off meds, and the expected feelings of my heart wanting to go into SVT after procedure are now gone. I'm feeling so much better. There is only a 15% chance that it could return being it was hard to induce with the adrenaline, but I'm sure I would've has an episode by now.

[Hidden]

Same triggers as yourself. I try to avoid these situations but not always possible.

[AmbieBambie]

You are not the only one! I get from adrenaline rushes as well. But my heart monitor showed some episodes at random times, I think even when I was sleeping. But I recognize when I have adrenaline. But I think they are more concerned of the ones I can’t feel.

[rhoffman86 in reply to AmbieBambie]

I also have them without realizing. I think when I’m exercising or showering and last only 10 seconds ish. It also depends on the rate. When they’re 240 and up I feel them. 300 makes me near faint. Anything below 200 and I generally don’t feel them. At least that’s what I noticed on my zio results. I want an ablation but my doctor prefers I continue with metoprolol.

[avma]

Oh yes, exactly that.

Stressful situations every time.

Strong emotions.

Too intense exercising.

When I’m nervous or very excited.

I think that at these moments I have a more shallow breathing and then before I know it’s sets it off.

I have had times when I I had too high cortisol levels, cortisol is a side product of adrenaline.

So yes, I recognise totally what you experience on that matter.

[Stellata]

It's been a while since anyone added to this thread - but I have recently joined and came across it. I was told by my cardiologist to take bisprolol on 'bad days' - so if I know I'm going to be in a stressful situation like public speaking or taking a flight (I have a fear of flying), I will take 1.25mg. The cardiologist said I can come on and off bisprolol as I wish - does anyone else use this approach?

[Stellata]

*bisoprolol

[Stumpy47]

I was never able to identify any triggers at all in the many many years I suffered with them!

[rob_84]

My SVT is definitely induced by adrenaline rush. I could run 10km at my leisure with no issues however I could challenge somebody to a 50m race and the adrenaline would set it off. Similar to JackieAVNRT , my heart rate has reached 300bpm in the past however it is typically around 150bpm during SVT events.

The adrenaline that I experience when public speaking tends to set it off. I find this to be the most challenging setting for dealing with an SVT event. I find this particularly off-putting as I feel breathless in those situations (like I've just finished a race) as well as having my heart racing. Shallow breathing compounds the issue and I really struggle in that moment to catch my breath.

Wondering if SVT induced breathlessness when public speaking is something you guys have experienced and if so, have you developed any tips or ways of dealing with it?