New and worried - Arrhythmia

[Fluffyrocket]

I had an svt ablation 20 yrs ago, I thought it had been unsuccessful but it was successful but what came to light after a few days abs a holter monitor was I had a secondary arrhythmia named only as “atrial tachycardia”. I also have pvc and pac ectopics. I’m at an awkward age (female 49) and for the past 5 months I’m getting small runs of what I can’t be sure are ectopics or if the svt has returned (after all this time after an ablation I’d think that odd?!). I’ve sent Kardia ecg readings to my cardio EP and he says that Kardia are misreporting my results after he’s examined them - to which I’ve been convinced the readings were atrial tachycardia but he’s said no they are fast sinus tachycardia.I’m just stuck in a loop thinking has the “atrial tachycardia” become more problematic when I was told it would self limit as it was so close to the SA node or is this peri menopause related whereby I’ve read the heart can become more stimulated due to hormones messing about. Going round in circles as this is all going on when I move, bend, sit, lie on my side or sometimes when I take a breath or sniff ?!?

Thanks just looking for reassurance

[Hearthealth111]

Hi ,sorry for your results. I thought that the Ablation stops the SVT and the other weird beets not just afib. Am I wrong>

[Fluffyrocket in reply to Hearthealth111]

I had a successful ablation of my svt but I have a second arrhythmia being the one called atrial and I still have pacs and pvcs

[Hearthealth111 in reply to Fluffyrocket]

so the ablation didn’t cure the pvcs or pacs

[Fluffyrocket in reply to Hearthealth111]

Hi, no only the svt. My cardiologist EP said that the other arrhythmia showed after the ablation because it likely had always been there in the background along with the ectopic beats - he said that those two things were likely firing the svt.

[Hearthealth111 in reply to Fluffyrocket]

Did the SVT's give you side effects?

[Fluffyrocket]

yes dizziness and breathless… was awful hence the ablation… suffered with it for 16 yrs.

I hoped it had ALL gone after the ablation but the atrial tachycardia and the ectopics I had that must have been in the background was making it more frequent

[Pudin]

Odd that you were told SVT had gone as my understanding is atrial tachycardia is a form of SVT, as in fast heart rate that originates from the upper chambers of the heart?My experience was that both AT and ectopics increased around the menapause and cardiology said that this was common.

[Fluffyrocket in reply to Pudin]

thanks for this this makes a bit of sense to me… my gp and cardiologist have said hormones and menopause but I have an ignorance re this as I didn’t think this could be the case?

[Fluffyrocket in reply to Pudin]

the svt was ablated but I am left with an atrial tachycardia which was separate

[JKJLH]

Hi

I had an ablation nearly two years ago for non-sustained VT, it was a successful ablation, but I do still get other arrhythmias - less frequent than the VT was though.

When I asked my cardiologist about hormonal links - there is a strong correlation between hormone changes and arrhythmia - whether it be linked to periods, pregnancy, peri menopause. I am 47 and noticing blips with hormone changes. Any virus seems to trigger it too, the cardiologist explained my heart as being irritable to changes - whether viral, hormones or episodes of gastritis. There does seem to be a big link between arrhythmias and gastric issues as well.

Although, at times it causes worry, my cardiologist is confident that mine are benign - and much improved. I’ve found that I have learnt to live with the blips, although still scary at times, and modified my lifestyle to suit - pacing myself more etc.

Hope my story helps, it’s great to communicate with others who go through similar experiences - it is very difficult for other people to really get it and the worry it can cause you.

Take care.

[Fluffyrocket in reply to JKJLH]

Thank you for sharing your experience with me… the irritation of the heart is what I’ve been told but I found that difficult to believe and have been thinking I’ve been being told this to shut me down kind of. I had a flu like virus a fortnight ago and didn’t rest properly either… maybe this is a combination of things with hormones at play too. So I’ll try and acknowledge this - I’m just even at my age v naive to hormones etc when I’ve had arrhythmia issues for such a long time but I suppose at 49 and the past 5 months being so pronounced that it can’t be coincidence? Thank you again for helping me understand.

[JKJLH]

I know what you mean, also you know your body best and if it doesn’t feel right, keep asking those questions to the cardiologist. I write any blips etc in my diary and see if there are any patterns - a good way to see whether there is a hormonal link. I also have a kardiamobile so I can record any blips at home and report back when I have my annual appointment.

Re. the perimenopause, I’m learning more about the symptoms etc. I also take magnesium citrate, which I’ve heard helps with heart health and the perimenopause - nothing to lose with trying as it’s relatively cheap.

I find having complete faith and confidence to what you’re being told is also a challenge, I’m a naturally inquisitive and enquiring person so always question. I am lucky, my cardiologist is lovely and encourages me to contact him if I am concerned - haven’t had to do it yet. Also, the permission to take or not take bisoprolol- dependent on symptoms, good to give me some autonomy. I’ve recently weaned off 1.25mg - pretty low dose - but I needed it when I had flu. Let’s hope this Spring weather gives us a break from the viruses.

Take care.

[Fluffyrocket in reply to JKJLH]

Thank you son much - I relate to all you say, my cardiologist too is a lovely man, I send the ecgs from my Kardia too and he has come back to say “sinus tachycardia”, “atrial ectopics”, sometimes “ventricular ectopics”…. He always tries to reassure me but these are just a snap shot in my 24hrs and I’m trying to learn to trust.