I have managed SVT for 7 years using vagal manoeuvres but decided to agree to an ablation because of increasing frequency of episodes. Prior to ablation I was sometimes having 2 or 3 episodes a week. Episodes were 5 to 10 mins and I could reliably convert. I am in my late sixties.
I had an SVT ablation 2 weeks ago and the cardiologist felt it had gone well and I should be SVT free. I know I am in the blanking period and was quite prepared for extra ectopics, and maybe short SVT runs.
Post ablation I am having very nasty SVT episodes which seem to go on longer ( 30 mins in once case) and I am having to work much harder to convert. I am also having about 3 episodes a day, mostly under 10 minutes. The rate is lower being about 155 to 156 bpm but post conversion I can go back into SVT. This did not happen prior to the ablation.
I sent a Kardia reading to cardiology. I have been advised by email to start verapamil and told I will be reviewed but it is possible I will need a second ablation. I found the first ablation very stressful though I was treated well in a UK NHS hospital. I was hoping not to need medication.
I wondered if any of you had had an experience like this. If so, did things settle down without medication so that you became SVT free without a second ablation? Did you end up taking a calcium channel blocker for a few weeks and then find you could come off it and live your life SVT free? How could you tell if things were settling down if you were on new medication?
I am not asking for medical advice. I am just interested in people's experiences.
Please add anything else you think it would be useful for me to know .
Thank you
Sophia
Written by
Frankiehf
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l did experience issues afterwards, the first one being the next day and had a hospital visit and then only occasionally afterwards. I never experienced a true SVT episode since but my heart would go up high but then immediately always come down. I am 1.5 years in now post ablation and overall things have settled. I do get inappropriate tachycardia- i stay in sinus rhythm but my rate is cruising around 130 bpm, I have triggers which start this like dehydration, spicy food, lack of sleep and exersion. I can manage these now and overall I feel happier and more relaxed. My cardiologist saw me occasionally and checked my apple watch readings from each attack albeit small ones. If you get quite nasty ones you must visit A&E just to get it reported and the appropriate notes on your file so they can build a bigger picture up incase you do need a second ablation. I am getting one last heart scan to ensure all is well but my cardiologist thinks it is and that i am very sensitive to a few things. Do you have an apple watch ? it might be worth recording your svts with the ECG feature on there to keep track of it all. good luck and take it easy !
Thank you Dolly, This is really helpful. I do have known triggers which I have strategies to manage but the episodes at the moment are more random. I am monitoring them with a Kardia and a diary. I am glad to hear that overall things improved for you post ablation.
Thank you, Chris. I do not feel my vagal strategies are working as well post- ablation but this may improve. I learnt to be very calm and focused with the vagal manoeuvres and they got me through 7 years but the frequency of events became too disruptive. It is good to hear you are managing well.
I had an ablation and was free from the SVT but after a year, it came back as you described. Faster, longer, couldn't stop them. They may have missed a spot and it is still getting through. It is also possible that you just need time for your heart to settle, but it is my understanding that with SVT, it either stops right away after if the ablation was successful, or doesn't stop if it wasn't. Maybe see about something to take the edge off until you can get reevaluated?
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