I only experienced these episodes maybe twice a year for literally 5-10 minutes in the beginning. I described them to my Doctor back in the 1970s only to be told I had too much caffeine.
Fast Forward a Few Decades and My Supraventricular Tachycardia SVT got worse and worse!
In my 40s they became a nuisance, and I would tell my Doctor at a physical and she would run tests and everything would be fine. I would later learn that it would definitely hide behind glowing reports and would have to be caught in action for any treatment.
Problem was, by the time I could get to a hospital, or clinic it would stop racing. So I just put up with them as part of life and tried to move on.
Vagus Maneuvers To Try and Control Them
Over the years I would try different things, like plugging your nose and then trying to blow air out through it creating back pressure which would sometimes stop it, or cold water, but the best way for me was to lay on the floor and put my feet up the wall that seemed to work until it didn't!
Menopause and SVT
By age 52 menopause had set in, and I started getting SVT attacks 3 and 4 times a week for an hour at a time and the rate was much faster than it used to be. It raced so fast you literally could not do anything. I was on a hike with my family and had to stop and sit for an hour waiting for it to reset itself and then you are exhausted.
This was Definitely Interfering with my Life and Causing Anxiety.
This was the first time I heard the term "Supra Ventricular Tachycardia"
They gave me a shot that felt totally weird with pressure and I learned later it basically reboots your heart. Not something I wanted to experience again but it worked.
Getting an SVT Attack Recorded is Crucial to Treatment
If I can really press something home to anyone experiencing these horrible things, is that you NEED TO GET IT RECORDED for any medical treatment.
Once Recorded, I had a paper copy as well, and I was instantly referred to a Cardiologist.
He said you are born with SVT and anything and nothing can trigger them. So don't think you can figure out the cause because this extra beat basically has a mind of its own.
It was Seriously Interfering with My Life
Once at the hairdresser's we were chatting and all of a sudden I felt slightly dizzy, a flutter and my ears buzzing, and then it got started. I tried to pretend everything was OK and smiled and chatted until she saw my neck pulse and wanted to call 911, which drew attention from the manager and I knew it would settle eventually but after convincing her to finish cutting my half cut hair.
I was embarrassed with everyone looking at me thinking I was having a heart attack, and convinced them I could take a cab home, so because of that day I became scared to go anywhere.
A Catheter Ablation for Supraventricular Tachycardia SVT was offered to me
I jumped at the chance. Yes, with any medical procedure there is risk, but my life was making me a shut in, so I jumped at the chance. I don't do well with medications, I wanted something permanent.
After freezing my groin the heart specialist using catheters got up into my heart thru the femoral vein. I was slightly sedated, and they spend a lot of time mapping your upper chamber of your heart to isolate the extra beat causing the trouble.
He found it and then Proceeded to Cauterize it.
I spent a couple of hours in recovery laying flat and was told to take it easy for a week and then slowly get back to my activities. After about 3 weeks I was walking again and exercising and the first thing I noticed was how quiet my heart was!! It takes up to 3 months for the heart to fully heal from the ablation, but I was feeling great after one month.
If you get this procedure, just make sure to take some time off work if you can, because they did assault your heart, you want to let it heal and follow their after care instructions to the letter!!
I didn't realize that the SVT issue was triggering all kinds of flutters, thuds, and irregular beats all the time, until I had this done. So not only did my SVT completely disappear, but so did all these extra things that always made me aware of my heart.
Fast forward a Couple of Months
I have gained my confidence back, I am back to exercising and I have no problems picking up a pen off the floor. I feel better than I have in years.
My Only Regret is that I didn't Seek Medical Attention Sooner.
I am not a Doctor nor any kind of medical professional... I am just another human being who battled the confidence busting SVT attacks. I am just so impressed with the medical ability to deal with this problem. I just wish I had got a case of my SVT recorded sooner. That is the most important first
Who Can Record an Supra Ventricular Tachycardia Attack?
Ambulance, Clinics with EKG equipment, hospital, some Doctors offices. Ask for a paper copy.
Once you get it recorded, it will prove that this is actually SVT, as they need to rule out other things that can cause the racing of the heart.
If you are on the Fence about this Procedure, I can tell you from my HEART that it was worth it!
Other than having my two wonderful children this was the best thing I ever entered a hospital to have done.
At 58 years old, I have my life back!!
So Get it Done!!
SO appreciate you sharing your experience. I'm 57 years old, have had sporadic symptoms for over 20 years with growing intensity the last couple of years. Like you, it took ages to get it properly diagnosed and even longer to find out it could be 'fixed'. In 5 hours, I'll be in the hospital, looking forward to being on the other side of this and having more freedom, less worries.
ReplyDeleteI wish you the very best of luck and a speedy recovery. I hope that these attacks are in your rear view mirror and you can get on living your best life. Take good care of yourself the first few weeks, then enjoy the break from those SVTs!
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