1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Supra Ventricular Tachycardia

Posted by sajoe @sajoe, Dec 16, 2024

Four months ago while exercising I experienced tachycardia of 180-190 bpm that lasted for 50 minutes after I stopped. Needless to say it distressed me. I have had maybe 2-3 incidents before in the past years but none that lasted more than 20 seconds. It happened 3 times in 1 week the day before my annual check up with my medical system P.A.. He sent me to a cardiac P.A. who signed me up for a Holter monitor and after 2 days it showed nothing unusual. I was told that without an EKG that there was nothing they could do. Two days later another tachycardia event and no monitor so I bought a KardiaMobile to record the events and sent the first EKG to the P.A. and she prescribed Metopro1ol and I explained that I had a bad experience with beta blockers. She old me that I needed to try it first and see if it resolved my tachycardia which it did. I had no further instances of tachycardia or palpitations but all the side effects I had years ago came back. I was so lethargic I could not exercise and spent most of my days sitting on the couch. asked if she could lower the dosage. No, 25 mg a day was the minimum dosage but I could try DILTIAZEM which is a calcium blocker and if I had problems with it ablation was the only alternative. The calcium blocker altered my sense of taste which the P.A. said was not listed as a possible side effect. After 30 days the tachycardia is returning. The P.A. says there is no choice but ablation and I'm scheduled for a consultation in 2 1/2 months.

I was a mechanical engineer and was always taught to question the data by duplicating the data collection and verifying. This time there is no testing just following the assumed protocol and referral to another doctor if it doesn't work. My thyroid level is low but within the normal rang are there no tests that could uncover any other causes of tachycardia BEFORE I have ablation?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

ladybug65 | @ladybug65 | Dec 26, 2024
In reply to @rbnay2023 "Hi ladybug65, When you had an SVT did you become weak or dizzy? I lost my..." + (show)
@rbnay2023

Hi ladybug65, When you had an SVT did you become weak or dizzy? I lost my strength in my limbs, my head got heavy, short of breath, my vision was dull. I could hardly walk,
I am getting a heart ultrasound and monitors in the next few weeks. I want to make sure there is nothing else going on before i do the ablation and my cardiologist agrees. I do not want to be on pills the rest of my life. I asked what factors could lead to an SVT event and they just do not know. Too much caffeine? I dont drink or smoke. Stress? It could be multiple factors.

Jump to this post

When I had an SVT episode I would get very light headed like I was going to pass out! I stopped drinking coffee as it seemed to make things worse! I switched to caffeine free! Stress and being too hurried seemed to be a trigger for me too! Hope you get some answers!!

REPLY
closetmonster93 | @closetmonster93 | Jan 30 11:45am
In reply to @harveywj "Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a specific type of irregular heartbeat, also called an arrhythmia. It's a..." + (show)
@harveywj

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a specific type of irregular heartbeat, also called an arrhythmia. It's a very fast or erratic heartbeat that affects the heart's upper chambers. It should not be confused other arrhythmias. There is no such thing as an SVT aflutter or SVT Afib. SVTs often do not necessarily worsen over time. They can worsen but unlike Afib the most common we hear about that often worsens over time if left untreated SVTs can be rather mild and not necessarily need medical care. I would not let a PA or NP make decisions about treatment of any arrhythmia. I would only see an EP.
There are 3 main groups of SVT.
Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). This is the most common type of supraventricular tachycardia.
Atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT). This is the second most common type of supraventricular tachycardia. It's most commonly seen in younger people.
Atrial tachycardia. This type of SVT is more commonly seen in people who have heart disease. Atrial tachycardia doesn't involve the AV node.

You said "I was a mechanical engineer and was always taught to question the data by duplicating the data collection and verifying. This time there is no testing just following the assumed protocol and referral to another doctor if it doesn't work".
I think you have this spot on. This is a red flag. I would be looking for different opinion rather than going down the rabbit hole you describe.

Jump to this post

I have questions @harveywj or anyone that is knowledgeable in this condition, as I give a brief backstory. I do not have any previous health history or family health history regarding heart issues of any kind, up until 3 years ago, I was working in my garden and it felt like I was having a heart attack. I wore a monitor for 2 weeks and they found that, at first they were noticing an irregular heart beat, randomly. There were never any other symptoms. I did the stress test, and continued to feel off. My doctor had me where the monitor again for 2 weeks. This was last August. They found that now, I was having SVT in the middle of the night when I was sleeping, and heart beats getting as high as 200. This would wake me from a sleep, panicked. Then my doctor said, its normal. I am not concerned, its normal. How can something like this be concerned normal? It is not normal, and now it has become SVT after just a randon irregular heartbeat. So, I asked for a second opinion in the practice, after getting advice from Albert Jung of Langone NYC, to get a second opinion, its not normal. I was denied in the clinic, and nobody else in the clinic would even see me after asking for a second opinion. So, I need some help here people. I am concerned. What randomly causes this out of nowhere, when you have no history, no issues, the heart is free of plaque and I am told its normal. Please input.

REPLY
3 replies
gloaming | @gloaming | Jan 30 12:32pm
In reply to @closetmonster93 "I have questions @harveywj or anyone that is knowledgeable in this condition, as I give a..." + (show)
@closetmonster93

I have questions @harveywj or anyone that is knowledgeable in this condition, as I give a brief backstory. I do not have any previous health history or family health history regarding heart issues of any kind, up until 3 years ago, I was working in my garden and it felt like I was having a heart attack. I wore a monitor for 2 weeks and they found that, at first they were noticing an irregular heart beat, randomly. There were never any other symptoms. I did the stress test, and continued to feel off. My doctor had me where the monitor again for 2 weeks. This was last August. They found that now, I was having SVT in the middle of the night when I was sleeping, and heart beats getting as high as 200. This would wake me from a sleep, panicked. Then my doctor said, its normal. I am not concerned, its normal. How can something like this be concerned normal? It is not normal, and now it has become SVT after just a randon irregular heartbeat. So, I asked for a second opinion in the practice, after getting advice from Albert Jung of Langone NYC, to get a second opinion, its not normal. I was denied in the clinic, and nobody else in the clinic would even see me after asking for a second opinion. So, I need some help here people. I am concerned. What randomly causes this out of nowhere, when you have no history, no issues, the heart is free of plaque and I am told its normal. Please input.

Jump to this post

There must be a teaching hospital with a cardiologist/electrophysiology lab in it, maybe a university hospital, or drive out of state if you have to, but I agree with you: it is not normal to have SVT runs in the middle of the night, not without a calming explanation....which has not been heretofore offered you.

PACs are common for everyone. In fact, a sign of heart health is a characteristic called 'heart rate variability'. A heart whose rate is very firmly established in a narrow range all the time is a troubled heart. All of us healthy people should have heart rates that vary between 40-100 BPM during the day AND at night while asleep. Outside of those numbers, there's something going on, and it bears scrutiny by an empathic, professional, and qualified physician.

As to why this is happening to you, it's something that happens to all of us, that being.....'age'. Aging hearts become more and more disordered over time. It is estimated that 40% of all adults living today will eventually develop an arrhythmia.

What is good for you, so far, is that your episodes are self-limiting, meaning they are what is known as 'paroxysmal'. This puts it at an early stage, and a kind and determined professional should have you on some kind of treatment for control, or perhaps if it becomes too burdensome, a referral to an electrophysiologist for an assessment for a catheter ablation.

REPLY
dalebout123 | @dalebout123 | Jan 30 8:01pm
In reply to @closetmonster93 "I have questions @harveywj or anyone that is knowledgeable in this condition, as I give a..." + (show)
@closetmonster93

I have questions @harveywj or anyone that is knowledgeable in this condition, as I give a brief backstory. I do not have any previous health history or family health history regarding heart issues of any kind, up until 3 years ago, I was working in my garden and it felt like I was having a heart attack. I wore a monitor for 2 weeks and they found that, at first they were noticing an irregular heart beat, randomly. There were never any other symptoms. I did the stress test, and continued to feel off. My doctor had me where the monitor again for 2 weeks. This was last August. They found that now, I was having SVT in the middle of the night when I was sleeping, and heart beats getting as high as 200. This would wake me from a sleep, panicked. Then my doctor said, its normal. I am not concerned, its normal. How can something like this be concerned normal? It is not normal, and now it has become SVT after just a randon irregular heartbeat. So, I asked for a second opinion in the practice, after getting advice from Albert Jung of Langone NYC, to get a second opinion, its not normal. I was denied in the clinic, and nobody else in the clinic would even see me after asking for a second opinion. So, I need some help here people. I am concerned. What randomly causes this out of nowhere, when you have no history, no issues, the heart is free of plaque and I am told its normal. Please input.

Jump to this post

Dear Closet Monster. I have had the same symptoms. I am lucky as my primary care provider believes my report of symptoms. He has ordered meds (metropopolol) and a statin. And he keeps referring me and testing me though results come back normal except for tachycardia. I am now on CPAP as my oxygen level falls at night while I am asleep causing my heart to beat too fast. I have now been referred to a cardiologist and a pulmonologist. I am lucky that my doc is willing to believe that I am just "not right" -- shortness of breath and what I call a "fuzzy head". Good luck in finding a doctor who will listen.

REPLY
1 reply
harveywj | @harveywj | Jan 31 11:03am
In reply to @closetmonster93 "I have questions @harveywj or anyone that is knowledgeable in this condition, as I give a..." + (show)
@closetmonster93

I have questions @harveywj or anyone that is knowledgeable in this condition, as I give a brief backstory. I do not have any previous health history or family health history regarding heart issues of any kind, up until 3 years ago, I was working in my garden and it felt like I was having a heart attack. I wore a monitor for 2 weeks and they found that, at first they were noticing an irregular heart beat, randomly. There were never any other symptoms. I did the stress test, and continued to feel off. My doctor had me where the monitor again for 2 weeks. This was last August. They found that now, I was having SVT in the middle of the night when I was sleeping, and heart beats getting as high as 200. This would wake me from a sleep, panicked. Then my doctor said, its normal. I am not concerned, its normal. How can something like this be concerned normal? It is not normal, and now it has become SVT after just a randon irregular heartbeat. So, I asked for a second opinion in the practice, after getting advice from Albert Jung of Langone NYC, to get a second opinion, its not normal. I was denied in the clinic, and nobody else in the clinic would even see me after asking for a second opinion. So, I need some help here people. I am concerned. What randomly causes this out of nowhere, when you have no history, no issues, the heart is free of plaque and I am told its normal. Please input.

Jump to this post

I can only assume from your story that the SVTs are longer than just a few seconds. You mention they will wake you up and you are panicked. How long are your SVTs? Very sort bursts are not uncommon but I am talking about a couple of seconds and not minutes. It you are having 200 bpm for minutes that is not normal. You mentioned that last fall working in your garden you felt like you were having a heart attack. I think you wore a monitor for 2 weeks and "they found that, at first they were noticing an irregular heart beat, randomly." What kind of irregular heart beat did they find last fall? Are you diagnosed with different arrhythmias?
Do you have access to the results of the holter monitors results?
More information is better: age, weight, bp status, prescription drugs. How often are your SVTs and how long do they last?
I would say that you need to go to a different facility and get a 2nd opinion. Did you see an EP or just a standard cardiologist. I think you need an EP/ electrophysiologist and not a standard cardiologist. EPs specialize in electrical problems and cardiologists tend to be plumbers but the plumbers do some of the same tests as EPs but not understand the results as well as EPs.

Here is my most recent Holter from just 3 weeks ago. I am post op from an Ablation Sept 25 and this Holter was done as a follow up from my ablation to see how well my heart was functioning.

I having regular occurrences of Afib. I also was having PACs/PVCs with a burden of 25% which mean 25% of my heart beats were PACs/PVCs. So during one week of a monitor last year I had 200,000 aberrant SVEs. This recent monitor reading I only had 2363(< 1%) aberrant SVE beats which is a dramatic drop. Note I had 9 occurrences of SVT with the highest 126 BPM and lasting only 10 beats.
Over all the results listed below are consider very good.

Date/Time Confirmed: 1/16/2025 2:06 PM (CT)
*The predominant rhythm was Sinus.
*The Maximum Heart Rate recorded was 126 bpm, 01/10 12:33:00, the Minimum Heart Rate recorded was 41 bpm, 01/10 09:13:21, and the Average Heart Rate was 57 bpm.
*There were 337 VE beats with a burden of < 1 %. There was 1 occurrence of Ventricular Tachycardia with the Fastest episode 105 bpm, 01/10 12:06:24, and the Longest episode 3 beats, 01/10 12:06:24.
*There were 2,363 SVE beats with a burden of < 1 %. There were 9 occurrences of Supraventricular Tachycardia with the Fastest episode 126 bpm, 01/06 13:10:41, and the Longest episode 10 beats, 01/10 12:50:28.

REPLY
2 replies
closetmonster93 | @closetmonster93 | Feb 1 9:40am
In reply to @harveywj "I can only assume from your story that the SVTs are longer than just a few..." + (show)
@harveywj

I can only assume from your story that the SVTs are longer than just a few seconds. You mention they will wake you up and you are panicked. How long are your SVTs? Very sort bursts are not uncommon but I am talking about a couple of seconds and not minutes. It you are having 200 bpm for minutes that is not normal. You mentioned that last fall working in your garden you felt like you were having a heart attack. I think you wore a monitor for 2 weeks and "they found that, at first they were noticing an irregular heart beat, randomly." What kind of irregular heart beat did they find last fall? Are you diagnosed with different arrhythmias?
Do you have access to the results of the holter monitors results?
More information is better: age, weight, bp status, prescription drugs. How often are your SVTs and how long do they last?
I would say that you need to go to a different facility and get a 2nd opinion. Did you see an EP or just a standard cardiologist. I think you need an EP/ electrophysiologist and not a standard cardiologist. EPs specialize in electrical problems and cardiologists tend to be plumbers but the plumbers do some of the same tests as EPs but not understand the results as well as EPs.

Here is my most recent Holter from just 3 weeks ago. I am post op from an Ablation Sept 25 and this Holter was done as a follow up from my ablation to see how well my heart was functioning.

I having regular occurrences of Afib. I also was having PACs/PVCs with a burden of 25% which mean 25% of my heart beats were PACs/PVCs. So during one week of a monitor last year I had 200,000 aberrant SVEs. This recent monitor reading I only had 2363(< 1%) aberrant SVE beats which is a dramatic drop. Note I had 9 occurrences of SVT with the highest 126 BPM and lasting only 10 beats.
Over all the results listed below are consider very good.

Date/Time Confirmed: 1/16/2025 2:06 PM (CT)
*The predominant rhythm was Sinus.
*The Maximum Heart Rate recorded was 126 bpm, 01/10 12:33:00, the Minimum Heart Rate recorded was 41 bpm, 01/10 09:13:21, and the Average Heart Rate was 57 bpm.
*There were 337 VE beats with a burden of < 1 %. There was 1 occurrence of Ventricular Tachycardia with the Fastest episode 105 bpm, 01/10 12:06:24, and the Longest episode 3 beats, 01/10 12:06:24.
*There were 2,363 SVE beats with a burden of < 1 %. There were 9 occurrences of Supraventricular Tachycardia with the Fastest episode 126 bpm, 01/06 13:10:41, and the Longest episode 10 beats, 01/10 12:50:28.

Jump to this post

I want to say thank you for all that have replied here. All the information is extremely helpful. I will try and answer some of the questions asked. When wearing my second heart monitor, last fall, the SVT’s occurred on 4 separate occasions at night, for over 20 seconds, heartbeats up to 200. So imagine you are sleeping soundly and then, boom the heart starts beating super fast. A heart would possible do this if , 1. Out of fear, like a fight or flight response, 2. If you were exercising fast and hard, 3. Or something electrical is off in the rhythm of the heart. In my case, 3 is the applicable answer because, at midnight, to approximately 6am, this happened 4 times. I was sleeping, and when your heart jolts from resting heart rate to 200, it wakes you up, you are panicked as to what is happening, and cannot understand what is taking place. As I stated before, the first halter, they only found a random arrhythmia occurring at times of stress, or high stressful activity. This would be when I was working in my yard for hours, gardening, etc. After that occurrence, they stopped meds, that they believed could have contributed, ie hormones, levothyroxine, but never took away the AEDs, and the symptoms got worse. Those medications were never reintroduced, so I do not believe they are the culprit. I have no history, or family history of heart issues. I never had an arrhythmia, until just a year ago, so I am at a loss. The bigger issue for me is the doctor being complacent and stating its normal, and his staff refusing to give a second opinion, So, I contacted the Mayo Clinic, and they are going to have a doctor contact me regarding this. I will let you know the outcome, as I will be talking with them early this next week. I am needing answers, and all the input, experiences, and conversations help immensely. I am looking forward to answers now. Thank you everyone.

REPLY
doclarrea | @doclarrea | Feb 1 5:41pm
In reply to @harveywj "I can only assume from your story that the SVTs are longer than just a few..." + (show)
@harveywj

I can only assume from your story that the SVTs are longer than just a few seconds. You mention they will wake you up and you are panicked. How long are your SVTs? Very sort bursts are not uncommon but I am talking about a couple of seconds and not minutes. It you are having 200 bpm for minutes that is not normal. You mentioned that last fall working in your garden you felt like you were having a heart attack. I think you wore a monitor for 2 weeks and "they found that, at first they were noticing an irregular heart beat, randomly." What kind of irregular heart beat did they find last fall? Are you diagnosed with different arrhythmias?
Do you have access to the results of the holter monitors results?
More information is better: age, weight, bp status, prescription drugs. How often are your SVTs and how long do they last?
I would say that you need to go to a different facility and get a 2nd opinion. Did you see an EP or just a standard cardiologist. I think you need an EP/ electrophysiologist and not a standard cardiologist. EPs specialize in electrical problems and cardiologists tend to be plumbers but the plumbers do some of the same tests as EPs but not understand the results as well as EPs.

Here is my most recent Holter from just 3 weeks ago. I am post op from an Ablation Sept 25 and this Holter was done as a follow up from my ablation to see how well my heart was functioning.

I having regular occurrences of Afib. I also was having PACs/PVCs with a burden of 25% which mean 25% of my heart beats were PACs/PVCs. So during one week of a monitor last year I had 200,000 aberrant SVEs. This recent monitor reading I only had 2363(< 1%) aberrant SVE beats which is a dramatic drop. Note I had 9 occurrences of SVT with the highest 126 BPM and lasting only 10 beats.
Over all the results listed below are consider very good.

Date/Time Confirmed: 1/16/2025 2:06 PM (CT)
*The predominant rhythm was Sinus.
*The Maximum Heart Rate recorded was 126 bpm, 01/10 12:33:00, the Minimum Heart Rate recorded was 41 bpm, 01/10 09:13:21, and the Average Heart Rate was 57 bpm.
*There were 337 VE beats with a burden of < 1 %. There was 1 occurrence of Ventricular Tachycardia with the Fastest episode 105 bpm, 01/10 12:06:24, and the Longest episode 3 beats, 01/10 12:06:24.
*There were 2,363 SVE beats with a burden of < 1 %. There were 9 occurrences of Supraventricular Tachycardia with the Fastest episode 126 bpm, 01/06 13:10:41, and the Longest episode 10 beats, 01/10 12:50:28.

Jump to this post

Your cardiologist might want to consider a second ablation.

REPLY
1 reply
harveywj | @harveywj | Feb 1 6:26pm
In reply to @doclarrea "Your cardiologist might want to consider a second ablation." + (show)
@doclarrea

Your cardiologist might want to consider a second ablation.

Jump to this post

I said "
Here is my most recent Holter from just 3 weeks ago. I am post op from an Ablation Sept 25 and this Holter was done as a follow up from my ablation to see how well my heart was functioning.

"I having regular occurrences of Afib." I mistyped and should have written that I WAS having regular occurrences of Afib."
The ablation I had in Sept 25 was my 2nd ablation. If you read the results of the holter monitor it shows no afib. These are excellent results
It is my fault for not making that clear.

REPLY
timheart1 | @timheart1 | Feb 2 12:12pm

I have been diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. I have had 12 hours of ablations, 3 seperate times. I am supposed to be on Eliquis but I subsituted Garligin for it, I didn't like effects of Eliquis. Galigin works great and much les expensive. I have been using it for years. My cardiologist is against me having another ablation (I have a friend die form one, punchered his es. He says, they are very dangerous procedures, especially when you start having several, the odds of something going wrong increase and, "Doesn't seem to work for you does it?" So, he wants me to take Concor 5mg/2x/day and Cordarone 200mg/1x/day. I refuse to take Cordarone every day, the drug has serious side effects. I have a Oximeter to measure my HR, as I write this it is 94 bpm, which is high for me, I want my HR in the low 70's. So I may take a Concor. But I am trying Hawthorne berries, which are know to regulate heart rythms. We will see.

REPLY
dalebout123 | @dalebout123 | Feb 10 10:17am

Like Gloaming, I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea which makes for the fast heart beat (118) at night and low oxygen levels. I've been on a CPAP for couple of weeks; skipping some sessions last week as I was on a trip to Costa Rica and early morning deadlines made it difficult to pack it up. I am looking forward to my follow up with the sleep doc to see if the problem is solved. Maybe be able to discontinue the Metropololl. I am also looking forward to getting use to the machine. So far, I can only do four hours before removing it to get some "good" sleep.

REPLY
2 replies
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.