Unexplained Tachycardia - Help!

It would cause me major problems no matter what they say. One half cup and less would cause me to have daily problems.

Exactly everyone is different, we are a perfect example of that.

And so I read that you have heart rhythm problems, and from your statement it appears you are holding on to your caffeine because Mayo says it is okay. I have read on this site before that people here were told by their cardiologist to quit all caffeine.

Wow sounds like you’ve had some mixed outcomes. I can hear your frustration in your words . Last summer I broke my neck in the worst spot C1 C2 cervical spine Right down a flight of stairs at my daughters house There was no question in my mind or my wife’s that we needed a top neuro surgeon . Went to Penn University hospital in Philly for my spinal fusion 0 thru C4…. guess what I’m trying to say is that the top doctors and surgeons can be found at University hospitals . It’s never to late to get a second or third opinion Best

Linda
Thanks for your concern and reply. I don’t know which of my posts you have read so here is a bit of my history. I’m 70, 6’4" 215 which put me slightly overweight. I have never been told NOT to consume caffeine. I had open maze surgery in Oct 2010. It was performed by Dr. Lishon Aklog who was a leader in the development of maze surgery, he also replaced my mitral valve. I was drinking coffee both before and after. My recurrence happened about 14.5 years after surgery between 4/10/2025 and 4/11/2025. Dr Aklog did tell me to get exercise so for approximately 5 years I commuted to work by road bike and on the weekends. Road approximately 18,000 miles during that time and only stopped cycling because my work hours changed. I road a 100 mile charity ride averaging 18 mph. I have not had a reason to see a cardiologist since 2011. My flip back to afib was like a light switch one day to the next, 20-30 increase in bpm. Caffeine does not seem to make things worst or better. This is me, I am not recommending people follow my lead I was just presenting a my view on caffeine and afib/tachycardia which I’m in 100% of the time again. I still work outside each day 1-2 hours doing light to strenuous work in our desert yard. I’ve monitored my heart with my Apple Watch for years. Currently I comfortably with my health decisions and look forward to hearing what the cardiologist has to say on Friday.

I feel for you and totally relate, especially to the frustration of being told it's not life-threatening. You said it exactly right. It is significantly life-altering. I'm a bit older (69 F) and have had episodes of SVT for the past 6 years. Initially 1-2 episodes/year and recently escalating. I also have significant mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation and am scheduled for surgery next week. I've been warned by my cardiologist and electrophysiologist that this will probably not fix the SVT, which they think is the less serious condition. It doesn't feel less serious to me since it has put me in the hospital 3 times in the past year. I keep asking, "how long should I put up with a heart rate greater than 200" before going to the hospital but no doctor has given me an answer. Once at the hospital (or in ambulance) I convert quickly with 1-2 shots of adenosine. If they are able to fix my heart valves, then the EP is recommending ablation, but I have a fear that they won't be able to trigger the SVT since it is very intermittent.

I am going to list the interventions I've tried and hope others will let me know if they have suggestions.
1) Metoprolol 50 mg
2) No caffeine at all for past 5 years
3) Regular exercise up until recently when valve issue became urgent (walk 4 mi, weights 2x/wk, Pilates 3x/wk)
4) Yoga/Meditation when heart rate elevates
5) Vagal maneuvers to try to reduce HR (never had success)
6) Cold shower to try to reduce HR (never had success)
7) Propafenone during SVT episode (seemed to work after about 30 min on one occasion)
8) My Apple watch records the SVT episodes and the cardiologist does look at the EKG's but it only confirms what she already knows.

Any thoughts on how long to try to deal with an episode before seeking help or other things to try to get rhythm to convert back to normal? I see from this group chat that many people have worse episodes than I do and I truly don't know how you have managed. I feel bad for each of you.

Thanks for listening.

You might want to look into audio visual meditation. I bought a Kasina Mind Media System. It has helped me with anxiety and depression. I have not found that it has helped with my afib.

Your story sounds like mine. I cannot tolerate the beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. I become short of breath, have peripheral edema and chest pain. None of the drugs control PVS / VTach episodes. Two electrophysiologists did not recommend ablation( stating it was not always successful or the arrhythmia is difficult to induce on the table. I was told I needed a pacer/defibrillator in 2021. I have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a “mild” bridge in LAD, mild mitral regurgitation. I have been guessed at with, brugada, POTS, and now disautomia. I have PVCS daily that may or may stop and I go into nonsustained V-tach. My thyroid function is normal, electrolytes normal. I was told possibly sleep apnea( mild) but I now have a cpap device ( with no improvement).
Fatigue, stress, caffeine and alcohol are all culprits to increase episodes. My EF has gone from 77 to 60 since I had AICD implant. I have never been shocked but I am paced at 60. The meds ( which I am not taking any now) would drop my HR to the 40’s. I am sick of having these meds thrown at me with no explanation of why or how to fix the problem. I can have an episode of vtach where I am very close to losing consciousness. I have learned to take deep breaths and pray it subsides. I have had several echos, the mri was not performed due to artifact from AICD. I am now awaiting a cardiac CT but expect no intervention from this either. I am 66 very active and semi-retired. ( I was a RN for 30 yrs). I am disappointed with the direction healthcare is going. You must be your own advocate and find a doctor you trust .

I have gone through two cadios MD-one thought he was a god and actually was so old and living in the past. the other spent 8 or so minutes
and accused me of getting involved to much. " You Tube" has excellent presentations on all aspects of this matter, mostly presented by professionals.

Have had similar experiences, hospitals seem to want to just fill their beds, doctors without reason or explanations. They always have a new costly trick.