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Unexplained Tachycardia - Help!
I am a 45 year old female. I have had SVT episodes my whole life, but over the last year they have become increasingly worse. I went in to a cardiologist and they dismissed my symptoms as they were not “life threatening”. After that, I was in the ER twice and was finally approved for an ablation. I had the first ablation in February. It was fairly extensive and they called it successful. Shortly after, I was back in the ER twice with more SVT episodes, however they were labeled atrial tachacardia. I felt horrible and my heart rate would rise to 140 or more just getting off the couch. On one of the ER trips, they put me on Flecanide and metoprolol and it was recommended to get a second ablation. These two medications relieved the symptoms to a tolerable level. I stopped taking it about 3 days before the next ablation in March per the Dr.s instructions. I went through the second procedure and they were unable to induce it and could not perform the ablation. They told me to go back on the meds and try a third one. I didn’t take any meds at all thinking maybe they were still in my system and that is why they couldn’t induce it the second time. They schedule the third one on May 2nd. Went through the whole thing again and they were still unable to induce it. My doctor is very frustrated and basically said he has no idea why this is happening. He called it possible POTS or Dysautonomia. He recommended Mayo for a consult. In the meantime back to Metoprolol. I am beyond frustrated and have no idea what to do. I also get severe migraines about once a week in addition to extreme fatigue all the time (I had this prior to my first ablation). I’m afraid to exercise at all because I get so winded and it is so uncomfortable to really do anything. I am so sick of hearing it is “not life threatening”. Maybe not but it is “life altering”. I was not like this prior to my first ablation, it was just the occasional episodes and few ER trips. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions or similar experiences? Any help would be appreciated!
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I have pvcs and get very tacky. Had ablation for afib and worked. My pvcs make me jittery and nervous. On meds. Today bad day today at cardiologist. Pressure was high and was told that makes pbcs feel worse and frequent. Starting new bp Hoping all will help. Almost had a panic attack in office. Felt so bad. PVCs and tach out of control. Echo and ekg looked good surprisingly.
That is exactly how I feel. Is it safe to go for a walk alone? Will EMS be able to get to me where I am walking? How would I describe my location? (I live in Alaska so things are not all labeled.) Will I be driving? What if I can't let EMS in my house because I can't get to the door? What if my kid is the one to find me? And then I cycle which is rightfully adds to stress which is bad. I'm very thankful for this community because without it I wouldn't know anyone with my condition.
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2 ReactionsSo sorry for what you are going through. It makes me angry that patients have to do so much research and work to be diagnosed and cared for properly. I'm my sister's healthcare proxy (many health issues) and it seems like a full time job.
Are you working with a cardiac electrophysiologist? If not, it may be helpful to see one. They have much more extensive training than a typical cardiologist.
My sister was admitted to the hospital, from the ER, in April of this year and not one person suggested a heart monitor or mentioned an electrophysiologist. I took her to the ER again a couple of months ago for low pulse (low 40s) and the put a ZIO monitor on her (it sticks to your skin; you remove it and send it in a self-mailer 2 weeks later and get results soon after). It shows pulse from 35 up to 160. Her cardiologist thought nothing of it and never mentioned any additional testing. I researched and found an electrophysiologist that she saw last week (she was supposed to see him in mid-September but he took her right away on a Saturday at Mass General). He said that there's not enough data from the ZIO, so she's getting an ILR (implantable loop recorder) soon. It takes about 10 minutes to implant and monitoring is 24/7. The cardiac team gets an alert if out of bounds (as configured when implanted) and, if serious enough, she will be contacted ASAP and provided with instructions (for example, get to the hospital for emergency care). She may need a pacemaker if the data supports it.
Please keep advocating fiercely for yourself. It is the only way. Sending prayers that Mayo, or a good electrophysiologist, will be able to provide the right medical solution for you quickly.
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4 ReactionsI had a cardiac calcium CT for chest pain that the MD refused to even a blockage of some size in the LAD but the Calcium CT doesn’t show you the size of the blockage however it is a wonderful screening and inexpensive in the grand scheme of things sadly, not covered by insurance but only cost me $150 in NC! So all in all not bad!! Even then the MD refused further testing despite my very strong family history of heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, spondylo-arthritis & psoriasis, etc, I’m 52yo F that’s a retired RN with fibromyalgia and chronic pain from multiple neck surgeries and degenerative disc & joint disease so I’m no stranger to a certain level of pain ALL the time! My event monitor finally caught SVT where my kardiamobil 6L has never been able to catch it and the one time I could catch it I passed out completely. Anyway, I’m as frustrated as each of you and appreciate the sounding board!! My cardiologist asked if I had tried putting my feet up on the wall when an episode hits 👀 if I could get my feet on the wall above my head without passing out THAT would be a feat right by itself!! Shaking my head! Sometimes being your own advocate is so damn tiring!!! But what do people do that don’t have the medical knowledge? Much luck all!!
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2 ReactionsHi
I would question the beta blocker.After Metoprolol - nreathless, 186 avg Day H/R and auses at night. I was a zombie and couldn't exert myself. Alwazys sleeping. Then finally a cardiologist who changed my to Bisoprolol. Still not controlled H/R 165 avg some exertion.
Best a private cardiologist who trialled me on CCB Calcium Channel Blocker which only a Cardiologist can prescribe. From the 165 H.R Day the Diltiazem 180 CD (1/2 dose) dropped me to 51 H/R Day in 2 hours.
3 Heart Monitors in 14 months with each change.
Settled on Diltiazem 120 CD HCL mg early morning.
This dose and time does not interfere with my normal 47avg bpm at Night.
With 2.5mg Bisoprolol at night.
Then last year my BP went low. So December I ..1/2ed to 1.25. To stop.
Interestingly my Pro-BNP dropped from 189 - to 108 to 103. No longer heading for Heart Failure - a number monitoring stress to your heart.
And NO MORE AFTERNOON sleeps.
I wonder if trialling you on CCB would be more suitable for you. This med made all the difference to me.
cheri JOY
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3 ReactionsI realized that my first sentence didn’t make much sense at all and my apologies for that! I meant to say my cardiologist at the time refused to acknowledge the chest pain as anything except anxiety and flat out refused to do a cardiac catch saying I’d need to see another physician for that because he would not perform any further testing outside a CT angiogram. That day I found a second opinion and this MD has already diagnosed me with Printzmetal’s angina and placed a ZioPatch monitor finding 4 3-4sec runs of SVT(supraventricular tachycardia) and made a referral to an EP specialist for me either have an ablation or control using medication. So anyway, it just proves that we have to advocate for ourselves and our loved ones that don’t have the medical education that some of us do have thankfully! God Bless and have a great Sunday!
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