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Non sustained ventricular tachycardia
I had an ablation at Mayo 2 years ago for afib and aflutter. I have a pacemaker for sick sinus syndrome. I had several short runs (1-2 seconds) of vtach show up on my pacemaker in November. Most occurrences have been while I was active. The EP has set my pacemaker to download again in a couple of weeks. My EP has also recommended a sleep study to see if that could be a contributing factor. That will be done next week. I was just wondering if other people in this group had had treatment for vtach. I have been through many of the drugs before my ablation and never got along well. I am currently only taki g Eliquis and Lisinopril for BP. Thank you! Appreciate the experiences of this group so much!
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@leer50 I am so sorry that you are struggling to get a diagnosis and treatment. It is scary to feel your heart doing things that don’t feel right. Any treatment for the SVT or other issues that showed up on your heart monitor? The first couple of afib events I had happened at night, but I didn’t have a clue what was going on. I bought myself a smart watch with ECG feature not thinking that it would come in handy but it did. During the third event, I captured the episode with an ECG several times and took that to my PCP. Continue to advocate for yourself.
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2 Reactionsi’ve got VT not a fib. Can anybody discuss VT ? ablations/remedies to treat please ?
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1 Reaction@jlk53 I am a 67 yr male and had an ICD implanted in July of 2025 due to a diagnosis of Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia. This should not be confused with SVT which is Supraventricular Tachycardia which starts in the Atria and is much less dangerous than VT. You will find there are many more people with AFib or SVT than VT, and thus there are many more comments about how ablations and medications affect those.
I do not have any serious underlying heart disease. During the ICD implant procedure, the EP attempted an ablation but could not induce the tachycardia, so no ablation was done. I have been on Flecainide 100mg 2x/day for 6months now. Initially, I thought it was causing constipation but that has resolved. I have had no other significant side effects so far. Others have had more significant reactions, so it depends on the individual. It appears to be controlling my VTach since I have not had another episode since I started taking it.
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2 Reactions@jlk53
VT, Ventricular Tachycardia. I have them on and off for decades. I have a ICD/Pacemaker that will try to pace me out of the VT and if does not work shock me. Does it work. Well had the ICD/Pacemaker since 2006 and dozens of VT episodes and still here.
What you are asking and what I asked of my cardiologist and EP is preventing. I take a medication called mexiletine for VT. It is not very toxic and does not stay in body long so you have to take every 8 hours. It also helps with PVCs. Cut my PVCs in half and really cut down the episodes of VT.
I have had only one VT in last year where pacemaker paced me out of it. I know exactly when, how long, as all is saved to my ICD/Pacemaker and sent to Mayo Pace Clinic and my EP.
I also take (per my EP) OTC magnesium. It is help with PVCs but I think helping them helps with the VT. I did have an ablation many years ago in RV for PVCs and stopped them. But PVCs and VT are very different and VT a lot more serious health concern.
How is your weight, stress level, caffeine, anxiety. All can create more PVCs and thus more chances of VT with irregular heart beats.
Are you being treated by a cardiologist? If so and you are not already seeing a EP I would recommend a EP. They are electrical experts of the heart and specialize in diagnosing and treating them. Some great medications out there but lifestyle changed can also dramatically help with VT and PVCs and PACs.
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1 Reaction@jc76 Thanks for your reply. 63 year old female. I am at a normal BMI, no caffeine, alcohol, or recreational drugs. Eat a clean diet. Exercise daily by fast walking for 2-3 miles. I am retired, but work part-time for fun. I also take magnesium and Vitamin D3. I did an in-patient sleep study last night which looks to be normal breathing during sleep. My EP ordered it to see if apnea could be an issue. I do have high blood pressure but take medication for that. My pacemaker will download in another week. I have a pacemaker w/o ICD. I do have a strong family history. My dad has a pacemaker for same issue I have and he is currently experiencing longer lasting NSVT-he had 3 episodes in the past month that lasted 13 seconds... My mom had an ablation for irregular tachycardia about 30 years ago when she was in her early 50s. I would rather have inherited something good like a nice singing voice. My ablation was done at Mayo in Rochester so that will be my next step if this progresses.
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1 Reaction@dey10238
Seems generic like you mentioned.
It sounds like you are doing all you can to address the VT. I wish I could say my BMI was a good as yours and could fast walk. At 78, an old herniated disk from football back in high school, can't fast walk anymore. I can do about a 17 minute pace and stay of concrete and okay.
When I take my dog for a walk he wants to speed walk and keeps telling me (walking ahead and pulling me) my dog that but he seems to be egging me on to go faster and he is 12.5 years old. Do guess can use the 78 years old as an excuse can I?