SVT Ablation Progress Report

Posted by osgilian @osgilian, Apr 24 10:42am

Hi all, there's so much difficult medical discussion on this forum that I want to add a happy note to this Friday.

I am 73 years old, female, always been very active. In November 2025 my long-term, previously well-controlled SVT exploded into once a month ER visits for adenosine to reset my 180-200+ beats per minute pounding heart. My excellent cardiologist of many many years jumped right on it, tried increasing my meds (metoprolol) first, but that failed spectacularly.

She and I had discussed ablation right from the first outbreak. After the 2nd ER visit, she immediately referred me to her preferred electrophysiologist. (I am fortunate to live near Hartford, CT, a medical mecca right in between NY and Boston.) My scheduled appointment was delayed by our big blizzard in February, so when I finally got there in March, I had 2 more ER visits with full ekg's for him. He took one look at the fistful of ekg's and got me in for ablation in 13 days!

The whole ablation procedure was so uneventful from a patient perspective (highest praise I could possibly give.) I am now a month out from the procedure. Recovery was pretty straightforward, mostly listening to my body about resting and not overdoing activities too quickly. A few days of rough heartburn, but it subsided quickly enough with otc meds.

One thing I don't hear much about is the huge relief that I felt immediately because I did something major to help my condition. I didn't quite realize how thoroughly stressed out and anxious I had been feeling. (My friends and family quickly agreed that I had been so noticeably stressed 😉.) Even with a 3-month "blanking" period ahead, I was able to think that any further incidents would be information for my dr to act on rather than the life-altering events they had become.

My 4-week checkup was earlier this week. My first and last post-op checkup, as it going so well that the EP discharged me back to my regular cardiologist. And, the cherry on the top, cut my 50 mg/day metoprolol back to 25 mg.

Not a peep of svt since the ablation. A few flutters here and there, but I've always had flutters and as long as it's just one or 2 once in a while, no worries for me.

That 50 mg metoprolol dose slows me down SO MUCH. My energy and exhaustion levels are already starting to recover! I'm optimistic that I will be able to drop that last 25 mg of metoprolol and get back to my former active self.

I understand how much more difficult afib and its complications is, but there are great ED'S out there just waiting to help. And there is so much excellent advice on this forum too.

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

anjimlynch | @anjimlynch | Apr 27 5:13pm

Scheduled for ablation in two days for my SVT. sitting here pretty anxious as I had to stop my metoprolol this morning. Did you stop the med 48 hours before the procedure and did you have any trouble ????? So curious from someone with SVT on metoprolol.

osgilian | @osgilian | Apr 28 10:57am

In reply to @anjimlynch "Scheduled for ablation in two days for my SVT. sitting here pretty anxious as I had..." + (show)

@anjimlynch I too was petrified about the 48-hour metoprolol ban. My EP told me that if I had an SVT episode during that time, go to the ER of the hospital where the ablation was about to be performed and have the ER dr call my EP dr, as they would probably keep me there and just do the ablation the next morning. That was very reassuring.

Turns out I had zero issues tho, and just proceeded on to the scheduled ablation.

Wishing you the absolute best luck and success! I just reached the point where I am back to my former (before breakthrough SVT and higher-dose metoprolol) active self and it feels incredible!

tsch | @tsch | May 1 1:04pm

Osgilian
Was your treatment in Hartford? We live in CT too and my husband is facing treatment for SVT (atrial flutter) after 178 heart rate but extremely low blood pressure. He cannot take meds and a pacemaker and av node ablation has been recommended.

osgilian | @osgilian | May 2 8:45am

In reply to @tsch "Osgilian Was your treatment in Hartford? We live in CT too and my husband is facing..." + (show)

@tsch My treatment was in Hartford, at St Francis hospital. Electrophysiologist Dr Ankit Majahan, Trinity Health of New England Arrhythmia Services. Exceeded my expectations across the board! Best of luck to your husband.

tsch | @tsch | May 2 9:46am

Thanks for answering. Glad to know it went well for you. We are part of Hartford Health Care and the EP is part of that system. Husband cant take meds to slow heart rate. Will get pacemaker first and then have ablation to "kill" AV node, I think. Appointments upcoming for specifics. He did have an excellent regular ablation in 2020, but it appears time to treat again. He is 83 but otherwise in very good health.

anjimlynch | @anjimlynch | May 2 7:07pm

In reply to @osgilian "@anjimlynch I too was petrified about the 48-hour metoprolol ban. My EP told me that if..." + (show)

@osgilian three days out from my ablation 🙂 still tired but happy to have had the procedure. I was so worried about the metoprolol before hand and I didn’t have any trouble either. They also dropped my dose to 25mg for the next two weeks with possibly stopping it altogether. I’ve had a few flutters but as you know that’s normal. I’m looking forward to getting my energy and my life back. SVT stinks !!! It does shrink your life and for me the ablation was the only way to go. Metoprolol took my energy and I just did not function the way I want. It wasn’t worth it !!!! I am happy you had a good experience too and wish you luck from here on out !!!!!

osgilian | @osgilian | May 2 9:48pm

In reply to @anjimlynch "@osgilian three days out from my ablation :) still tired but happy to have had the..." + (show)

@anjimlynch YAY! I'm so pleased for you! I found that right about at the 2-week mark, I started getting past the tiredness. And exactly one week after reducing metoprolol to 25 mg, I got my former life back and am *this close* to being back to my previous high activity levels. Feels soooo good (you'll see for yourself very soon 😁)

tsch | @tsch | May 3 8:35am

In reply to @osgilian "@anjimlynch YAY! I'm so pleased for you! I found that right about at the 2-week mark,..." + (show)

@osgilian
We are having second thoughts. Will ask why a second ablation is not a good option to try. There may be details we dont know, but will try to learn more. Glad you are doing well. Meds to lower heart rate are not appropriate and that may mean sometthing.

anjimlynch | @anjimlynch | May 4 3:12pm

In reply to @osgilian "@anjimlynch YAY! I'm so pleased for you! I found that right about at the 2-week mark,..." + (show)

@osgilian thank you for reaching out ! It’s so very nice to speak to someone that has gone through it !!! Take care of yourself !!!!! 🥰

osgilian | @osgilian | May 4 4:05pm

In reply to @anjimlynch "@osgilian thank you for reaching out ! It’s so very nice to speak to someone that..." + (show)

@anjimlynch You too! Please share your progress as you heal, ok?

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