Hello. I've had problems with PVC's and SVT's for about 45 years. Basically started when I came back from Vietnam. Anyway, PVC's are skipping and fluttering, etc. in the lower chambers of the heart, and SVT's are the irregular heartbeats in the upper chambers of the heart. I got used to experiencing both over the years even though they could get pretty bothersome at times. I worked with them, and played with them. My problem is that I felt every one of them and still do. They can be very alarming at times. Anyway, on occasion during this period I would experience a sudden burst of racing which would last 8-10 seconds or so and then stop. About 8 years ago when I was work sitting at my desk I experienced this sudden onset of speed with my heart but this time it didn't go away. It lasted for 14 hours at approximately 180-200 BPM. It ran its course I guess and when I woke up I was back to a normal heartbeat rate, with the exception of my normal palpitations of course. Well, as time went on the intervals between episodes became shorter and shorter. I did get a cardiologist and tried to manage it when the episodes occurred, but medication never seemed to slow it down. Went to ER with the episodes only three or four times over the 8 years because I just wanted to tough it out. It's called Paroxysmal AFIB which means it's not persistent or permanent like you have at this time. In talking to my cardiologists an ablation was mentioned from time to time. I was really scared about it. But in April of 2019 I decided to go through with it since I never knew when an episode was going to hit. They scheduled it for June of 2019 and about two weeks prior the episodes were getting pretty bad. Luckily I made it to the day of ablation and at that point I told my Dr. just do what you gotta do. Took about four hours. I spent the night and went home the next day. A little scared because my heart still felt a little weird. I've been AFIB free for 8 months with the exception of a few minor episodes lasting 10-15 seconds but that's it. Still have my normal skipping and jumping but the AFIB was actually the biggest concern. They say that sometimes you need another one or at least some touch up if it comes back. I would most certainly do it again if need be. The success rate is pretty high with the type of AFIB I had, but permanent AFIB like you have can be taken care of as well with an ablation. Success rate is a little lower but the key is that there is success. I've always taken as few medications as possible over the years, and still don't take much other than a blood thinner (Eliquis) and metoprolol. At 70, I still smoke and drink beer on occasion. I guess I would be considered a renegade but I live my life the way I want to. Feel free to ask me any questions. This is a pretty lengthy response to you, but there are many things I could probably fill in for you.
Larry Hall.

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