Diagnosed with SVT and want to talk with others

I don't know anyone who regrets their ablation. I had 5! The first 4 were for SVT and for a variety of reasons they couldn't be completed... The 5th one (3 years ago) was a Pulmonary Vein Ablation and it was successful. If you trust your electrophysiologist ask to see his/her track record- how many ablations performed, how many repeats, how many failures. I ruined the record for mine!! But I am an anomaly. I had several rhythm problems and posed more challenges. There are risks for ablation but there are also risks for plastic surgery and people do that! There are also many different drugs you can try to keep it under control. Over the years the drugs just stopped working for me but for 20 years they did (I'm 66) I am very thankful that I stuck with it and finally won!

Jennifer,
I'll be thinking of you on Feb 4. Please check back in about the ECHO and stress test and let us know how it went. I'm sure Martishka and GoneFishinMT will be interested too.

What's the stress factor that you are committed to for another 7 years?

Hello, <br />
I am unclear how this "reply" works. I was hoping to reply to Jennifer... The echo and stress test are protocol here as well. I have had several. And its a good thing - it just gives them more information about your heart. My sister is having an ablation next month in NYC. She has developed AFib and is having difficulty managing it. <br />
It is a pretty common procedure and has a high success rate. Take care.... <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />

You got the reply "working" correctly @martishka. I agree it's not the most intuitive. This is one of the items scheduled for improvement in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your help. I will hopefully have more answers after my tests next week. I do find the medication I am on currently helps so that provides some relief. Good luck to everyone!

Hi Jenny,<br />
I'm happy that the meds are helping. Please let me know how your tests go. <br />
Martishka. <br />
<br />

I will, Thank you!

Hi everyone, I found that I had commented in 2012 and had to reset my password. Offhand I would advise you all to have an ablation done. I wish I had I was told I had a murmur at 16. Then at 21 I had an SVT which was said to be PVC. It is true that SVT's are about the same at AFib.

With echo my Mitral valve showed minor regurgitation which was not supposed to be a problem.I believe it was the reason for the SVT's. If the E.R. staff does not know what to give you, and some don't, ask for Adenocard. It will convert your heart at the count of 3 and the drug has to be in your system at that count. I haven't had any attacks for a long time but almost have.

Fast forward here, I have been on Flecainide for several years with good results, most of the time. The doctors do not like their patients on this drug. I also take Metoprolol for hbp. Flecainide 50 mg. 3 times a day. My feet have been numb for many years also. It may be from this drug. I am sensitive to any kind of pain killer or NSAID, and get some heart skips a short time after taking them, so I can't take them, other than a small amt. of Percocette for pain.

Several years ago I learned I have leaky valves. All of them ..two pretty moderate. I attribute this to not feeling well, and having to be sedentary. Somewhere in this country there is a hospital who makes sure they find your electrical problem. You are put to sleep and there are two monitors to show what is going on in your heart and they can fix it. I either saw it on You Tube or T.V., and if finances or insurance allow you this, go for it.

When you are sedentary because of the side effects of these drugs, you still will begin to develop other problems, like coronary disease and high cholesterol. I now have a bad leg artery from plaque, and cannot take the drug prescribed. Trental, because you cannot use it if you can't have caffeine just for beginners.

There are more females who die from heart disease than men these days. We have smaller arteries and are not always listened to.
So get your ablation, even if you are afraid, for you don't want to live with this and end up like me. I am older now but if I had been fixed, I would feel much better. You need to enjoy life, so take care of your heart. I wish I could go back to those youthful years and give myself that chance to live longer. Onward you must go! Don't forget to check You Tube to see how others fared with their ablations.

Hi Topaz, I am sorry to hear that you have had so many problems. I wanted to clarify a few things though. The hospitals that you refer to are electrophysiology labs. I live in Canada, and many of the hospitals here have one. I know in the states there are many. I have seen an electrophysiologist who specializes in heart rhythm problems, There is a difference between SVT or Afib and Heart disease. The first two are rhythm problems that are not a disease, meaning that your heart is not weakened or deteriorating from them. The symptoms can be more difficult to deal with as you age but they do not lead to coronary disease or leaky valves or high cholesterol which can damage your heart.. I took meds for many years that controlled my heart rate and rhythm and ultimately I had a pulmonary vein ablation that cured the problems. ( I had 3 rhythm problems: SVT, A fib and Atrial flutter. PVC's are premature ventricular contractions which are benign and of no consequence). Some of the meds do have side effects and for me it meant that I had to work harder to keep fit. I just thought that it was important to distinguish between heart disease and rhythm disorders. I wish you the best.... martishka

Hi @jennybell1,
How are you? How did your tests go? Would love to get an update. - Colleen