Does anyone in this group have SVT?
I recently had an echocardiogram with contrast and a stress test with myocardial perfusion. Before that I had a wore a heart monitor for 14 days. I have a right and left bundle branch block in my heart. I asked my doctor what the heart monitor diagnosed and he said Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). This was done by my family physician and when I asked if I should see a cardilogist he said I didn't need to. Now I just looked up SVT and wanted to talk with anyone who has this to compare symptons and what they were told by their doctor.
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Provided two things, your doctor is probably correct. BBBuuutttt....the two things are important, especially to you, the patient:
a. If you are highly symptomatic and cannot endure the sensations, are out of breath, get dizzy, feel distinctly unwell, can't relax and sleep easily....then you should seek relief from a qualified specialist in heart rhythm disorders, and that would be first a cardiologist, but probably an immediate referral to an electrophysiologist (heart electrical expert). and
b. If the episodes are known to run long with a high atrial contraction rate, you should seek treatment. Rates in excess of 100 for more than 24 hours begins to creep into worrisome territory and my electrophysiologist's instructions after a cardiac ablation to stop fibrillation in my left atrium was to not let such arrhythmias run past 24 hours if the accompanying ventricular rate rises commensurately...meaning above 100 BPM. Remember that when your ventricles are running at 100 BPM or higher, your atrial rate could be several times more than that, even 300+, which they cannot sustain forever.
What does this mean? Well, you're asking us, and I feel I would give you my own answer: I would find a cardiologist quickly and get a formal assessment. I would also get a Kardia Mobile or use my smart watch to monitor my HR frequently, several times each day, for the next month, and download any iffy ECG date that ensues. I would ask to send one or more of those data files to my cardiologist electronically and let her see what my device is showing. From there, you will probably be asked to submit to some diagnostic imaging, or maybe just a quick referral to the EP...who would still ask for some diagnostics to rule out ischemia and other problems that he would fix by other means than a catheter ablation.
I would see a cardiologist.
BUMP windshores big time. Go directly to an EP and if your insurance allows and you do not need a referral then do not even ask the FP. Otherwise demand it. Family practice docs are there to monitor and treat the usual and customary issues from vaccines too moderate infections, blood pressure and other everyday issues. When something comes along this complex that they have diagnosed they are required to hand it off to a specialist. Having both right and left bundle branch blocks is complex and sometimes requires special treatment. Same with the SVTs depending on what you "burden" % is. The burden % is what % of you total beats are SVTs and then how many "runs" you have and how high do they get. You didn't mention what your ejection fraction ratio is. This is also important as well as your age, weight, BP issues, diabetes etc. Do not accept anything less than seeing an Electrophysiologist.
I have several types of arrythmias which were diagnosed by different cardiologist throughout my life. None of the cardiologist really suggested that I needed to be followed, only if things changed.
I have seen a few cardiologists over the last decades. In support of what @harveywj said, the EP was the most helpful specialist.
I started with cardiology and they referred me to the EP (afib). The cardiologist did a patch monitor (which you have done @kjc49), and an echocardiogram, and I made notes and so when I got to the EP we had a lot of info. The EP can order all that too. I still need to do a stress test but it threw my cervical spine out.
Primary care is useful as a gatekeeper but specialists really are necessary for some problems!
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bundle-branch-block/symptoms-causes/syc-20370514 This Mayo article says bundle branch may not need treatment but if symptomatic, then the underlying cause may need treatment (heart disease).
I am an active, 81 year old with SVT. I finally have to a cardiologist and pulmonologist appointment...referred from primary care doc. The prescribed Metropolol did not address my chronic fatigue and "fuzzy head". I wish I had gone directly to the cardiologist and/or pulmonologist. Also I wish I had my tests for sleep apnea at first. It seems my organs and brain have been oxygen deprived during sleep over time. Instead I trusted the process. Since there is a dearth of these doctor -- at least in my area -- the wait time for an appointment for these specialists is months. This has been a slow process. I wish I had jumped ahead.
Dalebout - I find it interesting that there are numerous names of disorders that are more or less the same thing. I am 76. I had sleep apnea fore years. After my husband died, no one to nudge me when heart stopping. My sister also had sleep apnea, and had test and used what I call the snorkel machine and hated it.
She discovered that if she sleeps in recliner, all is well. So I use pillows to elevate me and have no problem.
What eliminates heart rythymn problems for me is, NO caffeine, do not overeat like a pig out, and drinking water, which I had been drinking very little for years. My mother never drank much water, and ended up with alzheimers. SO.... I am drin king more water which is really a chore for me, but I had begun to have heart arythmia for a couple of months although no caffeine etc. and it has whittled down to almost nothing since Jan. 1st when I started.
I am a firm believer from my experiences, that my health issues are almost always something that I am eating, drinking or natural things I should be doing.
Thank for your input. I do not have a problem with overeating or intake of water. Of your suggestions, I think the caffeine might be legit. I have two cups in the morning. Maybe I should ween myself to see if I feel better. It will be hard. I do so enjoy those two cups. LOL
Hi
I was diagnosed with Stroke - Embolic, Rapid and Persistent AF and 4th day Thyroid Cancer.
My symptoms were sweating profusely, uncontrollible. Fatigued and breathlessness on Metoprolol.
Heart Monitor proved Metoprolol made me breathless even on 23.75 from 3 x 23.75 pills daily and pauses at night.
no follow up stroke. thyroidectomy done feb 2020 within 4 mths. over rode endocrinologist dr on stroke ward.
i said no to rai tresatment post thyroidectomy with 12 lymphs removed 2 affected0 and base right side dissected.low eisk for recurrence but i relied on surgeon that he had removed all cancer papillary.
BBs now stopped because of low blood pressure. nut on ccb diltiazem for rapid heart 186 on metoprolol, 156 on bisoprolol and left. freer less fatigue and continue to have no breathlessness or pauses.
so it was a private heart specialist who got my rapid h/r down below 100.
Of course you should be under a h/specialist to monitor things and perhaps more tests eg echo, ecg regularly.
cheri joy. 76 (nz)
Here is another thread on Mayo about SVTs.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-svt-without-worries/?pg=3#comment-1216559