Just had an epidsode of SVT..

[Worrygirl32]

I was admitted to the emergency room for an episode of SVT, they tried different methods to bring my heart rate down and they couldn't. So they have to chemically convert me. I feel fine now. I have an appointment with the cardiologist on Thursday. I'm feeling really down and depressed at this moment. I'm 25 years old.. I thought It may have been anxiety related. But it turned out to be something completely different. Any thoughts? Or words of encouragement? I could really use them right now

[countrygirl]

I developed svt when I was menopausal and was told by specialist cardio that I will have been born with an extra pathway in my heart and it tends to be at times of hormonal upheaval that this pathway gets activated. Usually puberty pregnancy and menopause. This certainly applied to me!

I have a bad attack maybe 3 times a year where my heart rate will go from say 76bpm to 180 bpm and I can feel intense fluttering in chest but thankfully up to now it has only lasted for no more than 20 seconds but i go extremely faint to the point of almost losing my vision. He said some people do not feel faint at all just palpitation and sweaty and unwell and others like me get syncope.

I doubt this will help you but for me as soon as it hits I take a big deep breath in and cough hard and if that does not stop it I hold my nose and blow hard and that usually resets it.

I get mini attacks daily of just a second or so when I feel the flutter and get a head rush but they are over almost before they start.

I still have implanted heart recorder in my chest ( 2 yrs) which is how it was diagnosed and waiting to have it removed now they know for sure what it is.

It was explained to me that if i ever get an attack that does not stop then I will need the chemical resetting that you have just had. I was also offered ablation therapy where they try and burn away the abnormal pathway. I was told there is a 5% chance they can't find the pathway or the ablation does not work and a 2% of stroke/death during proceedure.

The main thing is that with svt with syncope you cannot drive but as I am partially sighted I cannot drive anyway but if I wanted to drive I would have to have ablation therapy.

If you drive you need to find out if you can continue driving after your diagnosis as if not and you do drive you may not be insured. I am sure the cardiologist will offer you ablation therapy and once at the point of needing hospital intervention for an attack then I personally would have the ablation.

Hope I haven't given you too much information but having been diagnosed over a year ago and been seeing a specialist cardio for 2 years I have much experience!!!