Hi

I had a diagnosis of SVT last year after being admitted to hospital
with a heart rate of 170bpm. I had been having the occasional episodes
for about 7 years and really just ignored them but they were getting
more frequent and they were lasting for longer. The doctors put me on
beta blockers and I felt better but still not quite right. I opted to
have a catheter ablation where they burnt away the extra pathway in my
heart that was setting up the "circuit" that made my heart go fast. I
was awake but sedated and was in hospital only from 8am to 6pm. I had
a week off work and felt great so caught up on daytime tv!

It wasn't until after the operation that I realised how stressed I was
on a daily basis, just worrying that my heart would start racing
(especially driving etc). I have had a few ectopic beats since but
they soon went and have had no racing at all!

I know that you don't need to have surgery at the moment - but I just
wanted say if you do go down that road - it is nothing to be scared
of. For me it is the best thing I could have done and I feel like a
new me!
I also agree holidays in the sun is a must for relaxation and chilling!

Sandra

2009/6/4 <Kate>:
>
>
>
> --- In heartrhythm-AA@yahoogroups.com, Jackie wrote:
>>
>> Hi Kate,
>> I do also get svt, or have had it the once,where I was admitted to
> hospital with a heart rate of 170 bpm,this only happened the once and
> was brought back down to normal by blowing hard into syringe and trying
> to blow the plunger out,odd I know but it did work,another thing they
> recommended was splashing my face with ice cold water.
>> I had no further attacks of svt but then a year later started getting
> the ectopic beats.I, like you do think they are hormone related as well
> as linking them to stress. I have just had a weeks holiday in Spain with
> not so much as one, I get home and within the space of 2 hrs they kick
> off again.I did also wonder if chocolate could be a cause as I hadn't
> had any all week so treated myself when I got home and it was quite soon
> after this that they started.I think I will give up on the chocolate for
> a while and see what happens. Occasionally my heart rate does get up to
> 90bpm for no particular reason even when I'm resting but was told this
> was probably just due to being anxious.
>> Hope things improve for you, take care,
>
>>Jacki
>
> Hi Jackie i too had to do all of that blowing into a syringe when the
> paramedics came out to me they had me doing that and gulping down ice
> cold water, my svt attacks seem to come on about once a month thats what
> makes me think hormones!!! ... i ty to deal with them myself sometime
> they go on for hours and then i have been advised to go to hospital ...
> but i get tachycardia every single day, stress is notoriously bad for
> you and i try to avoid it if at all possible, i just let everything go
> over my head now,
>
> sounds like the holidays the best medicine for you if you where stress
> free and ectopic free!!! i have heard chocolate mentioned somewhere
> before when i read it again i will post you about it, i have not noticed
> that any food make any difference to my tachy but i have not drank any
> alcohol since i have had this i dare not, becaue of triggering and svt,
> do you have any problem with this??? also you say your heart goes upto
> 90 bpm for no reason even when you are resting, that would not concern
> me as my heart rate has been extremly high over the past two years it
> goes between 110 and anything up to 180 daily this is not an attack as
> such it is just how my heart is bahaving with movement, i saw a
> elecrophysiologist who says its a fault with the sinus node and is a
> rare problem, when something goes wrong with the hearts natural
> pacemaker, it's as though your timing is all wrong it is difficult
> problem to put up with though .....
>
> kate...
>
>