Scared to Exercise/SVT?

[kepps]

I have been seen by 3 cardiologists and finally went to an electrophysiologist who basically concurred with the other doctors regarding my SVT. He explained I could either 1. Live with it, as it is benign and won't kill me (but explained this is not a good option), 2. Try a calcium channel blocker or 3. Catheter Ablation

I used to run between 8-10 miles on a daily basis. Now I run 2.5 and am exhausted and anticipating the onset of SVT. Is this because I'm anxious, or could it be more serious at this point? I am very fit and healthy - all my tests (echo, ekg, stress) came out fine.

Would an anti-anxiety medication help with this? I'm just petrified I will go into another episode of SVT because I can sometimes feel the premature beats.

Thanks in advance.

[txstbon]

I have been taking beta-blockers (Toprol - 50mg/day) for SVT for almost two years and have had little to no symptoms while on the drug, even while maintaining a rigorous excercise schedule.  I have been training at a fairly high intensity for a half marathon for the last 4 months and have have only recently just noticed that I am unable to spike my heart rate much beyond 150 when fully exerting myself (my max HR used to be around 190).  I never knew that the beta blockers would put a cap on my max heart rate, but after a little reading I realize that this is what they do in fact do.  Nonetheless, I have not experienced any shortness of breath or SVT flare-ups while excercising and continue to run and cycle 5x/week.  I am 31 years old, and am not sure if this is due to age, but unless the SVT's tolerance to the drug weakens over time, I do not foresee changing my routine/exertion level.

By not understanding this information about BB's, I had no excercise-related anxiety.  I am not going to change anything unless I have to, but I am definitely going to keep an eye on this.

[sueinns]

Your symptoms sound exactly like mine.  I've been a runner for years.  I can wholeheartedly relate to how debilitating SVT's can be when exercising.  While running, I had to stop every couple of minutes just to catch my breath.  Then when I stopped, I would get lightheaded and faint.  This would go on for weeks.

Interestingly, Runner's World had an article awhile back about palpitations and how runners have an above average occurrence.

Beta blockers are not a good option for athletically minded people.  They only allow you to work out at a certain intensity.  I had my medication switched to calcium channel blockers which made the world of difference.  Unfortunately these stopped working and it was either explore other medication alternatives or have an ablation.

So I had the ablation a couple of days ago.  Still get PVC's - they didn't ablade those - but other than that, it's all good so far.  Too early to tell the final outcome but doctor said I had a 95% chance that it was a success.  I knew it was the right decision for me when she told me that, without ablation, I would have had SVT's for the rest of my life.

Good luck to you and rest assured that you aren't alone in this.

[rosetoes]

I read your post and I too have SVT...but the kind that response to adenosine.  I can't imagine how I would feel having to have a defribullator to restart my rhythum.

I am current on BB to control my SVT, but unfortunately, it hasn't.  I have decided to have the ablation.  I have put of 10 pound since I started the BB 6 months ago.  While I have never been as active as you, I did step and treadmill exercises and stopped that scared to death that it would start my SVT.

Anxiety and SVT consumes me and I have had enough.  Ablation is my answer.  I really need to get my life back and from all that I hear, it is safe.  I am having my ablation on Feb. 11th.   I am nervous about it, but I'm nervous when I at the ER dealing with the adenosine push, wondering what will happen if the medicine doesn't work.

Good luck to you and I will post to let all know how things go.

[Porzellan]

I'm also diagnosed with SVT, and each time the episodes are brought on by exercise.  Since I don't respond to the adrenosine, they've used the difibulator to restart my heart each time.  So, you can imagine my fear of exercise now.  Before my two recent episodes, I was very active, going to the gym at least 5 times a week, and pushing myself.  

I've been prescribed betablockers which prevent the excess adrenaline that induces the episode, but betablockers have an adverse effect because in doing so, they prevent my heartrate from going above 120 (at my max!).  So, I've gained so much weight from being afraid to exercise (even though the meds should prevent  an episode) and because I'm not able to burn the calories I need to lose the weight.  Catch 22!  

I am interested in my only other option, which is ablation.  Have you decided which option to go for?  

[kepps]

Thank you so much for your reply. It is so infuriating! I am highly active and have utilized exercise as a form of medication for depression and anxiety - this is why it is such a complete irony and I'm feeling defeated but will NOT give in. I couldn't agree with you more. I may have to resort to the channel blockers. Have you taken them at all? And do they help?

Thanks again.

[anacyde]

You might want to consider the anxiety reducing medication.  Anxiety can drain your energy, and I'd suspect it's that which is making you feel exhausted.  When I have episodes of exercise-related SVT, I feel the premature beats first too.  Sometimes they materialize into SVT, other times not.  I wouldn't let this stop you from living life.  Personally, I'd tolerate it until you became highly symptomatic and really had no other choice.  The calcium channel blocker isn't a bad option.

Hope you feel better soon.  I know this can be a real defeating feeling, but don't give in.