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Exercise-induced SVT
This condition sucks. If (during exercise) I move just the right way or of my heart rate gets too high, all it takes is one PAC and I go into SVT. This means I have to stop what I am doing, bear down, then go splash cold water on my face before I can resume what I was doing. It always seems to happen when I'm really feeling my best, too. Talk about a buzzkill!
Since the episodes are so short, usually less than 30 seconds, my cardiologist says they require no treatment and certainly not an EP. The episodes vary from happening with nearly every workout to vanishing completely for months at a time. I also have PACs and PVCs which are considered a "normal variant". But GEEZ! It would be so awesome if my heart would just stay in NSR and I didn't even have to THINK about it.
I'd like to talk to other exercise-induced SVT/PSVT sufferers. I'm sure there are some of you here, this isn't uncommon. I'd like to discuss strategies and helpful tips in managing this, what you've found helpful and what seems to tigger you.
Since the episodes are so short, usually less than 30 seconds, my cardiologist says they require no treatment and certainly not an EP. The episodes vary from happening with nearly every workout to vanishing completely for months at a time. I also have PACs and PVCs which are considered a "normal variant". But GEEZ! It would be so awesome if my heart would just stay in NSR and I didn't even have to THINK about it.
I'd like to talk to other exercise-induced SVT/PSVT sufferers. I'm sure there are some of you here, this isn't uncommon. I'd like to discuss strategies and helpful tips in managing this, what you've found helpful and what seems to tigger you.
I want to apologize for not answering your post of last June. Perhaps I was away and it slipped off the page. If you read my post above, you'll know that I can sympathize with you. I had over 50 years of SVT events. In my case it happened so many times that I was less concerned about death and more concerned about slowing it down. I finally had it addressed when it became 3 to 5 times per month. My delay in getting it fixed was due in part to my acceptance of it. It became intertwined in my life, and I learned to accept it, to work around it. Of course my events began long before the ablation procedure was invented. I just accepted that if it hadn't killed me so far, that it wasn't going to for this event either.
I don't think you've mentioned how many events you get monthly. Could you tell us?
Have you learned a method of slowing it down? I learned Valsalva when I was only 6, and found that effective for the next 54 years. Many times I could halt them within seconds of them starting up provided I was at rest. Events that precipitated from high physical output often took 20 to 30 minutes to halt. There are a number of things that you can try beside Valsalva.
While I endorse cardiac ablation for SVT, I'd caution you about rushing into it. I look at how many events you're experiencing first. I'll look for your reply.
I don't think you've mentioned how many events you get monthly. Could you tell us?
Have you learned a method of slowing it down? I learned Valsalva when I was only 6, and found that effective for the next 54 years. Many times I could halt them within seconds of them starting up provided I was at rest. Events that precipitated from high physical output often took 20 to 30 minutes to halt. There are a number of things that you can try beside Valsalva.
While I endorse cardiac ablation for SVT, I'd caution you about rushing into it. I look at how many events you're experiencing first. I'll look for your reply.
Hi all,
So, i posted here last year (near enough) and having had another attack during my teacher training placement and thus inducing another panic attack and making a complete fool of myself to work colleagues and having an ambulance called out, I decided to go back to another cardiologist.
This time, OH MY GOD, I had a great doctor called Dr Sanjay Arya (Wigan, England) who completely understood what it was I was going through and has recommended me to an electrophysiologist! When I found out, after 2/3 minutes of taking this information in I actually cried and had to be taken into a room with a nurse. It is just such a relief, no more dear, anxiety, panic, depression or avoiding all the things I've given up for 7 years.
I am due to see the electrophysiologist in mid-May (2014) and I am hoping and praying to God that he will perform an ablation on me and cure me of my H*ll.
So, i posted here last year (near enough) and having had another attack during my teacher training placement and thus inducing another panic attack and making a complete fool of myself to work colleagues and having an ambulance called out, I decided to go back to another cardiologist.
This time, OH MY GOD, I had a great doctor called Dr Sanjay Arya (Wigan, England) who completely understood what it was I was going through and has recommended me to an electrophysiologist! When I found out, after 2/3 minutes of taking this information in I actually cried and had to be taken into a room with a nurse. It is just such a relief, no more dear, anxiety, panic, depression or avoiding all the things I've given up for 7 years.
I am due to see the electrophysiologist in mid-May (2014) and I am hoping and praying to God that he will perform an ablation on me and cure me of my H*ll.
Hi guys,
I wanted to chime in after dealing with the pain in the *** (and scary) episodes of exercise-induced SVT for almost two years. I was born with a heart murmur so it was initially suspected that this was adding to my problems. I had EKGs, failed a stress test then did a holter monitor, and finally had an echocardiogram done (where they found nothing abnormal).
In the end, it ended up being low ferritin that was causing my attacks. Ferritin is the storage of iron in your body. Since the range of "normal" is so vague (11-307 ng/mL), and most doctors seem to be skeptical that ferritin has anything to do with squat, many people's symptoms get overlooked.
My episodes started after 6 months of successfully completing P90x. They got so bad that I couldn't even do six minutes of cardio without having an attack. I started getting horrific fatigue.
Finally someone ordered a ferritin test and we saw that I had gone down to a ferritin level of 7. I could barely get out of bed, I was so tired and weak. I went to the ER and they took my blood and told me my hemoglobin looked great. (You can have a great hemoglobin and a very low ferritin).
After taking supplementation my numbers raised to 24. My heart murmur went from a grade 4 to a grade 1. This improved my workouts a bit (I could get to 150 on my heart rate monitor, versus 140, without an attack, but at 150 I'd get one again and shoot up over 200). Finally a new doctor agreed to an iron infusion. I went from 18 (my levels had dropped again) to 124.
I was able to run for the first time and BREATHE. (Because my muscles could breathe, and my heart didn't have to work so hard to get O2 to them!) And no SVT attacks. Not a one.
I just wanted to share this because it took me two years to figure out what was wrong with me and fix it even though I was told I might just have to live with this for the rest of my life. Request a ferritin test. If you are below 80, IT CAN - AND DOES - AFFECT YOUR DAY TO DAY LIFE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ACTIVE.
I wanted to chime in after dealing with the pain in the *** (and scary) episodes of exercise-induced SVT for almost two years. I was born with a heart murmur so it was initially suspected that this was adding to my problems. I had EKGs, failed a stress test then did a holter monitor, and finally had an echocardiogram done (where they found nothing abnormal).
In the end, it ended up being low ferritin that was causing my attacks. Ferritin is the storage of iron in your body. Since the range of "normal" is so vague (11-307 ng/mL), and most doctors seem to be skeptical that ferritin has anything to do with squat, many people's symptoms get overlooked.
My episodes started after 6 months of successfully completing P90x. They got so bad that I couldn't even do six minutes of cardio without having an attack. I started getting horrific fatigue.
Finally someone ordered a ferritin test and we saw that I had gone down to a ferritin level of 7. I could barely get out of bed, I was so tired and weak. I went to the ER and they took my blood and told me my hemoglobin looked great. (You can have a great hemoglobin and a very low ferritin).
After taking supplementation my numbers raised to 24. My heart murmur went from a grade 4 to a grade 1. This improved my workouts a bit (I could get to 150 on my heart rate monitor, versus 140, without an attack, but at 150 I'd get one again and shoot up over 200). Finally a new doctor agreed to an iron infusion. I went from 18 (my levels had dropped again) to 124.
I was able to run for the first time and BREATHE. (Because my muscles could breathe, and my heart didn't have to work so hard to get O2 to them!) And no SVT attacks. Not a one.
I just wanted to share this because it took me two years to figure out what was wrong with me and fix it even though I was told I might just have to live with this for the rest of my life. Request a ferritin test. If you are below 80, IT CAN - AND DOES - AFFECT YOUR DAY TO DAY LIFE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ACTIVE.
Hi jgmajax,
I was a cross country runner and had to stop because I never knew when my heart would race. As I got older, playing all types of sports would trigger svt for me. I know how you feel! It's not fun. My advice is to see another cardiologist. I had an ablation done on 5/29 and I feel like a new person! I imagine there is a cardiologist out there who will get you in for an ablation. My cardiologist had to bug me for 10 years to get mine done. I wish I hadn't waited that long. Good luck and keep us posted!
I was a cross country runner and had to stop because I never knew when my heart would race. As I got older, playing all types of sports would trigger svt for me. I know how you feel! It's not fun. My advice is to see another cardiologist. I had an ablation done on 5/29 and I feel like a new person! I imagine there is a cardiologist out there who will get you in for an ablation. My cardiologist had to bug me for 10 years to get mine done. I wish I hadn't waited that long. Good luck and keep us posted!
Hi,
I've had intermittent SVT (or so I think as it's never been caught) since I was 18/19 regularly until I was 21 but I remember my first episode when I was about 13/14. What happens is, I can feel a skipped beat and then moments later my heart will unleash like h*ll going crazy and pounding away and then abruptly stop and be back to normal after 2-5 minutes.
It has destroyed my life, I was a semi-professional footballer, gym enthusiast...the lot. Very active.
However, I started getting panic attacks thinking I was going to suffer a cardiac arrest with these events. I shut up shop doing all things active and I am now 24 and have not had an episode in 3 years, purely because I have given up everything I loved which brought them on. I still suffer from anxiety, panic and depression and get serious panic attacks if I get tired and can feel my heart beating a little bit faster as I think I will suffer an attack.
My doctor won't give me an ablation because I don't get them that often and they have never caught them on tape, although I've had all the tests to try and catch it when it happens.
I am now agoraphobic too, I can't go on planes or on trains because I am "stuck" on them and if something happens I am not able to immediately seek help or attention.
It has completely ruined my life.
I've had intermittent SVT (or so I think as it's never been caught) since I was 18/19 regularly until I was 21 but I remember my first episode when I was about 13/14. What happens is, I can feel a skipped beat and then moments later my heart will unleash like h*ll going crazy and pounding away and then abruptly stop and be back to normal after 2-5 minutes.
It has destroyed my life, I was a semi-professional footballer, gym enthusiast...the lot. Very active.
However, I started getting panic attacks thinking I was going to suffer a cardiac arrest with these events. I shut up shop doing all things active and I am now 24 and have not had an episode in 3 years, purely because I have given up everything I loved which brought them on. I still suffer from anxiety, panic and depression and get serious panic attacks if I get tired and can feel my heart beating a little bit faster as I think I will suffer an attack.
My doctor won't give me an ablation because I don't get them that often and they have never caught them on tape, although I've had all the tests to try and catch it when it happens.
I am now agoraphobic too, I can't go on planes or on trains because I am "stuck" on them and if something happens I am not able to immediately seek help or attention.
It has completely ruined my life.
Hi,
I've had intermittent SVT (or so I think as it's never been caught) since I was 18/19 regularly until I was 21 but I remember my first episode when I was about 13/14. What happens is, I can feel a skipped beat and then moments later my heart will unleash like h*ll going crazy and pounding away and then abruptly stop and be back to normal after 2-5 minutes.
It has destroyed my life, I was a semi-professional footballer, gym enthusiast...the lot. Very active.
However, I started getting panic attacks thinking I was going to suffer a cardiac arrest with these events. I shut up shop doing all things active and I am now 24 and have not had an episode in 3 years, purely because I have given up everything I loved which brought them on. I still suffer from anxiety, panic and depression and get serious panic attacks if I get tired and can feel my heart beating a little bit faster as I think I will suffer an attack.
My doctor won't give me an ablation because I don't get them that often and they have never caught them on tape, although I've had all the tests to try and catch it when it happens.
I am now agoraphobic too, I can't go on planes or on trains because I am "stuck" on them and if something happens I am not able to immediately seek help or attention.
It has completely ruined my life.
I've had intermittent SVT (or so I think as it's never been caught) since I was 18/19 regularly until I was 21 but I remember my first episode when I was about 13/14. What happens is, I can feel a skipped beat and then moments later my heart will unleash like h*ll going crazy and pounding away and then abruptly stop and be back to normal after 2-5 minutes.
It has destroyed my life, I was a semi-professional footballer, gym enthusiast...the lot. Very active.
However, I started getting panic attacks thinking I was going to suffer a cardiac arrest with these events. I shut up shop doing all things active and I am now 24 and have not had an episode in 3 years, purely because I have given up everything I loved which brought them on. I still suffer from anxiety, panic and depression and get serious panic attacks if I get tired and can feel my heart beating a little bit faster as I think I will suffer an attack.
My doctor won't give me an ablation because I don't get them that often and they have never caught them on tape, although I've had all the tests to try and catch it when it happens.
I am now agoraphobic too, I can't go on planes or on trains because I am "stuck" on them and if something happens I am not able to immediately seek help or attention.
It has completely ruined my life.
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