I have had PVC'S, PAC'S, and short runs of SVT since 1995. Usually they are just very short runs that immediately kick out. SVT seems to be triggered by adrenaline, eating, and positional movement. Also baths.
Two nights ago I had just taken a long walk, took a bath, and was cooking dinner when I swallowed some pasta, moved a certain way and suddenly my heart when into a machine gun like rhythm. It literally went from 60 to 200 in a second. Whenever this has happened before it jumps right out of it, but this time it did not. I tried various vagal maneuvers and nothing worked.
After 10 mins I was feeling dizzy and SOB, so I called an ambulance. They picked up SVT at a rate of 177 bpm on the monitor. They gave me adenosine and it immediately slowed down to 80-90bpm. I was taken to the ER and the EP Dr. who saw me the next day said I was a good candidate for an ablation. I am not sure what kind of SVT it was, but am guessing it was an AVNRT. However, many years ago, a Dr. did see a short fun of Afib on a holter.
Anyway, I am not sure what to do now. He offered me the choice of meds (Atenolol) or Cryoablation. He is a top EP Dr. in Los Angeles.
I did try Atenolol many years ago but remember I still had some episodes and my heart rate came down too much because my normal resting rate can dip down into the 48 range anyway. The beta blocker also made me tired and very cold in the extremities.
He sent me home on 25mgs of Atenolol and told me to watch my HR.
I wanted to ask if anyone here has noticed a correlation between hiatal hernia and SVT, PVC'S, PAC's etc....I do have a hiatal hernia and have noticed that my SVT seems to be provoked by eating and the vagus nerve. If I move my neck a certain way, or lean back in my chair, pressing on my spine, I seem to get an irregular rhythm. There is a definite correlation.
Has anyone ever tried Proton Pump Inhibitors to relieve episodes of SVT? Someone on another forum said that Gasx works for them. I have noticed that coffee is more of a trigger for me not because of the caffeine but because of the acid it produces. Same with Wine.
Trying to decide what to do next because this has been happening for 14 yrs and has really limited my life. I keep wondering if it is safe to exercise (this causes reflux for me too) and always am wondering when it will happen next.
Seems my choices are beta blockers, an EP study with ablation or maybe some alternative treatment on the hiatal hernia and reflux.
I would appreciate any input! Thanks.