This is what the cardiologists said....need your opinion

[annako]

Hello all.   I am the lady who  has a history of pvc's and pac's for many years who about 3 weeks ago experienced heart flutters that lasted like 6 seconds or so and made me lightheaded and I had an absent pulse.  Well, since then I have been to 2 cardiologists to get their opinion and both of them after viewing 3 different ekg's and an echocardiogram plus an extensive blood work up tell me I am fine.  That the fluttering was likely an atrial tachycardia of some sort and not to worry. Neither of the doc's wanted to put me on beta blockers as they felt my pulse rate and BP were just great and they said there was a lot of side effects to beta blockers.  I am booked for a holter in August, they will let me know.  One cardiologist told me he just saw a 60 year old man who is in constant bigiemy and trigemy (hope I spelled them right) for the last 5 years and leads a normal life.   He said that lightheadedness is common when experiencing arrhythmias (especially a burst of SVT or run's of PVC's or PAC's) because the heart is not beating the way it should and though not dangerous in a healthy heart, it can cause dizziness or mild SOB.  He also told me that the absent pulse in the wrist was not really an absent pulse but just not detectable at the wrist for those few seconds because of the palpitations whatever rhythm it might be, and that if my heart really had been absent for even 3 seconds I would be out cold on the floor.   I am posting this hoping that maybe some of you who suffer the same kinds of arrhythmia might get some reassurance as to what two different cardio's told me, but I am also wondering what you all think about these statements.  Your opinions are valued.  Oh, I did ask both doc's if they thought it might be v-tach and both said very very unlikely and that a healthy, structurally normal heart can and will take a short run of v-tach with no problem, and not to worry.  I mean I SOOO want to believe these doc's and move forward but that lightheadedness that accompanied that 6 second fluttering, that just scared me so bad I am having difficulty.  Hope to hear your thoughts on this especially about the lightheaded feeling, is that really as common with palps as they say?  Thanks again!

[bigkev414]

Same here! I have had bouts of SVT's for over 15 years since taking a heavy dose of Sudafed for hay fever. When it first 'kicks in' I get a sudden feeling just as you described, light headed, vision goes a bit dim for a few seconds and away it races. Up to 230bpm.  My wrist pulse is undetectable too because it's just too fast to feel when it first starts up. I also get a bit puffy and can't keep still - kind of like restless legs all over.
My SVT's are like yours nicolette, sometimes just a couple of minutes or less up to 3 hours. (you win with 11)
Also unpredictable and very upsetting, but repeated ECG's show no problems other than the SVTs. Have had to have it reverted by injection twice in the ER and have had holter, echo cardiogram, stress test etc. They can tell from the ECG what type of rythym it is. Don't worry (I do enough for all of us) you will be OK. They know what the're talking about. I take a valium and beta blocker now if I have an attack and just stay home till it reverts unless it goes on too long.

[nicolette36]

my attacks could last anything from a few seconds to my worst which was 11 hours,svt can be fairly unpredictable.

[Momto3]

No "normal" pulse for me either....Even some of the docs and nurses looked at me funny when I was fluttering away.  

Everything the docs said is right in line with what I've also been told.  Rest assured, I think you're in good hands and you're gonna be fine.  : )

Great report!

[annako]

Thanks for your input.  I was wondering, how long did your episodes last of SVT?  and does lightheadness always accompany your flutters?

[nicolette36]

well i can only talk from my own experience.with my svt,when having an attack no way could i get my wrist pulse because my pulse was so fast,and the light headedness was normal for me too.