SVT (SupraVentricularTachycardia)...

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2003
SVT (SupraVentricularTachycardia)...
11
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 11:18am
Does anyone else have this condition (it's basically an irregular heartbeat due to an extra pathway, or something of the sort)?

After waiting six months, I will finally be seeing the head of Cardiac Surgery for UC Davis (she specializes in women's heart conditions and her resume is unbelieveable!).

I thought if anyone else has this condition or is familiar with it, I might get some ideas as to questions to ask.

Thanks,

Karen~

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 11:41am
Hope you find out what you can do for your condition, Karen. It sounds rare, and I have never heard of it.

I have mitral valve prolapse (leaky heart valve), but it's pretty common, I've read. I have a book at home about that condition.

Let us know how things go with your specialist. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Kat

Katherine (Kat)
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2003
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 11:57am
Hi Kat...They initially thought it was MVP, an echocardiogram showed otherwise (the valves are fine).

There is a 6 hr. invasive surgery they can do to correct the SVT, however; that does not appeal to me in the least!

I will let you know how it goes w/the specialist (appt is for next Monday).

Karen~

P.S. Hope you're feeling better:-)
Avatar for dmm11730
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 12:05pm
Karen my dd was born with Congenitive Heart Conditions, she has had 2 open heart ops. She has AVSD, which is Atrial/Ventricular Septum Defect. She was born with a huge hole in the center of her heart, effection the center wall. Her first op was when she was 9 months and the repaired the hole using a graph with the heart lining. Her 2nd op was when she was 6 and at the time they tried to repair her mitral valve. Just like Kat, Katie's mitral valve leaks, alot more then it should even after the operation. She is on meds to help control it and we are hoping she may never need another operation. If meds can contol the problem and she goes for her biyearly checkup and all is well then we are happy. It is something many people do live with. What type of problems have you had? Was this detected before you had your son? Make sure you get more then 2 opinions, and read as much as you can learn. There is a board here on ivillage about heart cond, not sure if its is just restricted to children but you may want to check it out. Lots of luck and please keep us posted. God Bless,

Deb

Debbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 12:12pm
Thanks, Karen. I feel better as the day progresses (with the sinuses & wisdom toothache). With the MVP, I sometimes notice extra beats, but I think I cope with it pretty well. I was diagnosed with it in my 20's. I tend to want soothing & calming things around me as much as possible to prevent panic attacks. This a.m., I was listening to my favorite Benedictine Monks Chants CD in the car - makes me feel like I am in a medieval church, and there I can dwell on the spiritual. I also enjoy reading books by the Dalai Lama and Deepak Chopra. I really need to check into the aromatherapy! I was happy to read in my book about MVP that cardio exercise is very good for it!

I was reading about the SVT, and that sounds more serious than the MVP - the symptoms are too! I'd hate to get dizzy & not get enough oxygen. Will keep my fingers crossed that you will receive answers. In the meantime, keep your life calm, serene & soothing as much as possible.

Hugs,

Kat

Katherine (Kat)
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2003
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 12:19pm
Oh my Deb, you are all too familiar with heart dis-orders. I am so happy to hear that your daughter is doing well, but you must have been terrified when she was diagnosed! Thank God for modern medicine, and being that she's under close supervision must give you both a great, piece of mind!

I first noticed heart palipitations a few years ago. Doctors said I had anxiety, I told them I wasn't anxious, they insisted I was! A year later they said I had a heart murmur, it was MVP, and they finally decided to do some tests (echo, bloodwork, and EKG). It was not MVP. Last year I insisted I didn't have anxiety and it wasn't caffeine, that something else was wrong. Finally, they hooked me up to an event recorder and I had an episode (it only lasts a few seconds, it just feels as though my heartbeat is off-track). It was diagnosed as SVT. There are many variations, mine is not life-threatening (as far as they know). There is an extra passageway in the atria that could have been caused by an illness, congenital, or giving birth. Many women are diagnosed with this and are on betablockers. My episodes are not serious enough to where I want to go on meds or have the surgery. That said, I will hear what the specialist has to say and see what she recommends.

Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge, and again, I'm so happy to hear that your daughter is doing well.

Karen~
Avatar for bootywhompus
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 2:14pm
Wow! Have I got goosebumps! We were just talking about that Chant CD at lunchtime and one of the guys said, "Who would listen to that in the car?" So now I can tell him. I didn't think it was a crazy idea at all.

That's just a weird coincidence!

Lori

Lori

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 4:58pm
My DH has it. He's on meds for the rest of his life. A friend's daughter has it and had the surgery. Didn't fix the problem. She's on meds the rest of her life and had lots of complications during the surgery. She was 15 at the time. I would STRONGLY suggest you get a second opinion before you decide either way. Let us know...

Hugs.

Sassy.

 

                        

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2003
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 5:33pm
Sassy....do you know what form of SVT your DH has? There are several types, I have the most mild form. From what I understand, it depends on which part of heart the SVT occurs.

Do you know what kind of complications your friend's daughter had? I was told that a pacemaker could be a possiblity, or having to have the paddles used (both are so inviting!!).

Thanks for the info.,

Karen~

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2003
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 10:54pm
Hi: My name is Kim and I am 48 yrs old. I started having probs with SVT just before age 30...several really bad "attacks" that sent me to the ER for IV meds to reduce my heart rate. I took Inderal for a period of about 6 months. After that, I had very little problem for years...until about 8 weeks ago. The ironic thing is, I had just had a complete P.E. with a brand new doctor who took the usual information and I told him my previous probs with SVT but that hadn't had a problem in years...the same week I was BACK in the emergency room with almost my worst attack ever. Wish I hadn't opened my mouth!

I have had several "cardiac work-ups" for this condition and was basically told that it was made worse by stress. Since I am a registered nurse, stress is a BIG part of my life. The best thing to try to do when having an attack (I know this is hard) is to try to remain as calm as possible, take a big deep breath and hold it almost like bearing down to have a BM (actually this is called a Valsalva maneuver). That usually helped me, but this last attack, it didn't, and I actually got VERY fuzzy headed and couldn't think straight so I ended up calling an ambulance.

The MD put me back on Inderal, but this time, it has made me feel so sluggish, so I stopped taking it.

I hope it helps to know that someone else has this problem...lots of women do, and some women have another problem called mitral valve prolapse which is associated with SVT. At first, I was told this, then the second cardiac work-up, I was told I did not...so go figure.

Hope this helps...regular exercise, stress reduction and lots of sleep helps.

Kimberly K. Clements, RN, ADN, MAT

www.lovestayinghome.com

wellnesswoman@iglide.net
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2003
Tue, 07-22-2003 - 11:41pm
Hi Kim...I am so confused (and terrified)! How long do your attacks last? Mine last anywhere from 5-40 seconds, and usually I just keep doing what I'm doing and it goes away.

It sounds as though the attacks can get much worse, is that correct? The thought of going to a hospital or calling an ambulance is terrifying! Why exactly do you get light-headed? I was also told that as you get older (mine started in my 30's, I'm now 40)it could eithor get worse or get better. Have you thought about the surgery that's available to correct this? How fast does your heartbeat get? Mine gets to about 140 (it's usually at 60). Sorry for all the questions, I just realized that I'm so uninformed on this topic, and I want to make sure that I have all my bases covered when I meat the Cardiac Specialist (6 mos I've had to wait!). Also, I was told it is definitely NOT life-threatening....do you believe this?

Again, so for so many questions Kim:-(

Thanks,

Karen~

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