Anyone here have PSVT?

[rascalmom]

Are you on meds or have you done the ablation?

How often do you have episodes? Any luck getting them to stop yourself? I had one last night that lasted about 2 hours - I was really torn about whether to go to the ER or not.

My doctor just switched me from Toprol to a new med because of the side effects (severe dry eyes), but I've had 2 episodes this week. I'm kind of scared & I'm not sure what to do.

 

[nativetxn]

I don't know what PSVT is, I'm sorry that you are having a difficult time now.

Katholyn

 

[rascalmom]

Thanks - I had never heard of it either. It's a heart problem where you have periodic rapid or irregular heart beats.

 

[hugsquared]

I have it and take Toprol. Every once in a blue moon I'll have break through but for the most part the Toprol keeps it under control. I can't remember what I was on before the Toprol, its been like 4-5 years now, but it didn't really help. Its a horrible feeling. Last episode I had I thought I was going to pass out...things started getting really dark and I just knew I was a goner. I usually squat down and that seems to make me vagal back out of it. I've never had it last 2 hours...I would be frantic. Good luck and I'd be interested to hear what your doctor says.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I take toprol for hbp but do not know what psvt is?

 

[mrsv98]

This runs in my family, DDad had it and had the ablation, worked a treat and no reoccurrence. My DSis has it and has used medication. Several times, her cardiologist has sent her home with a halter monitor and it NEVER catches and attack...she takes the darn thing back and her heart goes kerblooie! Figures.

I have a very mild run of svt every once in a while but not enough to bother me or make me go for treatment

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a rapid heart rate, which occurs from time to time (paroxysmal).

 

[rascalmom]

This runs in my family, DDad had it and had the ablation, worked a treat and no reoccurrence. My DSis has it and has used medication. Several times, her cardiologist has sent her home with a halter monitor and it NEVER catches and attack...she takes the darn thing back and her heart goes kerblooie! Figures.

I have a very mild run of svt every once in a while but not enough to bother me or make me go for treatment

I wore the monitor for about a month, of course it never happened during that month. I had a really bad episode this summer - I was out running errands with my husband when it happened. He took my pulse & took me straight to the hospital - I think up to that time he didn't understand what I was going through. When they checked me in the ER my heartrate was 180. The put me on a monitor right away - that was what finally got me a diagnosis. PSVT was what my doctor had suspected, but those results gave them definite evidence. I've got to do more research on the ablation - it sounds scary, but so are these "episodes". I'm afraid I'll have one while I am driving or something & actually pass out.

I tried the vagal excercise, the ice water on the face & the carotid massage on Saturday. I just kept tacking along, so DH went to Walgreens & picked up a blood pressure monitor. Not sure if the pressure on my arm helped stop it, but the attack did stop right after he took my bp. Heart rate was only 100 at that time - so not as severe as this summer. But it bothers me that I have had 2 in the past week. There doesn't seem to be a trigger - I was standing in the kitchen making a salad this last time. I've run all over WDW & never had a problem.

Doc said if I keep having them that he will send me to talk to a specialist about the ablation...not something that sounds really fun. Glad your dd had success.

 

[rascalmom]

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a rapid heart rate, which occurs from time to time (paroxysmal).

Yes - I couldn't remember the medical jargon behind the acronym. Thanks for spelling all of that out for me!

 

[Catzeyes]

Yes I have it and also control it with Toprol. I have been taking it for 3 years now and it was working fine. Last month I thought I was having another heart attack. The heart racing and beats got reallty bad. My cardiologist doubled the amount of Toprol and that has helped with the episodes, however now I am so dizzy it is driving me crazy.

 

[rascalmom]

I never had any dizziness with the Toprol, but it caused me to have severely dry eyes. I already have this weird eye condition, & the Toprol was making it much worse. My optometrist even tried putting in artificial plugs in tear ducts ( lower - the ones that drain your eyes ) to try to get me some relief. It didn't work so they have tried switching me to Verapamil.

 

[hugsquared]

There doesn't seem to be a trigger - I was standing in the kitchen making a salad this last time. I've run all over WDW & never had a problem.

.

My worst attack was while folding clothes...I had to break it to DH that being a Domestic Godess was killing me and I think I should have a maid. Yeah, I'm still doing my own house work.

 

[MScott1851]

My worst attack was while folding clothes...I had to break it to DH that being a Domestic Goddess was killing me and I think I should have a maid. Yeah, I'm still doing my own house work.

Believe it or not, so was mine! I had just took off my robe and threw it in with the towels when it started and the next thing I knew, my throat started bulging and felt like it was going to explode, everything went gray and cold and sweaty, and I knew to start bearing down hard enough to give birth...I kept thinking, I'm going to die naked in the laundry room.

It is the worst feeling in the world. Luckily, I've only had about 10 or so episodes in the past five years. My EP put me on a Holter for a week three separate times, and never could catch a run. He doesn't doubt me, since I work in a cardiac care ER, but it's frustrating as heck to not be able to get a strip. I caught the last 10 seconds of my last episode on a monitor at work, but the EKG tech wasn't there yet to record it on a 12-lead.

 

[hugsquared]

Believe it or not, so was mine! I had just took off my robe and threw it in with the towels when it started and the next thing I knew, my throat started bulging and felt like it was going to explode, everything went gray and cold and sweaty, and I knew to start bearing down hard enough to give birth...I kept thinking, I'm going to die naked in the laundry room.

It is the worst feeling in the world. Luckily, I've only had about 10 or so episodes in the past five years. My EP put me on a Holter for a week three separate times, and never could catch a run. He doesn't doubt me, since I work in a cardiac care ER, but it's frustrating as heck to not be able to get a strip. I caught the last 10 seconds of my last episode on a monitor at work, but the EKG tech wasn't there yet to record it on a 12-lead.

So funny because I'm a nurse too. Perhaps thats the link? I have been put on the holter monitor...nothing. I worked in the OR then, so one day it started and yelled at one of the CRNA's to hook me up to the monitor fast. I think I scared the bejeezus out of them...finally I caught an episode. My PCP was literally across the street so as soon as it stopped, I ran over and gleefully handed him my strip. He laughed at me. Oh well, I felt better with him knowing it wasn't all in my head. He never doubted me but I always felt stupid that they never "caught" an episode.
I still think it may all revolve around housekeeping of some sort. I should really petition for that maid again.

 

[poohandwendy]

Yes, my psvts seemed almost constant by the time I had my RFCA (radio frequency catheter ablation) about 5 years ago. I would say I had episodes at least 10 times per day (on average). I tried about 10 different meds before I had the ablation. They would all work for a while and then my psvts would come back. I didn't have any luck getting them to go away myself. I was sort of at their mercy. It wasn't any fun at all.

During the ablation, they were able to get all but one spot that was causing the arrhythmia. (they ended up doing 5 or 6 'burns') That one spot was too close to my sinus node to be cauterized safely (I would have ended up with a pace maker if things went wrong), so I do have some irregular beats every now and again...but NOTHING like I was having. I take no medication now, it's great. I was told that my psvts 'could' come back again in the future, I will deal with that when/if the time comes. Sometimes people need more than one ablation procedure.

The strangest thing about the procedure was not being able to feel my heartbeat afterwards. I had had psvts for so many years that I was used to that feeling. It almost seemed wrong not to feel the thumping. It just seemed too quiet, LOL.

I highly recommend the ablation, even though I had some complications with mine...I would do it again in a heartbeat (LOL) to get the same results. If you have any further questions, just ask here or send me a pm.

If you have rhthym irregularities (without other heart issues), I really would recommend that you find a good electrophysiologist (EP) to work with you. A cardiologist is a 'plumber' and an EP is an 'electrician' when it comes to heart problems. When you have electrical problems, you need an electrician. (Btw, this is what my own cardiologist actually told me when referring me to an EP, LOL)

I just think it is best to deal with someone who specializes in that area of heart issues, if you have any EPs in your area.

 

[poohandwendy]

Just wanted to mention some things that would make my psvts worse (things I tried to avoid):

-fever/infection (I could always tell when I was going to get sick because it would get worse)
-fatigue
-alcohol
-caffeine
-sinus headache
-cold medicines
-beginning of my period (I have no idea why, and obviously I couldn't avoid it, LOL)

There are so many things that can be triggers, it is important to find out what yours are.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a rapid heart rate, which occurs from time to time (paroxysmal).

OH I have had that too mabye that is another reason I am on Toprol. Thanks for the info. My heart rate was up t 155 one day and when I told the dr. he flipped out. I guess that is the reason for the toprol and not another bp drug. I do feel much better on it. ONe question for those of you who take it have you noticed any hair loss? I fell like there is more hair in the sink when I style it and wash it.