Does anyone else have SVT (supraventricular tachycardia)? I'm thinking about getting the ablation to correct it, but I'd like some more information about recovery, etc.

I'm Trisha and I am 19 years old. I had an ablation done in November of 2007. The procedure is pretty painless although sometimes you can feel the cathaders and it can be a bit uncomfortable. When I had mine done the doctors were great and if you tell them you are feeling some slight discomfort they will adjust the cathader so you feel as little as possible. The only thing I did not like about the procedure is when they gave me some drugs to trigger my Arythmia. It was a very intence feeling but, the doctors took good care of me. I was in surgery for about 5 hours and I would say that it wasnt bad at all and I was scared about being awake for the surgery. For the recovery.. I would say in a few days (two or three) you will be feeling fine. At least that was the case for me. I hope your ablation goes well and they can correct the problem for you. I have to go in for a second one because since I am so young my pathways are REALLY close together and I have to wait a while until they grow a little further apart. Which type are you thinking of getting? Did you want a burn ablation or a freeze ablation?

I wish you all the luck with your choice and if you want to contact me for more questions my email is linkinparklvr989@yahoo.com

I am going to find out a date for my ablation next Friday.
My understanding of recovery is that you should take it easy for a day or two after the surgery, not exercise for five days, but there seems to be an incredibly minimal recovery time.
I have been told that if I go in for my ablation at 6 am that I should be ready to leave by noon. You need to lay quietly for four hours after the procedure. After that, you're good to go !!!
Best wishes to you as you make your decision. I've had SVTs for almost ten years now, and I am looking forward to not needing Adenosine anymore and those trips to the ER !!

So did you ever get the ablation, Chelsea? I was in the ER last week with SVT after 185bpm for three hours. Previously I'd been able to stop it with vagal maneuvers and relaxation, but this time they had to use adenosine. A calcium channel blocker now seems to be working well. But from what I've read, the ablation is almost always effective and not particularly painful.

Helo ( =
Im 16 years old and i have svt.
It is certainly NOT fatal i have asked doctor after doctor.. My parents have asked doctor after doctor.
Stand on ur head ( = All the blood rushes to ur head and slows ur heart rate down.. Put cold things on the back of your neck and on your nose and hold your breath.. Always works for me. I know its very worrying when you have an episode of svt but if you keep calm and hold your breath stand on your head or whatever method you use it should be fine in a couple of hours x

I have it, I was freaked out at first when I was told I had it. But the more research I did, the better I feel about it. I changed jobs to avoid stress, but rarely I'll have an "episode" and I just take deep breaths (holding your breath on the inhale to slow heart rate), and you can even "squeeze" your muscles (kinda the same muscles as when you have a BM, I know that sounds weird) and that helps too. These things help me enough to where I'm not greatly bothered by it. Although, I do plan on getting more tests to make sure I'm completely healthy and I haven't ruled out surgery completely, maybe one day. No matter how normal I can be most of the time, I'm still uncomfortable with the idea in general.

How did everyone else get it? I had a really stressful job, working tons of hours, not getting much sleep, stressed a lot at work, and drinking lots of coffee. I avoid lots of coffee and caffeine, stress, and lack of sleep. I still don't know too much about it, and it's nice to hear about other's experiences with it.

SVT is a benign rythem... it is not fatal and converts itself most of the time. I know, I have it. If it happens often enough and you feel it's affecting your life then have it treated with meds or ablation. But don't listen to the fatalistic drama queen who gave you your first answer.

I had 2 episodes in my life White Parkinson Syndrome or SVT. When the last episode happened I read online to sit as if you are in a bathroom doing #2 and lean forward and hold your breath for 20-30 seconds, I did its really hard to hold your breath but it worked my heart rate was back to normal. Does anyone know a good Doc for Ablation in Sacramento, CA area?

How do you make sure its a good Doc thats doing Ablation any reccomendations? Does your insurance cover the whole thing? because I found out on google procedure cost range about $10,000 - $12,000

I have it too. Mine isn't that bad yet, I can just do the different positions and it finishes quickly. I was diagnosed when I was 6. so i've had it for a while. Is yours so bad that u can't just take meds or something,to lessen your episodes? You know, if it goes wrong your heart can actually get a DAMAGED! heart. That wouldn't be fun!:'

yes i had SVT and the prucedure is soo easy and not risky it can be treated during EPS(electrophysioligy study)
you will need 1 day to recover and you will be back to normal life
best wishs
p.s: SVT indicats to heart disorders so u should know that like WPW syndrom so u should know what couses it to happen?

I am a 20 year old female. I have had SVT since I was in fourth grade. FIRST OFF ITS NOT FATAL. So to you nurses, and other idiots stop telling people it is. I have been to the ER so many times with it and see a cardiologist. Your heart can beat up to 300bpm for 2 days and you wont die. As long as its a normal rhythem. Its only dangerous when the rhythem of the heart is not steady and is spuratic. Thats when you need to seek medical attention. Yes its good to see a cardiologist to make sure it is not cause by and underlying heart condition. The main causes of SVT include : stress, anxiety, caffiene, nicotine, or sometimes there is no reason. It is when your natural pacemaker in your heart stops woring properly, and the heart begins to beat fast. If it lasts too long that you cant tolorate it try the following ( bear down as if having a bowel movement, gagging yourself also helps slow the heart down, lie down, or professionals can perform a cardodid massage which will cause the heart to return to a normal pace. When I get it I feel a flutter or drop in my chest and it just goes up to 180-250bpm. Its like my heart has its own mind. Anyway I know what I am talking about. trust me, i also have panic disorder, but my svt is separate. it began before my panic disordr began. Dont believe these people. As an experienced SVT sufferer I know how scary it can be. It feels like your hart is going to stop, explode or just give out, but it wont. The human heart does not stop for no reason. Its a simple benign heart arrhythmia. I have had sonograms of my heart, thousands of ekgs, and blood tests. Dont worry you will live. and I know you are worried of when i will happenagain but dont tink about it, because it can bring it on also, the mind is a powerful thing. So if your doctor has dagnosed you with SVT, most likely your fine. its and annoyance but thousands live a normal life with it. Unles you experience it very ofen such as everyday, youmay want to look into options to stop it. However, its not fatal for the last time. If anyone would like to talk to me or ask any questions i am here to help, beause I know how alone you feel and how scary it can be. My email is Maholko@neo.rr.com. Do not worry, you will make it. and as fast as they start they stop suddenly. Of course everyone will experience SVT differently. No person is the same. Hope this helps.

Hi. My son is thirteen and he was diagnosed with SVT last year in September 2009. He had the ablation in May, 2010. It is supposed to correct it and is 80% chance that it will. Unfortunately, my son was in the 20% that did not. However, his dr. said his condition was a rare form. It did give it a good kick and stopped it until October. He had his worst episode ever. He had never lost breath before and this time he did. They did get it down in the ER but we go back tomorrow to the cardiologist to see what his options are. I would like to learn as much as possible about this condition as I can. Is it life threatning? Can he have a heart attack from these attacks if his heart is not repaired? I am very scared of what I do not know. I would be interested to hear from anyone that knows or has this and how it has affected your lives. It has turned mine upside down. I am scared every day that I am going to get a call from school or the doctor that his heart has stopped. Please keep my family in your prayers. Thanks. The Melton Family.

Sherryrenae: you are wrong when you say SVT/PSVT can't be fatal! They are benign only if a person gets an episode every now and then. They CAN BE be fatal when they occur daily. The heart gets damaged from having to pump that fast. And you must seek medical treatment for an SVT attack that lasts for hours.

Incessant PSVT, that is where the person has one PSVT episode after the other for hours will eventually cause a tachyarrhythmia cardiomyopathy or heart failure.

Getting a few PACs and PVCs now and then will not damage the heart. either, but getting thousands of PACs daily will damage the heart within a matter of months.

How do I know this? I'm an RN who has worked in a Cardiac Care Unit with these types of patients.

I just met with a Cardiologist this week regarding my SVT. I was admitted to the hospital with a heart rate of 280. No, I am not confusing heart rate with blood pressure, my actual heart rate was 280 bpm. SVT can be fatal in more serious cases if left untreated. The cardiologist told me that I was very lucky that I went to the hospital when I did. An adult body can not withstand a heart rate that high for any extended amount of time. I am having ablation done next week and look forward to a life without these horrid attacks.

Me im 12 and last night at cheerleading practice 2/6/12 i had an episode at about 7:30pm i went home rested put ice on my chest nothing stopped i tried to go to sleep but it hurt soo bad so i was half asleep until like 5 oclock and i completely fell asleep i woke up at 5:30 am and my chest hurt still and my heart was beating fast still i sat in my bed until 6:30am heart still beating...my mom almost brought me to the er but then while she was hetting my little sister ready for school my heart beat went away and still right now at 9:00am i cant feel my heart beat the svt episode lasted about 12 hours.... is this normal cuz im freaking out!!??

My mother has recently been diagnosed with SVT and has had a few taci episodes and received injections to calm her heart. She has been referred for an ablation in March and I would be really grateful for info from anyone who has had the procedure so we can know what to expect with regards to pain and recovery etc. Thank you.

When ever I have an attack (usually under stress) I sit down and take a long deep breath. Super deep till it streaches my lungs and then just hold my breath. It usually stops in just a couple seconds. Even though the doctor says not to worry it still freaks you out. Anyway thats my trick for dealing with it.

SVT is a medical emergency. It means your heart is beatins at least 220 x a minute, are you sure you have the right condition? That is an ICU admission there. That is an often fatal arrythmia

i have svt it is not fatal,it is a terrible thing to have .but is NOT fatal.i just had an episode an hour ago,stopped it by coughing really hard/gagging.i cant take the meds.and dont like the ideal of surgery.(it can actually do more harm)my sister had it and it made her worse.i was told for 15 years i had panic attacks finally an event moniter picked up an episode.my ekg and echo were both normal.i am so tired of never knowing when im gonna have one.most of the time its when i least expect it.but for the person who wrote that its fatal..thats just not true.i have two cardio drs. both have told me its not fatal..but they are so disturbing im sick of them..my e-mail tishhnly@yahoo.com if ya just ever want to talk.sometimes it helps to know your not alone.hugss to all of you.