anyone else suffer from episodes of SVT?

Question

I am 22 yrs old, with cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction of 35-40 right now), i have an AICD, and have had 2 ablations, i take tambocor, lisinopril, amiodarone, aldactone, cardizem, and toprol XL...but i keep having these bad epoisodes of SVT, chest pain, lightheaded, hr of 180-200...always have to go into ER and get iv adenosine, usually admitted overnight....ive seen 3 different cardiologists, and 4 EP dr's, and all anyone wants to do is another ablation, which i dont want, cuz neither has been successful anyways, i was just wondering if anyone knew of anything else...different meds that have worked, trials, anything, im desperate! thanks!

Answer 1

Already your EF is towards the lower side, I have this topic searched out for you so that you can fully understand your future line of action.

Treating tachycardias
For tachycardias originating in the atria or ventricles, treatments may include one or more of the following:

* Vagal maneuvers. You may be able to stop a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) by using particular maneuvers, which include holding your breath and straining, dunking your face in ice water, or coughing. Your doctor may be able to recommend other maneuvers to halt a fast heartbeat. These maneuvers affect the nervous system that controls your heartbeat (vagal nerves), often causing your heart rate to slow.
* Medications. Many types of tachycardias respond well to anti-arrhythmic medications. Though they don't cure the problem, they can reduce episodes of tachycardia or slow down the heart when an episode occurs. Some medications can slow down your heart so much that you may need a pacemaker. It's very important to take any anti-arrhythmic medication exactly as directed by your doctor in order to avoid complications.
* Cardioversion. If you have an atrial tachycardia, including atrial fibrillation, your doctor may use cardioversion, which is an electrical shock used to reset your heart to its regular rhythm. Usually this is done externally in a monitored setting, and you're given medication to sedate you during the procedure, so there's no pain involved.
* Cardiac ablation. In this procedure, one or more catheters are threaded through your blood vessels to your inner heart. They're positioned on areas of your heart identified by your doctor as causing your arrhythmia. Electrodes at the catheter tips are heated with radiofrequency energy. Another method involves cooling the tips of the catheters, which freezes the problem tissue. Either method destroys (ablates) a small spot of heart tissue and creates an electrical block along the pathway that's causing your arrhythmia. Usually, this stops your arrhythmia.

Implantable devices
Treatment for heart arrhythmias also may involve use of an implantable device:

* Pacemaker. A pacemaker is an implantable device that helps regulate slow heartbeats (bradycardia). A small battery-driven device is placed under the skin near the collarbone in a minor surgical procedure. An insulated wire extends from the device to the right side of the heart, where it's permanently anchored. If a pacemaker detects a heart rate that's too slow or no heartbeat at all, it emits electrical impulses that stimulate your heart to speed up or begin beating again. Most pacemakers have a sensing device that turns them off when your heartbeat is above a certain level. It turns back on when your heartbeat is too slow. Most people can be discharged from the hospital one to two days after a pacemaker is implanted.
* Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Your doctor may recommend this device if you're at high risk of developing a dangerous ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricle fibrillation (VF). Implantable defibrillator units designed to treat atrial fibrillation also are available. An ICD is a battery-powered unit that's implanted near the left collarbone. One or more electrode-tipped wires from the ICD run through veins to the heart. The ICD continuously monitors your heart rhythm. If it detects a rhythm that's too slow, it paces the heart as a pacemaker would. If it detects VT or VF, it sends out low- or high-energy shocks to reset the heart to a normal rhythm. An ICD may lessen your chance of having a fatal arrhythmia, compared with preventive drug treatment.

Surgical treatments
In some cases, surgery may be the recommended treatment for heart arrhythmias:

* Maze procedure. This involves making a series of surgical incisions in the atria. These heal into carefully placed scars in the atria that form boundaries that force electrical activation to proceed in an orderly manner from top to bottom. The procedure has a high success rate, but because it requires open-heart surgery, it's usually reserved for people who don't respond to other treatments. The surgeon may use a cryoprobe — an instrument for applying extreme cold to tissue — or a hand-held radiofrequency probe, rather than a scalpel, to create the scars.
* Ventricular aneurysm surgery. In some cases, an aneurysm in the heart is the cause of an arrhythmia. If catheter ablation and implanted ICD don't work, you may need this surgery. It involves removing the bulge (aneurysm) that's causing your arrhythmia. By removing the source of the abnormal impulses, the arrhythmia often can be eliminated.
* Coronary bypass surgery. If you have severe coronary artery disease in addition to frequent ventricular tachycardia, your doctor may recommend coronary bypass surgery. This may improve the blood supply to your heart and reduce the frequency of your ventricular tachycardia.

Answer 2

I have had SVTs but did not have one for more than a year now. I was on beta-blocker (Bisoprolol) for awhile but that did not suit me. I was also put on calcium channel blocker (verapamil) but i was taken off for a month because of never ending fatigue. What I did was to completely avoid caffeine. I make sure that the food and drink that I have does not have caffeine. I also avoid colas all together. I also make sure that I sleep early and as much as possible avoid late nights. I also avoid drinking alcohol which can also trigger SVT. I don't take recreational drugs so that is not really a problem for me but what I have gathered from my cardiologist can also trigger SVTs.

My SVT is triggered by loads of caffeine intake but the cause of your SVT is different. You have cardiomyopathy. You will still have the SVT even though you will modify the preventive measures that I have mentioned. You are on a cocktail of cardiac drugs and I am just wondering how well you are taking those medications. Considering how bad you are when you have your episodes, I think all you need is to have another ablation. This may sound like a dead end answer but first try all those measures that I have mentioned if not get back to me.

I really feel for you.

Answer 3

I have SVT, my advice is to listen to your body and avoid things that you know would trigger an event. Start any activity slowly and do it in moderation (not too slow and not too fast). Also, listen to your doctor because he/she know your medical history best. I had taken propanolol but then a new doctor told me it does not work as well. So I take Metoprolol. Good luck.