Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Should I call an ambulance for this?

87 replies

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 21:49

i unfortunately take SVT attacks which can be very nasty and stubborn to convert out of. I’m very familiar with the symptoms when it starts and know exactly when I’m in SVT.

usually I just make my own way to a&e- I’ve previously walked over, called a taxi, got a bus etc. it feels awful, absolutely awful, but my logic has always been that SVT isn’t life threatening so it’s never occurred to me to call an ambulance no matter how bad it feels

Unfortunately I had an episode recently whilst in a different unrelated medical setting and they insisted on calling an ambulance, despite me saying I was more than happy to make my own way to a&e. I understand thought they were helping and im NOT complaining about that. The ambulance came, took me to hospital- the paramedics were lovely but I deep down was mortified that they had been called out to help me for something that isn’t life threatening

Usually I just make my own way to hospital, but after a recent attack a few months ago a nurse told me I categorically must call an ambulance next time and if I’m in SVT then I should never risk going on a bus or taxi to hospital myself etc. But I’ve got this inbuilt fear of being a time waster and wasting resources especially when people wait 10+ hours for ambulances already. And I’ve also been told by other staff before that it’s fine to make my own way to hospital so it’s a bit confusing

just wondered if any paramedics etc on here could advise- is this something that would warrant an ambulance call in future? Or is it something I should make my own way to a&e with if I can and deep down you’d be thinking I’m a bit of a timewaster if you got called out to it since it’s not immediately life threatening? I don’t want to waste anyone’s time but equally if it’s unwise to make my own way to hospital then I don’t want to do that either! And I’ve always felt so, so guilty about that ambulance which was called out to me and potentially someone else had to wait longer because of it x

OP posts:
DevilWitch · 11/01/2025 22:38

I also have SVT but not as severe as you, I can always convert myself alongside a beta blocker. I was told if it lasts longer than 30 minutes I’ve to call an ambulance, I haven’t needed to yet, thankfully

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:38

Mirabai · 11/01/2025 22:36

Alright - I hadn’t read your post at that point that said yours only stop with cardioversion, that’s not that common. I was just responding to your comment that you felt like you were going to die.

I just find keeping calm helps them pass off more quickly. I’m sorry if that’s not relevant to you but I didn’t know that.

Yeah I appreciate that, and I wasn’t having a go at you so im sorry if it came across like that, but it’s just blanket statements like ‘By the time you get to A&E it will have stopped’ are not true for a lot of people x

OP posts:
Mirabai · 11/01/2025 22:36

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:32

Sorry but I understand you’re trying to help but that’s quite patronising

it doesn’t stop by the time I go to a&e- I’ve been in SVT for 12 hours before with my heart going at 200. Only after 3 cardioversion shocks did I come out of it

it’s nothing to do with anxiety (which I dont even have!)

Alright - I hadn’t read your post at that point that said yours only stop with cardioversion, that’s not that common. I was just responding to your comment that you felt like you were going to die.

I just find keeping calm helps them pass off more quickly. I’m sorry if that’s not relevant to you but I didn’t know that.

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:35

SeaToSki · 11/01/2025 22:26

How often do you end up needing cardioversion…thats a pretty hard core solution, all be it that it sounds necessary…i would be pushing hard for that ablation asap and trying some new medications in the meantime

Yeah, I was thinking of actually going private for the next ablation to speed up the wait (although I’ve not really looked into it properly yet)

im on a new med regime which I’m hoping will help more 🤞🏾

I’ve probably been DC cardioverted 4 or 5 times in 2024, I actually can’t remember and have lost count but something along those lines

OP posts:
TheBoots · 11/01/2025 22:32

FrannyScraps · 11/01/2025 21:55

I've no idea what SVT is and you didn't describe or explain what it is either.

Google is free. Not sure why you are choosing to announce ignorance of a common health condition.

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:32

Mirabai · 11/01/2025 22:28

Just try not to panic, think calming thoughts as anxiety makes it worse.

By the time you get to A&E it will have stopped.

Sorry but I understand you’re trying to help but that’s quite patronising

it doesn’t stop by the time I go to a&e- I’ve been in SVT for 12 hours before with my heart going at 200. Only after 3 cardioversion shocks did I come out of it

it’s nothing to do with anxiety (which I dont even have!)

OP posts:
Mirabai · 11/01/2025 22:31

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:30

I wish mine passed quickly! Unfortunately once im
in SVT then im stuck in it until I get cardioverted out of it. I know its not serious though which is what makes me feel like a timewaster because it’s not life threatening it’s just pesky

That’s annoying. That’s what happened to me first time but it’s never happened since.

Kendodd · 11/01/2025 22:31

I'm sorry to say that if myself or my children had a life threatening illness or injury, absolutely no way would I be calling an ambulance. They'd be long dead before it got to them. I'd drive them to hospital myself or get somebody to drive me. If it's not life threatening and you can you can afford to wait, or you've broken a leg or something and can't move, I guess it's then safe to rely on an ambulance.

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:30

Mirabai · 11/01/2025 22:26

I have SVT. I went to hospital the first time it happened as it was prolonged.

Never been to A&E with it since, it’s not very serious. They usually pass off quite quickly.

I wish mine passed quickly! Unfortunately once im
in SVT then im stuck in it until I get cardioverted out of it. I know its not serious though which is what makes me feel like a timewaster because it’s not life threatening it’s just pesky

OP posts:
Mirabai · 11/01/2025 22:28

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:09

Thanks for the advice and comments

when it happens it does feel absolutely dreadful and it feels like I’m going to die, but realistically I know I’m not so I just sort of tell myself to toughen up and then I take myself to a&e. I think I just have this inbuilt fear of being a time waster when other people wait 10+ hours for ambulances to come out so I don’t want to waste resources unnecessarily!

Just try not to panic, think calming thoughts as anxiety makes it worse.

By the time you get to A&E it will have stopped.

Toddlerteaplease · 11/01/2025 22:27

If you were already in a medical setting eheh you had an episode. They were absolutely right in calling 999. It could cost them their career if they didn't and you arrested,along your own way there..

SeaToSki · 11/01/2025 22:26

How often do you end up needing cardioversion…thats a pretty hard core solution, all be it that it sounds necessary…i would be pushing hard for that ablation asap and trying some new medications in the meantime

Mirabai · 11/01/2025 22:26

I have SVT. I went to hospital the first time it happened as it was prolonged.

Never been to A&E with it since, it’s not very serious. They usually pass off quite quickly.

nocoolnamesleft · 11/01/2025 22:23

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:20

I never really have much success with the valsalva- I try them anyway but it rarely helps. Usually adenosine helps although often I just convert straight back to SVT after a few seconds. I usually need to be cardioverted out of it x

Then definitely not time wasting! Ambulance sounds pretty reasonable, to be honest.

user1473878824 · 11/01/2025 22:22

Tdcp · 11/01/2025 22:15

You're not a time waster. You have a diagnosed chronic health condition that requires hospital treatment.

This in spades!

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:20

nocoolnamesleft · 11/01/2025 22:18

Probably mainly wants advice from people who do know what SVT is?

Dear OP, have you been advised to try valsalva techniques at home, first? If so do they ever work? Do you normally need adenosine? Or even electro cardioversion? I would think that getting public transport on your own would be inadvisable. If you had someone available to drive you in, it might actually get you there faster than an ambulance, in the current state of things...

I never really have much success with the valsalva- I try them anyway but it rarely helps. Usually adenosine helps although often I just convert straight back to SVT after a few seconds. I usually need to be cardioverted out of it x

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 11/01/2025 22:18

FrannyScraps · 11/01/2025 21:55

I've no idea what SVT is and you didn't describe or explain what it is either.

Probably mainly wants advice from people who do know what SVT is?

Dear OP, have you been advised to try valsalva techniques at home, first? If so do they ever work? Do you normally need adenosine? Or even electro cardioversion? I would think that getting public transport on your own would be inadvisable. If you had someone available to drive you in, it might actually get you there faster than an ambulance, in the current state of things...

Tdcp · 11/01/2025 22:15

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:09

Thanks for the advice and comments

when it happens it does feel absolutely dreadful and it feels like I’m going to die, but realistically I know I’m not so I just sort of tell myself to toughen up and then I take myself to a&e. I think I just have this inbuilt fear of being a time waster when other people wait 10+ hours for ambulances to come out so I don’t want to waste resources unnecessarily!

You're not a time waster. You have a diagnosed chronic health condition that requires hospital treatment.

MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:13

SeaToSki · 11/01/2025 22:09

I had SVT for years, it does make it difficult to concentrate/lightheaded, so I would never drive but I would happily ask someone to drive me toER. But Im more interested in what they are doing to treat you, you dont have to just live with it. There are medications that can control it (with some trial and error to find the right fit). You can have an ablation, you can also use vaso-vagal manovers. Do you have a cardiologist following you?

Yeah I’ve had ablation/medications. I’m waiting on another ablation again soon

the vasovagal very rarely works for me unfortunately!

OP posts:
MisunderstoodNettles · 11/01/2025 22:09

Thanks for the advice and comments

when it happens it does feel absolutely dreadful and it feels like I’m going to die, but realistically I know I’m not so I just sort of tell myself to toughen up and then I take myself to a&e. I think I just have this inbuilt fear of being a time waster when other people wait 10+ hours for ambulances to come out so I don’t want to waste resources unnecessarily!

OP posts:
SeaToSki · 11/01/2025 22:09

I had SVT for years, it does make it difficult to concentrate/lightheaded, so I would never drive but I would happily ask someone to drive me toER. But Im more interested in what they are doing to treat you, you dont have to just live with it. There are medications that can control it (with some trial and error to find the right fit). You can have an ablation, you can also use vaso-vagal manovers. Do you have a cardiologist following you?

Sneezeless · 11/01/2025 22:09

I had an episode of SVT last year. I had a sense that something bad was going to happen and my heart started racing (150 odd) when an invisible hand gripped my heart and gave it a good squeeze. I instantly became breathless so had to ask the husband to take me to a&e. Just about to get to hospital when the symptoms stopped as soon as they started. Many tests later, it was SVT . Have been fine since.

Nursemumma92 · 11/01/2025 22:06

Sneezeless · 11/01/2025 22:02

@Nursemumma92

Turning up to A&E in an ambulance does not mean someone will be seen more quickly than if they had got their themselves.

Not necessarily but I've turned up with a very drowsy unwell toddler in respiratory distress before as there was a 4 hour wait for an ambulance and had to stand in a queue of people to check in- obviously I called for help and it came but not everyone in this position does this. If an ambulance is available then this us a condition that is very much not time wasting if it doesn't resolve within 3-5 minutes.

user1473878824 · 11/01/2025 22:05

Sneezeless · 11/01/2025 22:02

@Nursemumma92

Turning up to A&E in an ambulance does not mean someone will be seen more quickly than if they had got their themselves.

Yes but your taxi is unlikely to be staffed by medically trained professionals…..

Sneezeless · 11/01/2025 22:03
  • there