Supra ventricular tachycardia

[WakingUpDistress]

Reposting from Health as it was very quiet.

So I’ve been diagnosed with supra ventricular tachycardia and my cardiologist is referring to a specialist to have an ablation.

Anyone on here who has had that procedure? How did it go?

Many many years ago my boyfriend at the time had this, it caused his heart to suddenly start beating really fast, he went to hospital for ablation which involved going in through the groin and up to the part that was beating irregularly in his heart to cauterise. If I remember correctly he was only in hospital a day or two after (but it was 18 years ago)

Yep exactly that. I regularly get those time when my heart races at 200bpm and then suddenly calms down.

It seems that it’s done under sedation which I’m stressed about.
Also that most people recover quickly but for some it can take weeks too….

I’m in exactly the same boat as you - currently on the list waiting for a catheter ablation. There’s a lot of information on The British Heart Foundation website about the procedure which I found very reassuring. I’m actually looking forward to getting it done and over with as I find the racing heartbeats very disconcerting even though I know they’re not actually dangerous now that I’m taking blood thinners. Reports I’ve read say that the anticipation is much worse than the actual procedure and that in the great majority of cases it doesn’t involve an overnight stay. My consultant also said it will be done under sedation- but he said HEAVY sedation which sounds a lot better to me!

I had a catheter ablation for SVT about ten years ago at Papworth hospital. Id had several trips to A and E with episodes before being referred. I was very anxious beforehand, but It was completely painless and they give you lovely sedation so I felt very relaxed. I felt fine afterwards and haven't had an episode since. I hope all goes well for you ...SVT episodes are horrible.

I had exactly the same a few years ago. I had the ablation done under sedation, I remember everything. They gave me some wonderful drugs that made me feel quite floaty, I didn't want it to end! I could still hold a conversation with everyone there though. There was very minimal pulling/pushing feeling when they put the catheters in (they had already put in a local anesthetic). I could feel them making my heart race and when they did the burning bit they gave me an extra shot of the sedation drug.

Honestly, there is nothing to worry about. I could go home the same day, I had a little bruising in my groin but nothing more. I haven't had any racing heart episodes since the procedure.

Thank you all. That’s really reassuring. I have to say the idea of having it done only under sedation freaked me out! But nice to see it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it could be!

I was diagnosed with SVT about 10 years ago. I was on beta blockers for about a year but then changed jobs for a much less stressful job, and was able to slowly wean myself off the beta blockers. I think I was lucky to not need any further treatment at the time, and I try to keep my stress levels manageable now so I don't start having the SVT again.

I've had probably 10 ablations, very easy procedure. Worst part is having to lay flat for ages afterwards until they take the pressure thing off the artery.
Slightly uncomfortable feeling when they trigger your heart rate, they got mine over 300bpm and it felt like my chest was about to explode, a bit more sedation quickly knocked me out.
Just don't do what I did and go to the bathroom only 4 hours after the procedure, wound opened up and it was a bloodbath.

Genuinely though it's a very simple op, a little uncomfortable but not painful and recovery is quick.

It depends on the type of SVT. If you have WWW syndrome then the ablation is really easy. There is literally an extra pathway that they need to burn / freeze.

Other causes can be more difficult to ablate, they cardiologist basically has to get your heart in to SVT and map where it is coming from so it can take a lot longer.

Have they discussed 'ablate and pace' with you? Sometimes they need to ablate more tissue and then fit a pacemaker to replace the natural pathway.

A couple of people I know had ablation for SVTs - between 12 and 20 years ago, and no issues since.
It is possible for the condition to recur, but both would willingly go thru ablation again if that happened.
It is a very straightforward day case and, I'm told, vastly better than the alternative of continuing to suffer SVT. May need 2 to 3 weeks off work afterwards, depending on your job, but certainly sounds like an obvious solution.

@sashh no discussion yet.
My cardiologist was doing some assessment for POTS (which I also have) and wanted to check there was no other issues going on. Did an ECG and found out about the SVT.
He has referred me back to one if his colleagues who specialises in that, for what i understood.

Ive had those tachycardia issues for years but they’ve been dismissed by my GP as ‘anxiety’….