Help! Would it be an A&E timewaster to go for this?

[limoncello1]

Hi

i was recently diagnosed with SVT and spent a week in hospital because I was having multiple long episodes daily and we were struggling to control it. I take flecainide and verapamil now and I’ve got a medication review in 4 weeks and then I’ll get an ablation too.

but i know this sounds stupid of me, but I’m just not sure when I should get help if it flares up again in the meantime. For example this morning it kicked off and went up to 190 but then I was able to control it with the valsalva and it went back down- so I know I don’t need help with this. But for future episodes, I’m not sure how long I should give it before going to get help if it goes into SVT again, or if it happens multiple times when I should go vs when I’d be timewasting because it’s harmless and I can manage it myself. It’s difficult because I find it quite frightening when it goes that high which makes it difficult to think sensibly about when I really need to get help vs when I can manage it myself

basically I just don’t want to be a timewaster haha, especially as I know SVT is harmless and not a serious or life threatening thing, and I don’t want to go to A&e just for reassurance when actually I can manage it myself, but because it’s so uncomfortable it’s just frightening and it makes it hard to think sensibly. And on the NHS website it talks about calling an ambulance which makes it even more confusing!

does anyone have any advice? Thank you 😃

Just to be clear as I explained it badly, I’m not asking if I should go for todays episode (as I know it’s fine, it went down after valsalva) just for future episodes I’m not sure and I don’t want to do the wrong thing and be a timewaster x

You might need to explain what SVT is.

Maybe call your cardiologist and ask what the pla is if it happens again/when to seek help? I think I remember you posting before. It sounds scary

speak to your cardiologist

It probably makes sense to contact the cardiology team (if they’ve prescribed the meds) to get a plan about when to seek help. Or speak to your GP. Better to contact someone now when it’s not an issue to find out what to do when it is.

You go back if it doesn't settle doing your Valsalva.

You can always go home if it's gone by the time you arrive at hospital.

The first answer has proved that posting here is not the answer. People have no clue about the condition or how to manage it, you are encouraging opinions which aren't great when dealing with a heart condition! Ask your GP or if you are under consultant care at your hospital contact them and ask to be put in contact with a cardiac specialist nurse, they should be able to give you advice.

You get help urgently if it lasts longer than usual, you feel faint, have shortness of breath or chest pain I think.

I’ve left a message for my cardiologist but probably won’t hear back until Monday (maybe later today though, fingers crossed!)

Great, that’s what I was thinking to be honest. Basically if it’s different from usual or not stopping then better to get it checked

just so hard to get the balance between when I should get it checked and being overly cautious, hopefully it gets easier when I become more experienced with it