Should I call an ambulance for this?

[MisunderstoodNettles]

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

My title is accidentally misleading- I’m not in SVT right now. I was just asking in case of future episodes (although I’m awaiting a procedure which will hopefully correct it for good) x

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

Have you seen the advice on the NHS website?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/supraventricular-tachycardia-svt/

Copied from above:
Call 999 if:
you've been diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and your episode has lasted longer than usual
you have a fast heartbeat with shortness of breath, chest pain or feeling faint
You need to go to hospital for treatment immediately.
Information:
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.

How far are you from the hospital?

For me I am a 7 minute walk away with a bus that goes from outside to the hospital in 2 minutes so I would endeavour to get there a different way.

If you are 20+mins out I'd call an ambulance as you have been instructed to do. If they say it's a 2 hour wait then re-evaluate.

I have episodes of Atrial Fibrillation with fast heart rate (150 to 200). I have been told by my cardiologist to go to A and E if my medication doesn't work by ambulance if necessary.
How do you feel with a fast heart rate? If I haven't got dh to drive me to hospital there is no way I would risk getting there on my own, I would probably faint.

Sorry- good point, that would have helped.

supraventricular tachycardia. Basically where the heart gets stuck in an abnormal rhythm. Mine beats about 200 times a minute when it occurs

Definitely call an ambulance in the first instance- then if they are experiencing long delays you can choose to make your own way in but the sooner you are in the company of medically trained staff the better. Taking yourself to A+E could involve a longer wait to be seen in the waiting room, but this does need to be weighed up with how long an ambulance delay would be.

Then yes at least to get advice to see whether an ambulance is available.

You should also make a care plan with your medical team and work out what to do in different scenarios.

I am a fellow SVT sufferer!

My cardiologist said anything over 3 mins and to call an ambulance. Personally, I wouldn't risk walking or going on public transport.

Why don't you speak to your cardiologist?

OP, my mum, whose entire close family have died of heart attacks, keeps calling 111 when she has crushing chest pains because she doesn’t want to be a time waster. Every time she’s had to go to hospital and I am convinced this will be how I find out she has died because she doesn’t want to call an ambulance and piss people off.

call the ambulance.

@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.

Nice to meet someone else with it!! (Although I’m sorry you have it too, it’s a pest isn’t it!)

yeah, I’m going to ask at my next appointment. Just wasn’t sure in the meantime

• there

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

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.

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.

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?

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!

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

the vasovagal very rarely works for me unfortunately!

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

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

This in spades!

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

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.