[Dragonfly2756]

SO I wish sometimes I could take my own advice. Ended up in the ER on Saturday morning with what was my first episode of PSVT (at least I think) outside of pregnancy. I rolled over in bed around 5 a.m., felt one or two PACs and then bam! there it was....holy crap did I freak myself out. Within a minute I am sure it was gone, but then the sinus tach from my anxiety continued and I was already on 911. The EMT felt that my EKG strip was "possibly abnormal'...something to do with a middle pacemaker site or something....anyway she told me it would be best to get checked out.

6 hours and a Xanax later, I was discharged by ER doc who told me (after blood tests and 2 repeat EKGs) that she recommended I go back to my cardiologist for a 28 day event monitor and to determine if it is just "anxiety" or something more.

I know what it is. I have had echos and a stress test and ekgs before...all normal. The EMT freaked me out a bit but I feel like, if my EKG was abnormal wouldn't the ER doc have told me and not suggested xanax?? Now I am back on the internet with all the "what ifs" what if what if what if...what if something has changed?? I know its probably because I haven't worked out in 6 months (the longest I have gone without exercise since I was pregnant, which was the last time I had a long run of PSVT in over 2 years).

Jeff and others that have had PSVT....please help to reassure me...

I go for 28 day monitor next wednesday. How does it work and what can I expect? I know it won't catch the PSVT...it's literally years I go between attacks.....

Thanks!!
Jess

[jkfrench]

I get the PSVT. It is horrible, but not life threatening.
I feel the skip, long pause then it takes off. I was clocked at 220 in the hospital with PVCs. I took 1/4 of the atenolol, it kicked back to normal rythym and was sent home with an explanation of PSVT or PAT saying how it isn't life threatening. My doctor suggested I keep some calcium channel blockers around the house so that if does kick into that SVT mode that I can take 1/2 of one and it should stop it. I also can go years without an attack although a few years back I was getting it about 4 times a year. I think my last attack was almost 2 years ago. The atenolol has stopped them within about 10 minutes. I don't go to the ER anymore.
Your monitor might catch short bursts of the PSVT. That is what mine caught. Again, nothing to worry about.
I know how hard this is and you can be managing pretty well until that damn attack hits. Then it is like starting over again. Rest assured, you would not be sent home if they didn't think you were okay. As much as I am thankful that the paramedics are available for us, they can't always determine or interpret what the EKG really states. Sometimes it has to be calculated by hand. So don't worry!

Jodie

[CMoore416]

I'm sorry! Believe me o know how hard it is. Im going on about 6 hours of PVCs and skips and debating whether to go to ER. Atleast maybe the peace of mind will stop them for me. Sorry you are dealing with all of this.

[jkfrench]

I had about 10 hours of PVCs a day for months and months. The ER just doesn't care. Yours will settle down. I was getting them every few beats for hours and hours. I made myself go out and run 3 miles every evening and after that is when they let up and I was actually able to sleep until they started up the next day. I am so sorry you are dealing with this. It isn't fun!
But try to remember that you were also in the ER with skips every 3rd beat or so and they sent you home!!!
Hugs Jodie

[CMoore416]

Thanks Jodie. I have been in bed crying for over an hour. I know they will go away. I'm probably making them worse it's just so hard. I almost wish it would be from my thyroid. The I could treat my thyroid again and know what it was. I'm angry at myself for Even wishing that. Weird thing is today I can actually feel the ectopic beat in my throat in during the "pause" I am afraid to exercise at all.

[jkfrench]

I feel my pause in my upper stomach and I hate it. I have been right there with you. In tears over how scary it feels. It we just would't feel them....
Sometimes just calling your doctor will help. It does with me. He also reminds me to exercise even though I'm really scared. So that helps too. They just aren't very concerned with them. It is the feelings that come along with the early beat and pause that are the scary part. Not necessarily just knowing we have the early beats. They just feel horrible. That is the problem.

[Amanda]

Hi Jess I'm soo sorry your going through this. I've been battling SVT since age 11 and have been hospitalized numerous times over it. The highest I was clocked in was almost 275 one time. Its terrible when it hits its a pause and BOOM. I've noticed the more recent attacks have happened when rolling over onto my side or stretching the wrong way then BAM. They put me on a beta blocker called Verapimil which didnt do a damn bit of good. I was put on halter monitors have had several echos and ekgs. My last attack I was hospitalized for almost a week because after they had pushed me out of the attack via medication through the IV I had 2 more SVT attacks the same night. I ended up getting an ablation done about 2 weeks ago so only time will tell if that was successful.

I do know it is super scary and very uncomfortable but Ive also been told that PSVT/SVT is NOT life threatening. But it is important to call 911 if you are having an attack like that because it isnt good for your heart to be at that rate for too long. They have medications to push you out of the attack and they can also shock the heart to get it back into regular rhythm.

Keep your head up. Anxiety is a bitch. Smack it upside the head and try to take control. Thats something Im working on constantly. Deep breaths and tell yourself itll be okay.
HUGSSS

~Amanda~

[bypeep]

Originally Posted by jkfrench

I was clocked at 220 in the hospital with PVCs.

Just out of curiosity, are you getting the PAT at 220 with PVC's on top of it, or are you getting bursts of PAT and then some normal beats with a few PVC's here and there?

Stacy

[jkfrench]

I have gotten PAT with PVCs along with it. So 220 fast heartbeat plus PVCs (or PACs) don't really know if it was PVCs or PACs, one or the other. Just really all over the place. I was diagnosed with it in the ER because it lasted long enough for me to get there once.

[dr461]

Originally Posted by Dragonfly2756

SO I wish sometimes I could take my own advice. Ended up in the ER on Saturday morning with what was my first episode of PSVT (at least I think) outside of pregnancy. I rolled over in bed around 5 a.m., felt one or two PACs and then bam! there it was....holy crap did I freak myself out. Within a minute I am sure it was gone, but then the sinus tach from my anxiety continued and I was already on 911. The EMT felt that my EKG strip was "possibly abnormal'...something to do with a middle pacemaker site or something....anyway she told me it would be best to get checked out.

6 hours and a Xanax later, I was discharged by ER doc who told me (after blood tests and 2 repeat EKGs) that she recommended I go back to my cardiologist for a 28 day event monitor and to determine if it is just "anxiety" or something more.

I know what it is. I have had echos and a stress test and ekgs before...all normal. The EMT freaked me out a bit but I feel like, if my EKG was abnormal wouldn't the ER doc have told me and not suggested xanax?? Now I am back on the internet with all the "what ifs" what if what if what if...what if something has changed?? I know its probably because I haven't worked out in 6 months (the longest I have gone without exercise since I was pregnant, which was the last time I had a long run of PSVT in over 2 years).

Jeff and others that have had PSVT....please help to reassure me...

I go for 28 day monitor next wednesday. How does it work and what can I expect? I know it won't catch the PSVT...it's literally years I go between attacks.....

Thanks!!
Jess

Understand completely. We have all been to the emergency room with all sorts of events--most of them have no clinical significance. Was this probably anxiety and nothing of concern? I would say so, otherwise, the doctor would have been far more aggressive. They see thousands of cases of minor electrical irregularities, that are commonplace, so they can dismiss them as "normal and not of consequence." We don't have that luxury, as we are the only one that has the experience in having a scary heart beat, and automatically, we fear the worst. I'd say that you should most likely dismiss it as clinically insignificant, since the doctor didn't react more profoundly. They generally know when to react and when to dismiss things as most likely stress related--we don't have that expertise or experience. Try not to worry, and by all means, seek medical reassurance to make yourself feel better--that is your right to do so. However, I wouldn't particularly worry--as Jodie said, it isn't a serious condition.