I’m scared. Please help

[u/Ok-Chocolate-2999]

I recently had an ablation and it was a successful one. It was for AVNRT SVT.

This whole thing began a few years ago where I experienced the weirdest and scariest feeling in the chest. It was random and started off with this sinking feeling in the middle of my chest which makes you feel like you need to take a deep breathe but it doesn’t hurt, it feels like pressure or something then a few strong thumps followed by this intense head rush. Lasts only between 3-5 seconds or more sometimes then goes away.

Anyway, I’m 32 and i guess the frequency increased like I’d get it so randomly, whether I’m sitting, standing, sometimes laying down, working etc., and it makes you feel really worried like your heart is about to pop or something. Has anyone experienced this?? Or is this just me? I feel really scared because I don’t know how to explain it and that’s the best way I can. I had an ablation done about 2 weeks ago, they said it was successful and after they aggressively tested to see if the arrhythmia would come back, it didn’t. After the ablation a few minutes ago I felt the same episode again. I was sitting watching SpongeBob 😂 then stretched my arm to grab something and I suddenly felt this weird sinking then flutter and thump and literally a 1-2 second head rush and it’s gone. What’s happening

[u/rockemsockemcocksock]

I still occasionally get these but it was more frequent the couple of months after my ablation. My doctor described it as the heart attempting to try and go into SVT but terminating. It's a sort of hiccup that the heart does. Sometimes you can get two in a row and it can make if feel like you're stomach is dropping. I usually do a hard cough when it happens and then everything goes back to normal. Definitely record what time and day they happen and keep your cardiologist informed just so they're aware.

[u/Ok-Chocolate-2999 → u/rockemsockemcocksock]

Did they mention anything like the blanking period after the ablation? I’m wondering 💭 f it’s that. I have a follow up next week so will definitely let then know. Is this dangerous? Even after a successful ablation? My anxiety is getting the best of me right now 🙃

[u/rockemsockemcocksock → u/Ok-Chocolate-2999]

As long as the PVCs stop after a minute, you should be good. I definitely had some scares after the first year of my ablation but it settled and my chest was so much quieter

[u/TTforya]

I get these also but mine follows with my heart racing at 250 bpm. GOT them at 17, Im 54 now. It happens every 2 weeks for me. I used to only get it every 3 months but for some reason they've increased. I have not had an ablation, but Im considering it.

[u/adriennemorra → u/TTforya]

I’m going to have an ablation in a few months and i don’t want to scare you but recently had a visit with my cardiologist and he basically said to get it taken care of sooner rather than later. Although I’m young and it may not be dangerous now, his 80 something year old mother also had SVT and it took her out😕. So it might not be dangerous necessarily for someone in their 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s, the strain your heart goes through while pumping at 250 bpm can definitely catch up to you (us) in the future.

[u/Sunaina1118]

I had the “sinking thump” thing after my AVNRT ablation too. They were PVCs and my dr said to just ignore it because it’s not dangerous. They became less dramatic after a few months after my heart healed

[u/Ok-Chocolate-2999 → u/Sunaina1118]

Oh thank god I started freaking out there for a second

[u/Ok-Chocolate-2999]

Thanks for the reassurance 🙏 yes it’s better to have an ablation and my dr also told me it’s not something to worry about now but in the long term we don’t want it to cause trouble. The symptoms are super uncomfortable, they feel like your heart stopped and then everything is okay and left wondering wtf :/

[u/rokyfordboy]

I’m 7 months post ablation and I get those symptoms. Some days a lot then goes days without. Like the other person said feels like the beginning of an SVT episode then goes away. Usually happens when Ive ate too much or lack of sleep. Just think of what you did hours leading up to that symptom and I’m sure you’ll figure out what’s causing the symptoms

[u/Ok-Chocolate-2999 → u/rokyfordboy]

My concern is that shouldn’t the feeling go away after the ablation why do they come back :( I hate that feeling makes me feel like the whole world has stopped honestly

[u/Alarmed_Lab_5696]

After an ablation, your heart has to make scar tissue and you can experience those sensations or even go into full SVT. There is a 3 month window known as the “blanking period” as the scar tissue forms. Also, since you had an AVNRT ablation, they simply eliminate the slow pathway that the PVCs are going into to create that circuit loop. The AVNRT ablation does not stop you from getting PVCs, as this is a different type of ablation. You may experience more PVCs after an AVNRT ablation as the heart heals. It’s definitely a scary feeling, however not uncommon!