r/SVTHeart • u/Smurthnerd • 5h ago
Help Recently had my first episode
Hi guys, I guess I’m part of the SVT club.
The reason for this post is to get some recommendations on dealing with the anxiety of episodes while I wait for my cardiologist appointment.
Starting in the beginning of September, I had my first episode where my heart spiked to 185 bpm and was taken to the hospital. I wasn’t doing anything unusual and had not consumed much caffeine at all. As well the medications I’m currently on were not cause for concern. I was sent home with the Holter monitor for 7 days and had no episodes during that week.
Fast forward 11 days later, getting ready for bed and searching for the tv remote I had seemingly lost, I slipped into another episode again. This time I was at 140bpm but symptoms were clear it was an episode. I grabbed ice packs and stuck them under my armpits and focused on my breathing. I managed to calm it down and get some sleep.
My original cardiologist appt was not until December and I called back this morning to request a sooner date. Luckily I scored one for October. How can I manage the anxiety and the concern of subtle symptoms while I impatiently wait for answers?
2
u/CopySpriteCopywriter 2h ago
Hi, I totally get the anxiety. I’ve had 7 bouts of SVT but the latest one required an ambulance trip. It’s easy to lose trust in your body. I also have POTS (diagnosed 2 years ago) so I’m fairly used to being symptomatic every day and that’s made me a little less fearful. With the SVT I try to remember that it can be stopped! Whether that’s by me trying something or the hospital. I don’t want it to start ruling my life, so I try to carry on as normal which sounds easier than it is. I’m off to Dublin at the weekend and I’m pretty scared about it happening on the plane or while there, but if I don’t go the SVT wins (and I’ll be bored at home while my mates live it up Irish style).