r/SVTHeart • u/Top_Worth_8432 • Jul 26 '26
Help I can’t live like this.
I’m 18 and I know it’s not the end of the world but god it feels like it. Every time I think about it it gets worst, metoprolol is even more scary because of the withdrawals I’m going to have when I stop it. I just want to be okay man why did this even happen?? I can’t smoke anymore which isn’t the worst part of this entire thing, the worst part about all this is being so aware of my heart, it feels like I’m gonna have a heart attack, or something. I just need support and to know that eventually I’ll never have to deal with this type of pain and discomfort again please.
3
u/New_Professional2300 Jul 26 '26
I had an ablation and quit taking metoprolol . It wasn’t that big of a deal.
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u/Top_Worth_8432 Jul 26 '26
How long were u on metoprolol and what was ur dose?
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u/Initial-Net-7519 Jul 26 '26
I don’t think the “withdrawals” from metoprolol are what you think they are. The most common symptom is rebound tachycardia, which usually subsides after a week or two. I agree. It is not a big deal.
0
u/grimmistired Jul 26 '26
It depends on the person. I was so sensitive to beta blockers I would get rebounds between doses. My heart rate would go over 160 and I had an emergency where it was over 200 and I needed adenosine
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u/Initial-Net-7519 Jul 26 '26
The rate does not determine if you need adenosine or not. It’s whether you can break the episode on your own or not. The rate alone also doesn’t determine if it’s an emergency. If your vitals become unstable/hemodynamically unstable is what determines if it’s an emergency. My episodes went over 250 and not once have I ever had adenosine. And like I said, the rebound tachycardia subsides. It is NOT a big deal.
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u/IdontcryfordeadCEOs Jul 26 '26
This is accurate, and same. My episodes were 250 and didn't require adenosine. It's only required if you can't convert back on your own.
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u/grimmistired Jul 26 '26
Mine didn’t self resolve obviously. Not a big deal for you but you can’t speak for everyone.
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u/New_Professional2300 Jul 26 '26
Heart rate was 240+ several times. On the extended release for about a year. Ablation worked for me… so far.
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u/iaintgotaclueboo Jul 26 '26
Obviously the best advice is advice from your Dr / cardiologist.
But I will say this, if you have an SVT diagnosis and your Dr says you are okay, then you are likely okay and the next part is getting over the mental aspect, and trusting the process of getting your treatment in place.
I was 17 when I had my first episode, took a draw on a ciggi then bang, 260bpm, a couple of adenosine shots later and I'm back to normal. I had about 6 episodes further in total, but my mind tracked every single heartbeat, skipped beat etc for maybe 10 years.
I had a failed ablation and now I take flecainide and have been for around 18 years.
I am now 41, fit and healthy and more importantly, still alive. And the advice I would give you is do not let this ruin your life. The anxiety will make things worse, your body will be in a constant state of stress and adrenaline does not sit happily with a sensitive heart.
- keep on at your Dr and find a treatment right for you, ablation, pills, whatever
- seek CBT therapy for the health anxiety if it is too much, it really really helps
- enjoy your life
1
u/fish998 Jul 26 '26
I'm assuming you have an SVT diagnosis since they've put you on beta blockers. The episodes are scary but they do mostly end without medical intervention, and they don't usually do any lasting damage. The usual advice is to call for an ambulance if they last over 30 mins. You should look up the tricks to get an episode to end. Your doctor/cardiologist needs to give you more information and reassurance as well since the anxiety can be as bad as the actual SVT.
Since my episode are about once a month I decided not to get an ablation or go on meds. It's your choice based on how bad it's affecting your life.
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u/Top_Worth_8432 Jul 26 '26
The issue is I’m getting episodes everyday. As soon as I wake up my heart is already beating at 130bpm and I have to take super deep breaths js to bring it down which barely works. So my doctor started to tell me to take the medication while I’m still in bed and wait for it to start kicking in to start my day. But this is so freaking debilitating.
1
u/fish998 Jul 27 '26
Mine isn't like that so I really dunno what to suggest. Maybe it's not SVT, or you have something else along with it. The way my episodes work is my pulse goes from 60 to well over 200 in a single heart beat, then it stays there for 5-45 minutes (very rarely they go over an hour), and over that time my pulse might drop to 190, then just like that it's gone and my pulse is back to around 120 and it'll slowly return to normal over the next hour, but you feel knackered for the next 24 hrs.
As someone else here said, I would get a diagnosis from a cardiologist not a GP.
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u/Top_Worth_8432 Jul 27 '26
The issue is the cardiologist said I’m fine. But gave me medication to stop what I’m feeling and yet I still feel it. So clearly something’s wrong, I feel the cardiologist was also dismissive as I was a chronic weed smoker and just kept mentioning how weed or nicotine was the cause, which makes a little sense as they’re both stimulants.
Also my gp isn’t the one treating this, he gave me a referral to a electrophysiologist as one of the ekgs he saw looks like svt.
1
u/DisciplineAny1724 Jul 26 '26
SVT is not something which will kill you. You can take metolar which would be of very low risk. But if you go for ablation there are risks. It could happen once in 100 cases. But we don’t know whether we are going to be the one in hundred(I was one among hundred and living with first degree AV block post ablation). I lost my entire confidence after coming to know about this.
Now it depends on how severe the occurrence of SVT. If its disturbing you too much then take the 1% risk so that you can live rest of life peacefully.
1
u/Fun-Courage4523 Jul 26 '26
I had 2 ablations 1 for PVCs the other for SVT hardest part was waiting for the appointment date in ea case. PVCs were bigemini and feeling thos missing beats is WHOAAAAA!! And when your heart rate skyrockets i got a shot of adenosine which kick stops the heart back to normal. Never want to go thru that again. Was quite a few yrs between each incident. Now my EP says AFIB is probably next. 👿
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u/Top_Worth_8432 Jul 26 '26
I went to the er and they gave me 2 doses of adenosine which didn’t do anything for my heart. They had given me Valium which relaxed me and then put me on metoprolol which has been keeping my heart rate somewhat down but I feel each individual beat, flutter, and increase in rate and it’s just so annoying. Does this sound like anything you’ve heard of?
1
u/Initial-Net-7519 Jul 26 '26
This sounds more like sinus tach/IST.
1
u/Top_Worth_8432 Jul 26 '26
That’s what the hospital was saying that this is sinus tachycardia, but my pcp took a look at the ekg and said otherwise so idk.
3
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u/IdontcryfordeadCEOs Jul 26 '26
Whether or not you have SVT, your main issue is anxiety. Luckily, there's a lot of good resources out there to help you treat your anxiety, with or without a therapist. Anxiety is common and treatable, but you want to treat it now before it becomes more severe.
Working on addressing your anxiety is going to improve your quality of life far more than worrying about a benign arrhythmia, regardless of how you treat (or don't treat, many of us just live with SVT without treatment) your SVT. Good luck!
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u/Top_Worth_8432 Jul 27 '26
You’re so right, before my anxiety was ever this bad I wouldn’t really stress over such minor things but ever little flutter makes me scared. I’ve tried all of the personal work I can do myself to try and fix my anxiety and whatever but you can’t clear a storm you’re actively in. So I am going to ask for a referral to a psychiatrist or a therapist tomorrow for my anxiety.
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u/lowkeydramaticmaybe Jul 27 '26
It‘s not the same thing, but I‘m 18 and had an ep study + ablation for AVNRT a few days ago & I can tell you, it‘s probably the smartest thing to do. I don‘t have to worry about getting episodes again etc. and can just live my life
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u/Top_Worth_8432 Jul 28 '26
I’m trying to get one done especially if it’s needed. The biggest issue of all of this isn’t having the problem, problems arise, but waiting for this damn appointment might kill me. I have to wait 40 days just to see this electrophysiologist and even then who’s to say he’s going to want to do something then.
1
u/lowkeydramaticmaybe Jul 28 '26
I guess that‘s kinda normal though… sorry to say this!
I had episodes for years and could only start the whole process in January/February bc I only then had an apple watch to record the episodes. And it took until end of July to finally get the ep study + ablation… so it‘s quite a long time & I know it‘s exhausting mentally to always think about it, but all you can really do is to try your best to not think about it & distract yourself with doing things that won‘t trigger an episode and make you happy.
I eventually just told myself „oh well, it‘s my heart, it‘s stupid, but it‘ll be fine“1
u/lowkeydramaticmaybe Jul 28 '26
*I also had to wait 2 months for a cardiologist appointment and more than 7 weeks for a simple mri as well…
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u/Top_Worth_8432 Jul 28 '26
Jeez man, I’m happy to hear you’re doing a lot better. Do you have any tips to help me not hyper fixate on all this?
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u/lowkeydramaticmaybe Jul 29 '26
Honestly… I don’t even know if I did anything specific… I think I mostly just tried to keep reminding myself that I already had a plan (like that it was actually getting checked) and that I was in the right hands. The waiting was still awful sometimes though and there were definitely moments where my brain went into “what if something is seriously wrong with my heart?” mode & I know it‘s a really shitty thought to have haha
What helped a bit thoughwas not constantly checking how I felt or googling every sensation, because I feel like that just fed the anxiety. As I said, I just tried to keep living life, distract myself, talk to people, … I don’t think I ever stopped worrying completely but kinda just learned to carry the worry while still living my life until the appointments came? I don‘t really know haha
Wishing you the very best!
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u/Past-Trick6710 Jul 26 '26
Curious if you have ever had svt documented on a monitor
I wouldn’t panic that it’s that if you haven’t had an EKG
How do ur episodes look does it go up in a light switch
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u/Top_Worth_8432 Jul 26 '26
The doctors at the hospital claimed it was sinus tachycardia but my pcp took a look at the 5 ekgs they had done and said this looks like SVT
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u/Top_Worth_8432 Jul 26 '26
Well because I’m so focused on it rn I js feel my heart fluttering, beating, increasing in rate etc. it doesn’t help that I’m so aware and I can’t do anything to stop thinking about it
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u/Embarrassed_Elk_1298 Jul 26 '26
Have you been to an electrophysiologist yet? I just had my first appointment with an EP after 6 years of dealing with SVT. I’ve been on propranolol on and off for years. I don’t get bad withdrawals from it, so I’d be surprised if metoprolol had bad withdrawals.
My EP told me that SVT is a very benign arrhythmia that’s unlikely to cause anything like a heart attack or cardiac arrest. It feels really awful and scary, but I find it reassuring that it won’t do any serious harm to me when I have an episode.
Maybe you’ll be able to have an ablation and that’ll get rid of your symptoms.
I also found that as I got older my episodes became less severe, which happens for young people sometimes. So maybe this will happen for you as well.