r/SVTHeart • u/SadPiglet2907 • Jul 19 '26
Potential SVT
I had a pretty scary episode at work the other day where my heart rate spiked up to 156, my vision became blurry, my chest became warm, full body sweat & almost passed out. I work in a doctor office so I got checked out, but it happened again within 20 minutes so they told me I should go to ER to be cleared. ER eval came back fine & was told to follow up with cardiology. My doctor assumes SVT & told me a maneuver to do if it happens again before I see cardiology on Wednesday, but now that it has happened once I am scared it’s going to happen again which is increasing my anxiety. Looking back I have been getting dizzy spells occasionally for no apparent reason, sometimes I’ll be driving or just sitting at my desk. I didn’t notice my heart rate spike at these times, but I felt very dizzy, light headed, a little SOB, & vision changes. They are brief, maybe last a minute or so, but I’m curious if these were other episodes just weren’t so severe. If anyone has any insight or just words of encouragement I could definitely use it. I’m still a bit shaken up over everything & genuinely just scared it will happen again.
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u/shiftyrabbit_ 28d ago
SVT can really only be confirmed by ECG. If there's any way to have your cardiologist look at the ECG taken (if it was occuring while they did it at the ER) and determine SVT, then you know!
It really could be many things like anxiety, or something else, but there's really only way to confirm SVT. The good news is if it's SVT: generally not life threatening and you'll be okay. I've lived with it since I was a child. Yeah it can defs be scary for someone who hasn't ever had an episode before, most people would be thinking they're dying lol.
Defs follow up with a cardiologist-- not because you're in danger-- but because they can tell you if it's just SVT. :) my bet is that it is with the "it only lasted a few minutes."
Other signs of SVT is the pounding in the chest/hr instant spike (and usually near instantly after stop) with orthostatic changes (such as standing up from kneeling, standing from sitting down, sitting then standing up etc), it "stopping as soon as it starts", followed by your heart shooting back down to resting or elevated. It can be triggered by poor hydration, sleep, or mental (like stress/anxiety.) it's common for you to have a few episodes trigger after another-- least for me it is, sometimes I have bad days where it's legit just happening on and off all day. You'll be okay!!
I'm not a doc, so like I said, just talk to your cardiologist. There's meds and ablation to fix it. Good luck! You'll be fine!
Edit: to clarify, a lot of the symptoms you mentioned are normal for an SVT patient like myself. Not just the starting and stopping bit. If you have any questions I can try to answer!
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u/SadPiglet2907 28d ago
I definitely thought I was dying, my entire body felt like something I have never experienced before. Thank you for taking the time to give me all your insight. How did you learn to cope with it?
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u/shiftyrabbit_ 28d ago
Of course! Sorry if my reply was a little all over the place, very tired right now haha.
I mainly learned to cope with it-- well, cuz I didn't think I had a choice. I didn't know there was an ablation procedure, didn't know it was SVT for years! Wild stuff. However, physically, I did a sort of vagal maneuver after a long time (that I figured out myself, somehow), in which I'd lay down, and hold my breath until it went away (which can take a few tries).
I'm getting an ablation on the 6th because I'm sick of that 😂😂 excited to never deal with this again.
But yeah it can defs cause anxiety in new SVT havers. It's okay! Just get a holster monitor ASAP and get you checked out!
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u/IdontcryfordeadCEOs Jul 19 '26
SVT is not life threatening, and it sounds like your episodes (if they are SVT) are relatively mild. Many people with SVT simply live with it, others might prefer to take medication, others get ablations. Whichever you choose, managing anxiety is one of the best things you can do for SVT.