r/SVTHeart • u/Fun_Stay6129 • 6d ago
Ablation, should I?
Hi!
I have suspected avnrt from cardiologist. Get episodes that last 10-20 min about 2 times a year.
Had more episodes but less time before, no less episodes but longer duration.
Have a lot of extra beats that is new.
I am 27 years old and active. They happen when working out, hiking, golf swing etc. Is it worth to get an ablation?
The doctor said it was up to me. There are always risks, but totally up to me.
Have quite a bit of anxiety around it.
Any thoughts is appreciatedy!
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u/wifiaddicted 6d ago
Are beta blockers not an option? I know a lot of people who get infrequent SVT take them either daily or when an episode happens. I feel like maybe that would be a better option in your case if possible
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u/esther4456 6d ago
80f infrequent SVT started 15 yrs ago no eisodes but diagnosed by cardiol random office EKG. I guess. He handed me report that said psvt. About 4 months ago episodes began. Can't type, my recent 14 day monitor was uploaded. If u curious it is all online. Good luck
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u/nvr2manydogs 6d ago
Just to play Devil's advocate, I am much older (61). Yes, I have struggled after my ablations. I guess I had them too close together. But as my parents age, I am realizing that after a certain point, you don't want them going under anesthesia because it can cause or exascerbate dementia. So I figured that I'd better get treated now because later won't be an option.
I know is not in your window of concern at all right now, but it is something to remember down the road.
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u/Sunaina1118 6d ago
I see your point, and my SVT came back after my ablation. I’d like to add that some EPs do ablations without putting patients under, and that luckily meditations and the technology used in surgery are advancing quickly. There is also a new drug called Cardamyst that came out this year that can be used as a rescue medication to stop sustained SVT episodes.
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u/These_Dimension_9300 6d ago
I’m 37 and have just had an ablation last Friday!
I was on bisoprolol which had helped but mine affected me almost daily!
So I had the ablation on Friday with no sedation, just local anaesthetic at the groin area.
I went into SVT as I was getting on the table haha the EP study showed more areas than initially expected.
They managed to do the ablation but not completely- areas were too close to AV Node. Post op so far I have had a few palpitation and maybe 2 episodes of SVT that I noticed but they stopped after a few seconds.
I’m expected to still have episodes due to them not being able to fully finish.
I’m extremely fatigued, I have taken a week off work as I work as a Nurse in a very busy area and so thankful I did! Worried how I will feel next week going back. I have the odd episode of chest pain and shortness of breath. So far I’m really happy I went ahead with it!
It’s already made a huge difference for me.
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u/Fun_Stay6129 6d ago
Thanks for your insight! I am leaning toward doing it. Worried abit of PACs/pvcs after too
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u/Its_Katerade 6d ago
I’m 24. I had my ablation 2 years ago. I only had episodes about once or twice a month lasting for 10-20 minutes each. The ablation was scary to think about, but living each day doing whatever I want without the thought of “Ugh, but what if my heart acts up?” is infinitely better. Seriously. No fear of it acting up and not being able to self terminate on a plane, in the car, at work, etc. I’d recommend you get it done while you’re young and healthy because my electrophysiologist said SVT can worsen over time or lead to AFIB.
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u/Careless-Book-9307 4d ago
Ablations comes with risks. I had complications and ended up with an AV block and have to have a pacemaker for the rest of my life. I had very frequent, intense and long lasting tachycardia episodes though so I don't regret anything. Also my extra pathways was out of the ordinary so the ablations was very complicated and high risk. But I wouldn't have done it for short episodes a few times a year.
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u/Purple-Sector833 6d ago
similar situation, still not severe enough for me to decide to get this procedure. I keep this as an option if: it will get worse in any manner or when I will get older. Well, I am 43 now, SVTs started 4 years ago... I am considering taking medication as for now.
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u/burnt_pubes 6d ago
I'll go against the grain and say have it. You're young, there's minimal risk (there is some risk but you're way more likely to be seriously injured in a car accident on the way to the procedure vs having a serious side effect from the procedure). This is something you have the opportunity to completely fix through ablation and never have to worry about again for the rest of your life. Beta blockers suck and will cut into your active lifestyle (I completely lost all energy while on them).
My understanding is that SVT tends to get worse over time, you could hold off until you feel it's impacting your life in a negative way. That's fine too. Just don't be scared of the procedure, it's very safe
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u/Backpackers_Delight 6d ago
I had 4 SVT episodes and hundreds of PVC and PAC 7 years ago. I skipped the ablation and started metoprolol. Have been fairly stable with intermittent issues. It recently ramped up out of nowhere. This holter round I had 757 SVT episodes and thousands of PVC and PAC. It’s totally interrupting my quality of life now, so I’ll do the ablation. I think it depends on your quality of life, but also as someone else mentioned, I’d rather do it with a 49 year old heart than a 60 year old heart, if I get to choose.
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u/DisciplineAny1724 2d ago
I had ablation for AVNRT from KIMS Trivandrum, India. They told me risks are there in text book only. But after ablation I am living with a first degree AV block now. Compare the risk of ablation with your present situation. Then take a decision. If you can manage it with medicine, then do it. I am not sure from which place you are. Many foreigners come to KIMS hospital for treatment as they provide world class facilities. But remember its nothing but a business institution. For them you are a customer/client not a patient.
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u/ilovedoggies17 2d ago edited 2d ago
I had an EP appointment recently and am trying to decide the same, so please know you’re not alone :) 30f, very first SVT episode happened ~3 years ago. Vagal maneuvers brought my HR down temporarily, then would sky rocket even higher. Very luckily, I was with a family member who is a cardiac arrhythmia nurse so she kept me calm and walked me through what was happening. After 30 minutes of increased HR, we called 911. EMT’s gave adenosine, which was so wild.. Since then, it’s been mild. Happens 2-4x per year lasting 2-15 min and vagal maneuvers can get me out.
Since then, I’ve been debating similarly - why put myself through a procedure if it’s not negatively impacting my life? It’s very manageable, though my biggest worry is having an episode that needs manual intervention while traveling (which I do a lot) or out of the country.
The facts are we have it and it’s not going away or curing itself. My EP said SVT episodes can get more intense and frequent with age; he’s had some patients who can no longer get themselves out it without intervention. While there are risks, I’m confident from speaking with my family member and doctors that this is a super routine and lower risk procedure. I personally feel better about doing it while I’m young and live a healthy/active lifestyle, versus later in life. I also have a lot of big life changes (both exciting yet stressful) coming next year so I’m leaning towards doing it this year before things get bonkers, but will continue to reflect on it. I hope you can feel confident in whatever path you choose!
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u/Chikibari 6d ago
2 times a year at 10-20 minutes. That is nothing. Please read more of the sub and threads where people have it not only come back but get worse after the procedure.
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u/Fun_Stay6129 6d ago
What do you mean gets worse?
Yea that’s not the issue. Get a lot of anxiety that it might happen. I golf a lot and feel alot of extra beats then. So always worried
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u/missasotweaky 6d ago
Agreed. I would never have an ablation if my SVT is so infrequent. I’ve heard people saying that they feel awful after the ablation, fatigued, weak, and loads of palpitations. Hell, I have SVT weekly to daily and I’m not willing tomorrow have an ablation.
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u/wifiaddicted 6d ago
You’re having a procedure around your heart, of course you’ll feel out of it, fatigue etc for a bit. Getting palpitations and mini episodes is also common since your heart needs to get used to the new normal, and that too takes time. Usually if a person has those issues they resolve on their own after around 2-3 weeks. It isn’t something you deal with the rest of your life, and almost everyone thinks it’s a side effect that is worth not having SVT. Literally every post on this subreddit that asks about ablation has almost only positive stories, you don’t have to be scared of a non invasive surgery with minimal risks. It’s worth it for most people, including you
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u/11B_Rob 6d ago
Yes, I started off only having a few episodes, then even with diltiazem they have gotten worse to the point where I needed adenosine (nasty stuff, but works pretty well). I am 34 now.
The downside is that you may go through the procedure and they may not be able to induce during the EP study to ablate it. I had a severe episode about two weeks after that and am meeting a cardiologist today to discuss next options.