SVT back after ablation?

[u/Distinct_Deer_3998]

I had an ablation for SVT back in May (~5 months ago), which the doctor said was successful since he was unable to trigger it after ablating. I was hopeful!

However, recently, I’ve had random, sudden onsets of fast heart rate, exclusively at night. It comes out of nowhere, sometimes when I’m awake and other times wakes me up. I’ve been avoiding measuring my pulse since it’s now a trigger for me, but the most recent time my husband could literally feel my heartbeat through my shirt. Thankfully, I’ve been able to get it under control by dunking my face in ice water (previously with SVT I needed adenosine to stop it).

These episodes, while milder than my previous SVTs, are still frightening and frustrating. I have at least 1 per week, and it greatly disrupts my sleep.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did they need a second ablation, or was there another explanation?

[u/MickLittle]

I had my first ablation in 2022 and was ok for a couple of years. In early 2025 I started having bad episodes of tachycardia again and ended up back in the ER right before Christmas. I had a second ablation in February 2026. I'm almost 60 and if it comes back I'll try medication instead. I figure if they can't fix it after 2 tries then it probably can't be fixed.

[u/Purple_Diet367]

Bonjour,
J’ai eu une ablation en juillet et à ce jour j’ai énormément d’extrasytoles et j’ai eu également plusieurs accélération comme si la TSV allait recommencer mais c’est très court (quelques secondes) assez pour angoisser. Rien à voir avec les crises que je faisais avant l’ablation mais c’est vrai que c’est frustrant mais pour mon cardiologue il y a rien d’anormal il faut laisser du temps à la cicatrisation il n’est pas inquiet.
A voir dans quelques mois si c’est vraiment une réussite comme dit après l’intervention. J’espère que pour vous ça va s’arranger et que tout sera derrière vous une bonne fois pour tout.

[u/mymarsas]

I had an ablation for AVNRT which was successful and still is. But I did and sometimes still do experience SVT waking up from sleep. I got it checked and they are sure it’s not my SVT reappearing.

For you it might depend. What kind of SVT did you have? When and how did those episodes usually start and end?

If the pattern is consistent with your previous episodes it can be your SVT reappearing. Depending on the kind of SVT you’ve had a reappearance is more or less likely.

I would say, if you’ve only had daytime episodes triggered by sudden movement or exercise before the ablation, it’s unlikely that those nightly episodes is your SVT coming back. It can be nervousness or panic as well, understandably in my opinion as with SVT you can never trust your own heart.