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[Mayflower]

Having read a few posts on SVTs I thought I would contribute my experience.
About 3 years ago I started with frequent episodes of SVT - a very fast heart rate which resulted in going to resus and having a shot of adenosine to revert it to a normal rate, it is an unpleasant experience to say the least. Then the last 18 months I started with heart flutters and thumps aswell and I was sure it all related to hormones fluctuating and peri menopause although my cardiologist did not think it was all connected and my heart was otherwise fine.

I was given a beta blocker (bisoprolol) at A&E and it made me feel much worse which initially put me off taking tablets.
Then my cardiologist prescribed a calcium channel blocker, Verapamil, which I eventually had the courage to try and it stopped all SVT episodes and flutters/thumps on a low daily dose of 40 mg with no side effects.
Now I only take it when needed to prevent an episode from starting. I find it reduces anxiety and makes me feel much calmer. For any ladies who can relate as I know heart problems can make life pretty miserable.

[KaraShannon]

Thanks for letting us know that is really interesting as my heart skips have started up again recently.  have seen a cardiologist and they diagnosed 'some atrial ectopy' and told me not to worry.  HRT seemed to calm everything down for 2 years but things a bit more noticeable atm.  I have a feeling it's time to go onto continuous hrt from the evorel sequi, we'll see, but it's worth knowing about calcium channel blockers as it is important to remember cardiologists will have their own input too. 

[Lippyqueen]

Hi Mayflower, I suffered with episodes of SVT when I first became pregnant with my daughter a considerable amount of time ago (she is 42)!  I had attacks for quite a long time until I was advised to have an ablation which cured them.  I was too frightened to do anything about them before that but I wish I had had it treated before as an SVT attack as you say is not pleasant.  My cardiologist kept reassuring me that these were not “life threatening “.   The ablation was bout 8 years ago.  I am on Estradot 100mcg patches.  I do find that is still get quite a lot of “lumpy/missed” beats which I put down to hormone fluctuation.  The cardiologist said that I could take beta blockers but so far I haven’t as I heard that they can make you feel pretty unwell. 

[Mayflower]

Hi , Sorry for my late reply.

KaraShannon - I haven't taken any HRT because at the time the SVTs were my only main concern, (other than a few joint aches and pains which were manageable) so taking a tablet to stop them was definitely worth it.

Lippyqueen - I was too anxious to go ahead with an ablation as they are not always successful but it is reassuring to know that yours was. Beta blockers did not work for me and as you say can make you feel unwell, the bisoprolol gave me an arrhythmia, as far as I know they work on the adrenaline in the body. Calcium channel blockers are different in that they work on muscular tissue, I think to relax it, and they also seemed to help me sleep better.

I often wondered why the SVTs started so erratically and since I have been on a low histamine diet my bumps/flutters and SVTs seemed to have disappeared all by themselves even without the Verapamil - from what I understand around the time of menopause the body can become more sensitive to histamine which made me wonder if this also ties in with many other peri and menopausal symptoms.