Anyone on the forum got VT?
Looking for advice on levels of exercise etc?
Ta
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Anyone on the forum got VT?
Looking for advice on levels of exercise etc?
Ta
VT, not SVT? Paulo had better answer this one but in the meantime age/underlying disease process/symptoms/treatment so far/number of episodes/advice given by medical team/any other medical problems/family history would be useful.
Hi Mike. Definately VT.
I was, however, diagnosed with SVT 14yrs ago and after 2 failed attempts at ablation changed my lifestyle sufficiently enough to manage the condition without drugs ever since.
However, started getting episodes of feeling poorly about 18mths ago. After ruling out other things the docs naturally needed to check my heart out, what with previous history. Ultrasound shows still have a healthy heart but 7 day halter monitor shows definate episodes of VT when at rest. I queried their diagnosis and said surely they meant SVT but was told it was definately VT. But that is all I know at the moment.
The consultant is tracking down my old notes (different hopsital) to see if they misdiagnosed 14 yrs ago. If not I have two types of arrythmia going on (is that possible?) or for some reason my condition was misdiagnosed 14 yrs ago but has suddenly deteriorated.
However, it's bit more complicated than that. Too complicated to go into really. But I have other health problems going on plus when I had my exerecise test a problem occured as when I stopped exercising my blood preassure shot up to somewhere in the region of 220-240. Although it then came down, the reaction of the lady performing the tests suggests that was not a good thing! However, my exercise test has disappeared from my file and the overview of my 7 day halter monitor has disappeared too. So I've not had a full diagnosis yet just the initial diagnosis that I am definately having bouts of VT. Other tests results are pending ( some sort of unusual blood test) and more tests probably need to be done but becuase of x-mas and lots of cocks up and miscommunications within the hospital I have not been given any more advice than that for the time being.
I don't feel well generally so have seriously limited my exercise for the time being but to be honest I don't even know if I'm supposed to be doing any.
Also just looking forward to the future wondering how much impact this may have on my exercising as everything that I have read on the web seems to suggest that VT is more serious than SVT. But I don't intend giving up exercise unless I have to.
Just trying to get some positive news so I can get my head around it and know what I'm dealing with really.
Hope that helps.
Hi Flopsy, I'm a humble GP, but given your history and current symptoms DO NOT under any circumstances exercise until you've had a further exercise ECG or adenosine stress test. Exercise can precipitate VT and if you are unlucky enough to get an R on T version it's goodnight vienna as this can precipitate VF (when you need a shock to restart the heart).
Waiting until you have the all clear is by far the best option here, sorry, Mark
Excuse my ignorance but what's an R on T version??
SVT then and VT now does not sound right to me - my first thought is that either they got it wrong then or they are getting it wrong now. R on T refers to an ectopic/extra beat - or a bout of VT - occurring when one part of the heart is just recovering/repolarizing electrically when another is starting to discharge/depolarize - this is when the heart is most vulnerable to nasty ventricular rhythms. However, assuming you have had the same condition all along, the fact that your echo was fine and you have come to no great harm in 14 years suggests to me a relatively benign condition. Hearts were not my specialty - I was a Geriatrician - hopefully Paulo will be along soon!
Crikey sounds confusing Mike!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
My concern is that if they did misdiagnose 14 years ago then why I have I suddenly deteriorated. The other health problems I'm having and the abnormal blood pressure reading also seem to suggest that something else is going on than the same condition I have had for 14 years. I've led a very normal life for 14 years but now feel very poorly on an increasing frequency. :confused:
ECGs - heart tracings - are difficult to interpret - and one of the most notoriously difficult things is to differentiate between VT and SVT. Even experienced Consultant Cardiologists get this wrong from time to time. It would be unusual to get this wrong with recordings from inside the heart, which clearly you had 14 years ago. On the ECG the electrical waves that are recorded as the heart depolarizes and then repolarizes are designated PQRST; P is the atria, QRS is the ventricles depolarizing, T is the ventricles repolarizing. Normally, and in an SVT, the QRS is narrow; in VT it is broad - SVT looks a bit like this: LLLLLLLL ; VT looks a bit like this : VVVVVVVVV - so sometimes we talk about narrow vs broad complex tachycardias. The problem arises as sometimes SVT is broad, and very occasionally VT is narrow - hence the difficulty in accurate diagnosis. They are very different conditions, with different underlying causes, and different treatment approaches, though if drugs are used some of them work in both conditions. In conclusion: this is a complex area to get to grips with, even for doctors; let us hope they get your old and more recent medical records together soon so that they can sort things out for you.
No response from Paulo yet.
Also no response from anyone else having VT either.
hmmmmmm :confused:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flopsy
Sorry Flopsy, I've not been doing much on tinternet of late. Drop me a PM and I'll be of any help i can
cheers, P