Supraventricular Tachycardia: Charlie's Story

Lacrosse player Charlie Hildestad’s passion for lacrosse temporarily hit a wall with his irregular heartbeat. Learn how he overcame the health challenge in his own words.

[@oliviaw6397]

having svt sucked. i was diagnosed in 3rd grade but it wasn't much of an issue for me until senior year of high school. i would sometimes have multiple small episodes a day (just a few minutes) and every now and then a larger episode. it got to the point where i was nervous leaving the house since attacks always made me very very dizzy and i would lose feeling in my extremities. anyways, i got a catheter ablation in the summer of 2022 and it was the best decision ever! i feel so much more confident and at peace. i really recommend it to anybody who's svt really affects their quality of life.

[@jacobhillanbrand7988]

I am feeling very dizzy too. I'm thinking this is what it could be. Mine is coming on at random and i try to get in the tub to relax but it still doesn't help and feels like I'm gonna pass out and sometimes have to sit down in the shower. Very scary. I hope to get some answers soon

[@oliviaw6397]

@@jacobhillanbrand7988 I hope you get answers. Make sure to advocate for yourself, I was lucky enough to get diagnosed as a kid, but for many adults doctors will just chalk it up to anxiety. Talk to your doctor and see if getting a holter monitor, ekgs, and/or ultrasounds would be possible. All 3 might not be necessary, but the combination of those is what led to my diagnosis. Best of luck! (Definitely look into POTS as well if you aren't experience any noticeable irregular heartbeats)

[@griffinstadler]

I had an ablation done in the spring of 2019. It was the best decision I ever made, I was definitely scared but that surgery has a very high success rate and the second time around if the first one doesn’t work is about a 99% chance for success for anybody that is nervous about getting one.

[@Joox_02]

That isn't even surgery it's just a procedure right? I'm 20 yo and I have these symptoms for about a year and not long ago doctor told me I have SVT and that I should get EP study/ablation done. I'm skeptic and I don't think it would work on me lol.

[@griffinstadler]

@@Joox_02 I highly recommend getting one. You’re not gonna know anything or feel anything because as soon as they map out your heart on their machines they knock you out and before you know it your awake. It makes your quality of life so much better. And yes it is technically more along the lines of a procedure rather than a surgery. Only difference is instead of cutting you open they just go in with an ablation catheter through you inner thigh and into the femoral artery and up into your hearts chambers. If you’re scared or worried about anything else regarding the procedure I can assure you I was in no pain and I felt no discomfort it was definitely one of the easiest things I’ve ever done

[@Nocturnal808]

Why did you do it twice?

[@RamboBrazyy]

@@Nocturnal808sometimes it takes 2

[@JIVETURKEY600]

276 BPM....WOW, im glad u feel better Charlie.

[@radicalcartoons2766]

I'm 62 and had my first SVT in my mid-30s. I had 2 ablations 10 years apart, x1 by burning, x2 by freezing. Unfortunately both times the nerve grew back. I've now been on Verapamil for 25 years and it controls my SVT really well.

[@RamboBrazyy]

Glad your still up and moving 🙏❤️

[@daviddd99]

First SVT episode in 1988 at university when 24. This April (2024) at 60, I'm finally having an ablation in Slovakia. Mine were very intermittent - once every 3-4 years, so didn't affect my lifestyle but I noticed that more recent ones I got more symptoms - chest tightness, slight nausea, sweating so a 60-year-old heart is not quite as resilient as a 20-/30-/40-year old heart. Have been reassured by most of the KZbin videos on SVT ablation on KZbin.

[@kazae8749]

I think I have this but my cardiologist said I was fine and healthy but can’t even eat food or go for walk with out my heart racing so scared I don’t even go out my room any more

[@dankdyltch5366]

I’ve been like that all week and now I’m wired up to an ecg machine

[@RamboBrazyy]

You’ll be fine keep a positive mine set it kinda sound likes anxiety if he ran test and everything tho I’m Ngl

[@georgecusack706]

Do NOT take "you're young and healthy" or "it's just anxiety" as an answer I did this for way too long and suffered from AV Nodal Re-entry SVT for many years. It is so uncomfortable and obviously not desirable and it's even worse when no one knows what is going on or doesn't believe you. You HAVE to advocate for yourself, you are the only person on the planet that truly knows how YOU feel. Do some research and look for an "Electrophysiologist" instead of a "Cardiologist" and call their office tell them what's going on and schedule yourself an appointment. Just make sure your insurance doesn't require a referral, if it does than just ask your pcp for one. I hope you can get your issue figured out and resolved!

[@socalindustrial1882]

I'm going through the same thing. Cardiologists think I'm crazy when I tell them eating can trigger it.

[@johnc1552]

I had my first episode in about 4th grade. This was back in the 1950's so the local Doctors knew very little about it. I thought I was going to die. Sometimes I would get them every few weeks to sometimes months apart. Very scary. Now I am 70 years old and have been living with constant AFIB for several years. I am on medications now.

[@milfncookies6756]

Has your cardiologist ever recommended an ablation?

[@RamboBrazyy]

@@milfncookies6756AFIB isn’t SVT just to lyk AFIB more of the deadly cardiac arrest one SVT 9/10 you won’t die

[@elizabethwager]

im 12 years old and four weeks ago had a terrible episode. i had two before that, but we didnt know it was SVT. i had 250 bpm for an hour and a half to two hours. my school nurse wouldnt call an ambulance for me when many doctors said i needed one. i arrived at the hospital unstable and had to be dropped off and brought into the room alone because my mom couldnt find parking. currently im on a beta blocker and havent had an episode since. all i am now is scared ofhaving another one. i had three in one year which isnt common.

[@NENE-xx9xd]

It's so horrible worse feeling ever

[@Steve0885]

Yes

[@lyntaylor4131]

Absolutely

[@topcat1078]

The one time I had to let the training staff know that I was about to pass out, my resting heart beat was around 300, too high for them to measure. I got one of those heart monitors, but like with everything in my life, I didn't get an episode with the monitor. Eight years of symptoms and I have an iffy SVT diagnosis.

[@geraldvarga6054]

I was years aswell I used to get told from doctors it was anxiety. Then years later it was still happening and I had 3 24 hour monitors and caught nothing

[@RamboBrazyy]

@@geraldvarga6054same couldn’t diagnose mine until I passed out finally

[@RamboBrazyy]

300? I would of passed out just seeing 300 on the monitor not even cause of the other stuff

[@georgecusack706]

I had the same exact situation except not even an iffy diagnosis. I went almost 10 years of episodes and dozens of monitors that caught nothing. You are the only person on the planet that truly knows how YOU feel. Do some research and look for an "Electrophysiologist" instead of a "Cardiologist" and call their office tell them what's going on and schedule yourself an appointment. My EP opted to skip over the monitors and just do an EP Study since he heard about my trials and errors with monitors. Just make sure your insurance doesn't require a referral, if it does than just ask your pcp for one. I hope you can get your issue figured out and resolved!

[@mravalik]

I never played sports, but was somewhat physically active as a teen. My SVT started when I was 18, I knew something was different feeling my heart beat that fast but thought that it would just go away and never happen again. Almost two years went by and working, it happened again, only to become infrequent to frequent within a decade. I had sought treatment, though was kicked off my dad's insurance and two years later working part time, I was let go and haven't worked in six months. Was in the ER from a 9 hour Sinus Tachycardia episode, my parents told me I was pale and slurring my words, later on after 7 hours of being admitted in the hospital, was diagnosed by the main doctor that I have PSVT in which he strongly recommended an ablation, but I'll try beta blockers first until I get tired of medication and want to have a somewhat normal life after an operation.

[@babynyra9089]

Parents support was the best u received 👍🏻

[@Enxity23]

I had SVT I’m only 9 and I alrdy got it but luckily my doctor did the procedure and here I am today hi from Malaysia btw

[@r3ckless_zx10rr]

I have SVT, its not pleasant, resting feels like a workout

[@TheKinggmeleo]

Just had my ablation surgery. Thank God it was a success but SVT is the most annoying thing during tough workouts

[@TheKinggmeleo]

@ChrisTheGreat well I will have to get back at you on that Chris. Just had the surgery last Thursday and they said take a week off but I can’t wait to get back into CrossFit to see how much difference my endurance is going to be.

[@محمد-ز2ك2ذ]

@@TheKinggmeleo Can you tell me how you felt while stimulating your focus during the surgery? Did you feel as you did during the episode?

[@TheKinggmeleo]

@@محمد-ز2ك2ذ so when they were activating the part that causes the arrhythmia it did feel like when it happens during working out. I was awake during the procedure as well. They just sedated me instead of putting me to sleep with anesthesia.

[@erick7brian]

@@TheKinggmeleo how u been since your ablation bro?

[@og_sane]

SVT really sucks to be honest. I've had it since I reached 18 or something like that, and the episodes have got worse. I'm now eating bisoprolol 2,5mg daily, but I don't think it's the right solution. I may have to go and get the ablation done like my aunt did. Living with SVT causes constant fear in daily life. Last year I had two major episodes which lasted for about 45 minutes.

[@Joox_02]

Yeat SVT fin sucks... I've been having few bad episodes in the last 12 months and 2 time I had to go to the hospital. Did you do the ablation yet? My doctor told me I should do one too but I'm pretty nervous about that.

[@og_sane]

@@Joox_02 Not yet but my doctor also has recommended it. Truth be told I'm really nervous about that too... But I don't want the rest of my life to be like this, fearing SVT.. so I'm gonna go for it if I have to. Best of luck!

[@RamboBrazyy]

⁠​⁠@@og_saneSVT can’t kill you as yu get older you’ll adapt find ways to solve the episodes instantly 💯trust me we always adapt don’t let nothing ruin your life you

[@joshuamoore553]

I am new to this and I have it now, it's no fun my heart was 222 and it felt like nothing I want to feel ever again. I just want it to be done with so I can live a normal life.

[@elliecampbell1697]

I get you, I keep being told by people who don't know what it's like to stop doing my sport lessons in school and I sometimes cry over it because I don't want to but there's something inside of me that doesn't want to stop. I hope you feel better soon because I know how crap it feels. My heart rate is sometimes between 230 and 350 bpm and I've had it for eight years with two ablation and several different medications and nothing has worked 😭

[@GK-mu5rn]

@@elliecampbell1697 hey have you tried reading kale brock's book called the gut healing protocol? He had SVT but he was able to cure it naturally by changing his diet

[@rahulsoni-bk8wi]

@@elliecampbell1697 same with me Bro i have been ablated twice medications are regular no improve going for third one I can't live with this hell

[@kingsLife-kq7oj]

@@rahulsoni-bk8wi brother encounter my episode every 4 months since 2018........the very first episode I encountered was in 2012 and second episode in 2018....why 6 years gap🤔though I did everything between those 6 years which induces tachycardia but nothing happened in those 6 years.....

[@RamboBrazyy]

@@kingsLife-kq7ojyour body does what it wants to do

[@oliviaw6397]

for me, svt is a very distinct feeling. i never mix it up with just a regular fast heart rate. i'm interested to hear if it's the same for anyone else?

[@sudeshsuri2744]

True , it’s really a strange feeling My episode last for few seconds only but it scares me lot Heart beat went up to 150. It feels like some thing bad will happen

[@summerl0v4n32]

Yes it’s like your chest feels mute but when you put your hand to your chest the pulses are insane

[@RamboBrazyy]

@@sudeshsuri2744150 isn’t even SVT

[@RamboBrazyy]

@@sudeshsuri2744150 is a normal exercise/treadmill workday heart rate coming from a athlete myself during practice we always wear heart monitors mine goes up to 180-190 a lot

[@gerrymiereyes9091]

You can't focus like playing basketball because you feel like your would explode

[@mariacastilla5149]

I went to the ER the other day for tachycardia but I’m not sure if it was anxiety or I actually have a heart problem. My HR was in the 160s

[@ablair33556]

Did you find out ? Usually 160 isn’t terrible , even though I know it feels like it lol. Mine went up to 180 and I was terrified.

[@madelineowens2457]

Mine goes up to 210 sometimes with SVT it’s so weird

[@ishikamehta8953]

@@madelineowens2457 do you feel your heart beating? Bcz i might have psvt but I don't feel my heart beating. It's just tightness in chest and shortness of breath and my pulse goes 234 in oxymeter but I don't feel my heart beating or racing. Is that how psvt feel?

[@RamboBrazyy]

160 is normal I’m Ngl

[@RamboBrazyy]

@@ablair33556180 pretty normal to I’m Ngl especially for a athlete like me now if your talking about 180 resting that’s a different story

[@cold4942]

My son just got diagnosed, he's in 5th grade a 10 yr old. It's so scary. He used to practice Fencing, he had to stop for now. I need him to get better, I need him to know that he can live a normal life, but I can't tell him that yet . I feel broken

[@RamboBrazyy]

He will adapt trust me I’ve had it for a long time get him on beta blockers change the diet he will be fine

[@whovilletree]

This is so horrible I hope he gets better soon and gets out on medication

[@comhghalodubhda4315]

I’m 12 and I’ve been having palpitations for the past 2 months. After being in hospital twice I was diagnosed with atrial tachycardia and wenckbach. The doctor said it’s not bad and that it will most likely self - terminate after a few months.

[@anthonym3351]

5 months later how are you now?

[@TheDylan6908]

I had my first SVT at age 14. Went for many years with none. In my 50s they became more frequent and the rate was even clocked at 239 BPM one time when EMS was called. Had a cardiac ablation at age 59 at North Shore Hospital Manhasset, NY Dr. Jadanoth. Thought I was cured but two years later they returned. Not frequent by any means. Average 2-3 per year. Daily dose of Toprol had no effect on frequency. As far as maneuvers go an abrupt shoulder stand seems to do the trick but though I'm in good shape for a 71 year old, doing a shoulder stand down the road is going to be a challenge. The EP doc actually called my problem Atrial Tachycardia caused by a spot on my heart (I believe referred to as ectopic) that was emitting an electrical impulse that was throwing the normal pathway of conduction out of wack. I hate this. I feel awful when it happens. I've even felt faint. Was administered adenosine several times to convert to normal rhythm. Not horrible but you do feel like you're passing out when they administer it, so not pleasant.

[@NgoChi-cd6kl]

Why didn't they try to do 2ng ablation ? Did the doctor explain the spot from the Atrial Tach was near the AV node ?

[@TheDylan6908]

@@NgoChi-cd6kl I don't recall him saying the "spot" was near the AV node. And he did, in fact, refer to it as a "spot". An ablation is not such a benign procedure so I've been reluctant to go through it again. My episodes are very infrequent. Maybe 2 or 3 a year and I have been 100% successful at stopping them by doing a shoulder stand that my wife helps me to perform. Thing is I'm 73 now. I work out regularly and am in pretty good shape but don't know how long I'll be able to get into a shoulder stand when I do get a tachycardia.

[@chadlove3443]

I get them almost constantly, but the doctors haven't recommended ablation because it's skipped beats and not severe tachycardia. Sometimes it's tachycardia, but not above 160BPM. It's more of an annoyance and keeps me up at night.

[@kaineuler]

May I ask is your arythmia triggered or chronic ?

[@jgoogle6976]

If it’s pvcs or pacs can happen hundreds of times a day in any avg person & most don’t even notice them in day to day life but some are triggered by svt or other heart arrhythmias

[@GK-mu5rn]

yeah you should probably just change your diet, do some diaphragmatic breathing, and sleep more. that might help

[@chadlove3443]

@@kaineuler they are chronic, but I have found thc helps greatly, but do did going on a juice fast. Not over eating helps. I believe being less full presses less on my Vagus nerve, plus overconsuming salt makes it worse.

[@chadlove3443]

@@GK-mu5rn For sure. Diet helps greatly.

[@Akira282]

anyone ever gotten adenosine intra iv before to slow the heart rate some? Ugh, that sucks.

[@elliecampbell1697]

I have svt and also have the kardia, and every time I stop doing sport to record a palpitation, it stops suddenly enen tho it has been beating from 230 - 350. Its so annoying!!

[@hahau629]

Keep your blood pressure down! For me excessive salt, sugar, alcohol, stress were triggers. The pvcs always came with high blood preasure, for me 135/85 + was bad. Drink lots and lots of water!

[@1978Trevino]

What kind of cardia band please?

[@fatimaengels6479]

I have a 14 year old son (very sporty)who was diagnosed with SVT in October 2021...does anyone know if you can outgrow it? Thanks

[@Joox_02]

I don't know if you can outgrow it, but EP study or ablation could be really helpfull.

[@lizconnolly2461]

I have had SVT since I was 7 years old, I am 24 now and I am still suffering!

[@RamboBrazyy]

@@lizconnolly2461hey your alive💯💯can’t get any better than that

[@puhelimentili805]

The thought of not being able to play lacrosse was terrifying, but having a resting heart rate of 286 and passing out is not?!

[@muhammadnasir747]

what was the charlie s treatment ? can anyone help me?

[@dylantalamo28]

Ablation