Hi there,
I am having another dr appt soon to discuss my svt and am really needing some help on things to discuss with my cardio. He said if the toprol xl that I have been taking for the past couple months has not improved my svt then I definitely need to go on and have the ablation.
The med has improved my svt from having episodes 1-2x per week average of a sustained hr of 180+ for 8-10hrs, down to maybe 3x a week of a sustained hr or 150 for 4hrs average.
The problem is my resting rate will not drop below 100bpm, has not since this past summer, way before I started the toprol xl so I know that is not the cause, it just has not had any effect on improving the resting hr.
The cardio says he does not want to even try a 2cd med with me, that I should just have the ablation which he originally recommended 3yrs ago, but I declined because I was just afraid of it. Does this sound reasonable or should I at least try a 2cd med before having ablation? He has doubled the doseage of toprol but has not suggested any other meds. I would be interested in trying another such as some have recommended from this board like Sotalol or Flecanaide. I am very scared of ablation as I have heard alot of stories from people saying it made their situations worse. I am at least able to exercise and function normally now, despite the svt and constant tach, I hate to go and have this ablation and then have more problems. On the other hand I am worried that the constant hr exceeding 100bpm is detrimental or will be in the long run. Any advice or comments are very much appreciated, thanks alot:angel: em

Hey Em,

Are you taking any Magnesium? Since I have been taking one 250mg in the AM every morning, I can't even remember when I have even felt like my heart was going to skip a beat. I also got back into working out and maybe that and the Magnesium both helped.
Have you tried it?

And I am with you on the ablation. I read through the one thread about the horror stories and I won't be having one anytime soon!

Lynn

Well Emm since you and I have a lot in common with our hearts I will tell you what I think. I would have told you right away to do the ablation, I mean maybe you could get rid of this. However if you havent even tried a second med and knowing you are so scared, AND knowing how I reacted to other medications... I would say tell them you want to try another medication. I mean I tried Flecainide, Rythmol, and Sotalol and at least got some affect out of them. Now the affects were short lived and less than a year after having my first ablation I am going to have to go back for another, but still I got to think they should let you at least try an antiarrhythmic drug. Especially if you have been tolerating the toprol. Toprol was the first drug I tried as well. So I guess I would say, make them give you a second or even third drug to at least try. But if he really wants you to do the ablation then go for it. Just bare in mind, you could be just like me and them say its just sinus tachycardia and there isnt much they can do for it.

Hi there, thanks both of you for your reples:)

Lynn, yes I have been taking the magnesium 250mg, but only for the past few weeks or so. Glad it is helping you as far as the skipped beats. I haven't noticed much of a change but it sure isn't hurting me so I will keep on with it and see how things go. Gosh, I know what you mean about the ablation, the only reason I'm scared of it is I'm afraid I'll end up worse off than before, but my dr talks like it is a complete cure and if I have it done I'll never have to deal with this svt again, hmm still thinking on that but I go back next week and will see what he has to say. Hope you are doing ok.

mnmmnmn, Thanks for your reply as well! It does seem we both have alot in common with our hearts. Yes I agree I would like to try at least one more med. I'm still not sure why my doc said he didn't even want to try any more meds with me, maybe because he recommended the ablation 3yrs ago, and since I declined and am still having problems he thinks it will be best. I would like to at least try 1 or 2 more meds though. So you are having to have a 2cd ablation now? Well, please let me know how it goes, and I will be thinking of you, take care :angel: em