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Barbara2 · 12-10-2007, 02:16 PM

I also had SVTs, which kept me from entering the herceptin trial. They would not accept anyone with heart problems going into the trial.

I had SVTs for about 10 years. Medicine kept them in check...kind of. Several times a year I would have to go to the emergency room to bring the rhythm back to normal. The heart would race widly. It's pretty scary.

When in the ICU from a chemo treatment, I had a SVT (I remember the rate being 235...after that I told them not to tell me what it was...I didn't want to know)and they gave me a new drug to bring me out of the rhythm. It was one of the worst experiences in my life.

The drug stops your heart briefly, and you feel like you are going to die. I lived in fear of having to have that medicine again for another attack.

I decided to have the cardiac ablation. I wish I would have done it many years ago. The surgery correctred the SVTs, but I do have LOTS of palpitations but that is an entirely different issue. In fact, I am just finishing wearing a heart monitor for 21 days. They thought I should check it out as it's been a few years since it was last monitored.

Good luck to you!

12-10-2007, 02:16 PM	#7
Barbara2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South Dakota. Posts: 621	SVTs I also had SVTs, which kept me from entering the herceptin trial. They would not accept anyone with heart problems going into the trial. I had SVTs for about 10 years. Medicine kept them in check...kind of. Several times a year I would have to go to the emergency room to bring the rhythm back to normal. The heart would race widly. It's pretty scary. When in the ICU from a chemo treatment, I had a SVT (I remember the rate being 235...after that I told them not to tell me what it was...I didn't want to know)and they gave me a new drug to bring me out of the rhythm. It was one of the worst experiences in my life. The drug stops your heart briefly, and you feel like you are going to die. I lived in fear of having to have that medicine again for another attack. I decided to have the cardiac ablation. I wish I would have done it many years ago. The surgery correctred the SVTs, but I do have LOTS of palpitations but that is an entirely different issue. In fact, I am just finishing wearing a heart monitor for 21 days. They thought I should check it out as it's been a few years since it was last monitored. Good luck to you! __________________ Blessings and Peace, Barbara DX Oct 02 @ age 52 Stage 2B Grade 3 Mastectomy "at least" 4.5 cm IDC 1+node ER+61% /PR- Assiciated Intraductual component with Comedo Necrosis Her2+ FISH8.6 IHC 2+ 5 1/2 CEF Arimidex Celebrex 400mg daily for 13 months Prophylactic mastectomy Estradiol #: 13 PTEN positive, "late" Herceptin (26 months after chemo) Oct 05: Actonel for osteopenia from Arimidex. May 08: Replaced Actonel with Zometa . Taking every 6 months. Accepting the gift of life, I give thanks for it and live it in fullness.