Discussions

Through the years, we have received amazing, insightful comments from people from all over the world. This page is a library of all those discussions for you to use as reference. The information here is extremely valuable and not to be missed. To add to the conversation, and receive my reply, you can comment on any of the blog posts. This page is for reference only.

  • From Louise on SVT Prevention Diet

    Hello,

    I was reading your very informative website, thank you. I do have one question for you, you mention taking Green Vibrance. In looking at the ingredient list I came upon green tea extract. I was told by my cardiologist to avoid this ingredient and as can increase the heart rate. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

    2014/09/13 at 10:29 pm

  • From Nadi on My Story

    I have been diagnosed with SVT after over 3 yrs of episodes. Am a single parent and will probably get the surgery. I am a naturopath and have avoided all food allergens and tried everything. My cousin died two yrs ago at the age of 32 with this problem and without warning. I really want to avoid surgery but because my risks are higher (episodes cause fainting, and family history) I will need to get it done. Although I do believe that emotional and spiritual factors are at play, it is way too hard to live with the idea that it can, and does happen anytime. And more frequently now, such as when driving

    2014/09/05 at 2:49 am

  • From Magenta Pixie on I had a Baby at 43

    Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby boy xxxx

    2014/08/26 at 7:21 am

  • From joyonmyjourney on The INNER circle

    For me it typically is like what Laura described… I get a flutter feeling or a missed beat feeling pause and then it kicks into its fast rhythm. I have been dealing with svt since i was 19 and I am now 43. I used to always have at least 1 -2 episodes a year but in the last 3 years they have been increasing. This last year and a half they have increased to the point where I can have up to 2-3 episodes a month 🙁

    2014/08/25 at 11:41 pm

    • From nourishmyspirit on The INNER circle

      Ugghh, going in the wrong direction! LEts try to figure out why! Are you eating gluten? I know that’s a tough one for everyone…but the gluten over time does damage. you may just need to stay off it for a few months and give everything a break and then add it back in slowly. What else could it be? Don’t forget to download the food tracker to help you try to look for clues! Are you sleeping enough? Pushing yourself too hard? Let me know if you have any ideas on why and I can try to help!

      2014/08/26 at 12:56 am

  • From joyonmyjourney on Water and SVT

    Thanks for your information on water… I typically drink quite a bit of water but am going to focus on drinking it more…considering my svt’s have been increasing the last year quite a bit I am looking to do all I can to lessen them. When you say you take cal mag citrate… do you take it in a pill or powder form and what brand?

    2014/08/25 at 11:32 pm

    • From nourishmyspirit on Water and SVT

      I take cal mag citrate by thorne. Its very delicate, add the powder to water and that gets you an extra glass. You should use the food tracker to try to find other clues as to why your SVTs are increasing…I’ll glad help if you need it! Let me know! All the best,

      2014/08/26 at 12:53 am

  • From Annette GreeneA on Talk to Laura

    Hi Laura…Thanks for the advice re: acupuncture. The person I will see is part of an integrative medicine practice I’ve been going to for the past year and a half so I will be sure to ask her about things I need to complement the acupuncture. Thanks also for the advice on diet. I have paid close attention to diet for years now and have found that one of the major triggers of SVT for me is caffeine. Chinese tea twice one week was the culprit of my last episode…yes, I know I should know better! Take care and thanks for the great website. Annette

    2014/08/25 at 11:35 am

    • From nourishmyspirit on Talk to Laura

      Hi Annette, There are 2 things I have learned that I live my life by. 1. Listen to YOUR OWN body. Chinese tea might work for one person and for you it causes SVT. Personally, I haven’t been able to EVER drink Green tea and lots of people rave about it. In fact, while I like acupuncture and those Chinese herbs worked wonders for me…the typical Chinese diet including white rice created horrible constipation for me. Diet wise I lean toward ayurvedic practices and am becoming increasingly interested in it. 2. Even if you like ONE aspect of something, it doesn’t mean you have to FOLLOW the whole regime. Just pick what works for you. Many years ago I went to a self improvement seminar. I loved a LOT of it, but some of it was a little too much for me. Instead of loving it, hating it etc. I just TOOK what worked for me and LEFT the rest. ITS all OK!!!!!Just follow the basics, like water, no caffeine, no gluten, light meals, lots of veggies, sleep, rest, etc. and you will start to KNOW what is triggering you. I am always here to listen and help! You are doing great, never judge yourself, every day you are learning and getting better and better. xoxo Laura

      2014/08/25 at 2:27 pm

  • From Dave Leighton on The INNER circle

    I had SVT for 9 yrs, and it also started up out of no where. I went to emergency rm 4 times, 3times it stopped while in waiting rm or in route to hospital. The 4th time a doctor got an ekg done while it was happening, then told me to “bear down” holding my breath putting pressure in rib cage. This didn’t work, he had to inject me with a shot that “stopped” my heart momentarily and it restarted at normal beat – but not until the 2nd try. Over the years they increased in from every couple weeks to weekly, then eventually last year I was having them daily up to 30 times a day. I discovered by accident that supplemental oxygen would stop them. I bought a concentrator and as soon as one would start I would use it, lay on my stomach and breath the oxygen deeply and it would stop very quickly. It seemed that the longer I let it go on, the longer it would take for the oxygen to stop it. It made it more bearable, until I had ablations done last year. I had a younger doctor sit down and tell me that he could fix it, and he was very convincing and sure of himself that I had it done. It worked well. I only have an occasional episode now, and it is only for 5 – 8 beats and goes back to normal – for over a year now. I also had AFIB before, and he fixed that completely.

    2014/08/24 at 3:31 pm

  • From kassie on Gluten Intolerance and the SVT-GUT Connection

    For the past two weeks My heart has been pounding out of my chest almost constantly along with shaking,shooting chest pain,and shortness of breath. I’ve been to the ER three times and they keeping telling me that my heart rate is high but not “abnormal” so they keep sending me home. My dad thinks I am a flat out liar and threatens to kick me out if I call an ambulance because I’m on his insurance. How do you deal with this? I can’t even get a diagnosis =(

    2014/08/24 at 5:56 am

    • From nourishmyspirit on Gluten Intolerance and the SVT-GUT Connection

      What was your heart rate when you went to the ER ? They said it was high … What was the number?

      2014/08/24 at 6:19 am

  • From Annette Greene on Talk to Laura

    I have had SVT since 2001 and had a failed ablation in 2011. I have recently figured out that one of my triggers is being more tired than usual and am hoping this awareness will help prevent future episodes. I wonder if anyone has noticed anything similar? I was also told recently that acupuncture can help with reducing the frequency/intensity of episodes and am going to start this treatment next week. I’d love to hear if anyone has had experience treating SVT with acupuncture. I do follow many of Laura’s suggestions re: diet including being gluten-free for the past year and a half but have found I still need more help. Thanks, Annette

    2014/08/24 at 3:48 am

    • From nourishmyspirit on Talk to Laura

      Hi Annette, Thanks for your post. I did try acupuncture for over 2 years consistently and I think that it helped a lot, but I went to someone who blended his own Chinese herbs and those were also made a huge difference in addition to the acupuncture. He was an excellent pulse reader and gave me extremely good care that was so specific to my exact constitution and health issues. Make sure you go to someone really, really qualified! You are soooo right that being tired definitely increases your risk. OTher major things are water intake, reduced sugar, smaller more frequent meals, daily bowel movements, taking probiotics and some supplements. I would love to help you further if you still need another set of yes to help you fine tune and investigate your triggers..Have you downloaded the free food tracker? If so, fill it in for a week and see what you think might be contributing. I Will gladly assist if I can. Keep track of times per day, stress levels, along with water etc. Make sure you are eating lots of nutrient dense foods as well. lots of beans, quiona and veggies! all the best, good luck! xoxo laura

      2014/08/24 at 4:05 am

  • From Karen on Travel and SVT

    This is a great web site. I was just diagnosed & have a trip planned & paid for, so of course I want to follow through with it, even if I am afraid. Bending over, too much carry on, too much food, all apply. Thank you.

    2014/08/23 at 9:01 pm

  • From karissa on ABOUT

    Hi Laura,

    I have just been diagnosed with SVT, in particular, AVNRT. Which vitamins do you recommend I take? I have heard that vitamins can work wonders for SVT.

    Karissa

    2014/08/21 at 2:28 am

  • From karissa on The COURSE

    Hi Laura,

    I have just been diagnosed with SVT, in particular, AVNRT. Which vitamins do you recommend I take? I have heard that vitamins can work wonders for SVT.

    Karissa

    2014/08/21 at 2:28 am

  • From Karissa on Travel and SVT

    Hi Laura. These are great tips. I was just diagnosed with AVNRT SVT yesterday. Within the past 4 years, I have had 4 episodes. My cardiologist always assumed I had a form of SVT but it wasn’t until yesterday that he was able to prove it. I was at the airport and we had to de-board the plane because the computer failed on the plane. When I was told that we would re-board because the issue was fixed, I started to have anxiety that something would go wrong. My anxiety turned into SVT and I was alone and panicked. A woman next to me called 911 and the paramedics caught my SVT on an EKG. After seeing my cardiologist, he put me on a beta blocker to be used as a pill in pocket and not on a daily basis. I am hoping my episodes don’t get more frequent. I am petrified for it to happen again. I know I will be okay but every time it happens I swear I am going to die. It’s no way to live. I will try to follow your tips! Thank you.

    2014/08/20 at 10:21 pm

  • From liz on Water and SVT

    I swear dehydration was what caused my first episode of svt. I was at the beach all day the day before and had alcohol and no water! The next morning I thought i was going to die of a heart attack. Now I make sure I hydrate. If I get busy and forget I feel palpitations all night. Thanks for all the info about natural things to help prevent.

    2014/08/13 at 3:48 pm

  • From onaille on ABOUT

    Hi Laura,
    I’m going to change my diet today! I have an appointment next week to talk about the ablation. I’m not so sure I want to go that route now. Thanks so much for all this wonderful information!

    2014/08/11 at 1:32 pm

  • From onaille on The COURSE

    Hi Laura,
    I’m going to change my diet today! I have an appointment next week to talk about the ablation. I’m not so sure I want to go that route now. Thanks so much for all this wonderful information!

    2014/08/11 at 1:32 pm

  • From onaille on ABOUT

    Laura,
    I just found this site. I was wondering if you have cured yourself completely or if you still have episodes?

    2014/08/11 at 12:37 am

    • From nourishmyspirit on ABOUT

      Cured…Well, I wouldn’t use the word cured, because if I don’t follow all the things that I write about, I am sure they would come back. The best I can do is compare myself now to myself about 5-7 years ago…and from then I would say I am 95% “cured”…(better). I also don’t suffer from any of the related conditions like anxiety, constipation, being hot, waking up in the middle of the night, mis-fires, POTS, etc. I recently had a baby who is now 5 months old and I had 2 SVT’s whilst pregnant. Once because I had terrible morning sickness (lasts all day sickness) I was nauseaus for 4 months and one day I just caved in to a craving and wanted to eat a loaf of Italian bread with a hunk of mozzarella cheese and YES I DID have an SVT from it. and the second one was the night before my C-section. All the typical things that I need to avoid were present. I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink, I was very nervous for the surgery and of course all the other general worry that comes along with having a baby!, I had to wake up in the middle of the night (3am) to be at the hospital by 5am and my body just cant handle all those things combined. Both times I broke it on my own thankfully. The first one I stayed super calm and actually broke it by having a bowel movement. and the one the night before the C-section broke after about 30 minutes in the car on the way to the hospital. If I follow my general guidelines, stay completely gluten free, have daily bowel movements, stay hydrated, take my vitimans, I DO NOT have any SVT’s, ever and that is a drastic difference from the way things used to be before I started making all these connections. I hope you are connecting the dots in your own life and health! Let me know!!! All the best, love and healing, Laura

      2014/08/11 at 2:35 am

      • From Debbie on ABOUT

        Laura, Congratulations on your baby. Update on me…..

        I have been able to break every SVT that I have had this past year, all being less than 1 minute. That is a wonderful new development for me. My SVT’s have been triggered 100% of the time by crouching over, whether stooping to pick something up on a full stomach, or sitting hunched over.

        I have noticed that those days that I have them is when I am not feeling up to par for whatever reason. My thoughts are, the vagus nerve get’s irritated when I crouch over and then irritates the nervous pathway in my heart. It then thumps into the SVT, and then by doing what I can to slow my heart rate down, my heart it able to find it’s natural pathway.

        Vasal Vagal maneuvers have never worked for me because I get too anxious when they don’t work and then I thrash around trying to go through all of them to get something to work, and the anxiety keeps my heart rate up.

        But here is what has worked for me 100% of the time, and I have had 1 doz very quick SVT’s this past year, so the test has been very reliable……

        Drink a very cold drink of water. Lie down on the left side and do something enjoyable like watch a happy movie, or listening to calming music, or meditate on the beauty of a nature outside the window (if there is a nice scene out there), and then breath slowly and concentrate on slowing the heart rate down. Tell yourself not to get anxious but to be calm because slowing down the heart will help it’s natural rhythm return. Converting feels wonderful and it always surprises me than I was able to convert on my own.

        I am at the point now, that I am able to get back to my regular duties immediately after the SVT, when before the SVT’s would disable my ability to have confidence for weeks afterward. I know longer feel like this condition is controlling my life.

        Thanks as always for this venue to talk about it.

        Debbie

        2014/08/11 at 1:03 pm

  • From onaille on The COURSE

    Laura,
    I just found this site. I was wondering if you have cured yourself completely or if you still have episodes?

    2014/08/11 at 12:37 am

    • From nourishmyspirit on The COURSE

      Cured…Well, I wouldn’t use the word cured, because if I don’t follow all the things that I write about, I am sure they would come back. The best I can do is compare myself now to myself about 5-7 years ago…and from then I would say I am 95% “cured”…(better). I also don’t suffer from any of the related conditions like anxiety, constipation, being hot, waking up in the middle of the night, mis-fires, POTS, etc. I recently had a baby who is now 5 months old and I had 2 SVT’s whilst pregnant. Once because I had terrible morning sickness (lasts all day sickness) I was nauseaus for 4 months and one day I just caved in to a craving and wanted to eat a loaf of Italian bread with a hunk of mozzarella cheese and YES I DID have an SVT from it. and the second one was the night before my C-section. All the typical things that I need to avoid were present. I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink, I was very nervous for the surgery and of course all the other general worry that comes along with having a baby!, I had to wake up in the middle of the night (3am) to be at the hospital by 5am and my body just cant handle all those things combined. Both times I broke it on my own thankfully. The first one I stayed super calm and actually broke it by having a bowel movement. and the one the night before the C-section broke after about 30 minutes in the car on the way to the hospital. If I follow my general guidelines, stay completely gluten free, have daily bowel movements, stay hydrated, take my vitimans, I DO NOT have any SVT’s, ever and that is a drastic difference from the way things used to be before I started making all these connections. I hope you are connecting the dots in your own life and health! Let me know!!! All the best, love and healing, Laura

      2014/08/11 at 2:35 am

      • From Debbie on The COURSE

        Laura, Congratulations on your baby. Update on me…..

        I have been able to break every SVT that I have had this past year, all being less than 1 minute. That is a wonderful new development for me. My SVT’s have been triggered 100% of the time by crouching over, whether stooping to pick something up on a full stomach, or sitting hunched over.

        I have noticed that those days that I have them is when I am not feeling up to par for whatever reason. My thoughts are, the vagus nerve get’s irritated when I crouch over and then irritates the nervous pathway in my heart. It then thumps into the SVT, and then by doing what I can to slow my heart rate down, my heart it able to find it’s natural pathway.

        Vasal Vagal maneuvers have never worked for me because I get too anxious when they don’t work and then I thrash around trying to go through all of them to get something to work, and the anxiety keeps my heart rate up.

        But here is what has worked for me 100% of the time, and I have had 1 doz very quick SVT’s this past year, so the test has been very reliable……

        Drink a very cold drink of water. Lie down on the left side and do something enjoyable like watch a happy movie, or listening to calming music, or meditate on the beauty of a nature outside the window (if there is a nice scene out there), and then breath slowly and concentrate on slowing the heart rate down. Tell yourself not to get anxious but to be calm because slowing down the heart will help it’s natural rhythm return. Converting feels wonderful and it always surprises me than I was able to convert on my own.

        I am at the point now, that I am able to get back to my regular duties immediately after the SVT, when before the SVT’s would disable my ability to have confidence for weeks afterward. I know longer feel like this condition is controlling my life.

        Thanks as always for this venue to talk about it.

        Debbie

        2014/08/11 at 1:03 pm

  • From Patricia Nippell on Water and SVT

    I had just finished 4 cups of water immediately before the most severe SVT episode to date that morphed to afib and had to be stopped by a cardioversion eight hours later. Water may have limited value in preventing episodes. One theory that i have, after suffering off and on for the past 35 years …. additives in drinks and food are a contributing factor including MSG, sodium, sulphites, carrageenan, “natural flavours and a host of others.

    2014/08/08 at 4:10 pm

    • From nourishmyspirit on Water and SVT

      Hello, thanks for your comment!!! Yes, there are so many SVT contributors, I agree, I talk endlessly about food allergies being a trigger. Additives would definitely fall into that category!!!! Actually the Water suggestion is about staying hydrated as a rule to avoid SVT in general. Water plays a huge role. Consuming water immediately prior to an episode won’t “Hydrate” you:( Hydration comes from being consistent with drinking water. Slowly throughout the day, all day, every day. That is the only way you would truly become hydrated. I wouldn’t imagine drinking 4 glasses in a row would result in hydration, or be a nourishing thing to do in general. I am a huge advocate of nurturing ourselves, eating and drinking in balance, and being GENTLE with ourselves. Why did you drink sooo much at once? Just curious? Did you feel hot or thirsty? By the way actual Thirst is the LAST sign that you need water! And the REAL question is what had you been doing or not doing within 24 hrs prior to your WORST episode ever? I bet we can find other clues that contributed! If you want to send me a list of what you ate, did, etc, I will gladly try to help you figure it out! or download my food tracker and try to fill it in yourself to find clues! I think the main point is that our bodies ARE super sensitive, and we need to treat them as such. Treat them with respect, gentle quantities of things, lots of rest when needed, clean whole foods, and be a detective to find possible contributing factors in general. And, with all do respect, I do disagree and feel that WATER absolutely has value in preventing episodes. Not guzzling it all at once, but drinking it throughout the day, and really checking in with yourself that you are staying hydrated. Water effects many health issues positively, such as weight loss, fighting fatigue, constipation, aches and pains, etc. In my opinion, Water intake is the FIRST, easiest, thing to cross of the list of things to do to prevent SVT in general. Start there, and then follow all the countless other things that contribute. Remember everyone, PLEASE post the connections that you HAVE MADE! We are ALL different, this isn’t a one size fits all approach, just some general guidelines to help everyone! knowing your own body is the most crucial piece to this puzzle! All the best! love and healing, Laura

      2014/08/08 at 5:29 pm

  • From Judy Gregerson on My Story

    Wow, this blog is a great find. My story is a little different. I have had an arrhythmia for 25 years that I was told was food allergies, a problem with my autonomic nervous system, anxiety, and other stuff. My naturopath told me to take panothenic acid and buffered vitamin C. Also quercetin. And if I did that, I had no arrhythmia. I’ve controlled this with diet and those vitamins and can actually predict now when I will have these vibration attacks. But a few weeks ago I went into atrial fibulation (first time) and ended up in the ER. The cardiologist later told me that I have SVT. I started on Metropolol and decided to get off it. My doc said I should get an ablation, so I have been researching that. But as I think back, the panothenic acid (a form of vitamin B?) and the buffered Vitamin C (be sure to get buffered and take over 1000 mg daily) really, really helped me, more even than the meds. So, I have decided to go back to what I used to do (I have not done that in years), drink more water (thanks for sharing that), and learning to deal with my stress and fears better. I’m 62 and I do NOT want to take meds or have a procedure.

    2014/08/07 at 7:18 pm

  • From sonjainvictoria on My Story

    Honestly, don’t overestimate ‘gluten’, do not cross out gluten of your diet, if you are not allergic or coeliac. Essential to avoid for coeliac people, no doubt. But especially on the vegan path, ‘seitan’ (pure gluten from wheat) is one of THE protein sources. Many people deprive themselves of goods, that would do no harm to them. My SVT and high sinustachycardia episodes have nothing to do with gluten, trailed, tested, been there done that. Controlling weight and having loads of chlorophyll (steamed greens a daily must and now looking forward to) and beetroot juice and green juice in the diet though seems to help me. Also yoga is a path to calm oneself, too.

    2014/08/06 at 7:38 am

  • From Angie Klein on My Story

    I have had 3 ablations in my early twenties. I am now 39, pregnant for the first time and I can feel the SVT wanting to come on. Please are there any natural supplements I can be talking during my pregnancy? I already take liquid trace minerals potassium and mega-Mag. Potassium about 200 mg and 800 of Mag
    I would really appreciate your perspective, even different foods I can be eating. Or any thing else I can be doing.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Bless you
    Angie Klein

    2014/08/06 at 2:47 am

    • From nourishmyspirit on My Story

      Before I start..are you gluten free? Congrats on your pregnancy!!! I just had a baby boy a few months ago !!!

      2014/08/06 at 3:26 am

      • From Angie Klein on My Story

        No I am not gluten free. Congrats on your baby! What a joy.

        2014/08/07 at 3:47 am

  • From sally on My Story

    Thank you for this x

    2014/08/02 at 9:03 pm

  • From BCJeans on Diet

    Thank you for posting this. My friend has just been diagnosed with SVT and doesn’t want to do the conventional treatment. It only makes sense to find the cause instead of just trying to get rid of the symptoms. You have given us very useful food for thought.

    2014/08/01 at 2:50 am

  • From BCJeans on SVT Prevention Diet

    Thank you for posting this. My friend has just been diagnosed with SVT and doesn’t want to do the conventional treatment. It only makes sense to find the cause instead of just trying to get rid of the symptoms. You have given us very useful food for thought.

    2014/08/01 at 2:50 am

  • From Johnc982 on My Story

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    2014/07/28 at 12:22 am

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    2014/07/28 at 12:21 am

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    2014/07/28 at 12:19 am

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    2014/07/28 at 12:18 am

  • From Jeana on Food Tracking for SVT Prevention

    Hello!
    Thank you so much for starting this blog. I have been suffering from random SVT episodes for about eight years (since I was 21). I too would like to avoid medications and abalation surgery if possible.

    An ER doctor (who also has SVT) recommended that I take potassium and magnesium supplaments on a daily basis to support electrolyte function. Since I did that it has made a world of difference!

    I didn’t have any episodes for over three years, then they started again. When I went to the ER (260 BPM for more then 30 mins) I found out that I had extreamly low iron. I was then put on some iron and Vit C supplaments (all over-the counter) that I take daily. This has helped but not cured completely. As I continue to increase my iron-rich foods, I notice a difference in the frequency of the SVTs.

    Currently I have had a few a week, but they are just simple skips or flutters and don’t turn into a full SVT episode. The doctors believe that once my Iron levels increase to normal, I won’t have them anymore.

    I have noticed that I do get a lot of SVT’s right before or right after my period. Do you know what causes this?I know there is a correlation, but have not figured out why.

    Thanks for this blog!
    Jeana

    2014/07/26 at 10:23 pm
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