Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (IST)

i think that it is utterly wrong for doctors to pass of a condition like this as something as low as anxiety just because we are women. what a sad world this is..

I have IST and I have had it for several years. I am 22 now and I was diagnosed at 17. I firsted experienced symptoms at 16 and I was also told I needed pycho therapy. The doctor basically told me nothing was wrong with me and I was nuts! For a year I suffered with pains and many other symptoms and my doctor continued to tell me I needed counceling. It even got as bad as my license was taken away from me because my doctor sent dmv a letter stating I wasn’t in the right state of mind to drive. This was devastating to me just 16 as I was excited to drive. Finally after a year I found a specialist and was admitted into the hospital for a week of test. I was dignosed and tried a few different meds. I finally found the one for me and now I am able to live with this condition. Some doctors are simply heartless!

I was diagnosed with IST in my 20’s. After 5 sinus nodes ablations, my rhythm stabilized and I was “normal” for a period of two years. While skiing I went into a junctional rhythm. I required placement of a pacemaker. My first pacer was placed in 2000. I have had one revision and am better than ever. I walk/run marathons and continue to ski and do anything I want. I do not require any medication to control my rhythm. My heart continuest to have normal beats from the sinus node, the pacer functions when the sinus node fails. I am pacing 82% of the time.

I have had problems since 1982 when my first child was born. Nothing was ever done, but it didn’t really bother me either. Years later is has made my life miserable. I am now 49. I have had to quit work, I have a mobility cart for places that don’t supply them. I can’t take most the meds because they really upset my asthma. My doctors won’t do ablations or a pacer yet. They tell me even if they do it will not help the symptoms at this point. I also have many other things wrong. This disease really stinks. I am trying to get disability, but the government seems to think I can do something. Maybe on a rare good day, but mostly I am really fatigued. Good luck to all.

I was diagnosed with IST shortly after open heart surgery for Mitral Valve repair about 5 years ago. I have tried more meds than I can count. The doctor feels most of my issues are caused from my stressful job and the adrenaline rushes it provides.
We are still trying to find a balance of meds that will sustain me through the stressful periods of work at least long enough to make it to an early retirement which I hope will be in a few years. In the mean time I feel like I am using all my energy to keep my job and losing control of everything else. I am exhausted by the time I come home so everything is suffering from house cleaning to bill paying to even spending time with friends. All I want is to sleep. Sometimes I feel as though I will have a meltdown before I can every get free of the stressful job to see just how I would feel from that point. By the way, I am in my 40’s so feel like this illness has robbed me of some prime years. I am fortunate to have a good doctor but it isnt helping a whole lot except does give me the reassurance that it is not all in my head…that it is a real illness, more destructive internally than anyone on the outside would know…and that better days will come when I am free of the high stress job. Unfortunately, I have to stick this out as I very much need the health insurance benefits. Anyway, that is my story……