Questions

Hi all, hope everyone is doing okay.

I have a question regarding the information the pacemaker holds until my next checkup. The doctor said on my follow-up visit after my implant that I was pacing at 50%. I have a dual lead that was implant due to 2nd degree AV block.

I am scheduled for a three month checkup in May and was curious as to how much information the doctor will get when he tests the pacemaker. Does it keep info since the last visit for him to see how I have been pacing these last few months? I have been having bouts of dizziness since a few days after my implant and the specialist and my internist think it is now coming from my fibromyalgia, since the pacemaker is doing what it is supposed to do.

I do suffer with TMJ, headaches, and neck stiffness from the fibro, but never had dizziness until October when the AV block must have started to get worse. The dizziness now is not the same as before, but it is somewhat annoying when you think they fixed the problem and then still have issues. Hopefully between my internist and the specialist, we can resolve the problem. Otherwise I do notice my energy level is much better since being paced, so I guess it is working!!!

Thanks for letting me vent. Have a great day all.

4 Comments

Dizziness

by Pookie - 2010-03-19 03:03:43

Hi.

Perhaps you could keep a journal/log of what you were doing at the time of your dizzy spells, your heart rate and blood pressure at the time would help too if you have a BP monitor at home.

Dizziness is very complicated for doctors to figure out because it is a very common side effect for a lot of different medical conditions plus some medications may make one dizzy or lightheaded.

I suffered (and still do) with dizziness since mid 2004. The answers (diagnosis) I was given for my dizziness are:

Neurocardiogenic Syncope
Hypotension Intolerance
Meniere's Disease
and some of my medications.

Unfortunately, I still have to deal with my dizziness, but it goes in cycles, right now I'm dizzy free, but when it hits, it stays with me for several days...there seems to be no pattern to mine. I've tried medications, but they only gave me more side effects, so I just do the best I can each day.

However, you shouldn't give up to finding an answer for yours. I was once misdiagnosed with Fibro but I never knew dizziness was a side effect of that...guess I've learned something!!! :) However, like you said, it seems to have started shortly after your implant.... so I'm only guessing it would have to be related to your pacer. I too got "the line" of my pacemaker is working just fine and it is doing what it is intended to do. However, that, TO ME, means yeah, my pacemaker is making my heart beat when it tries to go below 60, which is my lower setting.

It just bugs me when the pacemaker professionals give us that line. Perhaps you should ask for the rep of your pacer to be present the next time you have your pacer interrogated and tell him/her about your dizziness as you never know, it could be something as simple as a setting adjustment.

I wish you all the best and take care.

Pookie

Thanks for Feedback

by MAXI1439 - 2010-03-19 04:03:02

Thank you all for your information. Pookie, I did have dizziness, lightheadiness and all over weirdness and yuckiness for months previous to getting my pacemaker. All physicians thought it was fibro related, but I knew something else was wrong. My vision was even affected with blurriness.

After the pacemaker I found my vision cleared up and I was without most of these symptoms for a few weeks. I noticed that after I was able to start doing things again, it affected my jaw, neck and head and then the dizziness started. Thankfully, just slight lightheadiness, but none of the yuckiness I was experiencing. I myself have researched TMJ and severe TMJ can cause vertigo, headaches and neck problems. I am going to see my internist next week and get recommendations for neurologist and rheumatologis. Unfortunately, I don't have insurance that will cover a TMJ specialist. They are considered dentists and Medicare does not cover anything dental related.

I am hopeful that my specialist is giving me the correct information when he interrogates my pacemaker. I had it checked once at the ER a few days after being released from my procedure and the tech said everything was fine, but I had no dizziness then, so who knows. Maybe my heart rate needs to be raised a little and I will definitely ask about that during my appointment in May.

Once again, thanks for all feedback and info. Love you guys for making this situation "user" friendly.

Stored Data

by Juan - 2010-03-19 12:03:16

To find out much data your pacemaker stores, I think you will have to ask your doctor. I do know the amount is dependant on the make and model of the pacemaker.

If it were me and I was having dizzy spells and I wanted to know if my pacemaker was doing what it could to stop them I would check my heart rate. If it the HR is at or above the low set point on your pacemaker then it is probably not the pacemaker's fault. If your dizzy spells can be stopped by the pacemaker some changes in the settings will have to be made.

Ask for copy of the report

by ElectricFrank - 2010-03-20 01:03:42

The best way to find out is to request a copy of your pre and post programming report. The amount and type of data stored depends not only on the pacemaker make and model, but on what they have programmed to be saved. It is a trade off between the length of time between checkups and the detail of the data.

frank

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