Dizzy

I've joined this Forum since my implantation on May 25 at age 58. The surgical report refers to Sick Sinus, although my cardiologist told me last year that I had AV block.
So far, everything has been going great. The operation was a snap, recovery went well, I resumed swimming within 6 weeks, generally feel great.
Yesterday - Friday, I did 3,200 meters in the pool, basically the high end of my training, but nothing extraordinary. I then accompanied my wife downtown and walked with her at a brisk pace to her appointment. I then walked back, still briskly, to a major dowtown mall for a coffee. Just before getting there, I felt out of breath and quite dizzy. I had to stop and hold the wall for a minute or so. I'm wondering if this is PM or perhaps an electrolyte imbalance from my swimming.
Any thoughts?
Edouard

6 Comments

either

by Tracey_E - 2010-09-25 10:09:54

If you ask to have the pm checked, they can tell you if there was an incident. It could be the pm, but if it's just once it's more likely it's the caffeine from the coffee, dehydration, low electrolytes, low sugar- something else. This is just me, but if it's short and just happens once, I take note but don't get too worried about it. If it's a pattern or doesn't go away quickly, I get it checked out.

Was it hot? I have a hard time staying hydrated and keeping my electrolytes up when it's hot out and I'm active. I chug water like crazy and eat right but I still get dizzy. I keep powerade or (my latest discovery) coconut water with me, makes it go away pretty quickly.

An easy way to tell if you have SSS or av block is look at your pacing. SSS is fixed with sinus/atrial pacing, av block is fixed with ventricular pacing. It's possible to have a bit of both.

SSS

by ElectricFrank - 2010-09-26 02:09:35

It is possible that you don't have SSS. I've been battling that one with the medical records people since I got my pacer 5 yrs ago. At the time the cardiologist saw my elevated lipids and just checked every cardiac diagnosis on the list. I have written him multiple letters and talked to him once about it. All of my ECG's show a very appropriate and intact sinus rhythm even during a loss of ventricular capture last year. I had 4 nice atrial waves in a row which where followed by ventricular pacing pulses, but no ventricle response. Just need the voltage turned up a bit.

Anyway, I think I have the SSS taken off my records and then it shows up again.

As for the dizziness are you sure it wasn't inner ear vertigo rather than lightheadedness? Did the world go around or did things go sparkly? Especially with a long swim with submerged ears that kind of thing can show up. The out of breath can just be a reaction to the sudden dizzy feeling.

It's important to sort this one out yourself. I've found most doctors don't know the difference, and all too often start prescribing nasty meds unnecessarily. I'm very aware of the difference being a pilot. A 2-3 turn spin will educate a person quickly.

frank

Salt deficiency

by ElectricFrank - 2010-09-26 09:09:11

You may be experiencing a deficiency of salt (not just sodium) which can happen for those of us that tend to lose a lot and eat little of it.

I live in a hot dry desert environment and sweat a lot. For me it is great as a way of staying cool. I have no problem with outdoor activities in 100 deg temperatures as long as I drink plenty of water. However, sweating also eliminates a lot of salt from the body. In the old days we took salt tablets on a regular basis.

I recently got to thinking about how little salt I actually take in so started drinking a glass of water with a quarter teaspoon of salt several times a day. The first thing I noticed is that the wild fluctuations in BP that I seemed to have since getting the pacer have leveled out. I'm also having less cramping muscles. I'm not sure but I think it has also reduced my PVC's quaite a bit. I'll have to wait til I get my next phone check report for that one.

I sure the cardiologist will go through the roof when he hears I'm increasing my salt intake, but I'm not saying anything until the report comes back. After all he only believes double blind tests!! No one is going to research this. There's not much money in a few teaspoons of salt. Not if they can come up with an expensive pill....

Any way this could be some of the problem you jocks are having. It's cheap, quick to evaluate, and quick to stop if it doesn't work. The only side effect is if you "Ask your doctor".

cheers,

frank

Many Things

by biker72 - 2010-09-26 12:09:40

As TraceyE mentioned, get you PM checked to see if there was an incident.

After hot,heavy exercise, I dare not drink any alcohol for at least 3 hours because my BP can take a pretty good drop. This is not as much of a problem for me in cooler weather.

I try to drink a little Gatorade or something like that when exercising.

Thank you

by Edouard - 2010-09-27 01:09:08

Thank you all for this useful information. I'll increase my fluid intake and monitor the situation. In any event, I'll being seeing my cardio in a couple of months.
Regards
Edouard

New to PM

by Creaky - 2010-10-16 05:10:20

Just received my pm 3 weeks ago. I'm mid 70's and very active- ski, snow shoe, hike steep mountain trails, gym. Reason for the pm was 3 blocks- av, rt bb and left anterior fasicular- which led to my blacking out twice. Prior to the first blackout all activities were normal.
A few days ago took my first hill walk of 3+ miles. At the peak of exertion point I had a funny feeling in the gut and a moment of light headedness. An hour later at home I had an hour of rapid 100-110 pulse. I had the pm checked out and they said there were no alerts so it wasn't the pm.
Could that just be because it's new or that it needs adjustment once the 6 weeks passes? Could it be PVC's or some other rhythm issue?
My stress test showed some brief runs of SVT's but they couldn't duplicate that in the EP study.
Thanks for sharing any experience in this regard.
Creaky

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