35 year old that has bradycardia

I am a 35 year old mother that was just placed on a 30 day monitor to see what happens when I faint. Long story short I was DX with POTS in Nov 07 but then didn't have any problems until May 2010 when I fainted in my daughter 's class. Then July 12- now I have fainted about once a week. I am actually about 12 days in from my last faint and that's the longest time I have went since July. My new Cardiologist is 2nd guessing my DX of POTS since my only symptom is fainting. I don't even get a warning. I failed a tilt table test back in 2007.
In August I wore a 24 hour monitor that showed sinus bradycardia. My resting HR is around 45-50.
Anyway fast forward to this week. Last Monday evening about 5:30 p.m. I was placed on a 30 day monitor and it has gone off about 30 times. I have lost count! I called my Cardiologist's office to see if they wanted to adjust it but they don't. They did adjust it in the beginning since I have a low heart rate anyway and I wanted it programed to not go off unless my HR went below 39. So any time it goes below 39 it goes off. Hard to sleep at night with it going off so much!
The only info the office is telling me when it goes off (I have to call the results in) is that a few times I had drastic drops in HR. Like it went from 78-41 very fast, and then 110-61. I have not had to manually trigger he monitor. It just goes off. (They want to see what happens when I faint but I have not yet).
Oh and I had an EEG to rule out drop attacks last week and they said the only thing it showed was bradycardia.
I am just wondering if the dr is going to suggest a Pacemaker. I don't want one but am wondering if I would be a candidate and would like to hear why you got a pacemaker.

13 Comments

Will You Need A Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2010-09-28 10:09:02

Hello,

Welcome to the Pacemaker Club,

Based on what you tell us about your symptoms I will be more surprised if the doctor doesn't tell you that you need a pacemaker than if you are told do not need one. Bradycardia (heart beat of less 60 BPM) is a frequent diagnose for people to get a pacemaker.

One exception I know of is an athlete, such as a long distance runner who may have a resting heart rate in the 40s and not need a pacemaker That is because their heart is strong enough to pump an adequate supply of blood even with the low heart rate.

My suggestion is go prepared to be told you will need a pacemaker, but hope for better news, such as your problem can be corrected with medicine. If you do have to get a pacemaker the surgery to implant one is probably the easiest surgery you can ever have for the benefit you will get. Pain is minimal and your daily routine will be interrupted for a few days to a week or so.

Good luck,

Smitty

Thank you

by mycutekitties - 2010-09-28 10:09:31

Just the word pacemaker scares me! My cardiologist is very conservative so we will see what he says. I go in Oct 21st, the day after I am done with the 30 day monitor. I hate this monitor and I hate not knowing why it keeps going off. I know it was set to go off below 40's and I am so tired because I haven't slept all night since I started it.
I just want to quit fainting and I will be all set!
Anyway thanks for your answer.

Please

by teresa - 2010-09-29 05:09:24

Please get that PM soon. I am a 37 year old woman also. I was diagnosed with Bradycardia when I was 35. I was told I needed a PM. My heart rate was between 30-40 at rest. I didn't want to get one because nobody in my family has heart problems and I was so young. Fast forward to July 2010, I was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain, 3 days later my heart rate dropped to 26 standing up. I had the PM implanted emergency 2 hours later. I wished I had looked into things like this site prior to getting the PM. My advise to you would be don't put it off because your heart rate will only get lower. My children and myself have been having a hard time with all the changes. I'm still not feeling 100% but I believe with all my heart that will change once I get used to it. I'm here for you if you ever need to talk. Good luck to you!!!!

Thanks for your comments

by mycutekitties - 2010-09-29 06:09:10

I am thankful to everyone that have taken the time to answer me. To answer some of your questions...
When I failed the tilt table test in 2007 all I was told was "drink more, eat more salt (weird since I have high blood pressure) and wear TED socks." I did and was fine all of 2008 & 2009. I didn't have any issues from Dec 2007-May 2010.
I hate fainting and I can't believe I have not been seriously hurt. I did land on my 6 year old once but now I am careful of where I am standing. I never let children stand to my right since that's the way I faint.
My mom is in complete denial and thinks that this is all due to my thyroid. I had complete blood work in 2007 & 2009 and my thyroid was fine. I am going to have the doctor order more blood work just to make her happy. I understand her worry since I am a mom and wouldn't want my daughter to be considering a PM.
Anyway thanks so much for your concern. I go in Oct 21st the day after I am done wearing my halter for my results and find out where I go from here.

yes

by Tracey_E - 2010-09-29 07:09:50

I'm not a dr and obviously don't know your whole history, but I'm wondering why they didn't do more when you failed the tilt test. It's not safe to live with so much fainting, you need to get to the bottom of it so you can get on with your life. Your resting hr is low but not horribly low, but if the alarm on the monitor is going off it sounds like you're dipping a lot lower than that. Conservative is good, but too conservative can hurt you.

The unknown is always scary but to me not knowing when you're going to pass out next- if you'll be driving or on the stairs or doing something with one of your kids- that would be a lot worse. If drops in bp are causing the faints and your hr stays steady, they can treat that with medication. If your hr is dipping below 39, whether you faint or not when it happens, it's damaging your body by depriving your organs of oxygen and only a pm will fix it. There are no medications that will keep your hr up.

Pms are not as scary as they first sound. They're very small and are usually placed on the chest. Two thin wires go in the vein and are run to the heart, one in the atria and one in the ventricles. Your heart still beats on its own, the pm is just there as backup. It watches for your rate to drop too low, when it does it make a little pulse that causes a beat. Simple fix. If you scroll down, there are some links with great explanations of how they work that I posted yesterday.

One of my pet peeves is avoiding a pm or any treatment because we're too young. My drs did that, were overly conservative due to my age. I knew for years I would eventually need a pm (congenital problem) but the dr wanted to wait because of my age. I went along with waiting because I was terrified of the surgery, didn't have a clue how easy it really was and how good it would make me feel. I spent two years mostly sleeping and dizzy, almost died and ended up in emergency surgery. That's the hard way to do it! Scheduling it and knowing what was happening would have been a lot easier. I felt immediately better after the implant and was later resentful that I lost two years of my life by putting off the pm when I could have been living life and feeling good. Btw, I was 27 when I got my first one. I'm 44 now, healthy and active and most people don't have a clue that I have it. I don't keep it a secret, but it doesn't affect my day to day life so it just doesn't come up in conversation.

My problem is different than yours, but my point is if one of these gadgets will fix your problem, just get it over with and move on with your life. There are a lot of us here who have been there. If they tell you you need it, don't be shy about asking your questions and we're always around to talk if you need us. Good luck!

Concur

by Beach Boy - 2010-09-29 09:09:30

I concur with the comment "PM is not a scary word".

I too am a 55 year old male, who was in good health,
experienced no health or heart problems; until a trip
to Italy.

There I feinted twice. The first time in the hotel,
I hit my head and started to bleed, and had a large
lump as a result. The second time was on a public street.
Just walking back to the hotel, I was worried I would feint in the middle of an intersection in traffic.

I had the PM implanted the next day after an evaluation
by the Cardiologist. The procedure went well and I experienced minimal discomfort.

The PM has both relieved all of my symptoms,
Fatigue, Shortness of Breath, and Feinting. It has also
given me peace of mind that I do not have to fear from
feinting.

It has been three months since I had the PM implanted.
To be truthful, I am adjusting to the fact that it is necessary to regulate my heart. But, each day brings
more relief from the fears and gratitude that modern medicine can greatly improve the quality of life.

Best wishes.

blood work

by mycutekitties - 2010-09-29 09:09:31

So I am going to get my blood work done tomorrow. When I talked to the doctor this afternoon he said "I want to prepare you for the possibility of a pacemaker."
So I will let you guys know what the blood work says.

Pacemaker isn't a scary word

by Cycels2 - 2010-09-29 10:09:18

I'm a 55 year old male. I'm active in cycling and average about 150 miles per week, 30 - 60 miles each time i go out for a bike ride.

This year I had similar symptons where my heart rate would drop from about 75 to 48 bpm when I exerted effort. The treadmill test done by cardilogist showed that I have AV block as ventricle doesn't always respond to my atria, thus the term AV block.

However, I've never fainted. If I had my cardiologist would have admitted me to the hospital immediatley to limit risk to myself and others in the event I fainted while driving.

I had my pacemaker implant less than 2 weeks ago. The procedure is painless and only took about 30 minutes. The doctor warned me that I may have some discomfort in the area of the pacemaker due to the muscle being a bit inflamed. I took percaset for 5 days and am completely off any pain killers, not even OTC tylenol.

I was back on my bike a week after the procedure and had no issue with my heart rate dropping and light headedness. I consider the pacemaker as a simple solution to what could be a life threatening condition.

I don't want to sound judgemental, but I'd be looking for a new cardiologist as I can't believe he's allowing you to continue to have frequent fainting episodes.

Good luck and we're all here to support you.

Brian ...

POTS

by Pookie - 2010-09-29 11:09:55

Hi. great advice so far!!! great members I must add too.

I am NOT a medical professional by any means but it's just my opinion that if I were you, I would be getting a 2nd opinion....can't hurt, right?

did any of your docs ever mention Neurocardiogenic Syncope to you??? I have that. I also had the tilt table test at the Mayo in Minnesota (I'm from Canada) and I also have Hypotension Intolerance and was told to drink a lot of water, eat salt, and oh yes...wear those fashionable stockings, they help....a bit.

your doc seems to be very conservative. passing out like you do is very dangerous in my opinion as I have passed out in the past (once while driving).

anyways, I could go on, but the others have given you great advice, but be prepared that you may be told you need a pacer. It's not that bad.

keep us posted

take care,
Pookie

Get the PM

by elviscb - 2010-09-30 04:09:27

I have had one since Feb 2010. st. Jude maker. Its been a little funny getting use to but I do not faint any more. I got throat cancer in March and the compounded medical mess is a little daunting between high blood pressure and all this stuff, but I will make it. Heck whats one more hill to climb when life offers a mountain to see from, you take it. Good luck, Chris from Az :)

Passing out..ohh not good.

by brooke1803 - 2010-09-30 08:09:33

Hi..I am 35 and got my PM this past March.. I kinda know where your comming from, A year ago this last May, I began passing out, getting dizzy spells, light headed, bad migraines, just awful... I was in the ER 4 times in 5 weeks, because my HR would drop into the 30's, I would pass out, and well yeah.. it was terrifying. The ER docs mentiond Brady..and syncope.. I was in cardiac ICU 2x out of the 4 visits to the hopsital.. the said oh we will do a tilt test, and the stess test, and all that stuff, but never did!!! They concluded everything with a "its stress, you have 4 kids and need to lose weight!" A year went by where the fainting spells got worse, the migraines got worse, I mean I blacked out on a treadmill! every time I exerted myself... I passed out.

It took me passing out while I was (luckily) at a red light..I was driving!! My car bumped into the vehical in front of me, and I was unconscience. I was taken to the ER, and finaly had a doctor expain to me that I had Brady... while resting I was in the low 30's, mid to high 40's while up and moving, BP was extremely low as well!!... when the finaly put me on the treadmill..Guess what/ My HR & BP dropped and I passed out!!! I was put on dopamine and all kinds of meds, kept in the hosp. for several days...and sent home! I had an appt. with a NEW cardiologist for that monday... 2 days after I got released from the hosp. I got severe chest pains, my daughters called 911 and that was all she wrote. I had blacked out, and woke up in the hosp. a day later! I had coded 3x... and had emerg. surgery... woke up with this trusty PM.

Yeah..there is hardly any pain at all, some activities are limited, and for me it took several months to "get use" to this. I dont ever remember feeling my ""heart beat"" and now i feel it..I dont like the scar (altho it is small I am self conscience about it) BUT.. I am alive and going because of it. I am completely pacer dependant.. and still have some concerns about it... but WOW.. its nice to NOT pass out pretty much ev eryday!!! Good luck!!!!!.

Yikes

by mycutekitties - 2010-09-30 09:09:53

Brook that is so scary! I'm glad your OK now.

Blood Work Results

by mycutekitties - 2010-10-05 05:10:38

All my blood work was normal. I was hoping something would come up that would be an easy fix.

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