Dizziness

Hey, I am new to this site and have had a pacemaker since I was 3 months old.  I am 15 years now and had a replacement 2 years ago in 2010.

Although lately I have been feeling quite dizzy. When I wake up I just feel oozy, like my head is sort of spinning. Sort of like when you get up really fast and all the blood rushes. But get it when I’m randomly walking or stationary. I feel completley weird and then when its gone (lasts for about 2 seconds or so) I just feel a little weird of what happened then I am fine. It has been happening mainly in the morning and sometimes at night.

I have no idea if its to do with my pacemaker, heart condition, or just something is up. Should I ask my doctor?  Or is this sort of half normal?  I don’t want to go to a doctor then find out its nothing and waste their time.

4 Comments

hi

by kiwigirl - 2012-06-05 09:06:00


I would go see your doctor. they would rather you go see them & find nothing wrong. they wouldn't say it was a waste of their time. Have you had you pacemaker checked lately?

your doctor might organise for you to have it tested. Go see him/her

Let's define "Dizziness."

by donr - 2012-06-05 10:06:46

A correct definition will go a long way toward telling you what the cause is.

There are two kinds we need to discuss: 1) True "DIzziness," where the world seems to be going around in circles & you really feel like CRAP! You feel like you are reeling & about to fall over, but spinning is the major sensation. Perhaps some nausea. 2) Lightheadedness - where you just feel like you want to collapse in a small pile at your feet. The world starts to turn grey or black & fuzzy & your peripheral vision starts to tunnel and you feel like you are going to "Pass out."

#1 is usually an inner ear related function - your balance mechanism is located in there & it is lying to you about how well you are doing at standing up. I've had that on several occasions & you really feel sick; like you will fall over or stagger to one side. Lasting but a few seconds is not at all unusual. AM occurrences are common, also - like when you first get out of bed & head for the indoor slit trench you stagger & want to grab something to keep from falling over.

#2 is associated w/ heart problems because it is not affecting the inner ear, but rather the blood pressure, commonly. Lack of blood /oxygen to the brain. Remember the feeling you had when they gave you sedative to do a PM job? The world got fuzzy & your vision tunneled & you were out. No spinning or desire to grab the door jamb because you wanted to stagger.

From your description, I'd guess it's inner ears. An EENT is the best place to start in that case.

BUT!!! since you have a PM, get to your cardio & have that checked out at about the same time. IF it is the PM/heart combo giving it to you, there might be a record of something in your PM's memory. There will be no record of anything from vertigo attacks caused by your ears. I had a severe one about 25yrs ago that wound up getting me hauled off to the hospital. There just happened to be an EENT specialist there that AM & he examined me while in the midst of the attack - it lasted severely for about two hours & the after effects lingered for about two days. There was nothing he could see or measure - just listen to symptoms & diagnose from them.

Bottom line : GET THEE TO A SAWBONES ASAP. You don't know what it is. They are paid to figure it out for you.

Don

Not a waste of time

by Mongee - 2012-06-06 12:06:24

You are never wasting the doctors time, even if it's just for peace of mind for you. When I first got my icd, my doctor said call anytime....it really made it easier for me to accept the icd. Go see your doctor and good luck.
Mongee

Thank You

by jackgaynor - 2012-09-10 05:09:46

Thank You everyone for the advice, it turned out my wire had broken ( been in for 15 years) and needed replacing, I got dizzy due to my heart rate so low at 30-40 beats. I got it replaced literally 2 days after :) Thanks again everyone :)

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