Story of a PM Newbie

Hello! I'm 46 and just got a Biotronik Evia DR-T PM implanted on 6/18/12. Was diagnosed with paroxysmal AV block. I'm still in a state of disbelief. I was very fit, ran 10-15 miles and weightlifted 3-4x per week. Always stayed slim, kept a clean and healthy diet, never smoked, no heart or any other type of disease. Never used drugs or supplements, and no medication. Thought I did all the right things - then WHAM! Hello Evia!

Since 2005 or so, I occasionally felt my heart skipping beats. The sensations ranged from feeling a slightly unusual flopping heart beat to feeling like my lungs rapidly deflated, tingly sensation in my chest, temporary dizziness, nearly fainting – and all combinations in between. The episodes seemed to occur only when I was at rest. They were very infrequent and random and faded over a few hours or a couple of days. Weeks or months in between episodes.

In 2008, I finally saw a cardiologist. After a variety of tests, they found nothing. Even a 30 day event monitor was unable to capture anything significant. The doc referred me to an electro physiologist. Since 2008, the frequency of the episodes increased but still weeks between episodes.

In 2010, we were finally able to capture some faulty heart beats on a Holter. But, they appeared not to be too significant and I continued my merry life.

Fast forward to 2012. Hadn’t seen the doc since 2010. Last month I fainted twice in a single day while I was just standing around. Doc recommended a PM but I was in total denial. I resisted the idea of a PM. We agreed on an EP study.
Three weeks had passed without any noticeable symptoms since I had fainted. Two days before the scheduled EP study, I felt symptoms but this time they didn’t fade away like they normally did. Went to the emergency room. That night, while I was bedridden, their ECG picked up lots of crazy heart activity … BPM fluctuated between 19 to 60, hovered in the 40s, then normal, then fluctuated. Lots of skipped beats including a 7 second period without a full beat. We skipped the EP study and did the implant.

Barely 3 days since the implant, I still don’t know what to think, and am still spooked by the whole thing. I had begun to believe that the block was due to exercise. But, docs ruled out exercise induced block because the episodes never occurred during exercise. So, I plan to continue exercising as soon as I’m better and will seek Club members’ wisdom.

7 Comments

electrical problems

by Tracey_E - 2012-06-21 09:06:31

Electrical problems are a wiring issue, not structural. No amount of exercising or eating right could have prevented or healed it. Odds are excellent that you are going to feel better than ever, av block is the easiest thing to fix with a pm. We have a short circuit, the pm wires around it.

I'm 45. My av block is congenital and I've been paced almost 20 years now. I feel terrific and do anything I want. I do Crossfit 5 days a week and most vacations are hiking or skiing. Once you heal, you should be back to anything you want.

Keep up the good habits! We have wonky electrical systems, it would be pretty stupid to end up with something we could have prevented. ;)

Don't be spooked

by Pookie - 2012-06-22 01:06:18

For some of us we had time to process the information that we were in need of a pacemaker; while others aren't given much time (if any at all). A great many of us go through an emotional time after receiving our pacemakers ... it's quite common. However, if it starts to interrupt or interfere your life perhaps you should speak to your family doctor about it.

Give yourself some time. Follow what the doctor told you to do and you should be feeling well in no time.

We are here 24/7 if you have any questions.

Glad you found us & welcome to our little club:)

Take care,
Pookie

Some parallels with me

by normy - 2012-06-22 06:06:04

I'm another newbie, who is due to have a pm fitted on July 2nd. I hope all goes well for you, and for me, which I am confident about. Although I am aged 70, like you I ran long distance, for the last twenty years, healthy diet, no smoking, kept slim, and had no heart or other health problems.
About two years ago, I began to feel rather tired and slightly light headed at times, and felt uncomfortable going to bed, when I discovered by accident that my pulse was missing beats, and had slowed considerably. My wife is a nurse and made me get checked out with a doctor colleague- result hey, this is AV Wenkebach!

Cardiologist appointments followed, I resisted a pm at first, as the symptoms were small and infrequent, but a 24 hour ECG tape showed it was getting worse with 4 second gaps and very low pulse rate at nighttime, so I gave in, having visions of my heart stopping in the night! Don't know if that ever happens, but this was type 3 I was told, more dangerous if it develops.

I did wonder whether the extensive exercise had been a cause of the heart block. I remember that after running for a few years, with similar times, a half-marathon race left me exhausted, dehydrated, and about twelve minutes slower. This was sudden, and my ability stayed at that lower level and steadily dropped after that. I walk a lot with dogs now and hope to resume after recovery. Looking forward to hearing how you're progressing.

normy

by Tracey_E - 2012-06-22 07:06:06

It's more likely you were undiagnosed for years than that exercise caused it. If it's an intermittent block and you're in good shape, it's a tricky sucker to catch. Being in shape can keep you asymptomatic longer so you'll only diagnose it if you happen to be on a monitor when it happens.

Many Thanks

by Clockwork - 2012-06-22 07:06:30

Today was a great day. Took bandage off, showered, and shaved - I'm alive! Flexibility has greatly improved in so little time. I'm so looking forward to confirming that one can get back to a fully active life. Thank you for your encouragement. I knew this was the right place for wisdom on these matters. Onward we go.

Ed

great news

by Tracey_E - 2012-06-22 09:06:06

Sounds like you're on the upswing! Good to hear. You'll be back to your old activities in no time and this will all be a blur before you know it.

Thanks TraceyE

by normy - 2012-06-22 12:06:46

Thanks Tracey, I think you must be right, and I never noticed it because I wasn't looking lol

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

Member Quotes

I'm 44, active and have had my device for two years. I love it as I can run again and enjoy working out without feeling like I'm an old man.