Pacemaker and fainting

I had a dual PM implanted in 1995 due to sick sinus syndrome.
I fainted two times at home and went to the hospital and was hooked up to a heart monitor. When it happened in the hospital I flat lined for seconds and the diagnosis was made and a PM implanted.
In the beginning of 1996 I returned to my doctor because I felt as though I was going to faint. A check of the pacemaker indicated that the lead wire in upper chamber was not working and it was turned off. Continued to feel as if I was going to pass out-----but did not actually pass out. A tilt table test indicated that I had neurocardiogenic sycope. A beta blocker was ordered.
Because I continued to have same symptoms ---not passing out but feeling as if I was just about to----and feeling worse on medication I changed doctors and went elsewhere.
Dr. was an expert in electrophysiology. He indicated that he did not have neurocariogenic syncopy and if he was given the same dosage of medication/ the same number of times he would have passed out himself. A surgeon removed the lead wire and replaced it/ I was removed from beta blocker and reset the pacemaker. It had settings previously of that for a 70 year old man.
I had the pm changed after ten years in 2005. Again I had the PM changed in May, 2011. Lead wires were not replaced as they were in good shape. I had a problem of fanting in Sept. 2011 and found that a lead wire was nicked during procedure and a drop of fluid had gotten inthe lead wire insulation.
Lead wire was replaced 9-2011 and had no problems.
I had an eposide of syncope last night. I was asleep and woke feeling slightly nauseated. I went to the bathroom and sat on the side of the bath tub. My wife woke when she heard me get up and came to check on me.
She said I told her I was dizzy and then said some word that was not even a word. She asked again and I repeated that I was dizzy and repeated the same nonsense word. She was helping me to the living room and only got two feet with me when it was becoming hard to hold me up. She called for my son and he helped me while she called 911.
I only got about a foot toward the couch with my son when he had to help me to the floor as I had passed out.
I quickly rebounded. When I woke I was fine and was able to dress myself and wash my face before the ambulance arrived.
By this time I did not need the ambuance and they could not transport me to the hospital I use because it was 30 minutes away versus 8 minutes to the closest hospital.
I opted to wait to use my own hospital. I did not want to go to the er and laid down to rest and felt fine.
I do not think this is neurocardiogenic syncope. I hate to go thru what I went thru before with a tilt table and beta blocker when that is not the problem. I just had the new pacer put in in Sept. and just had the routine pacer checkup on Monday.
Could this be a neurological problem?
Any one else have this happen?

3 Comments

See a doctor

by cohara - 2012-09-16 01:09:06

There is something called a transient ischemic attack. While you might not have experienced this, it is worth checking out, especially since you were having trouble communicating clearly. A TIA is a warning that a stroke might be coming in the near future.

If it was a TIA, there are ways they can prevent a stroke from occurring. I wouldn't put off making the appointment just in case. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Take care,
Carol

Cross Talk

by Gellia3 - 2012-09-16 02:09:42

Hi,
Do you still have an abandoned lead?

I don't know if you would have this, but I have an abandoned lead that created a condition called "cross talk". It happens when the pacemaker misreads a signal (probably from the abandoned lead I have) and thinks it doesn't have to pace.

Because I am PM dependent, I had a seizure and resulting coma. It left me only reactive to deep pain for hours after. A VERY scary thing for both my family and, when I did come around much later in the day, for me.

In your case, perhaps it drops your heart rate enough to make you dizzy and unwell.

The only thing that my EP could find in my case was the cross talk which he fixed, I believe, by increasing the blanking period between the atrial sensing and the ventricle signal.

If this is what happened it would be recorded on your PM interrogation but they would have to look for it by the time coding.

GOOD LUCK in whatever it may be and I hope you feel better quickly.
Best to you,
Gellia

pacer lead wire

by Beach - 2013-03-17 11:03:23

I was told my problem was dehydration. When my GP asked about activity that day I advised I had worked outside in the lawn and I advised I had not stopped to drink much. Therefore dehydration was the culprit.

The pacer history did not present anything unusual in that time frame. I was also told that when you get up in the middle of the night from a dead sleep to go to the bathroom you can pass out that this can happen to older people. (64 years old)

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