Cardiologist discounted me

Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum and glad to find others who are living with a pacemaker. I was shocked two weeks when I had gone to the ER with a sinking feeling, to find out that my heart rate was actually dropping from the high 50's to 30's then skipping back up to the 40's before returning to high 50's and low 60's.

After three days of being monitored in hospital they said the heart rate would not only drop but then stop for three seconds before starting back up again. They were concerned to discharge me from the hospital and the only suggestions for resolution was a pacemaker.

I was very concerned if I wanted to have a pacemaker but could not see any way around it. So now it has been two weeks and when I went to see the cardiologist who had done the procedure and told him I was sometimes lightheaded upon standing and when sitting, he told me I needed to be more active. I also had a concern with the blood pressure and how it fluctuates so drastically.

Again he said get busy there is nothing wrong with your heart but maybe you need to have your head examined. He also stated that he was surprised I had done so well since the procedure.

I am a soon to be 60 yr old active female. Since my discharge from the hospital I have been doing all the housework, laundry and walk at least 30 mins a day on the treadmill. Today I drove my car for the first time since the procedure.I felt ok driving but did have a bit of fear I may get dizzy while driving. I only drove to the entrance of my subdivision and back home, hopefully tomorrow I will drive out of the subdivision and onto the main road.

I am changing Cardiologist. I will not see the new one until the 10th of this month. I hope he will be more professional and will listen so these feelings of lightheadedness can be resolved. I have an older friend who received a pacemaker two years ago and she stated she had the sinking feelings after the pacemaker had been implanted but after her last visit to have her pacemaker checked she has not had any so I am hoping for the same.

I am doing everything I know to do to increase my strength. If anyone has had similar issues I would appreciate your response tremendously.

7 Comments

Join the club

by vru1020 - 2012-10-02 11:10:32

Thanks for the input. I will for sure continue to post my progress as the days and weeks pass. Thank you again for being here.

Join the club

by Grateful Heart - 2012-10-02 11:10:57

Quite a few of us have had doctors who did not listen to them. I am so glad you are going to a new Cardiologist. You need someone who will listen to you and get to the bottom of things. You may need some adjustments to your device which can be common or you may have something else going on. You are your own best advocate. Keep us posted and let us know how things went after your visit. Ask any questions on this site you may have...this is a great group of knowledgeable and helpful good people.

Yer doin the rite thing

by ILoominatedEKG - 2012-10-03 02:10:42

I had to threaten to remove my PM with a box knife and vice grips before they discovered a lead had pierced my heart. Raise hell if you need to. THe blood pressure issue is most likely the culprit. But I have had to go through a "break in" period where my body is saying "What the hell?". Hang in there.

Dave

EP

by ebfox - 2012-10-03 09:10:28

Hi V,

You may want to get an ElectroPhysiologist (a cardiologist who specializes in rhythm issues). If you ever do get a pacemaker, it will typically be installed by an EP.

Sometimes regular cardiologists dismiss rhythm issues because they are as quite as life-threatening as some other heart issues-

Good Luck,

EB

EP

by vru1020 - 2012-10-03 12:10:50

I had a rough night last night with heart pounding in my ears and dizzy upon standing and while sitting. Blood pressure was all over the place. Sometimes top number in 130's withthe bottom number in low 100's.

I called as soon as the doctor offices opened today and will be seeing a new cardiologist and someone to check the pacemaker. They are in the process of getting all my medical records from the other cardiologist and from the hospital so I am hoping for some rational answers and not be blown off today as if I were imagining all this.

I will post more when I return. Thank each of you for your words of encouragement and hope.

V

saw new cardiologist

by vru1020 - 2012-10-04 04:10:35

Thanks Dave,
Well yesterday was enlightening and encouraging to say the least! I saw a new cardiologist and the electrophysiologist and was amazed by how optimistic and helpful they were.

The pacemaker was adjusted to a lower level and so far no more dizzy spells when sitting and standing up. Initially they had it set for 60 BPM which my heart rate has always been between 55 and 60 all my adult life so that is what I was accustomed to. So we shall see how all this goes. At least so far, no heart pounding sounds in my ears and no dizzy spells! Grateful I went.

I am scheduled to go next week for my Thyroid blood work. It could be low also so we shall see how that turns out. Have a good week everyone. Thank you all for your support and definitely if you do not like what one doctor is telling you then see another one...I am proof today that it works! :)

Great!

by ILoominatedEKG - 2012-10-08 12:10:31

See, good things happen to crazy people too. JUST KIDDING! It sounds like you found a doctor who knows what he's doing. He might be a keeper. LOL

I hope your issues have been resolved. Let us know if things are still going well in a week or two.

Best wishes - Dave

You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

Member Quotes

The pacer systems are really very reliable. The main problem is the incompetent programming of them. If yours is working well for you, get on with life and enjoy it. You probably are more at risk of problems with a valve job than the pacer.