*HELP!!*

I am an 18 yr old female. I passed out sitting in class. I started shaking and turned blue. Ever since I havent felt good.Very dizzy. I saw a doctor about vertigo, and was not diagnosed. My EKGs are fine, my stress echo was fine, and then the tilt table test.. during the test, after a nurse massaged my carotid artery, I passed out and my heart stopped for about 4 seconds. I shook and turned blue. My doctor is suggesting I see an electrocardiologist,and talk about pacemakers! He thinks I might have Carotid Artery Hypersensitivity. Does anybody have any personal relation to my problem? Also, how would my lifestyle change being 18 with a pacemaker?
Thank you!
*Live*Love*Faith*

5 Comments

Hi Faith!

by Charli - 2013-01-04 10:01:34

I am also 18 years old and have a pacemaker for 3 years now. If you did need a pacemaker it won't affect you on a day to day basis. You may find the shoulder straps on bras a bit uncomfortable at first depending on the site where the pacemaker was inserted. There are a few things to keep in mind such as using the ear furthest from your mobile phone when making calls. Paintballing is not a great idea either - trust me.

I also blacked out randomly, I had a heart monitor fitted under the skin to test the length of my episodes. I managed to reach 19 seconds on the ECG. Now I have the pacemaker however I haven't been blacking out.

Hope this helps, feel free to get in touch if you want to
Charli

Hi :)

by ReneeV2.0 - 2013-01-04 11:01:11

I do not have your exact diagnosis, but please don't worry that a pacemaker will ruin or even change your life. The 6 week recovery is a pain in the butt.. but after that, its truly okay. Most people even forget they have one.

I use my cell phone, iPad, PC, and every other gadget I can get my hands on. They don't have interference issues like they did in the past.

Depending on the model you get, you may not be able to have MRI's in the future... but CatScans would be fine.

I know it's terrifying, we've all been there!! I knew for 3 months I needed a pacemaker and I FREAKED out the whole time. Those 3 months were horrible. Now I've had a pacemaker for 6 months and I don't really even think about it.

If you do end up needing one, you will be okay :)

Carotid artery

by golden_snitch - 2013-01-05 04:01:08

Hi Faith!

Isn't it normal to get dizzy or even pass out when someone massages the carotid artery? I think you can make even perfectly healthy people lose their consciousness by pressing on that artery. Also, when you passed out while sitting in class, you did not massage that artery before, right? And during the tilt table test, the test alone didn't cause the fainting, it happened after the carotid artery massage, correct?

I'm not sure how meaningful your test result really is. People here often report about tilt table tests, but I cannot remember that anyone ever said he passed out after a carotid artery massage during this test; I think people rather passed out because the posture was changed from lying to standing.

When you see the electrophysiologist, please point out that you passed out after the massage as this definitely is a difference to people passing out just due to a change of posture. I could imagine that he might want you to wear a heart monitor for several days or even a month, just to make sure it's not for instance a heart block issue.

In my opinion it's too early to say that you'll need a pacemaker. All tests have been normal so far, and the tilt table test was a bit "manipulated" by that carotid maneuvre, I'd say. It will be important to record an episode of fainting in a situation like you had at school.

Best wishes
Inga

Response/Update

by blackouttt94 - 2013-01-05 04:01:13

Hey thanks everybody. I didn't touch my neck the first time I passed out in class and at the tilt test they said they were testing the arterys by rubbing it shortly and my heart stopped and everything. I can't drive or bike and I have to be careful of tight collars. I'm so glad I'm getting this support from y'all. My cardiologist thinks its carotid sinus hypersensitivity but that won't explain my overall dizziness. He talked about getting me pills to speed up my heart rate and blood pressure but in general those are both high... So I'm seeing another cardiologist before any rash decisions. Il keep y'all updated and I'd love to hear more from y'all.

Fear Not

by PHop2010 - 2013-01-05 12:01:02

Dear Blackouttt94,
I had the tilt table test back in 2010 prior to my pacemaker insertion. They had to give me nitro glycerin under the tongue to get me to faint. Because I would not faint. So it was inconclusive and very frustrating. But, my heart rate did not rise as it was supposed to - it stayed at 50bpm instead of rising. I also had carotid massage, in fact they pinched my carotid to try to reproduce my pre-syncope (almost fainting) but that didn't work. My 30-day heart monitor showed my heart stopping for 3-4 seconds and then restarting, as I was eating dinner. No symptoms otherwise, except I'd be feeling faintish while driving on Rte84 in New York! I was diagnosed with Mobitz AV Block Type2. I'm 58 and was in good shape but had stopped exercising and was sitting and stressing a lot at work.
You should see your cardiologist and also talk to the nurse manager in the cardio's office. My cardio's nurse manager kicked my ass in gear after I sat miserable for 2 months. The pacemaker resolved my syncope, my chest pains, and they got put me on Metoprolol, which kept my BP in control. These days I go to the gym 3x's a week. My Cardio told me "go full out, do what you want". I see him once a year. Best of luck to you. Fear not. Oh - I've got a Medtronic, it keeps my HR above 60bpm, runs at 39%, mostly when I sleep I think. It's been 2 1/2 years.
/Pete

You know you're wired when...

You make store alarms beep.

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