Same symptoms as before

I had a PM inserted in July 2012 for vasovagal syncope. I felt great for several months after having it inserted. In Feb. 2013 I began passing out and having the same symptoms as I had before I got the PM. I've been to my Dr. several times and today he told me that I have pooling of blood in my legs which is another symptom of vasovagal syncope. My legs are not swelled and they do not hurt and they look like normal. I've asked if my PM could be malfunctioning but he keeps saying no because I wore a heart monitor for 2 weeks and nothing showed up. Has anyone out there had this problem or do you have anything to share with me that might help. I'm very discouraged.

8 Comments

vasovagal syncope

by Grateful1 - 2013-04-16 09:04:34

Hello! I also have VVS and have a pacemaker implanted. When I last passed out my heart paused for 40 seconds several times. I had the pacemaker put in to prevent my heart from stopping. My cardiologist was very honest with me and said the pacemaker will not cure VVS. The pacemaker can not help the blood from pooling to your legs. But, the pacemaker will save my life if My body needs it to! I stay very hydrated and as ordered by my Cardiologist I drink G2 everyday. I also make sure I get p,entry of sleep and recharge as needed. My legs have never been swollen or hurt. Please try and not be discouraged, there is a ton of helpful information on the web about VVS and how you can help yourself. It is really important to stay hydrated. Best of luck to you!

VVS

by Deppygore - 2013-04-16 11:04:35

Ditto what grateful said. I just got my pm last week for the same thing. My EP said mine was purely cardioinhibitory, but usually it's a mix of heart rate and blood pressure dropping. I still try to drink a ton of water and eat salty foods just to be on the safe side which is what he had instructed me to do before the tilt table test ( my normal bp runs low anyway.) in fact, I keep a little Baggie of ice cream salt in my purse for if I start feeling bad. Hope you can figure out what helps you!

Thanks

by susieque - 2013-04-17 05:04:41

Thank you both for helpful comments. I appreciate all the help I can get. When I did the tilt table test I passed out and my BP was 30/40 and pulse was 33. They told me that is probably what was happening when I passed out at home. Since getting my PM I have been seeing my primary care Dr. as my cardiologist turned me over to him as we have to travel a distance to the cardiologist. But I am going to the cardiologist next Tues. My primary Dr. called me in a prescription to help with the pooling of the blood in my legs so I called and talked to my pharmacist this a.m. telling him I wasn't going to pick up the meds until next week. I aksed him just what this medicine was and he told me it was generic Zoloft. I know that is an anti-depressant but is it also for blood pooling in the legs? I just don't understand what is going on and am confused. I try and drink lots of water but maybe I'm not drinking enough. Thanks again!

VVS

by Grateful1 - 2013-04-17 10:04:55

I am not aware of any drugs that can prevent pooling in the legs. I wish there was one that could help us who have that issue. A good rule is to dived your weight in half and drink that number in ounces a day. Also drink some G2! G2 has much less calories then regular Gatorade. Please take some time and research VVS on the web, there is great information that will help you with your condition. Try to breath and take one day at a time. :)

Researching

by susieque - 2013-04-18 11:04:39

Grateful1, you are very helpful. Doesn't Gatorade and G2 have quite a bit of salt in it? If so that will be a problem since I have high blood pressure. Three years ago at age 54 the HBP led to a stroke and I don't want to chance that. I am drinking more water. I think I work too hard too and don't rest enough. Yesterday I did some research on the web and you're right. There is lots of info out there. I'm trying to take one day at a time but sometimes that's difficult. .

Exercise can help with pooling...

by jenny97 - 2013-04-19 10:04:50

I also have VVS and was informed that in addition to high fluid and salt intake, keeping up the musculature of the legs can help with the pooling. The more muscle you have in your legs, the less the blood will pool. Whenever I start feeling a bit dizzy and like I might faint, I start flexing the muscles in my legs (standing on tiptoes and such). Sometimes it helps.

Also, compression stockings might help.

What kind of PM did you get? If you have the Evia Biotronik, there are probably settings specifically for VVS that will be helpful, since it is FDA approved for VVS. If not, you might talk to your doctor about rate drop response - that is, if your heart rate drops by so many beats per minute in a short period of time, your PM will kick in at a higher rate, in the hopes of raising your blood pressure. Mine is set to kick in if my HR drops by 30 bpm within 30 seconds. It paces at 95 bpm.

Good luck!

Jenny

Still having problems

by susieque - 2013-05-02 09:05:39

Thanks for that last comment Robparsons! My cardiologist finally changed my BP meds thinking they were dropping my BP to much and too fast. That was almost 1 1/2 weeks ago and am still having problems. He talked to the Medtronic tech to see if there really could be a problem with PM. They said there changes that could be made. So I'm to try the meds another week or two and then call cardiologist back. He will then talk to Medtronic to see what the changes are. I have a rate responsive PM and they don't always seem to know what to do with it. I have asked several times before if the PM could be the problem and they always say no. In some ways I think I'm getting worse. I have absolutely NO energy and am lightheaded so much of the time. Not fun!

Went through this

by Robparsons - 2013-05-02 09:05:40

I had the same thing, but it was varicose veins in both legs. I have had a PM since September 2011. The blackouts and feeling like I am falling are the same as yours. I have shocks on the left and right side of the PM. The Cardiologist just laughs and says that is impossible, but the PM technician told him "no, it is not, there are lots of reports of this". I looked up the shocks. Some possible explanations are 1) Nerve damage; solution, surgery to cut tiny nerves but no guarantee it will work. 2) Damaged leads; again surgery. 3) Defective Pm; Cardiologist swore up and down I have the best PM. Funny, we relocated to Bangkok, Thailand to where they have world renown Cardiologists. The first thing asked; "who put that old school PM in you?" I wonder if the Cardiologists get some type of side bonus for putting in PM's?

You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

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