Worried

I am a 50 year old female and I had an ablation back in 2003 after being diagnosed with tachycardia. I then had a PFO closed in 2006. I am a triathlete and bike racer and love my sporting activities. Lately I have had nausea, light headedness/dizzy and some very sharp pains in the back side of my right arm - last one in March of this year - lasts for about an hour and then goes away. I am a vegetarian and work a fairly stressful job. I have Factor Five Leiden as well. Dr. said some time ago that I may need a pacemaker which I do not want if I can help it. I am now experiencing chest pain (comes and goes - feels dense in the middle of my chest - right above where the chest strap of my Garmin sits), heartburn, and tingling in my feet that does not last long. My heart rate stays in the upper 40's and mid 50's. I chalked it up to menopause but now I am not sure. Can anyone give me some advice on whether a pacemaker could limit my athletics. Also, could the ablation have put me where I am today having a heart rate that does not beat above 60 continually. I don't feel very good these days and prior to this I had more energy than I knew what to do with. Thank you for any advice or comments.

3 Comments

I would be worried too !

by IAN MC - 2013-05-27 06:05:13

..... and when I'm worried I see a Dr a.sa.p.... and that is exactly what you should do.

You ask if a PM would limit your athletic activities. One thing for sure is that whatever is wrong with you now must be affecting your athletics big time ; there is no way you can run if your HR is staying in the 40s and 50s.

There are many triathletes and marathon runners who have PMs and who carry on with a similar level of performance as before, BUT it is possible that a PM may only resolve some of your problems ... you need a diagnosis, see your Doctor !!

It would seem very unlikely that the ablation, which you had 10 years ago , is the cause of your problems unless you've had the symptoms for 10 years. But over time the heart can change , especially the electrics where rogue circuits can suddenly appear ( and nobody knows why ) ..only an ECG would help tell if this is the case

You have also developed new symptoms like the tingling in your feet which could be loads of things...Raynauds, certain anaemias, a slipped disc, calcium deficiency, thyroid disorders just to name a few; so see a Dr... you need a diagnosis !! The chest pain would worry me...see a Dr !

Best of luck, and let us know how you get on

Ian

Would not hinder your activites

by Chels - 2013-05-27 09:05:33

Getting a pacemaker would not have an impact on the activities you say you participate it, aside from the initial recovery period. If anything, you will most likely perform a lot better than you are now. Have you seen a cardiologist or EP? I understand getting a pacemaker sounds like 'oh my goodness I'm old and I'm going to be confined to my couch forever!' but I promise it's exactly the opposite. It's a very simply procedure, I got my first pacemaker at 6 years old, I'm 28 now (well in a few weeks) and I have done sports, running, gave birth to two beautiful boys, and the list goes on and on. There are many triathletes and very active people on this site that can attest to how much it enhances your life, rather than inhibits. Please see a doctor.

Still worried with no answers

by Heart2006 - 2013-06-03 04:06:28

Last week I saw my cardiologist and he sent me to the ER and then the following day we got in to see a Neurologist. My heart rate drops to the mid 40's when I'm sitting relaxing and I get light headed and feel as though I'm going to pass out. My MRI and MRA came back looking good as did my Cat Scan of my arteries. I have lost some vision in my left eye and Dr Ko said it was due to a lack of blood supply - it was a retinol infarction. Cardiologist thinks it's my vagus nerve and I am not sure how to calm that down. Cardiologist put me on Midodrine and Spoqalimine to help with the nasea and dizziness and said to return in a couple of weeks. Neurologist put me on 2 baby aspiring instead of 1 going forward too. I had a urine test to see if the aspirin is working for me but don't have those results back yet. My main fear now is whether I could have another retinol infarction due to lack of blood flow. I am an athlete and am afraid to get back to exercise due to dizzies as well as the fear of experiencing another TIA.

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