How soon?!

How soon do I get a PM knowing this current info on heart pauses while sleeping...two separate times - 4.2 6.7 seconds.I have follow up appointments this week BUT as you can imagine I am scared/anxious etc......as is my wife. I have no other symptoms and feel great. I have follow up and second opinions this week....

14 Comments

Hi Denny

by Jax - 2013-06-01 01:06:17

I also sent you a private message.

Denny

by Grateful Heart - 2013-06-01 01:06:18

I just sent you a Private Message. Let me know.

Grateful Heart

Denny

by donr - 2013-06-01 05:06:57

Ditto Jax & Grateful.

Don

Looks like

by Grateful Heart - 2013-06-01 07:06:41

Denny is gonna be busy, except Don....you're not from New Yawk?? Or.....are you? lol

Hi Denny

by IAN MC - 2013-06-01 09:06:09

... my "top of the head " answer is AS SOON AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN but I'm curious :-

- How do you know that you are having pauses while you sleep ?

-- If you have no other symptoms, how have you identified these pauses ? If you have had an ECG ( EKG in the US; you don't say where you live ?) why have you had it ?

Your country of residence may have a bearing on how quickly you get a PM. If your pauses lengthen, without doubt, you will start fainting and this is can indicate an immediate need for a PM but some people on here , mysteriously seem to go several months, or even years, with spells of fainting before being given for a PM

I can only relate my own experience here in the UK. I fainted once and admitted myself to A & E , ( ER in the States ) . I demanded a Pace Maker ( self-diagnosed ) , the cardiologist agreed and I had one fitted within 2 days.

There are no drugs which help with cardiac pauses so having a PM may be the only answer for you

Best of luck

Ian

?....

by Dennyfitz - 2013-06-01 09:06:40

Not sure why I am even bothering with writing this.....I have never taken steroids ....not sure why that even had to be asked....I appreciate all of your support, I am a man who is nervous and trying to get some advice not to be judged....I have done nothing to cause this, and as a father of three small children I would hope someone would offer advice and not nasty comments, please keep those comments for another site. Yes, I will be getting a second opinion and will go from there.

Sorry more info...

by Dennyfitz - 2013-06-01 10:06:25

Sorry, I live in NY....the only reason I am even aware of these is because after having a routine physical...EKG great/ stress test great. .Doc sent me to a cardologist as a routine for age, cardologist said since I had been a professional athlete he wanted to do a 48 hour monitor...where there was a 4.2 second pause in 48 hrs...then was sent to do a sleep study, and there was another pause for 6.7 seconds. I have no other sympotms. Doctor said its a hard case as I am only 37 and feel great...he said if I was 57 it would be a no brainer....?

Thanks

by IAN MC - 2013-06-01 10:06:38

There seems to be a slightly disturbing relationship between high athletic levels and a subsequent development of cardiac electrical problems. I used to be an obsessive marathon runner and I often wonder " Was that the cause ? " but I will never know !

that apart ..........

I can understand you being worried ,but if the pauses don't escalate beyond their present duration it certainly isn't life-threatening.

You just found out because of a routine test; you have no symptoms. Do we know , if a Dr pulled 1000 patients off the street and gave them a 48 hr Holter, how many of them would show short cardiac pauses while they sleep ??

As your Dr says , you're a hard case , you can only get statistical evidence from them and possible likely future predictions, then make up your own mind.

Let us know what the Drs eventually recommend.

Ian

Denny...

by lubro - 2013-06-01 10:06:43

I pretty much agree with Ian here... Not enough info to really know what's going on..
Glad you are feeling great, and have no other symptoms... those are pluses..
you did say you have a follow up and 2nd opinion coming up this week... That's a good thing...
It's ok to be scared/anxious... it's a pretty scary thing you have experienced...
after you see your dr's, and get your 2nd opinion, you will have a better understanding of the choices you need to make...
Let us know how things work out for you...

take care...

Lou

Thanks Ian

by Dennyfitz - 2013-06-01 10:06:46

The only other symptom if you can call it that is I have allow heart rate, as do most athletes....my resting heart rate when I sleep is 20-30 beats...which they were not concerned about but feel that when I am I in a deep sleep that's what causes pauses. This all so crazy, I have young children and want to be around....

Oh boy

by Grateful Heart - 2013-06-01 11:06:12

Denny, I know you are new here but we are all here to help you. I’m sorry that after reading Don’s novel, the only take away for you was the steroids reference. Upsetting as that was for you, he was simply asking if YOUR DOCTOR asked that since that is always a possibility for anyone really but yes, for SOME pro athletes especially. Don said he would not ask you that himself, but you answered anyway and your answer was NO.

May I suggest you read Don’s novel again, this time skipping over the steroid reference and taking everything else in. Don is VERY knowledgeable and highly regarded on this site and only has the best intentions to help others. Just ask anyone on this site.

A little further info: Once you get to know us, most of us on this site deal with some humor in our answers from time to time, while still giving insightful info to the poster. Being in law enforcement, I know you are familiar with gallows humor.

I was just saying yesterday, we all have a commonality on this site of some sort of heart condition and PM/ ICD’s. We have been there and done that….including the nervousness and decision making. If you stick with us, I think you will be glad you did and then you will find, Don will be your biggest advocate.

BTW: 3 of us (at least) have sent you a private message, Don included. If you go to the upper right hand side while logged in, under Member Menu, you can click on private messages and read them. If you wish to respond to anyone, scroll down to the very bottom of the screen after reading the message and hit reply to start your message.

Good luck with your decision and I hope you keep us posted and remain a member.

Grateful Heart

get it!

by Tracey_E - 2013-06-01 11:06:13

I can't believe they're more concerned about 2 little pauses than a resting rate in the 20's! When you posted before I didn't think the pauses were more than a mild concern but I changed my mind. Yes athletes have lower rates than the rest of us, but that is 1/3 of a normal resting rate. You don't have to rush and do it today, but I'd be getting on the surgeon's schedule as soon as he can get you in and you can take a week or two off. The longer you put it off, the more time you have to build it up in your head. Just do it, as they say.

Denny: It's a...

by donr - 2013-06-01 11:06:33

...NO-BRAINER at 37!

You finally answered my questions from your last thread. You got where you are because you are an ex-NFL player & you guys have a lousy reputation for dying suddenly from heart issues even at early ages.

Unless something happens frequently, an EKG tells you absolutely NOTHING. It is a roughly 12 second sample of how your heart functions electrically. My cardio once ran a 30 second "Rhythm Strip" just to see if he could find something he was suspicious of - it was NOT there.

Look - I'm not a cardiologist - I'm an EE. I know electrical systems & understand sampling & statistics. You are flat out flunking the systems reliability & statistics business.

Your heart beats about 2.5 MILLION times per month. It only has to stop ONCE during those 2.5 million beats to turn your case truly HARD (Rigor Mortis) & leave your kids fatherless & your wife a widow. So far, you have two samples of a total of about 200,000 beats - that sampling showed that your electrical system is flawed & prone to failure - AND there will be NO precursor warning light that says "Get the to thy Cardio - it's about to happen"!

Were your heart's electrical system a module in the engine compartment of your car - you'd replace it - immediately.

I'm a profession al soldier - I know the language you pro football player use down on the field. I cannot put this message in language you would understand - Blake (the site owner) would delete it in a heartbeat.

So, I guessed right in my previous comment - you were tested because you were a Pro FB player. Did the great man ever look you in the eye & ask "Denny, did you EVER use steroids?" I'll betcha he suspected it, even if he did NOT say it. This is a question I would never ask you - but you must honestly address it yourself.

Now, lest you think I am a raving NUTCASE - I am, no doubt. However, my Cardio's head nurse is married to a former Pro FB player. He is a huge man, w/o the use of steroids, & has heart problems - but NOT requiring a PM. He coached HS FB & confronted steroid use among his players. We have discussed this issue before I read your post & my comments are based on those discussions.

Do not let some Pollyanna in a white coat give you the "Oh, but you are so young..." line. We have members who have had PM's since birth - as well as those who get them at age 87. They are for all ages! Tracey, the Moderator, talks about that line frequently.

Has Angry Sparrow taken a bite out of your hide yet? She talks as one who suffered SCA & highly recommends against tempting that fate. She survived it - most do not.

We can talk about your anxiety AFTER you decide to get the PM installed. Being a PM host is not a big problem. BUT - it does have its psychological aspects & you are displaying typical issues. Those can be easily addressed. Be glad to help you w/ those. Do it all the time.

Don

how soon?

by KathyB - 2013-06-02 10:06:55

I too started having slow resting rates in the 40's and had a 3 week halter and was doing 5.5 sec pauses at night then my heart would do a junctional rhythm. At first was not bothering me during the day time then started pauses when I was just relaxing watching tv. I had to get a pm for sick sinus syndrome. You can ask my husband but my energy level is better and I don't get winded as quickly when doing exercises or walking. I though am 57 but feel it was the best thing. have had it for a little under 2 months and whereas I was fighting getting it, I am glad I did so I can watch my grandchildren grow.

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