Not sure what to do

Good Morning,
I am not sure what to do and am wondering if anyone else had the same issues. I went to the dr a few years ago because I had been getting dizzy spells. Of course they checked my heart and did an MRI if my brain. At that time they said I had a low heart rate and I had to do the 21 day monitor. Long story short they decided to recheck me every 6 months. The dizzy spells come and go and I also suffer from migraines. The dizzy spells could be vertigo and have something to do with the migraines but now I also get more of a light headed ness and I get extremely tired. So tired that I really can't function right. We redid the monitor and my rate would drop as low as 20 and I also have 2 second pauses. When I'm just resting I can feel my heart thump and they told me based in the latest monitor that the bottom of my heart kicks in to help the top part. When i work out my heart rate does get to where it should but then it goes down pretty low. I also had a stress test which was good. My dr feels I now need a pacemaker but I'm not sure. Since I'm not totally convinced she also recommended an EP test. Sorry for this long email but I'm just not sure if I should get the EP test, pacemaker or just wait it out I'm not totally convinced that the pacemaker will help me. What if it is jus migraines or will a pacemaker also help with the migraines. My mother and grandmother also have pacemakers so I guess I will eventually need one. Any suggestions or comments? Thanks!

6 Comments

20 bpm is mighty slow

by lbdina - 2013-12-04 01:12:38

I'd be surprised if you did not end up with a PM if your heart rate drops to 20 bpm and you have pauses. Actually, a rate of 20 bpm means your heart is beating only every 3 seconds. That's not even borderline bradycardia. No wonder you feel dizzy and have migraines. Lack of blood and oxygen will do that!

If this is a rare or isolated instance, an EP study is probably warranted. I'd want to know everything that is happening so you get the right PM with the right features.

A PM is nothing to worry about. It will make you feel a lot better if you have lots of these low heart rates.

get it

by Tracey_E - 2013-12-04 02:12:31

I think you answered your own question, you are too tired to function, so waiting is not an option. 2 second pauses aren't a big deal, but a low of 20 is not even close to borderline and you are very symptomatic. What else is there to know? I'd skip the ep study. It's fairly invasive and the information it gives you won't help you make a decision because anything it finds will have the same fix- a pm.

Migraines are unrelated to what your heart is doing. Have you kept a food diary? That helped me figure out my triggers. I managed them that way for years by watching my triggers and keeping meds handy to nip it in the bud when they start, then went to a chiropractor for my back and found out he could make them go away. My daughter (15) gets migraines now, I take her also. Not everyone gets the results we do, and not all chiropractors are created equal, but it's worth checking in to. Worst case it doesn't help.

Get it too

by gleesue - 2013-12-04 03:12:22

My heart operates the same as yours. I had no problems with a stress test. I can go up to 15 minutes at 17 degrees while jogging. Still can after the PM. So your heart works good on the high end and goes to slow on the low end. All that equals a pacemaker.

I agree withy Tracy, get it you'll feel a lot better.

Jerry

Below 50 sets off alarms

by BillMFl - 2013-12-04 07:12:05

If you are being monitored in ICU like I was. Like you my hr would plunge at rest but go up normally when exercising. As my Cardio explained it, you could go to bed one night and wake up with brain damage or not wake up at all (dead!). So get the PM. 20 is waaaay too low!

Why wait?

by Jonny - 2013-12-04 09:12:32

If I was going through what you are I would get the PM as soon as I could so I could get my life back. Life is too short as it is so don't lose time feeling bad when a 1 hour procedure would fix most of your problems.Go for it! John

Yeah, get it.

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-04 11:12:21

I had a couple episodes where the HR dropped and I passed out. Was treating it with meds and the cardio guy thought he had it under control. Then I collapsed on a hiking trail after which my heart stopped in the ambulance. They almost didn't get me restarted in the hospital.

Don't mess around with it. Go for the PM. Life gets a lot better after everything starts working better.

Theknotguy

You know you're wired when...

You’re officially battery-operated.

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.