Here I Go Again

Hello!

I am a 35 yo woman fitted 9 days ago with a dual chamber pacemaker after months of complications due to vagal bradycardia. I have suffered for months from extreme dizziness and near fainting, and I was so hopeful that the pacemaker was going to make that go away.

However, I am still getting dizzy when I stand up. I had a blackout episode a few days ago that landed me back at the doctor's office for a setting adjustment. However, I am still experiencing dizziness that hits me hard and fast.

Truth is, I'm scared to death that this will never go away or that they will treat it with medication. My experience with medication is not good as I didnt tolerate meds to raise my blood pressure very well.

Did anyone else experience dizziness post-placement? Am I still in a period of adjustment or is this indicative of bigger issues?

Thanks so much for guidance!

4 Comments

Give yourself time

by MelodyMarch - 2014-09-07 10:09:15

9 days is a lot to expect to be "cured". A lot of the new pacemaker models are self calibrating and self-adjusting to a point, and that takes data and time.

I have the same condition, though I have the pacemaker more for SSS.

What you need to do is do a little research on your pacemaker brand and model. Some of the have a rate drop response setting that is designed specifically for vasovagal patients. If yours has it, have your doc and rep adjust it until you feel better.

I never tolerate the meds to raise blood pressure well either. My cardiologist likes to joke with me that I am the only patient he doesn't harp on about salt intake, and encourages me to eat more (within reason). I have also found that powerade and Gatorade are my best friends. I don't go anywhere with out that and some pretzels. Try adding salt in moderate amounts to your diet, I trust you will feel better.

Even with pacemakers life is a balancing act. I find that in the mornings I have to gear myself up for 5-10 minutes before attempting to get out of bed. I have what I call "bottom dwelling" days where my HR is close to my bottom setting and my BP is in the tank so I feel like crap. However, before my pacemaker, I would have been passed out on the floor on those days, so that is a major improvement in my quality of life. On those days I know to try and take it a bit easier teaching at school if possible, have an extra cup of coffee or two and something extra salty for lunch and I get through the day.

Life will get better, advocate for yourself and how you feel, and remember for people like use Salt is not the enemy!

MelodyMarch

It takes time

by Theknotguy - 2014-09-07 10:09:52

It took me several weeks to get back to "normal". Compounded by the fact I had a broken rib, cracked rib, collapsed lung, and another cracked rib (they found it later). Also changes to medicine, adverse reaction to medicine, and just trying to get my body back to some kind of "normal".

I finally made it out of the hospital for several weeks, then went into a session of afib with RVR - which put me back into the hospital. Then another session where I was monitoring my blood pressure and it kept going up and up. I talked myself back into the hospital because I stressed out over my BP readings.

So you have to give your body time to adjust. Things should get better. Just remember, if no one is screaming and yelling, it isn't a crisis and you're probably getting better albeit a little more slowly than you'd like.

Hang in there. Life does get better.

Vasovagal syncope

by golden_snitch - 2014-09-07 11:09:53

Hi!

If vasovagal syncope was the diagnosis that led to the pacemaker, then the problem is that the pacemaker can only treat bradycardia, but it cannot prevent your blood pressure from dropping. I am not sure how well this has been explained to you before the pacemaker was put in. In vasovagal syncope you usually have both, blood pressure and heart rate dropping. By putting in a pacemaker that prevents the heart rate from dropping, one can usually prevent further episodes of syncope as it's often the combination of blood pressure and heart rate decreasing that causes patients to pass out . However, even with the pacemaker, the blood pressure still drops, so that is why you continue to have symptoms like dizzyness.

I wish, I could tell you something more encouraging. But if vasovagal syncope is your diagnosis, then one has to be honest about what the pacemaker can do, and what it cannot do. Overall, you should be better off with the pacemaker, as there will be no more heart rate drops. Maybe once you have fully recovered from surgery, you will see an improvement. It's been only 9 days since the pacemaker was put in, so give yourself time to heal.

Best wishes

Inga

Agree

by ladybug55 - 2014-09-13 12:09:30

I have dysautonomia and a pacemaker for bradycardia. I agree salt and gatoraid help. I also take adderol to help keep my blood pressure more steady.

I have the BIOTRONIK Evia pacemaker ( for 11 months now) and it is designed to respond to both hr and bp - so is good for people with autonomic issues. While I still have symptoms the steady heartbeat has made a big difference. But I still take a bunch of meds. and vitamins.

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