I'd like to get some info.

Hi, I just joined this club. I'm 48 years old. Female. Overweight. Well-controlled diabetes and hypertension. Exercise 30 minutes/2 to 3 times a week. (I know it's not enough.)

After wearing a monitor for a month, my doctor told me I need a pacemaker. I was on Metoprolol when I was first wearing the monitor. After stopping the medication for 2 weeks, my heart still showed symptoms. I was diagnosed with high grade AV block. In some of the daily report recorded by the monitor when I had my symptoms, it was written as "2nd degree AV Block Type 1" and "2nd degree AV Block Type 2". My heart stopped beating over 4 or 5 seconds several times. Mostly when I was asleep. I had blood work and echo cardio done. Everything was fine. So my cardiologist said it's purely due to my heart conduction. I just need a PM. But 99% of the time, I am fine. In fact, I'm a happy, jolly, sometimes even a little bit hyperactive person. I am even regarded as "healthier" than a lot of people.

Does anybody have the same condition like mine? I mean, I read some posts here and it seems that my condition is not as serious that needs a pacemaker. I'm so afraid of the post-surgery side effects. English is not my mother tongue. I immigrated to the US 7 years ago to live with my sister, after my father died of heart failure. My husband has even much less doctor experience than me. (He's the kind that refuses all the medication on himself.) So every time when I have to see the doctor, I'm also anxious too. I worry that I misunderstand what the doctors are saying....

The last fainting I had was last March. I didn't know I totally fainted when it happened. I just opened my eyes and found out that I was on the floor. This kind of symptom has happened several times in my life, but not too many, probably under 10 times. In the past year, I had some minor ones when I couldn't move for a few seconds but I could still hear things going on around me.

Do I really need one? I'm very scared. My insertion is scheduled in early February, after avoiding it for over 6 months and having minor symptoms at work. (I lost myself for about 2 seconds when I sat down so I fell to the ground, but I actually "woke up" in the middle of falling down. I just couldn't stop my body from yielding to the gravity...)

Any suggestion/comment is very much appreciated. Thank you very much.

4 Comments

Sounds like me

by wescoot2 - 2015-01-15 10:01:36

I went thru many of the same symptoms which you described. Passed out a few times over many years, but never thought much of it. Went on vacation, and while on a houseboat with my wife, I passed out 3 times. I was taken to a Hospital where they could not come to a conclusion as what caused this problem, and implanted a monitor in me. 6 weeks later, one morning I once again became light headed, but didn't pass out. I received a phone call, telling me that my monitor indicated my heart stopped 3 times for 5 seconds, and 1 time for 12. They suggested a 2 lead PM which I had implanted the last week in Oct 14. I'm so glad I had this done. I had my first interrogation 2 weeks ago, and it was pointed out that over the last 10 weeks, my PM assisted me only 7 times. But think about this, if I didn't have my PM and I happened to be driving, and passed out, in what condition would I find myself today.

I'm not a Doctor, and I didn't spend last night in a Holiday Inn, but I would suggest, you take your Docs advice.

Good Luck in the future.

Please listen to your doctor

by Theknotguy - 2015-01-15 11:01:08

Was being treated for heart problems. Was on Flecanide.

Out with the dogs, passed out for about a second. No warning. Went down like a stone. Called doctor. Said not to worry.

Got checked out by the doctor, tested. Said I had mitral valve regurgitation. Was starting on a procedure for that.

On the trail with the dogs again. Passed out again. Remember getting woozy. Woke up with the dog licking my face. That's when I discovered I was lying on the ground. Called doc - not worried would be starting on procedure for mitral valve.

A few weeks later. Out with the dogs. Completed three miles. Had just moved 2300 pounds of wood the day before. Felt good. Was taking pictures of dogs. Having a great time.

Woke up six days later in the hospital from a coma. Died in the ambulance, died in the ER, they had to do CPR on me two times. Broken rib, cracked rib, collapsed lung, chest tube, another broken rib and a pacemaker. Doc had completely missed I was having those heart stoppages.

I can't say the same will happen to you but I can tell you heart stoppages aren't anything to mess around with. I'll tell you from personal experience being dead was no fun. The only thing that brought me back the first time was the pain when they broke my rib. The rest of it wasn't any fun either. I don't recommend being in a coma. Don't recommend Propofol - it's a great drug but the side effects are terrible.

Hope you can get some help soon.

Thanks a lot.

by etmichelleh - 2015-01-16 07:01:45

Hi Wescoot2 and Theknotguy,

Thank you for your advice. It's really nice to find this club. And your encouragement warms my heart.

Theknotguy, so sorry you had to go through so much unpleasant experience. Hope you're feeling better now.

1%

by Tracey_E - 2015-01-16 08:01:49

You can't predict when you will pass out, if you will be driving or at the top of a flight of stairs. Don't wait. We have had more than one member put it off because they felt fine most of the time, then they passed out just one more time and hurt themselves. One wrecked his car. If you are at risk of passing out, if you know your heart is stopping, just do it. Why live with the uncertainty and possible danger? I always find it interesting that people are more worried about the side effects of the pacer than of passing out. The latter is much more dangerous.

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

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