Question-Flatlined for 15 but Doc said no PM

I have a question for those of you who have had a similar experience. I have been diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic Syncope through the tilt table test. I flatlined for 15 seconds during the test (1st part with no meds after only a few minutes). The doctor who administered the test and another electrophysiologist I later consulted with said I don't necessarily need a pacemaker. After researching and reading posts on this and other sites I'm not sure what to believe. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Please help. Thank you!

3 Comments

Question

by IAN MC - 2015-04-08 04:04:14

What were your symptoms which led to you having a tilt table test , and how do your Drs intend treating those symptoms ?

There are lots of things that can cause fainting on a tilt-table test; for example, a fall in blood pressure is a common cause and this is not usually helped by having a pace maker.

NCS may respond to lifestyle changes / dietary changes and drug treatments and does not always need a PM

I hope you get it resolved

Ian

15 seconds here too

by Bean19 - 2015-04-08 10:04:03

I am paced and I also had 15 second pauses but no tilt test. I have high vagal tone, bradycardia and syncope. The necessity for my pm was the fact that I was experiencing the syncope at non-usual syncope times (I wasn't going into or coming out of exercise, I literally was sitting still or lying down). My EP told me that it was my choice for the pm but without it I couldn't drive for three months (each episode I had added another three months to that until it reached a year when the state would then take my license).

I use my pm about 1%of the time and the settings are set strictly to not let me go down during an episode. It is almost instantaneous relief when the pm paces.

Ask more questions and do some self-reflection. Best of luck with it all.

NCS

by Tracey_E - 2015-04-08 10:04:30

NCS can be a combination of drop in heart rate and drop in bp. If the heart pause was caused by the bp drop, the first thing to do is try to prevent the bp drops. Pacing only helps the heart, it has no effect on bp so if that's the root of your problem, the pm won't help you. I would be concerned if they were rushing you into a pm, it would be premature at this point. As Ian pointed out, there are meds and dietary changes that can help with the bp. That may be all you need. You definitely want to try it first. Good luck!!!

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