might get pm

I don't have a pm...yet but its bound to come up. I've had about 10 fainting spells since September. I have PVC current cardiologist says he doesn't think that's causing it and kinda brushed me off. I know my body well enough to know something isn't right. I'm lightheaded all the time along with fatigue and recently short of breath just by standing. My question is if anyone had fainting spells before did the pm stop them after?

17 Comments

electrphysiologist

by zawodniak2 - 2015-12-15 02:12:38

To help you make the right decision, you should be consulting with an electrophysiologist and perhaps have him perform a tilt table test. A cardiologist is somewhat of a generalist specializing in many heart issues, while an electrophysiologist specializes in heart rhythm problems.
I also seriously question the intentions of your cardiologist brushing you off when you have had numerous fainting spells in recent months. Good luck
Rodger

cause

by Tracey_E - 2015-12-15 03:12:41

There are several tests they can do to determine the cause of the fainting.
-An echo will show if the heart structure is normal, check the valves, determine how efficiently the heart beats.
- A Holter monitor is basically an ekg that you were for days or sometimes weeks. It'll determine if your rate is dipping too low, pauses, or not going up on exertion.
-A tilt test will determine if your bp drops and/or heart pauses on change of position. All of these things can cause fainting.
-They'll also want to do blood work to determine if anything else is going on.

A pacer can fix anything related to pauses and/or slow beats. So, for now I would say that yes it's possible that a pacer could fix the fainting, but you need some more answers before you can know if it's the right answer for you. Good luck!


Ian, I suspect he's saying syncope but means bradycardia

Fainting from syncope

by agelbert - 2015-12-15 04:12:01

After I got the pacemaker in 2007, I did not faint again. I got the pacemaker because my heart stopped three times (the last time was at the hospital for 16 seconds) within 24 hours. They said it was a syncope.

find out why your doctor does not say you have had a syncope. That may help.

I experienced a syncope about three times during the previous 30 years but did not recognize it as such. I thought is was a reaction to food or something like that and had never mentioned it to a doctor.

It had been about a year since I had passed out while sitting on the toilet (definitely a syncope but I still did not recognize it as such) when I got the pacemaker in 2007.

I have had orthostatic hypotension and light headedness from time to time, but have never lost consciousness since being implanted. I am 69 and must get up more gradually than I used to in order to avoid orthostatic hypotension.

I still exercise 5 times a week for an hour a day at 3.5 to 4.0 miles per hour so I have no problems with normal life. The pacemaker, in my case for bradycardia, helps.

Good Luck to you.

fainting, short of breath, tired

by wired retiree - 2015-12-15 04:12:13

My symptoms were similar but I was 68. No fainting, no dizziness, no shortness of breath since I was wheeled in for my pacemaker. A really good life changer. After five years of fainting spells, had a cardiac arrest. Pacemaker was a no brainer after that. I have a great EPS. Hope you get the same result. Keep good detailed records and see a doc who will take you seriously. Sending good thoughts your way.

Holter?

by Gotrhythm - 2015-12-15 05:12:12

Have you had a Holter monitor test?

I had had 10 or 12 perfectly normal ekg's but the Holter showed that sometimes my heart rate was falling into the low 30's and sometimes, after PVC's, was pausing for 4-6 seconds.

The suggestions that you see an electrophysiologist are good ones. Based on the cumulative experience of the members here, if you have to have a pacemaker, you'll want to have it put in by an EP anyway.

agelbert ???

by IAN MC - 2015-12-15 08:12:26

Syncope means fainting. Saying " Fainting from Syncope " is the same as saying death from loss of life.

A syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness regardless of the cause. It is a faint.

I don't think the cardiologist was questioning whether porcel2015 experienced syncope / fainting or not , just the cause was being questioned.

Cheers

Ian

Depends

by Theknotguy - 2015-12-15 12:12:11

If your fainting spells are due to heart stoppage, then, yes the pacemaker will help. If your fainting is due to something else, then it may not help.

You don't say where you're from - not in your bio either. If you aren't getting support from your cardiologist, talk with your healthcare insurer. Most of them in the USA have a nurses hotline. You can call, describe your symptoms and see what they suggest. Most have wellness programs that can get you in front of healthcare providers who will listen.

Hope you get some help soon.

IAN ????????

by agelbert - 2015-12-16 03:12:16

You are an arrogant and insulting individual. Yes, syncope IS fainting, but in the context I used, it is related to VAGAL TONE. You probably know that but just wanted to have some empathy deficit disordered "fun" with me.

Stop embarrassing yourself by making smart alecky and ignorant comments.

Cheers,

Agelbert.

tests

by porcel2015 - 2015-12-16 04:12:21

Well I saw neurologist yesterday he said all tests look good so I'm going to see a specialist on the 28th. I've had holter which showed extra beats ex cardiologist brushed it off saying he doesn't think that's causing the problem. I've had eeg ekg echo and now scheduled for a tilt test. I've had this problem since September. It's odd that it shows up after getting uti. We'll see. Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

agelbert

by IAN MC - 2015-12-16 09:12:30

what an extraordinary response ; is your blood pressure OK ?

Try substituting the word " fainting " wherever you wrote " syncope" in your original post and you may then understand the point that I was making. Your heading becomes " Fainting from Fainting " and it gets even more confusing after that.

Why not launch a new party game for Xmas where you mis-use medical terms and then we all have to guess what you really meant ?

Ian

Agree with gotrythm

by Viperc - 2015-12-16 11:12:47

I had same issues but got the holter which showed AV block. Was sent straight to hospital and monitored &
Got pacemaker inserted 4 days later because of Ventrical standstill . I'd had heaps of tests prior which did not get the cardiologists supporting me. They said I need the respiratory clinic, I'm heading there on Friday..

Electrical problems

by Tracey_E - 2015-12-17 02:12:41

Some infections and medications can cause electrical problems, other times they come on suddenly and at random and we never know why.

Sounds like they are being thorough . Did you faint while on the holter?

frustrating

by Tracey_E - 2015-12-17 02:12:56

So, you could be having pauses, but your heart was on its good behavior during the Holter. This is how these things can go years undiagnosed! Sneaky buggers. Hopefully the tilt test will catch it.

electrical

by porcel2015 - 2015-12-17 04:12:50

Unfortunately no I wanted to catch an episode but at the time I was off work and confined to apartment.

tilt test

by porcel2015 - 2015-12-18 02:12:15

I'm sure it will. At this point in going give me the pm ill live with it

getting PM

by ryanc66 - 2015-12-20 04:12:32

I had one put in 3 months ago--- not a big deal. Done on Thursday, back to work on following Monday.

Previously I experienced what I call "mini-faints"... they were a second or less, and felt like I might pass out; but I never did.

Have not had ANY of these experiences since PM put in.

Biggest deal for me, was 1st week or so, and getting good sleep- as I sleep on my left side. I think by end of 2nd week it was then fine.

Don't hesitate to get a PM--- I've had several operations, and this is a piece of cake!

Blessings!

did huttt today

by porcel2015 - 2015-12-29 09:12:19

I did the tilt test today. I passed out twice on it once when they were raising me up I didn't go out all the way. Then I almost went completely out 11 minutes into it. It was different this time as I didn't get lightheaded I got nauseated which I'm glad I didn't eat since midnight
when that happened he lowered the table and marked it abnormal. I think he said my heart rate jumped but blood pressure bottomed out like 60/23 I think so he started me on mididrine.

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