Complete heart block

I am a female. Age 44. I discovered and was later diagnosed with Complete Heart Block at 25 while in a nursing class at work. I was told that while I didn't need a pacemaker at that time, I might when I got older. I'm completely asymptomatic. Five years ago, I had an episode at work, ( I work in a hospital), where I had a panic attack. I was sent to a different Cardiologist at a bigger hospital. He said it was time to place a pacemaker. The procedure was scheduled. However I didn't feel that I needed this because I was asymptomatic so I went for a second opinion. This cardiologist said I didn't need PM so I didn't get it. Just changed primary care doctors and they want me to go for a second opinion. I am still asymptomatic. Has anyone had similar experiences.

8 Comments

Yes

by Good Dog - 2016-01-28 07:01:45

As a child I had episodes when I would get light headed and even passed-out on a couple of occasions. I don't know if anyone ever looked for a heart problem at that time (the 1950's & 60's), because it wasn't until I was 28 years old when I was diagnosed with a 1st degree AV Block. I went through lots of tests including a cardiac Cath and a Holter Monitor. They found that my pulse would drop as low as 35 bpm while I slept, but they didn't detect anything more than a 1st degree block. Then suddenly when I had just turned 38, I went into a 3rd degree (full block). I was at work and felt out of breath when walking. So I took my pulse and it was only 35 bpm. They admitted me through the ER and into ICU for the night. That night it dropped down to 12 bpm. In the morning my pulse was back to normal and only a 1st degree block. I felt fine. However, they inserted a PM that morning, because they felt it would be back to 3rd degree again without notice.
My point is; it is possible for your heart to bounce back and forth between 3rd degree block and 1st degree. It may be that the 2nd opinion doc you got only saw you at a time when your heart was working more normally. It is hard to know for sure, but you'd think if there were any doubt, they at least ask you to wear a monitor for a few days. It can be a little dangerous if you bounce back and forth between more severe degrees of block, because you could end-up passing out and hurting yourself. You won't die though, so you shouldn't fear that. You'll always have an underlying heart rate, although it will be really slow. They call that an escape rhythm.
You should try to monitor your pulse on a regular basis for now at least until you are sure everything is normal. It could also be that the need for a PM can be based on how you feel as much as the degree of your block.
Hope this info helps. If not, just ask away. This is a great site for getting educated. You sometimes have to take what you hear here with a grain of salt, but there are lots of people with lots of real life experience with pacemakers here.

Sincerely,

David

Complete heart block

by Grilor - 2016-01-28 09:01:00

Thanks Tracey for your comment as well. It does make me wonder.

symptoms

by Tracey_E - 2016-01-28 09:01:19

Sometimes we think we are asymptomatic, until we find out we weren't feeling quite as good as we think we are. I have congenital heart block also. I waited until I had symptoms to get the pacer, afterward I realized I'd been compensating and merely getting by for a long time, a lot longer than I thought. I was shocked at how much better I felt after.

If you've never had one, get a Holter monitor. It is like an ekg that runs for a week or more. It will tell you how low your heart rate is, if it dips at night, if it goes up on exertion. If your rate is high enough, then it's ok to continue to monitor. But if you are having dips, if your rate doesn't go up when you exert, then it's hard on your body because your organs are being starved of oxygen, whether you feel it or not.It's a judgment call when is the right time to get it. I can only speak for myself,I wish I'd had it a year or two before I did, probably even sooner than that. Looking back, I can see when I first started to struggle. At the time, I wrote it off to other things.

Complete heart block

by Grilor - 2016-01-28 09:01:45

Thanks David for your comment. I really never think about it
unless I shock someone with my EKG as with my new primary care doctor. It seems I've reached an age where my BP is high and she said I now have a bundle branch block as well. I feel sure this other cardiologist will jump to put one in. I've never had any surgery and can't stand the thoughts of it. I'm pretty active and completely asymptomatic so I guess it's just hard to accept that I might have to have that again. But I'm am thankful there is a solution if this is that big a problem. I was actually scheduled to get one 8 years ago and joined this site. I thought I was done with this for a long time and nowam thinking about it again. It's good to talk to people with similar problems who know more about it than I do.

first surgery

by Tracey_E - 2016-01-29 02:01:58

My first pacer was my first surgery, also. The reality was nothing compared to what I built it up to in my head! I'd never met anyone my age (or within 50 years of my age!) that was paced or had a condition like mine. This was before the internet so I couldn't research it. My dr didn't have other patients like me. Can you say petrified?! I can't say it was fun, but it really wasn't that bad and my energy skyrocketed so I never once regretted getting it. That was 20+ years ago. I'm getting #5 on Monday, no big deal ;) David has been paced longer than me. Many of us heal and move on, forget about it for the most part.

Is your bp high enough you need meds? Because bp meds will also lower your heart rate, so they may not want to give them to you if you are not paced. That's a discussion to have with your doc.

Here's an explanation of the types of heart block. BBB is a type of heart block. It can come and go.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hb/types

Complete heart block

by Grilor - 2016-01-29 03:01:27

Doctor and I did discuss the possibility of medicine lowering my heart rate. She gave me Losartan. She said we would avoid beta blockers and that the Losartan would not lower it. But I'm taking my blood pressure and heart rate two times a day for two weeks to make sure. Per her request. So far it has not bothered it. Unfortunately the high blood pressure runs in my family. Thanks for the info.

Complete heart block

by Grilor - 2016-02-02 12:02:19

Scout22 Do you think you would have got it if you never fainted? The cardiologist I've known and worked with since I was 25 says he doesn't think I need it since I don't have any symptoms. I haven't seen him in about 5 years. I am scheduled to see him again this month. Hard decision. Thanks for your reply.

Complete heart block

by Grilor - 2016-02-02 12:02:31

Scout22 Do you think you would have got it if you never fainted? The cardiologist I've known and worked with since I was 25 says he doesn't think I need it since I don't have any symptoms. I haven't seen him in about 5 years. I am scheduled to see him again this month. Hard decision. Thanks for your reply.

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