looking for an alternative to a PM, need help

Good day all. I have been told I need a pacemaker for fainting spells which happen every couple months. This has great consequences for me and my carreer that I wont get into. I am trying to find any information on alternatives available or relative med articles. Some background: 39 years old and in good shape. Did an Olympic triathlon and 2 half marathons this spring. No alcohol, drugs, ect. When I pass out it is ALWAYS in the morning time and frequently the day after I have not done a good job in maintaining hydration (sometimes combined with extensive exercise). I am ALWAYS sitting and at rest. I know when it is coming and have a short time to lay down and elevate my legs which has sometimes stopped me from fainting in the past. (not always possible to lay down) I have a Medtronic monitering device placed under my skin which recorded the last 2 events. During the first my heart paused - or stopped for 8 seconds then all went back to normal for 2 months. Then again, in one morning, it happened again. 6 second pause, 1 beat, 6 second pause and now back to normal. Other than the few seconds when this happens, everything is 100% normal. I am getting a second opinion in a couple days and am praying for some kind of repreive. I thought for sure that it was a hydration or electrolite issue that was my fault and could be corrected by strictly following a plan. Any advice or questions I can ask the second doctor that could possibly steer me in another direction?

4 Comments

If you find anything let us all know !

by IAN MC - 2016-06-18 16:56:56

Sorry to be so blunt but if your bradycardia / pauses / faints are being caused by an electrical conduction problem of your heart then a pacemaker is the ONLY answer.

It would be good to solve the problem by taking drugs to treat the bradycardia but there simply aren't any such drugs available

It would be good to find a trigger factor for your bradycardia , avoid it and no more bradycardia.  Although trigger factors can be identified which help minimise some heart irregularities this is not the case for bradycardias.

There have been many marathon runners / triathletes of all ages who have sent similar posts  on here along the lines of " Why me ? "  or  " Do I really need a pacemaker ? " . I was a keen marathon runner and asked myself the same questions !

It is interesting that a disproportionate number of endurance athletes develop electrical conduction problems of the heart. One theory is that the heart is a muscle and like other muscles it sustains minor tears during high-level exercise. These tears form scar tissue and it is possibly this scar tissue which causes rogue electrical circuits to develop

Unless you are given a diagnosis of vasovagal syncope , I will be amazed if your second opinion comes up with any alternatives . I know from your posts that having a PM may create employment problems for you and I hope you resolve those but in terms of living a normal life having a PM is no big deal.

Best of luck

Ian

Ian

by pmb7290 - 2016-06-18 17:42:52

Thank you for your info.

I understand the sentiment

by Shaun - 2016-06-18 18:31:04

The night I was admitted as an emergency into hospital and they diagnosed heart rhythm problems I remember saying to my wife that I really did NOT want a pacemaker. I was a very fit cyclist and I associated pacemakers with elderly unfit people. Of course I was wrong on both counts, people of all ages and levels of fitness have pacemakers. The following day I received my pacemaker and that immediately put and end to the passing out. You can't live your life fully if you don't whether you will be able to get through the day without passing out, that confines you in so many ways. The pacemaker gave me my freedom back again to live a full and active life.

All the very best of luck,

Shaun.

It's not so bad

by Megan13 - 2016-07-06 16:37:21

Hello:

Your condition sounds a lot like mine. I was 28 when I received my PM. Before that - I went through the normal course of medications, testing, etc. to no avail. At the end of the day, getting the PM has only improved my life. I no longer faint - and deal with the extreme loss of energy. My PM was implanted under my muscle - through an incision in my armpit. I have not fainted since - and have experienced no issues. You need to do what's best for you - and your health. Good luck :)  

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