Blacked out

Blacked out

by Barnes42 - 2017-11-06 17:25:35

Hi Jess , I had a pacemaker put in march last year and I've been having problems ever since . My pm is set at its lowest as yours and I still black out on a fairly regular basis . My tests come back as ok every time . I've become very sensitive to pacing and have symptoms every day . Some days better than others . Again like you it's the same feeling I had which caused me to rushed into hospital and to be told you need a pacer . I'd love to say they've found the answer to the problems but where still trying . It can be very worrying and at times frightening but my advise would be not to panic , the over will do its job and in time hopefully your cardiologist will resolve the problem . Don't hesitate to go and your doctor or cardiologist if this happens again . 

Dave 

Get some evidence

by LondonAndy - 2017-11-06 18:07:49

I haven't had that problem myself, but sympathise with you, and it sounds like low pulse rate or pressure.

Have you got your own blood pressure machine?  If not I would recommend getting one from a reputable brand.  They are not expensive - my GP uses an Omron meter, so I got one of those so that he wouldn't dismiss my amateur measuring with a cheapie, for about £40 at current prices, but there are plenty of others that are cheaper.  Then take your own readings, (pulse rate, Diastolic and Systolic measurements) write them down or log in a spreadsheet with time and date, and take at the same times of day so that you can see any patterns, eg morning before breakfast, then at another fairly consistent time of day (eg evenings, before dinner, for a week or two.  Ideally if you can also do it when you are feeling dizzy that would be particularly useful of course.  Then take the readings with you to your next appointment, and it may well help with a diagnosis and any setting changes needed.

The lower reading, diastolic, is the important one and shouldn't go below 60.

Just Wondering

by Grateful Heart - 2017-11-06 21:44:09

Why was the sensitivity setting lowered in the first place?  Since it was only changed 3 weeks before, talk to your doctor about changing that setting back to the last setting and see if it makes a difference. 

That's the best place to start, especially since your tests came back fine.

Grateful Heart 

blood pressure

by matt07 - 2017-11-07 21:54:50

Hello! this same sort of thing has happened to me. Make sure your blood pressure/blood sugar is where it needs to be by being liberal with salt, drinking lots of fluids, and eating regularly. These are just small changes, but they might help with the blacking out! Hope you are feeling better soon :)

Blacked-out

by Jessbyrne - 2017-11-11 13:23:23

Thanks  for advice everyone! After a Tilt Test  they've discovered it is a blood pressure problem! Very low 80/40 ! Need to drink more water and have more salt!! 

Jess