50 yo doctor sick sinus syndrome

Just to let everyone know I am a doctor and still don't fully understand what I am having done. I had fluttering in my chest and took a holter monitor test that showed numerous pauses of 4 seconds. So today I am having a PM put in. I never had dizziness or fainting and my pulse never goes below 60 that I can feel. So I am rethinking the necessity for this thing. Plus I wonder how much it will affect the symptoms. I hear everyone say they have more symptoms after the PM. I am putting my trust in the EP as my patients do in me. wish me luck,I am as scared as anyone.

7 Comments

Hi and Welcome!

by tcrabtree85 - 2008-04-08 01:04:36

Everybody already told you everything so I am going to just say welcome. I wish you well on your road to recovery. I am 22 and have had my pm a little over a year. I have had a lot of problems though I can't blame it on the pacemaker itself.
Like others have said a lot of us have had more problems than just needing a pm alone. So don't let others cases interfer with your.
I am confident things will work out for you we face trials in out lives to teach us sometimes. How nice it will be when you can really relate to you patients on a different level.
Stay strong and look at the positives instead of the negatives.
Blessings and Prayers,
Tammy

long pauses are bad

by winesap - 2008-04-08 01:04:42

I have chronic atrial fibrillation and was basically asymptomatic until I began experiencing occasional brief periods of dizziness which were being caused by pauses in excess of 3 seconds. During the last night of November last year I apparently had a much longer pause. I awoke very disoriented and fortunately my wife took me to the hospital. I have absolutely no memory of that period until about 3:00 in the afternoon from which time my memory returned. During that period I was apparently functioning - checked myself into the hospital while my wife parked the car but had no short term memory and was very disoriented/confused. Believe me, this is not an experience you ever want.for yourself. I did not experience permanent brain damage but it really scared me. I was monitored while in the hospital which is when they noticed multiple pauses of 5 seconds during the night. Pacemaker was installed as soon as we had the problem diagnosed. I was subjected to MRI, CAT scan etc. The only function set on my pacemaker is a maximum pause of 1.2 seconds (50 ppm). No more dizzy spells and no more middle of night brief encounters with death. My recovery has been quick and mostly problem free - my age is 57. (I'm a Dr too - but not the medical kind)

What does EP stand for?

by MHCHAMPION - 2008-04-08 07:04:41

I asked this a couple of weeks ago and went on vacation before I got an answer. I figure some of you great answered it and it disappeared before I got back home to read it?
Thx.
Margaret

EP = Electrophysiologist

by winesap - 2008-04-08 08:04:08

See:

http://www.heartrhythmfoundation.org/facts/electrophysiology.asp

Essentially a cardiologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating irregular heart rhythms caused by problems with the heart’s electrical system.

Hmm...

by heckboy - 2008-04-08 10:04:30

Hi,

I'm 46 with normal sinus activity, but blocked pathways to my ventricle. My PM has made me feel close to 100% again, so you can count me out of those that feel their PM has made them worse.

A 4 second pause seems more than a skipped beat, which I understand is common. It sounds like you need some time to get educated about your condition and maybe another opinion. Can you wait a while before getting your PM? My condition wasn't life threatening, so I had time to prepare and get used to the idea.

lack of symptoms

by Yorker - 2008-04-08 11:04:30

I have complete AV block and never had any symptoms, no dizziness, no shortness of breath, maybe a little fatique, so it is possible that more is going on there. I must say, though, that I do feel better after having the PM put in.
If you're having second thoughts, talk to your EP a little more and see if you can get an elaboration on why it's felt that the PM is the right thing. Trusting your EP will take you a long way.
Getting a PM is scary but you will get through it. Remember, you have lots of company, just give yourself time to adjust, both mentally and physically, ask lots of questions and get support whereever you can.
Good luck, and let us know how you make out.

Donna

Trust the EP

by boatman50 - 2008-04-08 12:04:49

Even though you are having only short pauses, what would stop you from having a longer pause, maybe a permanent one? We all have so many symptoms that got us here. I never had a problem until I passed out at home and then in the hospital for 26 seconds. After the pm I felt dizzy at times and was told I had V V S, but what came first, the pm or that? Not a person could answer that for me. But I will say my EP is great, he knows so much more then the cardiologist and the people in the clinic. I wish you all the best, and in time you will forget you have a pm!
Boatman

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