Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen !

I recently joined this forum in an effort to find out more information and gain a better understanding of pace makers and their effect on my present and long term lifestyle. Last June I admitted my self to the hospital with what felt like an anxiety attack; shortness of breath, confusion, afraid to make the decision if I should continue on my way or stop. If I did stop, what would I do next ? And worried that either way would be the wrong way. OH, yes, did I say I was on the edge of passing out ? Not quite there, just on the edge.

Fortunately, a co-worker was much less confused than me and he took me directly to the E.R.

Aside from the obvious diagnosis of an arrhythmia, telemetry determined that my pulse rate was quite low. In fact, during the nite my pulse dropped down to the mid thirties. In the morning a cardiologist came in and after a cursory explanation of what happened (oxygen starvation), he lowered the doses of my med’s ( Atenolol & Digitek ) then immediately suggested I get a pace maker. What he did not explain was any connection between a lowered pulse, an arrhythmia (how many different kinds of arrhythmia are there ?) and what the meds were doing to mitigate, help, hinder, hamper or otherwise have an influence on my heart. His bedside manner was friendly, almost too friendly, and I had a nagging sense of immediacy; he wanted me to make that decision before I went home.

With a clearer head and support from my family, reason prevailed and I went home with an appointment to see a local cardiologist. Sure enough, his nurse/tech did the predictable EKG and before coming into the room I could hear him asking if the patient was still alive. I certainly was not impressed and my impression sank even lower when he very quickly suggested a pacemaker. Again, his evaluation was based on an EKG. He did not even bother to LISTEN to my heart. But I was physically exhausted and mentally fatigued so I capitulated and we set a date for the PM installation.

By coincidence, a week later I had an appointment with my Primary Care Doc for a regular exam. When he listened (YES ! This Doc used his ears for something more than stethoscope hangers !) to what had happened over the previous three weeks he told me to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN.

With his advise and guidance, I canceled the operation and I STOPPED all my med’s.; they were not helping and were only continuing to hamper my pulse rate. (It has been almost 2 months now and I have not felt this good in many, many months.) He told me to keep LOOKING for a cardiologist that is willing to look beyond that 18 inch piece of paper with squiggly lines and actually look at me. All of me. And he told me to LISTEN to my brain that was telling me to ask, ask, ask and ask again till I got some answers that satisfied me – not the Cardiologist.

Yes, my heart has a will of its own and for the last twenty years I have lost probably twenty years worth of heartbeats (hence my login – skipabeat). Yes, I know it will never go away. Yes, a pacemaker is probably a good idea.

But what about the rest of me ? What about the rest of my heart ? I think I need more than just an electrician to tell me my heartbeat is going that way instead of this way. That much I can understand. However, you all know there is so much more to that muscle than just a bundle of nerves.

And what about me ? Other than my Primary Care Doc, no one has asked what I eat for breakfast, how much exercise I get or how much sleep I loose worrying about my heart doing hops, skips and jumps all the time.

So, the bottom line is this; I need one heck of a lot more information than what the Cardio’s are willing to part with. That lifetime decision is not with their life – that’s MY life and it needs to be MY decision. Apparently I have a number of trust issues, I have a number of misconceptions and more than a bunch of worries. But I also have that thing that lots of doctors dread – curiosity.

I am looking for a support group in the Pittsfield, Mass. Area. I am willing to travel as far as Springfield to the East and Albany, New York to the West and equal distances North or South.

If, indeed you have stayed with me thru this tale of woe, Thank You.

Remember:

You can skip school. You can skip the dentist appointment. Don’t skip out on life.

Skipabeat

 

 

Your message makes it sound like you need to keep looking for a doctor that tells you what you want to hear regardless of whether or not it is what you need.

As for the symptoms you list, you were, or are, taking some medications that can cause both a low heart rate and arrhythmia. One or both of these can cause anxiety to the point your problems are compounded. Also, too high a dose of either can cause the symptoms that sent you to the ER.

You complain about the "new" doctors that have seen you and not explaining the connections between your symptoms. I think if you want to see all the pieces of your puzzle you need to go back to the doctor that prescribed your medications and let that Dr answer your questions. In addition get that Dr to tell you what symptoms you had that justified the treatment regimen prescribed. I'm not saying that you do not have the perfect treatment, I just think for your answers that is where you need to start.

I have learned the hard way to never underestimate the good or bad results we can get from any medicine. Our doctors never know which we are getting until we tell them.

 

If your heart rate is going that low, you have some serious issues. I'd start listening to some of those doctors.
Liz

 

Like Liz said!
Howard

 

Yes, I can listen to my heart and hear it beating. The EKG will show you how it is beating.

Those squiggly lines tell you more than what a doctor can hear through his stethescope. Having a HR in the 30s means the heart also is not pumping efficiently and all the organs in your body are not getting the necessary oxygen they need.

A pacemaker is not a cure but it will keep you alive, keep your heart beating, and help your organs get the oxygen they need. It's your choice.