Hoping to not need a pacemaker.

In 2006, twice in one day I blacked out. There was no warning symptoms or any noticeable aftereffects. It was just my vision narrowing to a point then going dark with my next conscious awareness being of falling on my butt. What these incidents had in common was I had been bowing my head slightly to look down. It didn’t happen again until recently, about 5 times in the last 2 months. Concerned that this may happen at a very inappropriate time I went to a cardiologist. He massaged the area on each side my neck where one would normal check for a pulse and by doing that he was able to cause the EKG readout to go to flat line for 4.5 seconds. His diagnosis was hypersensitive carotid sinus, solution pacemaker. Yikes!

Other tests were done but everything looks good, no potential drug side effects because I am not taking anything. Ultrasound of the carotid artery showed good blood flow, blood pressure is normal and EKG while on a treadmill looked good. No one seems to know why this nerve goes beyond its normal function of controlling blood pressure or why it starts shutting down the electrical system of the heart. It seems to happen most often to men in their mid sixties.

Has anyone had a similar experience and was a pacemaker the solution?

5 Comments

Hmmmmmm......

by Pookie - 2009-07-22 08:07:47

Hi Myronlh, and welcome to this great site.

Two things popped into my head....and I could be way out in left field but I thought of an Autonomic Neuropathy or Neurocardiogenic Syncope. Both have excellent descriptions on the Mayo Clinic website.

I thought of those because I have been diagnosed with both and the tests you mentioned you had I had too with really good results. However, I eventually had a tilt table test and hence my diagnosis. I also had a sweat test which was really really weird but it showed them that I don't sweat over 25% of my body which is not correct...every part of your body should be able to sweat. I'm getting way off topic aren't I. Sorry.

Then I thought why can't they balloon the carotid since it is an artery or put a stent in there? I don't understand how a pacemaker would help with your carotid unless the doctor is thinking the pacemaker would keep your heart pumping at a regular beat. And how did you feel when you flatlined for 4.5 seconds?

Please keep in mind that I am by no means a medical person, but your situation sure has me thinking; so much so, I'm gonna go google your diagnosis.

Good luck and keep us posted and perhaps someone on this site might know or heard of Hypersensitive Carotid Sinus.

Pookie

Pookie may be on to something

by bowlrbob - 2009-07-23 01:07:32

I had the same symptoms and it turned out to be NCS. The PM has been a godsend to me. After getting the adjustments made to take care of my individual problem I have not had a problem in almost 4 years. Life has been normal and great. Bowlrbob PS bowling has been better too.

Sounds Familiar.

by COBradyBunch - 2009-07-23 01:07:44

twice in three months I went down w/o ANY warning. First time I was standing and just hit the floor although my wife said I must have known something because I managed to grab the handle of the fridge. Second time my wife said I just sort of started to deflate, my speech came in pieces but I remember nothing of it just one second she was on the other side of the table and the next she was getting ready to drop me to the floor and start CPR (she is a medical professional and realized I was not breathing).

First trip to the ER for first event showed nothing. Full Physical showed nothing. 2nd trip to the ER led to an overnight stay in the cardiac unit after nothing showed up on any tests in the ER. Guess what, 3 more times (all when I was either falling asleep or sleeping) I flat-lined. One full day of tests in the cardiac unit including a full echo showed no heart problems or abnormalities. Last event included three flatlines in a row of 4.5 seconds, 9 seconds and then something like 6 seconds and that was the last straw. Even my nurse who up to that point was a huge advocate of looking for some other solution said if I wanted to drive, ride my bike or walk down stairs I needed to get one implanted. She knew one patient who didn't get it done who is now a quad because it happened walking down a flight of stairs.

BTW, I am 50, never had any previous problems (except Rheumatic Fever when I was 7 which left me with no known damage), exercised regularly and on no meds and same thing, no known cause other than sometimes the electrical systems go haywire. Might have been some virus I had, maybe leftover that laid dormant for 43 years from my RF, might just be genetics but who knows. Not life threatening unless it happens some time when the blackout could lead to a bad thing happening.

Decision is yours but since I have two young kids and a wife I made mine and joined the club.

safety

by Tracey_E - 2009-07-23 06:07:50

I don't have any experience with your situation but a pm will make sure you don't flatline. If your heart stops beating on its own, the pm will step in and generate beats.

Are you more concerned that the pm may not fix the problem or with the idea of having a pm? It can take some time to wrap your head around it but having one isn't a big deal. The surgery and recovery are fairly simple. Once you feel your old self again, I think you'll find what most of us do- it just becomes a part of you and it's not something you give a lot of thought.

Pookie, if it's a nerve rather than a flow issue, I don't think ballooning will help. Just my not-a-dr opinion :o)

I have made an appointment.

by myronlh - 2009-07-28 05:07:00

Thanks to those who took the time to comment on my post.
My appointment to have a pacemaker put in is Aug. 10th. I pretty much eliminated any other potential cause for my blacking out so now I have decided to take my chances with the surgery. I have been very lucky for 66 years; I have never been a patient in a hospital, not even to be born.
Without the pacemaker for a safety net I always would have had a concern for not only my own safety but also for everyone around me. Hopefully everything will go well.

You know you're wired when...

Your life has spark.

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