contemplating getting a pace maker

I am a nineteen year old contemplating getting a pacemaker. I have Neaurocardiogenic Syncope (Vasovagal syncope). Since grade school I have passed out countless times and undergone all the various tests and medications. I experienced severe side effects and was not able to tolerate the meds.
Recently, my passing out became more frequent. I am a competitive swimmer. My passing out has inhibited me from competing. After nearly passing out in the water during a race the trainers and team doctors had me see a cardiologist and undergo the various tests for a second time. I had a positive tilt table test in which I passed out in the first two minutes and my heart stopped for 4 seconds. I was told that I pass out for two reasons, my heart rate drops along with my blood pressure (Both being very low to begin with). I am taking medication to raise my blood pressure but was told the only thing to fix my heart rate from dropping would be a pacemaker.
I am now trying to decide whether or not to have the surgery. It seems like such a drastic measure and so permanent. I have so many concerns. I am young and the thought of a pacemaker scares me. Although this thought scares me so do the risks I would be taking it I don’t get it. I have had 4 concussions and have been pulled out of the pool unconscious. My mother hates the thought of me driving because I do go unconscious so frequently (and lately with even less warning). Any thoughts or advice?

11 Comments

Get the pacemaker

by johnb10000 - 2009-08-01 08:08:48

Get the pacemaker and it will make your life a lot better. It can control your heart rate and also let you to swim without passing out.

Please don't drive until after you get the pacemaker since you frequently pass out.

The operation takes less than an hour. You won't be able to swim in a race for a few weeks since you are not not supposed to move your arm much for a few weeks.

Get The Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2009-08-01 10:08:53

Child get that pacemaker. Those things are the answer for people with problems like yours.

Sure you are young, and I guess you want to live to be old. With out a pacemaker your odds of doing that are diminished considerably. One blackout when you are driving 70 mph and there will probably be some soft talking, slow walking and sad singing on tap for your family. A pacemaker can prevent that.

The pacemaker may or may not be permanent. Once in a great while people do find that they no longer need theirs and it is removed. But I think the main thing for you to remember is your pacemaker will be an on demand device. By that I mean it will not assist your heart all time. It will have a low and high setting and when your heart rate drops below the low set point (which it is probably doing when you pass out) the pacemaker comes on line and keeps your heart rate above the passing out level. The upper set point is just to tell the PM when your heart no longer needs it and all it does this monitor your heart function.

The surgery is not open heart surgery. Almost all patients receiving one go home after an over night stay in a hospital Then you will have to go back some weeks later for a pacemaker checkup to sure everything is in the optimum range for you. Thereafter you will have regular checkups usually at 3 to 6 month intervals. These amount to a 15 to 30 minute office visit, or they may do every other one by phone. No mater which it is no big deal. Recovery time from the surgery is usually just a couple of week, but since you are a swimmer, your doctor may have you wait a little longer so as to give the leads time to get firmly entrenched in tissue. The best thing of all is that you may find that your swimming times are lower.

But, like you have already been told, get the pacemaker, feel better and take a load off your mother's mind.

Good luck,

Smitty

NCS

by scadnama - 2009-08-01 11:08:38

Hello! I am 25 years old, and was diagnosed with NCS at 23. I received my pacemaker once my diagnosis was confirmed. I was unable to drive, could only work part-time, and was passing out frequently.

My pacemaker did not stop my fainting all together though. My blood pressure was still dropping too low at times, so I also had to take meds to keep it under control. Some people are able to stay off the meds though, it just depends on how your body reacts.

Within two weeks of having my pacemaker implanted, I was driving again and feeling great. I have had some issues since implant with some other problems that were found with my heart, but as far as the NCS is concerned, I consider myself fixed!

Good luck with your decision, and please feel free to contact me if you want to talk.

Take care,
Amanda

Teenagers and pacemakers

by Paige - 2009-08-02 01:08:18

Having a pacemaker is a scary idea, I am sixteen and w/i less that two months this summer I found out I need one and had the procedure done. I have still have not complete found peace with the idea, but think that with blacking out you probably should get one. After talking to your doctor about you lifestyle, having it done and following the guide line, as well as healing for the right amount of time you should find out that your life will seem pretty normal.

YES

by pete - 2009-08-02 03:08:31

Hey mate get that pacemaker . It will be your little friend for life. You will never look back. Look forward to it. Cheers Peter

Get the Pacemaker

by pacemaker writer - 2009-08-02 06:08:08

I can only repeat what the others have said so well.

NCS is a scary condition and to me it would be much scarier to have that untreated than to get the pacemaker. I know pacemakers sound pretty "weird" and bionic, but they're actually very established technology (they've been around more than 50 years!) and the surgery to implant them nowadays is considered "minimally invasive." It's still surgery, but it's not open-heart or anything.

I once heard a pacemaker educator say that the role of a pacemaker is to "fill in the missing beats." When your heart misses a beat, the pacemaker is right there to fill it in.

Best wishes to you, whatever you decide!

DO IT!

by Melody Welsh - 2009-08-02 09:08:33

Get the pacemaker. I totaled my new car last week due to blacking out and should be in my grave. My car crossed the median, went up an embankment, scraped over a boulder, took out a tree, slid back down the the embankment and ended up on its right side back on the road. I walked away with ONE BRUISE. I was lucky that time......................

Physicians figured out the problem quickly and I got the pacemaker within 24 hours.

Don't run the risk of killing yourself.

get it!

by golden_snitch - 2009-08-02 10:08:11

hey,

i agree with the others: get the pacer! yes, i know it's a difficult decision when you're 19 years old (got mine when I was 18), but better safe than sorry, especially if you would like to continue competitive sports, drive a car etc.

i do have another advice for you: talk to your cardio about having a so-called subpectoral pacer implant. that means that the pacer is placed under the big chest muscle, and not just under the skin. it's better protected under the muscle, much less noticable, too. recovery is a bit more rough and painful, but in my opinion it's worth it.

all the best to you!
inga

swimming & lead wire

by aldeer - 2009-08-02 11:08:43

If and when you get your pacemaker, be sure to wait the full six weeks before swimming. I started a week early and my pacemaker slipped down a couple of inches. Also, be sure the doctor doing the implant realizes that you are a swimmer and leaves plenty of slack in the wire. You will be able to swim without worry and enjoy the great sport of swimming. Lots of good luck... aldeer

OMG NO CONTEST!!!!!!

by Hot Heart - 2009-08-03 08:08:19

Get the pm hun! Wish I'd have got mine 40 years ago.

HH

advice from a competitive runner

by julz - 2010-11-15 07:11:34

I feel that I can relate to you bc. I have the same condition, but it went undiscovered for a long time. Also, I was a division one athlete (ran xc and track), so I can relate to your active lifestyle. Did you decided on getting the PM? Every case is special and I don't like how everyone jumped to the conclusion that you should get one. I think it is very important to get numerous opinions from doctors who understand your lifestyle and condition. It took a long time for me to find the right doctor, who won't ignore my symptoms while running. My doctor knows that being an athlete I am very in-tune to my body. My doctor specializes in neuro cardio genetic syncope. He is a cardiologist and Neurologist. I had a hard time adjusting to my pacemaker and some times look back on my decision and wonder if I made the right choice. It affects a younger individual much differently than an older individual. I feel like I had no one to relate to because I led such an active lifestyle.

You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

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