Lightheadded...sort of

Just a quick question for those of you who suffered lightheadedness before you got your pacemaker....do you still experience a feeling like you are GOING to get dizzy / lightheadded and then it doesn't happen? (obviously because your pacemaker kicks in)!

I have found that a few times since I got pm 5 weeks ago, I get a feeling like I'm going to have one of the usual lightheadded spells that I used to get before my pm, but then it doesn't happen. It's weird...feels like a half a second dizzy spell, I kind of instinctively tense up (like I used to in preperation to feel faint) and then it goes away.

Is this a normal occurance with a new pm? Does it go away over time?

Thanks!

9 Comments

NMH

by winelover - 2010-01-05 01:01:24

Hi pmgirl,
Before my pacemaker I was diagnosed with Neurally Mediated Hypotension and would pass out often - it didn't matter if I was sitting, standing, walking or sleeping. This is how NMH - also known as neurocardiogenic syncope, vasodepressor syncope, the vaso-vagal reflex, the fainting reflex and autonomic dysfunction, was explained to me: It is a condition which involves miscommunication between the heart and the brain. And it happens when there is an abnormal reflex interaction between the heart and the brain.
After the pacemaker - now 12 1/2 years ago - I still have the feeling but the pacemaker kicks in and saves me everytime. In the beginning it freaked me out but now I have gotten used to it, I know my pm will "catch" me. My low rate is set at 70 because of this.
I know it is scary.



Where were you?

by pacemaker writer - 2010-01-05 01:01:52

When you have these light-headed episodes, where were you? Do they happen in a specific location? Another thought is that there might be something that interferes with the pacemaker ... Just a thought.

Could be

by ElectricFrank - 2010-01-05 02:01:25

A lot depends on your pacemaker settings. There is a thing called Rate Drop Response that catches your heart rate dropping too rapidly and kicks in to control it. I don't have any experience with this but would think it might give you those sort of feelings.

The other possibility is that your are just very sensitive to the normal feelings that a lot of us have.

At your next checkup talk it over with your doc.

frank

Hmmmm....

by pmgirl - 2010-01-05 06:01:23

Well, you've all given me something to think about...I've been told that my leads were fine before Xmas, and my low setting is currently at 60 bpm, but perhaps it is my heart rate dropping too quickly and the pm just picking me up? I'm paced at 7% with the top lead and less than 0.2% with the bottom lead.

Mick, I was also getting vibration feelings in my chest, but they have passed...I also sometimes get a strong urge to cough.

Winelover, NMH is something that I have read about and I wonder if it may have something to do with my condition? I have been told that I have Sinus Arrest, the test that made my cardio put a pm in showed an 8 second pause and that was enough to convince him I needed the pm. However, there has been no further investigation into what causes the arrest and my cardio doesn't really care about finding out, he simply said 'you are fixed now', but personally, I'd like to understand my condition as much as possible...something I think a lot of medical professionals don't really get. But what you have described sounds familiar...I would get dizzy no matter what my position was and it's the same with new feelings I have post op, but I notice it usually happens when I am rest, like sitting at my desk at work, on the couch, or in bed....I think I'll mention this to the new cardio I'm going to see in a few weeks (my initial one is a 2hr drive away in Sydney..I'm an Aussie) and I've decided to start seeing one in my hometown.

Thank you all for your advice!

Like frank said

by walkerd - 2010-01-05 06:01:34

I would get dizzy and light headed when i got out of bed, bent over, got out of a chair, and when I did my walks and dont remember some of the other things but that gives you a little insight on my experence with it. It took 5 changes on my pm before it got adjusted right, they also made a change to my water pill also. Just make sure you either write down when and what you where doing to tell your pm doctor or if unlike me you can remember lol. Just make sure you tell them you are getting dizzy and lightheaded, make sure they heard you if you have to repeat it a few times so that it sinks in to them.
best of luck
dave

I would get that

by wenditt - 2010-01-05 07:01:25

I would get that way in the beginning...turned out to be panic and hypersensitivity.

Check with your dr. they will be able to help and tell (maybe) what it is.

Good luck,
Wendy

Lightheaded

by Bill-2 - 2010-01-05 10:01:13


When I was first introduced to the symptoms you describe after heart surgery a few years back they told me I had something called syncope. While I had the same symptoms you describe but I never passed, I don't think. There were times I sat myself down pretty quick as I was sure I was going to pass out.

Below is a list of things, including some that a pacemaker is not going to help that can cause syncope. You might look and see if anything on the list is familiar.
Causes of Syncope
Orthostatic hypotension
Irregular cardiac rate
Irregular cardiac rhythm
Certain heart conditions
Circulation disorders
Low blood pressure
Sudden change in position
Drug allergic reaction
Low blood sugar
Hypoglycemia
Hyperventilation
Pain
Stress
Drug use
Head injury
Seizure
Stroke
Excessive dieting
Potassium deficiency
Certain medications (especially those to slow the heart rate and/or lower blood pressurer such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers)

Good luck,

Bill

Same

by mick2203 - 2010-01-05 11:01:57

Hi pmgirl, I am having the same feelings. After 6 months of diagnosis and 4 hospital admissions I had a pacemaker fitted on the 16/12/10 when it was checked by the technician the next morning they said the V lead was off. On the 17/12/10 I had the V lead replaced and the A lead repositioned. This was checked by the technician on the 18/12/10 and I was allowed home. Over the following few days I had a lot of strange feelings in my chest and had developed a cough. I returned to see the Technicians on the 21/12/10 they informed me that I had a displaced lead again. I was kept in and on that afternoon had a complete new system fitted (medtronic ADDR01). This was checked the following day and I was once again allowed home. For the next seven days it was hell I could hardly move without feeling unwell and it wasnt from the pain of having three procedures all in the same site, which you can imagine was no fun. As soon as the Technicians were back at work following Christmas I visited them. They turned off the rate response and the ADAPTA and increased my low end rate from 50 to 55. I have felt much better since.

To get to your point I do still feel as though I am often on the edge of presyncope and wonder if its the pacemaker that just prevents me going further. I was wondering if I should ask to have the base rate turned up to maybe 60 to see if tat would help?

I have developed the cough again and get occasional, what I can best describe as tremors in my chest. I haven’t been able to see a Dr yet since the implant on the 21/12/10, not even in the hospital prior to discharge. I am worried about these three issues:

Occasionally feeling on the edge of presyncope.

Tremors in my chest which I did not have prior to pacemaker.

Occasional cough

Sorry it’s such a long tale, but it’s been a bit of a journey so far. I can’t explain the frustration I have with some of the medical professionals that I have come across along the way. Have any of you had similar experiences or symptoms and if so did you find a fix for them?

Lose lead

by makny - 2010-01-05 12:01:40

I jushad my PM replaced after 9 years. When I returned to work after a week of getting the new PM, I started to get dizzy like you have described. Happened a few times. I went back to the doctor and he said the lead has moved ( he had to put a new lead, because of some complications with the old one). He readjusted tyhe lead again, and I have no dizzyness at all.

You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

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But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.