Pacing

I was at the Dr today for my year check up. I guess the bottom of my heart is 100% pacing now. He asked me if I had had any dizziness. I didn't know why I said a few off and on. Hadn't thought anyhing on them as I had a bad case of vertigo a few years back and thought it was just that trying to hit me again. After he got done charting he asked me if I had any questions and I said no. He told me that I had a block and would see them in 6 months. He made a phone check in 2 months and a 6 month app with the techs. I know want know what he meant by a block does anyone know? I did ask about my battery life and he said it had lost a 1 and 1/2 by pacing 100%. Thank you for any understanding you can teach me on my case.

4 Comments

Block

by ElectricFrank - 2011-07-23 02:07:29

Common terms are AV Block or Heart Block. Keep in mind that they don't mean blocked arteries as in heart attack. It means that the nerve bundle that conducts pacing from the upper chamber to the lower of your heart is blocked. It can be complete (the 100% makes me think this is what he means), or it can be partial.

You hit it on the head with the vertigo situation. Docs are often a bit ignorant about diagnosing vertigo from light headedness and call them both dizziness. You probably know this, but vertigo gives the sensation of the world going around, where lightheaded makes things go sparkly with a feeling of passing out. Vertigo is an inner ear issue and lightheaded is a shortage of blood flow to the brain. I hate to think of the number of vertigo patients have wound up with unnecessary tests and even pacers because the doc just asked "have you had any dizzy spells".

I've had fun with this one because I can bring on vertigo by laying on my back and looking up to the right. I'm not affected by motion sickness so I just watch things go around. So when a new doc asks about dizziness I lay down on his examining table and trigger a spell for him. I even had one doc insist on an ECG while I was having a "dizzy spell".

Hope this helps. Be sure and check back if you need more.

frank

Thanks Frank

by hacpra1125 - 2011-07-23 09:07:08

No I didnt know the difference but now I am still confused maybe you can still help me sort this out. I understand the block and yes I was thinking on the plummer side. When I had what they called vertigo the day before I was in the bathroom doing my hair to leave for a graduation when to walk and felt light headed and grabbed the sink thought of it thought I just moved to quickly did that a times that day. The next morning did the same the yet they were stronger this decided to still go fishing with my husband on our way down to the river I thought I didnt feel so well felt in between drunk and sick but went anyway. Was sitting fishing kept feeling worse and all of a sudden I started puking really bad I was so sick. So my says we need to get you out of here. I said I don't think you can. I couldn't stand straight or walk straight was leaning to my right side really bad. He is older than me and he couldn't get me by his self so he left me on the sidewalk to get the truck as close as he could my grandson was at the park and the 2 of them got me in the truck finally it took 2 techs to get me in wheelchair to get me in the hospital. I threw up for hours the Dr got mad cause I couldnt quit so he check me he as such a jerk about 5 hrs later they sent me home with medicine told to push fluids and not to sleep all day. Yeah right I slept till like 10 that night and was better the next morning. So a couple of weeks ago i had a few of dizzy spells that i would just feel funny but haven't been sick this time. Which one have I had can you tell by this story which it is? Year before last I took my grand kids to a carnival and I decided to go on a ride that was not a good idea it was very hot I was feeling ill the rest day I by the end of the day I couldnt even watch them ride a ride I was laying on the ground flat every time they were on one now I am pretty that was a vertigo attack I just didnt throw up that day. Thanks for any suggestions you have. You have eased my worries as to what was meant by the block. How long have you had your pacemaker? What do they do when you have a block like this do I just need a battery change? talk to ya later thanks again.

Vertigo

by ElectricFrank - 2011-07-25 03:07:23

Your description is definitely vertigo. It is caused by an inner ear disturbance. The nausea, leaning to one side, balance, etc. are all part of the same issue. The inner ear is filled with a fluid that circulates as we move. The fluid movement is sensed by hair like nerve structures that tell the brain about changes in orientation. With dehydration, infections, aging, etc. there can be changes in the whole system. The fluid can thicken which affects its movement, or the fluid can form small crystals which "tickle" the hairs either of which disturb the whole process of balance. If the problem only exists in one ear it can produce the leaning to one side symptom.

This is the same process that produces motion sickness which is what you were having with the nausea. Dramamine can sometime help the sickness, but not the balance. Treatment of the underlying cause is the only cure. For the crystal problem there is a maneuver that some chiropractors do where they move your head around in a certain way to get the crystals away from the hairs. I once lost balance and hit my head a good one on the wall, which cured my vertigo for over a year. Not my recommended treatment though. Amusement rides or boating is certainly a bad idea as long as it is going one.

Don't put up with any crap from a doctor over it. Just let them know you will file a complaint if necessary.

good luck,

frank

block

by oldhippie - 2012-01-15 05:01:54

Q: "I know want know what he meant by a block does anyone know?"

Get on the phone with your doc.

You know you're wired when...

You have a little piece of high-tech in your chest.

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