Dizzy, Light-headed, Black-out
Hi,
I have noticed that many of us experience dizzy spells which seem to be one of the things that come with having pacemakers.
What I'd like to know is how do you cope with it?
Since I have had my old PM replaced back in mid-January this year, I have had more light-headed spells and have blacked out twice. I have been back to you cardiologist for "tune-ups" in this new one which seem to be helping.
Anyhow, I'd like to know what others have done or are doing.
Thanks for you time and help.
richan
14 Comments
dizziness
by Pookie - 2010-04-25 09:04:48
Hi.
Ever since I've had my pacer (late 2004) my dizziness is awful. Every day. My cardiologists and my EP say it is not the pacemaker. I find that hard to believe because prior to the pacemaker I was fine.
I have been trying to find the answer for over 5 yrs now and simply cannot.
I too have noticed, being a member of this site since 2005, that several members have also experienced the same issues. I often wonder if the doctors are not telling us something.
I am to the point that I have given up and just live with it the best I can.
Pookie
Tracey is so right
by BillMFl - 2010-04-25 10:04:12
Don't be complacent. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Dizzyness is one thing, but fainting is a serious symtom and should not be ignored or tolerated.
don't live with it
by Tracey_E - 2010-04-25 10:04:12
Every time I've had a problem, I've pestered and pestered until they found a solution. It depends what's wrong, that isn't the answer for all of us, but for my third degree block, there is no reason to live with symptoms. Knock on wood, in 16 yrs we've found an answer every single time.
I'm also good about eating regularly and staying hydrated. Low blood sugar and dehydration will make me dizzy.
BP can be the key
by cruz - 2010-04-25 10:04:25
I have the dizzy episodes and have had some "brown outs". I told the doctor and they checked my bp after having me lay down for 10 minutes, then checked the bp while sitting and finally while standing. My bp upon standing was in the 70/50 range...and I wasn't dizzy. They also said I was dehydrated. Many of the meds cause the bp to be lower and the diuetics dry you out; therefore if your bp drops, you are going to get dizzy, tingling in hands, ears ringing and blam...I am especially careful and aware of what I'm doing. They can't lower my meds more than they already have. I know to get down in a chair, stop and bend over a counter or bed, whatever it takes to give my body a few seconds (which is all it takes) to stabilize. Ask for them to check bp and hydration. They don't want me to amp up the fluids (obviously) as I have congestive heart failure so they've said it's a balancing act with meds, etc. to get me stable with the dizzy episodes. Keep asking the doctor. Mine are better but not gone.
dizzy stuff
by breezy - 2010-04-25 11:04:39
just throwing my 2 cents in.... I was having the dizzys
when I first started my meds - but now I am pretty good
sometimes I feel lightheaded but it goes away...
I think sometimes all this stuff goes on - and you wonder about it - then it goes away and never comes back? - and I wonder more about it....? I drink lots of water and try and stay on a schedule... becuz if I don't tthen I experience weird stuff....
best to all
breezy :)
Dehydration
by Pookie - 2010-04-25 11:04:42
Tracey is right...I had read A LOT on that and do you know that most people are dehydrated!!!!!!
And believe both Tracey and I - the squeaky wheel does get the grease!!!!!! Been there, done that. It's hard to do (because I felt guilty), but it's my life and I'm just as important as the next person.
Good luck and push your doctors a bit.
Pookie
Renee
by Tracey_E - 2010-04-26 04:04:35
Then it's time to move on to a new dr! Good riddance, in my opinion. A competent dr is not going to be upset about us wanting to feel good, he's going to be our partner to help us work towards a solution. Drs don't always have the answers. The difference between a mediocre and a great dr is how they handle it when they don't have the answer. Are they so arrogant that if they don't have the answer then there is no answer and they shoo us out? Or do they do some research and talk to some colleagues and find someone to refer us to? There's always an answer out there, somewhere. I don't want the first kind taking care of me.
p.s. sometimes the answer is we have to live with it. It's not always going to be what we want to hear. There are thousands of causes for dizziness, not all of them have a cure.
richan
by Tracey_E - 2010-04-26 04:04:36
Dumb question... have they compared your current settings to the last settings on your old device? If you're feeling worse since your replacement, there may be something that's set differently, or some new feature the new one has that doesn't agree with you.
Renee
by LS - 2010-04-26 09:04:11
I guess I'm extra lucky!! My Dr. doesn't mind me calling with questions. He returns my calls.
Everyone that answers the phones are very knowledgeable too.
I can't imagine a Dr. dumping a patient for having questions or needing guidance. After all, their in the profession to save lives.
Once again Tracey is soooo right
by BillMFl - 2010-04-26 09:04:50
The Dr/patient relationship is a partnership. A good Doc wants to hear whats going on and takes the time to listen If you are too timid to speak up, a correctable condition could get worse. Much worse even. Much much worse. :)
12338
by 1238 - 2014-07-20 01:07:38
Thank goodness I have found this site. I have been experiencing dizzy spells that are getting worse. A 'whooshy' feeling that lasts a few seconds. Just had my pm checked and all was well so I'm going to start monitoring the 'episodes' and dehydration possibility as well as stop my morning coffee.
Dizzy and Afraid
by Svoutas - 2015-09-13 03:09:25
I'm 36 and had a pacemaker installed last week. I feel worse than before the pacemaker was installed. I'm lightheaded, dizzy, and get a tightness in my chest throughout the day. I try not to tell my husband and family because I know they are so worried about me right now, but I am so so scared. I'm scared I'm going to die and have been crying myself to sleep for the past three nights. I saw the cardio and they adjusted the settings a bit, and were perplexed about my the chest tightness. They said I am just very sensitive and can feel the pacer beats? Do you think that's true? I really need advice or reassurance that I'll be ok. All I think about is not being around for my son.
Feel like crap....
by SdSurf - 2016-04-23 04:04:08
I had my pacemaker installed at Loma Linda hospital on 9-11-2015 and have been having dizziness and light headed... I went back to my Dr. at Loma Linda for a tune up and they told me the same has what they have told all of you,
"there is nothing wrong your pacemaker"
they told me to see a neurologist and I told them I going to see a new cardiologist at a new hospital...
I'm tire of feeling like shit, so I did my research and found a cardiologist who seem to understand these symptoms...
They said there probably is nothing wrong with my pacemaker but if the Dr. doesn't understand how to fine tune it just right and doesn't do the right test it wont do me any good having a pacemaker...
I'll be going in on May 3 and will keep you all posted....
God Bless....
You know you're wired when...
The dogs invisible fence prevents you from leaving the backyard.
Member Quotes
I swim, scuba, garden, hike, climb, workout, play with the kids, play tennis, baseball, basket ball and rollerblade with mine with no problem.
It all depends (why did you need the pm?)
by BillMFl - 2010-04-25 09:04:31
On many factors involving your medical history. Lots of things can cause your symptoms, and most people have fewer dizzy spells once they have a pm. For those who do get dizzy, one of the more common problems is with the rate response. Some people, especially those with low ejection fractions due to leaky valves or conjestive heart failure, need a quick boost to their heart rate when standing up or simply moving around. Blood pressure meds can also cause these symptoms. So can heart rhythm problems such as pvc's, especially if there are fairly long runs. Your bottom rate could also be too low. Mine is set at 60, and my rate response is turned off, but I have an ejection fraction of 70% which is good for an old goat of 68. So, no, dizzyness is not usually a symptom of having a pm. Usually fainting or dizzyness are symptoms that lead to the implant of a pacemaker and go away with the steady rhythm the pm provides. Be your own advocate and push for more info about your pm settings. You may also need a treadmill test or Holter Monitor to see what is going on with your heart when these spells occur. Consider keeping a diary of when the spells occur and what you were doing so your doc will have some clues.