how you found out

How did they find out you needed apace maker what were your systems before it was inserted

7 Comments

PM finally needed

by richan - 2008-07-24 01:07:35

Hi Jackie,
I was going to have shoulder surgery. So, at the hospital, they automatically hook you up to an EKG if you are 40 or older. The anesthesiologist told me that they could not do my surgery because I had A-Fib. I did not know that I had A-fib. They sent me directly to my regular MD who put me on Warfarin (Coumadin) and he sent me directly to a cardiologist. According to my cardiologist, the least invasive way to treat A-fib is Cardioversion - they send big jolts of electricity through you (I was unconscious) in an effort to get the heart back into regular rhythm. The first one lasted about a week. The second one got me back to "regular" rhythm but, like heckboy, my BPMs would not do faster than 30 no matter what I tried to do. I could not climb stairs without out stopping half-way to catch my breath. Walking my dog required that I stop often to catch my breath. I called my cardiologist and reported my symptoms - got an EKG right away and was informed that, like boatman50, that I now did not have a choice. I needed a pacemaker. So, since March of 2005 this little piece of technology and I have become "friends" - still a love-hate relationship.

Richan

Failed one test in my life... the Tilt Table Test

by carismendez - 2008-07-24 03:07:07

It took me YEARS to get diagnosed for my fainting spells and dizziness/paleness/coldness/headaches etc. I saw regular doctors and brain doctors and heart doctors and had all kinds of tests done... CT scans and EEGs and EKGs and echo-cardios (ultrasounds of the heart), etc. The one that finally got me diagnosed was the tilt table test!!!!! I failed it miserably and blacked out cold after only 20 minutes with NO drug inducement... just me and my nervous system telling my heart and blood pressure to do the wrong things... Basically the tilt table test proved that after 20 minutes, my blood pressure tanked immediately followed by my pulse cutting in half and then flat-lining. They immediately laid me down and had to revive me. I had asystole for over 6 seconds and then when my heart started again I had a seizure. They gave me oxygen, etc. and woke me up and I was completely disoriented and freaked out!!!! Anyways, I was promptly assigned to an "electrician" cardiologist instead of a "plumbing" cardiologist and was diagnosed as Neurocardiogenic Syncope/Vaso-Vagal Syncope. They pushed the pacemaker because it caused my heart to stop, but I fought it for awhile... they put me on beta-blockers first, then we tried Midodrine (awful side effects.... ugh), nothing was working and I felt even worse from side effects, so I finally gave in to the Pacemaker and I'm SO GLAD I DID!!!!! It pretty well controls my symptoms and even if I do have a "spell" my pulse keeps me from fainting out all the way.

had no choice

by boatman50 - 2008-07-24 10:07:11

I passed out at home and again in the hospital when my heart stopped for 26 seconds!
I never had a symptom before that day.

No endurance

by heckboy - 2008-07-24 10:07:15

I was strong, going to the gym and doing my workout...people said that I looked pale during my workout and I couldn't run for more than a couple of minutes before i had nothing. Even a long climb of stairs would wear me out. My HR was a steady 55 BPM and wasn't responding to increased need during exercize.

At forst i thought I was out of shape, but after 6 months of regular working out and and not having any improvement, I knew something was wrong.

My throat!

by dward - 2008-07-24 12:07:56

I am a musician and after I played a gig (playing and singing), I would get this strange dry intermitent cough.
I don't smoke by the way.

I went for numerous tests. Ears, nose, every test they could possibly do on my throat.
Then they figured acid reflux - so I had all those tests, including a 24 hour pH test in my throat and stomach (that's a fun one!)

One weekend, my wife and I were putting up a brick retaining wall. It was a bit of a workout so it got the heart pumping!
When we were done and finally relaxing, I noticed I got the cough. For some reason, I felt my pulse and noticed that right before I coughed, my heart seemed to skip a beat - I figured hmmmn - irregular heart beat is not good! So, off to Emergence we went.
They took me in right away, laid me down, wired me up, asked questions about family history...
My heart was fine and regular...! I've been a First Aider for many years. I KNEW my pulse was irregular.

The Doc said, "It sounds like PVCs, I think we'll stick a holter monitor on you for 24 hours."

Turns out I DID have PVCs - but it also showed that while sleeping, my heart rate went down to 32 or so, and stopped for a few seconds four times.
Sooooo - they told me that I should get a Pacemaker!!

I had no symptoms of fainting, tiredness, etc. It was strictly the Holter Monitor that detected my condition.

My PM is set for 40 BPM min and works less than 1% of the time (which is when I'm in my deepest sleep).

My PVCs still happen now and then in "episodes", but diet and lifestyle help keep them to a minimum.

Seizures when eating

by morphicus - 2008-07-26 05:07:59

For years had the occasional siezure when eating, have always kept incredibly fit and strong used to be in marines etc, then one night keeled over heart stopped. Went to doctor had tests and they found an electrical block, apparently heart was slowing down and sometimes stopping. Hey presto pacemaker. 4 months on fitter stronger and slowly gaining confidence in the little digi box. Must admit tho the wine tastes better these days !!!

one more thing...

by Paula - 2008-07-30 05:07:07

I kept getting lightheaded, fainted, etc. At first they thought it was blood sugar or a brain tumor (because I was young at the time so they didn't suspect heart trouble) , and ran all kinds of tests. They never checked the heart! When I fainted while driving and ran into a tree my regular doctor sent me to a cardiologist for a holter monitor. My heart rate went down to 4 beats per minute for a brief period. So a pacemaker it was.

You know you're wired when...

The dog’s invisible fence prevents you from leaving the backyard.

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