Fainted

PM checked and its ok. One wk post op. Fainted after dinner while laying down. They do not seem to know why. I did this due to fainting. Did I put this pm in me for nothing? Now I worry I will continue to faint and be stuck with this in chest. Maybe wrong diagnosis. Heart rate was 19 bpm on monitor before surgery.

5 Comments

Just because...

by ela-girl - 2008-08-09 01:08:51

...you have a pm, doesn't mean it will always control all your symptoms. At the same time, it can, though. Everyone is different. But the pm can only do so much. For me, the pm took care of everything (thank God) because it helped to control one of the two problems I was having so that I didn't get into a vicious cycle...

I had a heart rate of 4 BPM and had my pm put in about 2 years ago on an emergency basis because of severe bradycardia and neurocardiogenic syncope (blacking out for 5 years). For me, the pacemaker has controlled my my heart rate so well that the syncope cycle doesn't have a chance to start. I even got to go off my beat-blocker.

There are some different things you can do to see if you can better manage your fainting spells. And like was mentioned before, perhaps you have a secondary problem. I'm not a pusher of pills, but maybe you would benefit from something? Does your pm have a rate drop response feature that could be utilized? Have you tried compression stockings, a diet higher in salt, and keeping your electrolytes up?

Fainting is annoying problem to have...I know. I lived it. But don't give up. Just be your best advocate. Your settings still may not be tweaked right--you're only 1 week post op. Unfortunately, getting your settings right is going to take time and be a bit of trial and error. But just remember no matter what...you pm can only do so much and can only control your heart. And I'm sure it IS working the way it's supposed to right now. If you're having other problems, keep being a pest until you get another diagnosis or a doctor who will listen and help.

ela-girl

Thanks

by Lady One - 2008-08-09 02:08:17

Thanks for the advice. It is 3 hrs to the dr so not easy to get there and cardio works once a wk. Yes I have increased salt and diet. I know I sometimes have low bp too. I am at 60 and I hope they will fine tune it sometime in future. Appt they gave me is Oct 29 long way off. They have not suggested any other tests. Who knows they may get to hate me but thanks to you I do not feel alone. I still hate having something foreign in my body and heart but guess I have to accept it.

definitely not for nothing

by Tracey_E - 2008-08-09 11:08:04

No, you didn't get it for nothing! You can die with a hr of 19. Hopefully they can adjust your settings and get the fainting under control, but even if they can't, you can be confident now that your heart won't drop to such dangerous levels that you'll be at risk to arrest.

When they checked the pm, did they adjust the settings? It can take more than one try to get it right. If they didn't see anything on the pacer report, ask for a stress test or holter. Keep pestering! When you faint, call them and try to get in as quickly as possible before the incident gets overwritten.

When I first got mine, weI passed out and discovered I had a secondary problem. It was really minor, but it was masked by the main problem that caused me to get the pacer in the first place. Once they figured out, they made more adjustments to fix both problems and I was good to go.

Fainted

by PBrennan - 2008-08-09 11:08:20

Seems to depend on what rate they set this at. What is your bottom end? When I had mine put in, my heart had stopped completely. I had it set at 40 as a minimum (I was very athletic back then), but 40 now seems a bit low. They adjusted mine to a 50 minimum, which seems to have helped. Sounds like you might need a bit more tweaking. Ask lots of questions, and don't stop until you are happy with the answers. This is your life, not theirs. Have them run the tape from pacemaker to see about what your HR was when you fainted. Sometimes, as loong as the PM is "working", they think that is good enough. YOU shoudl be theone who decides what is "good enough".

Good luck.

PM for syncope

by bini - 2008-08-10 02:08:32

I also have a PM for syncope due to low BP and heart rate. I am still fainting, but I actually LOVE my PM bc I have more energy and I "wake up" quicker after my syncope episode! I am still getting adjustments, and I am still hopefully that with a little tweaking some of my fainting will subside.
I am one of the tougher cases to crack since my BP is always low- presyncope all the time.

I would be patient and hopefully with a little tweaking you will be feeling better soon!

Good luck!

Christine

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Your ICD has a better memory than you.

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