Bradycardia and Sick Sinus Syndrome

Good evening!

I was wondering if anyone has been diagnosed with this condition. I went for my EP study and my doctor says that I do not need a pacemaker as he believes that it can be controlled through medication and I was wondering if anyone knows what type of medication that would be.(my follow up visit isn't for another week)

Thanks!

6 Comments

Bradycardia and Sick Sinus Syndrome

by gsue55 - 2008-11-13 11:11:03

Hi Frank,

Yes, I do have the same thing. I did get a PM for mine. I wish there was an alternative for me but..my Ep said I needed it right away as, I went into Cardiac Arrest.

Hope that helps but..you can also send me an email & we can talk more there.

Gloria

me too

by enigma - 2008-11-14 01:11:01

I have sick sinus syndrome and i had a pacemaker implanted 3 years ago. My heart stopped for 40 seconds though. My doctor told me if it has been a shorter period of time i wouldnt have needed one and they could have just put me on medication. To be quite honest i think im happier with the PM. I dont have to worry about remembering to take medication. Getting refils, the consequesnces and side effects. The only think i have to worry about (at this point anyways) is getting a check every six months. Either way it is NOT a fun experience to go through finding out about a heart condition and i wish you the best of luck!
Erika

Same here!

by dw5281 - 2008-11-14 06:11:19

I have SSS too - as with the previous post they found that my heart stopped as well (not quite as long though ONLY 26 seconds!!). Ive had my pacemaker since feb & i would definately rather have the pacemaker as I am completely useless taking tablets (I'm on beta blockers & i hate taking them) so medication would be so annoying. I'm sure that your medical staff know best - I didnt even know that there was medication for it! Make sure that you ask lots a questionsI'm ure there's a good reason for their decision

I wish you lots & lots of luck!

Any Tachy Component?

by bobad - 2008-11-14 09:11:49

By all means, avoid the PPM as long as you can.

If your SSS has no Tachy component, it can be controlled with meds.

Many SSS patients have tachy-brady, so meds won't work. In my case, the tachy component is controlled with meds, the brady component is controlled with the PPM.

Best of luck,,,

Pacemaker vs Meds

by ElectricFrank - 2008-11-14 12:11:17

Given a choice I would prefer a pacemaker to meds any day. Meds are much more likely to have side effects and/or to become ineffective over time. The main disadvantage to a pacemaker is cost (if insurance doesn't cover it) and appearance.

Of course some kinds of problems will require meds anyway.

Another Frank

Meds

by margraf - 2008-11-15 12:11:58

Hello! I was diagnosed with SSS as well and was put on a trial medication of Theophylline. It is a medication used to treat asthma but the side effect is increased heart rate. Sorry to say it did not work for me and I had a pacemaker inserted at the end of April this year. When they did my EP study they found out that both my SA and AV nodes were dysfunctional and decided to go with a dual chamber pacemaker. My heart rate was at a low of 27 around the time of surgery. It was sitting constant at about 33-36 for the time I was on the medication. The medication increased my HR to about 45. Not enough to rid me of symptoms. You can always try the medication first seeing as a pacemaker is a life long decision.

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