Boston Scientific Pacemaker

Do any of you have what is called "sick sinus syndrome?" Also, I have a Boston Scientific pacemaker and was wondering if any of you do, and if you do, have you ever had any side effects? I just had mine implanted so it hasn't been "tweaked" yet but I was just curious. Thanks cd

8 Comments

Hi.....

by Bionic Beat - 2008-11-27 08:11:00

If you use the 'search' feature at the top of the page, you can pull up all sorts of information about 'sick sinus syndrome'.

I don't have it but many members have written about it.

Someone will be along soon to post about it for you.

Welcome to the Pacemaker Club!


Bionic Beat

Sick Sinus Syndrome

by Pookie - 2008-11-27 09:11:25

Hi & Welcome to the club.

I looked up Sick Sinus Syndrome on the Mayo Clinic Website & this is what I found....I only copied the first paragraph, but that website is awesome for medical information.

And lots of people here have your brand of pacemaker, I'm sure you will receive plenty of responses. Sounds like you just received your pacemaker...my advice would be rest plenty and jot down all your questions for when you do go to have your pacemaker tweaked.

Here's the paragraph from the Mayo:

Sick sinus syndrome is the name for a group of heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) in which the sinus node — the heart's natural pacemaker — doesn't work properly. The sinus node is an area of specialized cells in the upper right chamber of the heart that controls the rhythm of your heart. Normally, the sinus node produces a steady pace of regular electrical impulses. In sick sinus syndrome, the sinus node beats abnormally causing slow heart rate (bradycardia), rapid heart rate (tachycardia) or alternating slow and fast rhythms.

Sick sinus syndrome is relatively uncommon. When it does occur, it usually affects people who are at least 60 years old. (obviously it happens to LOTS of people under 60 too!!!) Some people with sick sinus syndrome need a pacemaker to keep the heart in a regular rhythm.

good luck & keep us posted

Pookie


Boston Scientific Pacemaker

by cdauer - 2008-11-28 03:11:38

Thanks for all your comments, especially those of you who have SSS and had a Boston Scientific PM implanted. I had already checked most of the websites on the internet for information but it's always nice to hear from the folks who have had the experiences.

I had cobalt radiation therapy for cancer when I was 22 (I am now 60) so I have a lot of scarring of the heart muscle. It has taken a long time to diagnose SSS only because I have had so many other issues that are radiation related..... valve replacement, lung stripping, brain tumor, thyroid...yada, yada, yada. I barely had the energy to move.

I had the implant this past Tuesday and today (Friday) I walked two miles!!! Hey Hey!

Thanks again for all your info.

cd

I have SSS

by Bionic Man - 2008-11-28 11:11:20

I had a pacemaker installed on 6/25 to treat my SSS. I have a Medtronic Pacemaker. I haven't had any issues with mine and I'm sure you won't have any issues with yours. The cardiologist was hesitant abouting giving me a pacer. I'm 45 and he thought I was too young. It wasn't until I found this website that I realized it can afflict any age. Some days my heart rate was at 30 bpm. I felt horrible. Other days it would race like crazy. I was a guy who worked two jobs and kept busy all day long. When I started having problems I had all I could do to get out of bed in the morning. Everything came to a screeching halt for me. Since the pacer I have gone back to my second job and have my energy back. I'm sure you'll feel the same way,
Good Luck

that's me too

by momoftwo - 2008-11-28 11:11:33

I just had my pacemaker put in on Monday. I am 41 and the doctor told me I was too young to have a pacemaker but that is the only way to control my SSS. So far I am doing fairly well. I also have the Boston Scientific pacemaker. I go Monday for a checkup. My heart rate would go into the low 30s several times a day, but it would also go as high as 180 sometimes. I guess I'll find out Monday if I need to have mine "tweaked" or not.

SSS & Boston Scientific pacemaker

by VonnieVern - 2008-11-28 11:11:40

I was diagnosed with SSS and received a Boston Scientific pacemaker in October 2007. As far as I know I haven't had any side effects as related to the type of pacemaker I have. I did have to have it "tweaked" for me. I don't currently use my rate response feature and my lower setting is 45 - lower than most peoples, but that's what seems to work for me. Mine was recommended by a cardiologist and implanted by a cardiothoracic surgeon, but I'm considering seeing a electrophysiologist for a more thorough study of my heart's functioning.

Vonnie

Hi there!

by Angelie - 2008-11-28 12:11:19

I'm a sick sinus patient. I'm sick most of the time, and my sinuses drive me crazy. Just kidding.
I have brady-tachy syndrome otherwise known as Sick Sinus. As above Sick sinus can mean many things. What it mainly means though is that the sinus node (natural pacemaker of the heart) is not working as it should. This can affect people in many ways...mostly causing bradycardia (slow heart-rate), but can affect people in a variety of ways such as my case (slow heart-rate mixed with fast rhythms as well)
I was implanted with a Boston Scientific Altrua 60 dual chamber, but for right now am only using one lead in my right atrium (upper chamber). I haven't had any problems with my hardware at all. I haven't had any adjustments to my pacer since it was implanted. Seems like they programmed it well to fit my lifestyle. At 2 weeks post implant, I started walking 2-3 miles on the treadmill. At six weeks post implant, I was cleared by my EP doctor, and cardiologist to run and have been training for a 5k eversince. I don't know how I'll do at the 5k on Dec. 6th, but I'm gonna give it my best shot.
I've had SSS, and SVT for eight years. I've had 3 failed ablations -one leaving me with a paralyzed right diaphragm. I've tried every medicine that's on the market to treat arrhythmias and have put up with their side effects only for them not to work in the long run. My doctors and I are trying this pacemaker for me partly as an experiment, and recently have discovered continued high rate atrial flutter at 380bpm so I don't really know what's next. I'm 33 years old and my doctors didn't want to put in the pacemaker either, but knew that there wasn't anything else to try. I'm still learning, but overall I'm doing much better than before the pacemaker.
Let me know if I can answer any other questions you might have. Nice to see you here. You've come to the right place. Welcome,
Angelie

SSS or SND

by BOB 1 - 2008-11-28 12:11:34

Sick sinus syndrome has many definitions as evidenced by the list below. All of these are correct as they are simply different ways to say the heart's rhythm is not as it should be and that is why we get pacemakers to give the heart's natural pacemaker a hand. I have listed them all as over the months I have been a member here I think I have seen all of them used. I might add that sick sinus syndrome is the most common reason for people receiving pacemakers. I can't comment on the brand of pacemaker you have as mine is a Medtronic. I will say there are good ones and bad ones, no matter which brand we get. As I saw someone say here one time, we all pay out money and take our chances when we get a pacemaker.

1 -Sick sinus syndrome, also called Sinus node dysfunction, is a group of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) presumably caused by a malfunction of the sinus node, the heart's primary pacemaker.

2 - Abnormal functioning of the structure that regulates the heartbeat, causing episodes of abnormal heart rhythm
3 - The sinus node does not fire its signals properly, so the heart rate slows down. Sometimes the rate changes back and forth between a slow ...
4 - Disorder in which the sinus node (the heart's own pacemaker) fails and does not trigger enough heartbeats. A type of bradycardia.
5 - Occurs when your heart beats slow, then fast, and then slow again.
6 - A disorder in the heart's sinus node that affects how heartbeats are generated and how they are conducted. ...
7 - A condition in which the sinus node sends out electrical signals either too slowly or too fast. There may be alternation between too-fast and too-slow rates. This condition may cause symptoms if the rate becomes too slow or too fast for the body to tolerate. ...
8 - A cardiac disorder typically characterized by alternating tachycardia and bradycardia
9 - A disorder of the sinus node in regulating the heartbeat, often resulting in various cardiac arrhythmias

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