Joining the ranks next week....

Hi,

I am trying to wrap my brain around the need for a PM. I have swallow syncope; which means I begin to black out (tunnel vision, roaring in the ears, sparkly lights) when I swallow certain foods. I have had this my whole life and truly thought everyone did. It wasn't until I actually lost consciousness, clearing a table with my arm at a restaurant, with no warning, not once but twice in a month, that I went to my doctor. She ordered a swallow study and a ziopatch for 11 days. I was actually a little disappointed that I didn't have many "events" to report on the Ziopatch; but the doctors thought I had quite a few! When I pressed the button bookmarking the event, it did show that my heart paused. However, they also noticed over 200 "events' when I didn't feel anything. That was a little alarming. My cardiologist says that while I am not at risk for dropping dead, because I am very active, I am at risk for passing out and injuring myself and if it happens when I am driving, and I had a pre-syncope episode once while driving, the results could be dire. The thing is other than this, I feel great! I work out, kayak, play drums, dance and am otherwise very active. This seems like such an extreme measure for what I thought was merely an inconvenience. :( I know that I have to have it, the passing out was REALLY scary, but dang. Has anyone else felt like this?

9 Comments

Happy dancing....

by childsvoice - 2012-10-25 01:10:29

Thanks for the comments and encouragement. I am doing the Happy Dance, because I found out what was causing the issues, have access to wonderful health care and good health insurance. All good stuff! I have lived my whole life with this problem and didn't even know it. Now that I do, I am ready to not be almost passing out any more! :-)

Pacer is no big deal

by ElectricFrank - 2012-10-25 05:10:46

Part of the problem is that in the past pacemakers actually were a serious situation. Like most of modern electronics they have become a routine item. They are extremely reliable and when used appropriately they can work magic. Compared to any of the "plumbing" issues like blocked arteries, pacemakers just wire around a broken electrical circuit in the heart.

I'm 82 yrs and back in 2004 developed had my heart suddenly drop to 40bpm. It didn't respond to exercise. Being an electronic engineer I understood that I needed a pacer, had one a few days later, and have felt great since.

Just keep in mind that the pacer isn't an extreme measure for an inconvenience. It is a minor measure for a serious problem. It doesn't take more that a few missed heart beats in a row to pass out. And even if you aren't one of the Sudden Cardiac Death cases, you could die or cause someone else's death from passing out in a critical situation like driving.

best wishes,

frank

HI

by Moner - 2012-10-25 07:10:01

Hi CV,

I read your message with great interest, I recently had a pacemaker implanted because I also have syncope.

But instead of passing out when I swallow certain things, I only pass out when I come down with a stomach virus and start vomiting.

By the way, how long do you pass out for?

My passing out lasts around 22 seconds.

Other than that, I don't pass out.

My doctors persuaded me that I need this pacemaker implanted as a safety net.

So even if I get a stomach virus 5 years from now, he said it would be well worth it.

Best wishes with your decision.

The people here are very helpful

Moner

P.S. Tattoo Man is right, none of us wants these little SOB's in us.

in more or less the same boat

by kimbo - 2012-10-25 09:10:02

im in your situation at the moment had years of rythem symptoms had a loop recorder implanted took just short of 2 years to catch my svt which was succesfully ablated in 2011 but since oct last year have sufferred episodes of awful feeling in chest spaced out dizzy and near faints my cardio struggled to find what was going on but finally found it my heart slows, throws off extra beats and also drops a lot of beats and pauses out if this cycle gets organised it can last all day leaving me quiet unwell and fatiged iv been told too i wont die from it but the only way to treat it is to pace it SHOCK HORROR was my first reaction as when i dont have it im fine its only when it kicks off again that ya think anything must be better than this its awful and takes control of ya life im too are active and work out at the gym 4 times a week, i do believe mine has been a result of the ablation. Ive decided to have the PM just need to tell my cardio my decision. please let me know how you get on .

kimbo

Life can be a bit of a Bitch.....

by Tattoo Man - 2012-10-25 12:10:20

.......CV.....this PM stuff can drop into your life like some kind of damn Side Winder Missile.

So, one day you are pretty well fine, and the next day you have a lump of titanium / computer stuck in your bosom..

What the hell about that is good news ??

1...not much passing out...........

2..not much passing out.......

3..not much........
.
.

......................Hey, Your spot to make a comment


Tattoo Man

Lets agree..none of us really wants one of these littlle SOBs stuck in our clavicles...






Awwwwwwwwww!

by Moner - 2012-10-26 01:10:01

Ok Frank,

I think deep down we really do appreciate our little friend.

Moner
>^..^<

My poor little friend

by ElectricFrank - 2012-10-26 12:10:55

It has big tears running down my chest hearing that no one wants her. It took me half and hour to calm her down.

Just look at it this way. If we didn't have one of them things implanted in us we would never have been on this forum and met all the great people.

frank

It feels better now

by ElectricFrank - 2012-10-27 12:10:14

I sure appreciate mine every time I head up one of those steep hillsides here in the desert. I'd have a heck of a time climbing those hills with a 35 HR

frank

SOB

by Grateful Heart - 2012-10-27 12:10:18

Sure of breathing? Another use for the acronym, LOL.

Grateful Heart

You know you're wired when...

You need to be re-booted each morning.

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