In the Begining

I was told by the doctor I had a short between my heart and brain that sent a electrical charge. Now you guys say there is no such thing. Well this is what happened,One saturday morning in January,while making breakfast, I passed out on the floor. I thought no big deal I am low sugar. I ate a small chocolate and continued with my day.At 4P.M; in the afternoon ,while playing a game with my grangkids, I passed out again. This time,when I woke up I was very weak. By the time they got me dressed and put into the car , I passed out again.
For 5 hours, I never passed out again, in the emergency room. They put me in I.C.U. and ran every test you can imagine on me. For 3 days I passed out 6 to 7 times a day with no trigger we could find. But I always know when I was going to pass out.I could feel it coming and call out, They would rush in and watch me pass out.
I would feel a bit quezzy in the stomach, then feel pressure push up from the stomach area. By the time the pressure reached my lower chest,I would pass out.
Finally after 3 days in ICU, a doctor said he knew the problem and told me about the electrical charge. Just a simple PM would solve the problem.. Why would I not believe a doctor!!
Now after the PM has been put in, I still get that same quezzy feeling but I don't pass out.I am however very week after the episode.These episodes don't come very often but I wonder if anyone else has experienced similar problems.
Seems like they only fixed part of my problem.I feel there is something else needed besides the PM.
Anyone have an idea what is going on with me, or have similar problems?

4 Comments

Connection between the brain & heart

by donr - 2014-05-11 01:05:07

Ol' Man: There is, indeed, a nerve connection between the brain & the heart. Actually, there are TWO of them. As I read the link below, one is the ACCELERATOR pedal & the other the BRAKE pedal.

http://cnx.org/content/m46672/latest/?collection=col11496/latest

This is a web page entitled "Cardiac Physiology."

The infamous VAGUS nerve is one of them & the SYMPATHETIC CARDIAC NERVES is the other.

If you read this relatively decent, straightforward article, you can find out more than you ever wanted to know about the control the brain has over the heart.

There are many chemicals that the body manufactures that influence HR. Adrenalin is the one everyone knows about, but there are probably a dozen others.

Donr

Just a guess

by golden_snitch - 2014-05-11 02:05:19

Hi!

The heart has an autonomic nerv (eletrical) system. It can beat without any input from the brain. Vagus nerve and sympathetic nerves can influence how slow or fast it's beating, but the important thing is the heart can beats on its own. Usually, if someone needs a pacemaker, there is something wrong within that autonomic electrical system. Sometimes the natural pacemaker in the heart, the sinus node, is beating too slow; or the node which passes the signal coming from the upper chambers (atria) on the lower chambers (ventricles) on, the AV node, blocks them (heart block).

What you describe sounds a bit like a "vasovagal syncope". It's just a guess, you have to ask your doctor about the correct diagnosis (sometimes it's also written on your pacemaker ID). In patients with vasovagal syncope there usually is some kind of trigger, and then all of the sudden the blood pressure and heart rate drop. The pacemaker now prevents that the heart rate drops, but you might still experience episodes where you feel like you are going to pass out, because the blood pressure drops. It's quiet typical for vasovagal syncope patients that they continue to have some symptoms, even with a pacemaker implant, but the good thing is that they no longer pass out completely. There is a good article from Mayo about this diagnosis: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vasovagal-syncope/basics/definition/con-20026900

Hope this helps.

Inga

Hello Friend

by NiceNiecey - 2014-05-11 12:05:30

What an exciting story!

How long since you got your device? Some of the problems you describe will improve or disappear completely in time. Just provide us with a little more info like diagnosis, when you got the PM, type of Pm, etc.

I will look for your response.
Niecey

Take a look at an old post of mine.

by bowlrbob - 2014-05-13 07:05:53

In 2008 I wrote a post of what was done for me after having my pacer for 6 months. I have several posts so look for the one titled nuerocardiogenic Syncope or Vasovagal Syncope . This sounds like what you may have and my EP came up with a way to set my Pacer to keep me from most all problems. I have not even been dizzy since having this setting done to my pacer. check out my old posts. Bowlrbob

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