Still syncope

Hi all I am new to the group. I recieved my PM July 12,'18. I had a car accident in March 2018 where I passed out while driving.  My car flipped several times and I had 5 broken ribs. Well I was sent to a neurologist first and he said I didnt have a seizure while driving so they sent me to a cardiologist specialist.  He put a loop recorder in and after about 3 months he said that my heart pauses sometimes for 4 seconds and then it goes back to beating normal so he suggested a PM. I asked if he was sure that is what caused my syncope and he was very sure. So I had it put in a few days later. However I have passed out twice since then and both times I had seizures. I dont understand why now I am having not only syncope but seizures as well. I am now seeing a neurologist who suggested I have a MRI  but my insurance company denied the claim. I AM SO CONFUSED. 

6 Comments

Confused?

by AgentX86 - 2018-08-29 19:44:24

I wouldn't be confused.  I'd be pi$$ed.

Diagnosing such things can be difficult, obviously.  Once they found the pausing (4-seconds is sorta marginal, after looking for three months) they thought they had it naied down but there is obviously something else going on.  You really can't expect them to see several problems all at once.

I'd be PO'd because the insurance won't cover you even though you've had a siezure.  The fact that you had a pacemaker implanted to take care of pauses is irrelevant.  You still have a problem and it needs to be fixed.  I'd be screaming my head off at them.  You have to get to the bottom of this.  Syncope is life threatening; siezures, in spades.

Pissed

by PACING45 - 2018-08-29 20:18:07

Yes I am pissed and scared because I dont know what's going on with me. The Cardiologist Specialist on my last appointment said to me you are in good health except for the syncope  Episodes I was like WTH. I AM 45 years old never had heart issues before this nor seizures. He said my PM paces 45% of the time. The only good thing is my BP is now 117/60. The neurologist said today that he appealed the denial for MRI and he sent more info on why I needed it, and he also added some things too. I just want to know what's going on. I have now started taking a holistic approach and  not eating meats and juicing and fasting.I just want answers

 

getting to the bottom of things

by Tracey_E - 2018-08-29 22:00:10

I would be really hesitant to do fasting or other major diet changes without  your doctor's approval. You don't know what's causing the seizures and syncope so it's best to maintain the status quo while trying to figure it out. Fads are rarely the answer to anything. 

Have you had a tilt test? Sometimes syncope is a mix of heart pauses and bp drops. The pacer will only fix half of that. 

Insurance companies can be a pain, let's hope your doctor's office can fight it for you. 

Yes

by PACING45 - 2018-08-29 22:38:57

I had the table tilt test done first. It was negative and I'm not on any meds but BP meds and my BP is normal.

Hard Times

by Gotrhythm - 2018-08-30 17:56:41

I'm with Tracey. I'm a great believer in the importance of diet, but now is not the time to make major shifts. It could muddy the diagnostic picture. Plus, right now, you've got enough to keep up with.

Sorry you're having such a hard time. Sad to say, having a pacemaker won't protect you from having another medical condition. But, even if you're also having seizures, it sounds like you needed the PM.

Good luck.

Update

by PACING45 - 2018-10-01 23:48:51

They said I am only pacing less then 1% of the time. The MRI all came back normal.  The nuerolgist says my bd drops when I stand but it's high when I sit. He wants me to go in the hospital for additional test for 5 days. They want to make me have seizures to see what my brain does when it happening. 

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

Member Quotes

Today I explained everything to my doctor, he set my lower rate back to 80 and I felt an immediate improvement.