Light headed when resting

I've had my pacemaker 6 weeks and already had 4 adjustments. These last 2 adjustments really kicked my butt. I'm fine if I keep moving but when i rest I get light headed, my legs get weak,  nauseous, and headaches. I also will get a twitch in my left boob and it's not when the pacemaker is kicking in because my heart rate is in the 80s when that happens. I keep getting told it's trial and error But its really taking a toll on me. I never was like this or felt this bad.Is this normal? I got the pacemaker for low heart rate and vasovagal syncope with long pause. I also have SVT.


3 Comments

Vasovagal Syncope is Different

by Gotrhythm - 2019-03-12 16:00:23

The symtoms you complain of may have nothing to do with your pacemaker.

 I hope somebody told you--if not I'm telling you now--a pacemaker doesn't fix VVS. It doesn't even help it. The pacemaker probably won't change how you feel. You can still pass out. You can still feel like you are about to pass out. The only difference is, when your heart rate starts to plummet during a fainting episode, the pacemaker will keep it from going below a set heart rate. You could still pass out, but your heart won't stop.

The pacemaker will also not prevent SVT. A pacemaker only makes your heart go faster. It can't make it go slower. 

A pacemaker can help bradycardia. The pacemaker can take over the job of a part of the heart that's not working properlly..

The symptoms you complain of are pretty typical for VVS. They are also common side effects of drugs given to prevent arrythmias. At you on any drugs for the SVT?

Your condition is complex and it's not really surprising that adjusting your pacemaker isn't a slam dunk. Do be aware that all your pacemaker can do is keep your heart rate from falling too far, and help your heart to speed up appropriately with exercise.

Trying to get the pacemaker to alleviate symptoms that have nothing to do with a pacemaker will only frustrate you and confuse everyone else.

BTW I have bradycardia and VVS. I already had a pacemaker for bradycardia when the VVS was diagnosed.

 

Vasovagal

by lizzi2112 - 2019-03-12 20:18:40

Thank you for your response. I know i still can pass out but just after the pacemaker was put in the light headed symptoms got worse. Like daily basis now and before I only passed out 3 times in my life. I'm not on any medicine for the Svt because before the pacemaker my pulse was to low.

Thank you

by ArcReactorMom - 2019-03-29 01:17:14

For this thread...

I, too, have VVS, diagnosed after a tilt table test and flatlining. I've had "seizures" and syncope my whole life (41 now) and have never been taken seriously until now. 

I had my PM implanted 1 week after the tilt test which was just over 2 weeks ago. I completely understand...i feel worse than I did before the PM (though I am grateful for it), however, I feel terrible most days with shortness of breath, dizziness, numbness/tingling in my lips and face, random severe nausea, increase in heart rate and blood pressure, etc. 

GotRhythm- Thank you for your information! This is all new for me, and others I'm learning too, and blunt reasonable answers make so much more sense than the hours of research i seem to be doing every day to figure this out.  While i do have a better understanding now, from your post, of VVS and my PM...what I don't understand is why I feel worse now with several new or increased symptoms since being implanted.?? Do you have reasoning for this?

Also, being that I've got these symptoms going on (have been to ER and readmitted with blood clot testings, xray, echo and released as ok)..i am wondering if my PM just needs "adjusted" and if so, what are the symptoms of needing an adjustment or how would one know that is what they need?

Thanks so much and I feel your frustration lizzi2112

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As for my pacemaker (almost 7 years old) I like to think of it in the terms of the old Timex commercial - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.