question

Hello, Well I have lots of ? and have gotten no answers. May be someone can help out with this. My cardo has no clue on what to think about my condition right now. He said he has not had a patient like me. He thought it may be linked to my gastric bypass but can't find anything. but he has ran all the test he knows to run and everything is fine. I am getting a stress test done and he said depending on that out come what he is going to do. but he has said the only thing to do is a pacemker but he keeps saying my age i am to young. so he is talking about sending me to a electrsomething specialest. (he deals with the rhythem of the heart). so if any one has any answers or hope full word please i need them right now.
Michelle

10 Comments

EP

by boatman50 - 2007-09-11 07:09:24

I don't know what your condition is so I will just give you my experience. I went to a bunch of cardiologists after my emergency pm implant and each had his own opinion and never could figure out what was wrong and just wanted to give me meds until I objected. Then I was sent to an EP or Electro Physiologist. He took me off all meds, adjusted my pm and told me what condition I have. Awesome! Good luck to you.
Boatman

Hang in there ...

by admin - 2007-09-11 08:09:56

Michelle,

Finding the cause of a medical condition is part science and part art. It can take some time. I encourage you to see an EP, hopefully he/she can help.

Blake

From another Michelle

by hooimom - 2007-09-11 09:09:01

Hi Michelle,

The cardiologist I saw was completely thrown because of my age. He had never seen someone my age with my problem and so thought it just couldn't be so. He did send me to an Electrophysiologist and she took one look at my test results and said it didn't matter how young I was I needed the pacemaker. The difference I believe was that the first doctor was in a smaller town with more limited experience with anyone under 65. It also helps to see the EP who is the expert in heart rhythms and the electrical system and is trained to deal with the problem. Definetly go see the EP. Have you had a Holter Monitor? That is the test that first showed my problem.

Like Blake said...it is science and art and can take awhile. Try and stay positive and patient.

Michelle

P.S. You didn't say how young you are, but there are parents on this site asking questions for their very young children. I guess you can never be too young.

See the EP

by ela-girl - 2007-09-11 09:09:15

Hi, Michelle!

Do you get dizzy or lightheaded or pass out from your bradycardia (slow heart rate)? Do you feel like sleeping all the time? I just ask because I know that a slow heart rate can cause these side effects. Part of the reason I had my pacemaker implanted via emergency surgery was for severe bradycardia. The pm has totally helped with that problem. My doctors back home didn't want to help me--just put me on meds. Said I was too young for a pm, too. I'm 30. Thank God I moved states (new job) and found an EP who saved my life by implanting the pm--I REALLY needed it. I wish doctors would lay off the whole crap about age and do what it takes to help a person not die! (sorry for the rant...)

Keep asking questions and keep us informed...

ela-girl

Cardiologists - poof

by sweetkozy - 2007-09-12 04:09:44

I have been seen by 4 different doctors, from the age of 14 to age 19. One of which was a reputable pediatric arrhythmia specialist and the other two well known cardiolists in the community. Not one of them wanted to put a PM in because I was two young and I wasn't having enough fainting occurances. Even though all the holter monitors and the event monitors came back being very abnormal, which I have every report in my possession. Even though it was effecting how I lived and taking away from my energetic livelyhood. Every single one of them said, "She's too young." PHEWY!

Then I went to an Electrophysiologist (EP) when I was 20 and you know what....he didn't think I was too young. He wanted me to live a happy and healthy life once again. They did an EP study and ablation and once that was done they put in a pacemaker 5 days later. It's a pain with all the phone checks and stuff, but I have never regretted it once. I am living a carefree, active life, without having to worry about if my heart is going to poop out on me and send me into such an erractic rhythm that I can't recover. He listened to me and was supportive of me. He sure knows the in's and out's of the electrical system of the heart. I thank God for him!

Hope they can help you in some way, whether a PM or medication. Good luck to you and keep us posted!

Cheers,
Jenny

Suze and Jenny

by ela-girl - 2007-09-12 07:09:59

Suze-

Thanks for sharing the analogy that your cardio gave--that's a good one. Very easy to understand!

Jenny-

You sound so positive--good for you! I totally agree with what you are saying. I even gave my EP a Christmas card with a letter in it thanking him for saving my life. He deserved to know.

God Bless All!
ela-girl

EP

by Suze - 2007-09-12 10:09:58

A regular cardiologist explained at our first meeting ...If your home had a problem with electricity, you wouldn't call a plumber. He said he was the PLUMBER and the Electrophysiologist that he recommended was a doctor who was an ELECTRICIAN and THAT was the problem I was experiencing with my heart. Hence, the pacemaker....

The EP said his youngest patient was 4 days old when implanted with a PM.... and his oldest patient was implanted with a PM at 95.

Age doesn't seem to be a factor.

Keep us updated.

God Bless,
Suze



To all (ladytex73) ladytex

by ladytex - 2007-09-12 11:09:04

Thank you all for your words of wisdom. I really needed them. All of them have helped me make up my mind in asking the cardio to go ahead and send me to the EP no matter what my stress test comes out with. My age is 34, as far as how I feel I am very fatigue, light headed and I have yet to pass out but have gotten very close on several occasions. I really didn't know what to think I thank god I have found such great and supportive people on here. Thank you all. May god bless you daily. It has gotten very scary to go to bed not knowing if you are going to wake up or not.
Michelle

Same Story!

by auntiesamm - 2007-09-13 02:09:50

Hi Ladytex,

My story is almost identical to a couple of the above. I got my PM as an emergency for 3rd degree heart block. As the others have stated age is not a criteria for PM - heart block occurs from birth to 100s. I would run as fast as I could in the opposite direction of a cardiologist who based such a decision on the age of his/her patient. See the EP. I believe you will be very pleased with the outcome. And, if for any reason you are not, seek a third opinion. It is your body and you want what is best for you! Good luck as you continue your search for answers and God bless you.
Sharon

THANKS

by ladytex - 2007-09-13 10:09:25

THANKS I AM SURE GOING TO ASK TO SEE A EP TODAY NO MATTER WHAT. THE CARDIO TOLD ME THAT IF I CAN KEEP MY HEART RATE UP IN THE 100'S AFTER LOTS OF EXERCISE THAT HE IS JUST GOING TO MONITOR ME BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. I ALREADY FEEL BAD MOST OF THE DAYS AND I AM READY TO GET BACK TO SOME SORT OF WHAT I WAS USE TO. I AM NO THE TYPE TO JUST SIT AND WANT TO SLEEP I WANT TO WORK AND STUFF. BUT RIGHT NOW I AM JUST LUCKY TO WAKE UP AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS FARE TO ME OR MY FAMILY.
MICHELLE

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