New problems

[Barbara Stewart]

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how great I'm feeling and how I didn't trust my body to continue to feel well. Well, I sure was right. I've been having high blood pressure for weeks and my cardio was trying different meds to get it down, but it just won't come down.

'Yesterday I saw my PCP. He was the one who "quarterbacked" me through my horribly traumatic and nearly fatal first surgery, so I trust him. I was feeling distinctly weird. I was slow and if I walked at my usual pace I got SOB. He did an EKG (or ECG) and took some blood to look for heart failure. THe EKG said I was in A-fib and my heart beat was irregular. My heart rate is also low; it was 49 in his office. He mentioned something called "sick sinus syndrome" and thinks I may ultimately need a pace maker. Does A-fib make you nauseated?

I'm seeing my cardio today and will have a copy of the EKG and the blood test with me. Has anyone had sick sinus syndrome? What did you do about it ? Also, is having a pace maker installed a big deal?

I'm having to come to terms with the reality that I'm a "heart patient" and will probably have problems with my heart for the rest of my life, which I still hope will be long. My grandchild is coming along beautifully, he's 8 months old and my daughter wants to get started on the second one next May or June, so I have a lot to live for. However, I want to be energetic and able to take care of him sometimes. I keep asking the question "Why me?" I realize asking that is futile. God has my life in his hands, but I still wish I could have health.

Does anyone have any experience with this problem? Are there any questions I should ask my cardio?0 My appointment is at 12:45 CDT today.

Thanks everyone
Barbara

 

[marky]

Barbara..
It sounds like you are getting some answers, and that is always good. Glad that your cardio can work you in so quickly and that you have PCP you trust!
As far as Sick Sinus I am not familiar with it, but I do have a defibrilator, and my dd has a pace maker.
The process to implant one of them is nothing compared to OHS!
A little versed, and an over night in the unit, and that was about it. My chest muscle was sore for awhile, but I am very small and the defibrillator is pretty big.
Keep us posted!

 

[PJmomrunner]

Hi Barbara:

I'm glad you got things checked out--you knew something was up and you were right!

My mom (also named Barbara) was admitted to the hospital...oh...it must have been about twelve years ago...with what was eventually diagnosed as sick sinus syndrome. I believe my dad took her to the hospital in the first place because she had been feeling flu-like for weeks and something more acute--I don't know if it was SOB or fainting or chest pain or what it was--happened. Her heartrate was all over the place. I hopped on the first plane I could get to be with my parents--they were very frightened. I remember she was on telemetry and her heartrate would be 170 and the nurses would come running and then it would be 40 and in they'd come again. It spent very little time at a normal rate.

Over the course of two weeks in the hospital they tried every possible medication to control her heart rate and nothing really did the trick, so they ended up implanting a pacemaker. The pacemaker's job is to keep her heartrate from going too low and she is on medication to keep it from going too high. The pacemaker is interrogated periodically (by telephone) and she is told that she has had X episodes of tachycardia, but she rarely is aware of it and it's not sustained or frequent. Before it was under control she would say her only clue that she was experiencing arrythmia was feeling "all in" (exhausted) or flu-like (including nausea).

My mom is 67 and very active. She has never been restricted from doing anything she wants to do as far as I know. She's the first one to agree to a hike or walk and she rides her bike regularly. The last time she visited me she wanted to rollerblade with me, but we talked her out of that (and nobody in the family wants to rollerblade anymore since my husband's accident! (broken pelvis)).

Of all my kids' grandparents (they have 3 grandma's and 2 grandfathers), my mom has always been the most likely to do stuff with them--play games, bake cookies. She and my dad (who has AF) are always doing yard work (mom recently broke her leg when she slipped mowing the lawn--she's fine now) or painting something, building something or volunteering somewhere. They can't sit still. Never could. They've slowed down a bit, but no more than is normal with aging and not as much as many.

Of course I'd be worried in your position too, but I know that once you're properly treated you'll be able to do everything you want to do for a good, long time and you'll feel even better than you have been. My mom's pacemaker is about the size of a silver dollar (they're probably smaller now) and she's been told they'll have to switch it out for a new one soon because the battery won't last a lot longer--she says it like they're filling a tooth--just routine maintenance. Like valve replacement, this is something that will lengthen your life, not shorten it and it should help, not hinder, your quality of life!

Take care.

 

[Karlynn]

I don't know anything about the syndrome but wanted to wish you the best. Quick, easy answers too!

 

[musician2k]

pacer

pacer

Getting & having a pacemaker is simply a piece of cake compared to OHS! Sick sinus syndrome means your heart's electrical unit is not operating properly and you may need a pacemaker to take up the slack. There are medicines they might try first (amiodarone, in my case, made me very very sick) and yes, after my OHS when I was on a temporary pacemaker I felt nauseaous all the time because it was not set properly. Once my regular once was installed I felt MUCH better........good luck Barbara & let us know how it goes.

 

[Nancy]

Joe had periods of time when he had a racing heart afib or flutter and then periods of time when his heart rate went to 40 or below. He was fainting when the low heart rates happened. He's had his pacemaker for many years. He doesn't use it too much, so the battery has lasted for a long time, but it is there when he needs it.

I watched on the monitor when he was recently hospitalized and in critical condition. I could see when the pacemaker kicked in and brought his rate up to 60. I think he probably drained the battery a bit while in the ICU. He's having it checked out in a few days.

He pays no attention to it at all. It is his safety net. Pacemakers have saved many, many lives.

 

[901]

Pacers are great!
I've had mine a little over a year and don't notice it except that the scar itches and I can feel a lump where it is implanted. The worst part was I wasn't allowed raise my arm above my shoulder for a month afterward It takes some concentration to not raise your arm to put on a shirt or get a glass from the cupboard. The restriction is to allow the lead to get better seated and avoid pulling it out of its implanted area.
I find it amazing that this tiny device (about the size of two silver dollars stacked) regulates the heart and records every beat for years. I get phone interrogations and go in about once a year for data dumps. During the data dump the technician will ask for particular characteristics and the pacer will provide it and the date and time and for how long it occurred.
I've asked about recovering from my heart block condition and they tell me it could happen but not likely. So then, they turn off the pacer and, so far, I revert right back to heart block. They have reduced my voltage to increase battery life. I'm supposed to last around fifteen years until I need new batteries.

 

[Mama2Rylan]

Just wanted to say hi.

Just wanted to say hi.

Barbara,

Hello. I don't know much about your problems, but I did want to stop by and say hello and wish you luck. I have a little boy so I fully understand you wanting to be well enough to take care of your grandson. I am very thankful I had my surgery when my son was young, because now I am recovered and feeling great. I am finally able to do stuff with him, and keep up with him (for the most part, he is two and has TONS of energy ) But at least you have something to look forward to and a little inspiration to get through all the heart stuff. Good luck to you and keep us updated.

Sara

 

[Barbara Stewart]

Thanks everybody

Thanks everybody

I really appreciate all of your responses. I was a little thrown after my appointment with my PCP, but my cardio ordered a Holter monitor and I picked it up today. I know a lot of you have worn one and I am most anxious to go on to the next step. I do get tired often and maybe this will answer some questions. I've had to pass up any time with my grandson this week and at his age a week is a long time.

After this little episode is over, I may look for another cardio. This guy is sincere and I'm sure he's smart, but he seems very unfocused and I actually had to keep pulling him back on subject. A bit frustrating for me. Since I know my PCP is watching over me and giving me direction I'm not worried now, but in the future it just may be less frustrating.

I'll keep all of you posted on what happens and in the meantime, thanks again.
Barbara