Bigemeny Feb 22, 1999.

  Thank you for your response.  You ask if I have symptoms, yes.
  When an episode occurs a feeling of tiredness, sometimes faintness and slight chest pain and breathlessness, particularly when talking.
  Episodes last from 5 minutes to 2 hours thus causing serious "slow down" in energy and difficulty performing tasks such as gardening.
  I have now been off all caffein & alcohol for 5 weeks, and the symptoms appear to be worse!
  As I am 71 and otherwise fit does this mean I have to slow down?  Or should I consider a pacemaker.
  Looking forward to your response,
  John.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

_

Dear John,
Generally a pacemaker is a "last resort" option after medications have failed.  Your cardiologist will tell you when and if that time comes.  
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.