Passing out after pacemaker

[nwjerry]

About three years ago I started having dizzy spells, usually after getting out of a vehicle. Sometimes I would walk 40 yards or so before they would hit. At first my doctor, MD, thought the spells were due to depression med. serzone.  Finally I saw a cardiologist and was diagnosed with neurocardiogenic syncope - brady cardia, after passing out. I have had a pacemaker since Oct. 2002. I still have severe dizzy spells and passed out just a week ago.  My mother's family has a very  strong  heredity trait of IHSS.  Hit about half of Mom's brothers and sisters and has come down to the next two generations.  I am told I do not have it but my symptons are identical to Mom's and a cousin.  They can get out of a vehicle and have to grab on to something.  My pacemaker is set to keep me from dropping below 60 bpm. My cardiologist knows of the family trait of IHSS.  Is it possible that my cardiologist could have missed IHSS or do these problems bring on similar symptons?   Also, I would like to know if it is common for people with my diannosis to continue passing out after the pacemaker? Final question,  I had just a split second before I passed out and I honestly though I was going to die,  is it possible or very likely that one could die during one of these black outs? Thank you so much, Jerry

[Newf1960]

A related discussion, Has anyone with a pacemaker experienced dizzy spells? was started.

[nwjerry]

I forgot to mention in my posted question that I am 56 years old , male and that I am on 50 mg atenolol in the morning and 37.5 at night.  Before startiing to atenolol for rythem problems I would have a series of beats around three that felt like someone swinging a baseball bat in my chest.  Then my heart would go calm and in measured intervals would come back with the extreme hard beat that would shake a newspaper in my hand.  Atenolol has helped this.

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hi Jerry,

Neurocardiogenic syncope is a difficult problem to treat.

Is it possible that my cardiologist could have missed IHSS or do these problems bring on similar symptons?

IHSS (idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis) or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a straight forward diagnosis with an echo.  If the echo is not characteristic of IHSS, it not your problem.

Also, I would like to know if it is common for people with my diannosis to continue passing out after the pacemaker?

Pacemakers with neurocardiogenic syncope do not prevent you from passing out -- the prevent you from passing out as quickly as you would have without the pacemaker.  It buys you the extra few seconds that should keep you from falling and hurting yourself.  It still may be worth making sure your pacemaker is functioning properly and is appropriately programmed.

Final question, I had just a split second before I passed out and I honestly though I was going to die, is it possible or very likely that one could die during one of these black outs?

If your problem is truly neurocardiogenic syncope (which I cannot assess online), you will not die from passing out unless you fall in a very dangerous place.  It is normal to feel pretty bad prior to passing out though.

I hope this helps.