brugada syndrome

Doctor please help me..i am 19 male,from singapore,i use to be very active in outdoor sports like running and swimming, after i was diagnose with braguda syndrome, i cant even climb a flight of stairs or walk few miles, ...i cant sleep well at night after my doctor told me that many patient died while  asleep..will ICD inplantation (implantation) surgery help me lead to my normal life again afterwards??can i run and be active like before?? and one other question ,can i live long? im really scared please help me please....

[Artaud]

Hi,

I am sorry to hear about your Diagnosis of Brugada Syndrome. How did they discover this problem? Did you have symptoms, such as fainting, or did they discover it on an EKG without you experiencing symptoms?

Do they plan on implanting an ICD?

Do you have any brothers or sisters that have had problems with this syndrome?

The article that I read said that the Autonomic Nervous System plays a part in this disorder, and that excessive exercise should be avoided. Also, sleep is important (for all of us with arrhythmias), I am sorry to see that you have been having problems with sleep.

Be careful to consult with your Doctor before taking any medication, such as Over-the-counter cold medications, vitamins, supplements, or if you see another Doctor for another problem, and he/she wants to prescribe something new. Also, from what I read, the relevance of Brugada Syndrome was only fully understood in 1992, so it is a work in progress. (I am telling you this because the things that you read will change over time, due to further understanding of this syndrome). The important thing is to be compliant with your Doctor's plan for your care, or if you are concerned about his/her approach, to seek another Doctor with experience in this syndrome.

I do believe that I saw a segment on American Television (60 Minutes or some such thing) about a family where an arrhythmia syndrome was present. They were in the process of implanting ICDs in the children (ages 10 and older) as a preventative measure. These children and young men looked quite healthy, yet one of them had known problems, causing the evaluation of them all, and the discovery that they all had the genetic marker. (if this is the term) for this syndrome. It is likely that the show was about the Brugada Syndrome.

Please keep in touch with the forum, and more importantly in touch with your Doctors.

Best of Health for the Holidays and New Year.

[PikaPika88]

Hi Ben,

I'm not a doctor.  I've wpw and was diagnosed in 1973 when I was 15 years old at Malaysia.  Recently, I went for a treadmill stress test and that doctor wrote on my ECG printout: "Bundle Branch Block + ST Elevation V1, ?Brugada variant."  I went to a cardiologist, he said ignore what's the doctor wrote on the ECG.....  I've already ignored what were the ECG machine spitting out and now I have to ignore what's the doctor wrote.  What diagnoses should I refer to?

Could you tell us how you diagnosed with your Brugada Syndrome?  

My heart normally gets stuck after some exercises.  Also I can feel my heart stopped during my sleep.  I got a pacemaker (No ICD component) implanted in 1982.  The doctors reassured me that I can do exercise and they wants me to have power walk.... because I am a bit obesity.  The doctor also said my pacemaker will cover any event in my heart except the rupture only.  

No one can tell "can we live long" or not.  I might be not die because of the heart problem (This is resposibled by the cardiologists) .  I can be hit by a car one day or in a plane crash!  Stay and enjoy the life that is what the human being wants.

Take care and good luck.