The formal diagnosis is Sinus Arrest with resultant Syncope...the sinus node sometimes does not send the start a heartbeat signal to my atria and less often, neither to the ventricles.
Only treatment is a pacemaker, which was implanted on 16 April 2008.
I am on a mild diuretic because of blood pressure skirting the border between high normal and low-hyper ,-)
I am lucky in that the estimated 100 or so episodes I had in the 9 months or so before the pacemaker (estimated during the cardiologist's analysis of my answers to his questions) occurred while I was either asleep, just woken up or doing something not involving a vehicle or power equipment at work.
They found no damage to my heart muscle, nor any blockages during the extensive testing.
So, a new distributor cap and plug wires...good for another 100,000 miles =)
I have many presyncope episodes, but I never pass out! My docs are puzzled by the fact that these happen although my bp is ok or when it is high.
I mostly get like this being on my feet, but have on many occasions had this whilst sitting and even laying! I just have to wait for them to pass. They ofetn come in clusters to, so I will have several days of being like this and then a couple of presyncope free days!!
I can, sometimes but not constantly, stay in this state for a hours before it eases and I am feeling not so faint!!
Hope the next few days sees you improving Tonya x
Hey there :)
I can so relate when you said that you passed at while at the computer while reading emails....."Me Too!" I actually have had all the bells and whistlesas far as monitoring goes. Been hospitalized (4) times last year of course, monitored the whole time. Plus monitored for 4 weeks at home.
I am actually dx w/ NCS. All docs agree that AD is not uncommon w/ one who has an Autoimmune Daiseas such as Multiple Sclerosis. Having the dx of both makes it a bit difficult at times as which is causing what....Kinda like the old.....which came first, the chicken or the egg, scenario.
So do you have a "Formal" diagnosis? I mean what are they calling it in your case and how are they treating you?
Take Care,
~Tonya
I had episodes of asymptomatic syncope. The first several times I just shrugged them off, but one morning I passed out while shutting off the alarm clock.
I got myself to the doc, but all the tests showed I was normally healthy for a man my age; even maxed out the elevation, and duration on the stress test treadmill, with excellent recovery after the exercise.
We went into wait and see mode...
3 months later, I passed out while reading my email; wife got me to the doc, who sent me on to the hospital.
Overnight monitoring found that I got into sinus arrest; normal heartbeat, a slightly slow on and then I flat line for 5 - 28 seconds, coming back without medical intervention. I never stopped breathing, which is, I think, odd.
The pacemaker I got has worked; 13% pacing just after the procedure, just under 6% now, 2 years later.
A long way of saying, see if your doc will do either an overnight on a monitored bed or a Holter monitor stint to see what's going on there.
Perhaps the MS is interfering with the heart's electrical signals?