Pacemakers Support Group

My wife has been miserable with a number of problems, that have caused referrals to several specialists. This has been in regard to her devlopment of contant fainting for the only time in her life on a regular basis after stomach surgery to attempt and halt GERD or very strong stomach acid reflux into her esophagus, with some aspiration that caused respiratory problems ( along with the use of a beta blocker, Nadolol, for the past 10 years for mild hypertension.) The result due to one or both of these facts was some problems with asthmatic responses and coughing with some low-grade costo-chondritis, mainly noted by pressing on the stenum that causes some moderate to significant pain.
Depression has been chronic for years, due to our daughter's severe systemic lupus, and may well be the original base cause of her many miseries today. My wife is now, after all the fainting developments, and denial of any heart problemsm, STILL plagued with severe fatigue, and shortness of breath with any exertion at all. Thus, with all the fainting spells, and no neurological definite findings, MRI's etc,,we are very tired and disgusted with doctor conflicts. Over the past 2+ years, after the stomach surgery, and a kidney stone immediately causing severe pain 2 weeks later, she was put under for a 3rd time, first to get a stent place to relieve the blocked ureter next to an infected kidney, then in another week, they did the lithotripsyl. But she still continued to faint in any form of too warm environment, (mostly to any very warm room, office, etc), during hot meals, and any situation that may or may not have been accompanied by some stress. After 7 cardiologists from Ohio to our home in Texas have differed on treatment, the early on suggestion of an interventional cardiologist ( who was NOT an electrocardiologist, finally, even with NO heart findings of abnormality other than some bradycardia, commen in fainting, but he recommended a pacemaker with not much to justify such a serious procedure. I was livid that they wanted to suggest a pacemaker in light of her recent traumatic stomach surgery. She has been in no condition to have any more traumatic surgery. But she now confines herself to home, because she is sick of going to ER's only to be told nothing is wrong. Yet something IS wrong, and we are at a loss. Other cardiologists since, have suggested a pacemaker would NOT stop the fainting spell, and she would only continue to pass out, but with bettr heart rate. What should that be? 50, 60, 70 bpm? She tends to have high blood pressure, that is being treated in addition to the removal of Cytomel for her ablated thyroid replacment therapy along with continued Synthroid. The thyroid function appears to be normal,,with the TSH now restored back to 1.9 that is considered a good reading. Does Cytomel cause heart effects? Does Nadolol and beta blockers cause respiratory problems now? Where are any justifications for a pacemaker?? She had monitors on every ER visit,,normal with some bradycardia, but a pulse rate in the 50' and 60's most of the time except ONCE 2 years ago when she was taken to an ER in Ohio, and they said, after the stomach, and kidney surgeries, her potassium got low for a brief time, and volume needed to be restored, and she was in the hospital for that. It's all a mystery, as she definitely does NOT want a pacemaker if it's not indicated. AT least 4 of the cardiologist say NO. It's not needed.
The lastest says, the previous Holter monitors, and an external event recorder of heart possible abnomalities were useless records, and now as an afterthough, he finally suggested an IMPLANTED Loop recorder, that one year ago, another senior resident cardiologist deemed "not necessary" and denied she had any heart abnomalities nor "autonomic disorder". So we get shot down by some, and others just casually support a pacemaker??
Do any of these doctors know what they're doing? We are at a loss, but the shortness of breath, and severe fatigue continue to ruin my wife's life. Have any of you had this type of problem,,the SOB, and severe disabling fatigue?
Posted on 12/30/08, 10:12 am