AV Block Dizzy

[amzz910]

I am 23- found out 6 months ago that i have a complete AV block (congenital) - only because i complained to the MD that my HR has been low for a long time and im not an athlete. She did an EKG to appease me and then i ended up at the cardiologist and then electrophysiologist. I have for years been dizzy/lightheaded from time to time and used to have chest pain a long time ago- which is why im not considered asymptomatic but since its not too bad the electrophysiologist said he recommends i get a pacemaker at some point but not now since im so young and it would be a burden to deal with- so unless i faint - i am waiting to get it for as long as possible. [my HR is usually 45-55 bpm and BP is between 110-121 systolic and 60-80 diastolic- usually on the lower side]

There are just a lot of things that don't make sense to me sometimes. When I drink coffee  -I feel really lightheaded and like garbage after a while but then if i take my pulse and bp its not bad- 120/71 and HR 55 - so why do i feel sick? Meanwhile, I can feel fine when my bp is 116/60 and HR 48 or I can feel tired lightheaded with that too. I feel like there is no link between the numbers and how i feel - which is making it hard for me to understand what i should be doing? Exercise often makes me feel dizzy. Coffee sometimes does. I think not eating for a long while definitely makes me dizzy. I am thinking if my HR is forced up to normal numbers that it causes me to feel unwell. What should I do? Keep a journal?  I want to adjust my lifestyle so that I can avoid a pacemaker. Is dizziness a big deal? It doesn't seem like it- I think its a better symptom to have than anything else.

[kmforr]

Everything you mentioned sounds extremely familiar to what I am going through.  Any updates since 2009? I'm in extremely good shape and run every day however. In 2009 I was tested and they were not concerned at all about it.

This last go round in March, I was told about an AV block.  

I also noticed coffee makes me feel awful, esp when I'm just sitting at my desk for long hours.

I too have an AV block (still not sure if it is a 1st - 3rd) with an extremely low resting heart rate (they've seen it as low as 28 when sleeping).  But I've never passed out or been unable to do normal tasks.  I too have light chest pain/heaviness and dizziness from time to time, check my HR and its 58-70 which isn't too low.

Let me know if you'd done anything to improve this.

Thanks,

[Jerry_NJ]

Dizzy, depends. Have you ever passed out, or lost your ability to do simple task, such as steer a car, put on the brakes, continue to stand and walk?   If you can control your situation even when dizzy, and you take appropriate defensive action, I'd guess that living with periods of dizziness would be tolerable.  

Sometime I get dizzy if I stand up fast, and that is due to low BP driven down by beta blockers to lower my HR.  I can avoid this by simply not "jumping" up from my seat.  I guess you need to find and practice strategies that protect you and others from any harm due to you passing out altogether.  

Sorry to read you got hit with this at such a young age, but the good news is technology keeps getting better, so maybe there will be something better to help you in the coming years, a good reason not to do anything that is non-reversible, such as blocking your biological pacemaker and replacing it with a device.

Wishing the best,