Passed out twice due to heart problem

[Bob001954]

I am a 55YO white male. After passing-out during exercising in 2000 (first occurrence), an EKG showed (and still does) an inverted T-Wave. I have been seeing a Cardiologist for years and have undergone EKG, Echocardiogram, Nuclear Stress Test, and holter monitor tests repeatedly. I have not been put on any medication. Two weeks ago (while working out in the gym), I got dizzy and my heart began beating very fast. After sitting down for 15 minutes, the dizziness remained. I got up to walk to the water fountain (thinking water might help) and passed out, fell down, broke my jaw, received 17 stitches, and broke a tooth off at the gum-line. I was brought to the emergency room and kept there for 7 hours (EKG still indicated inverted T-wave and sinus-Bradycardia). My jaw is now wired shut. I went to a different Cardiologist (electrical specialist) who suspects I have a lethal heart arrhythmia. He wants to perform an invasive procedure (Electrical Mapping) but wants me to wait 2 months until my jaw is un-wired. My question is: How dangerous is my condition and is waiting 2 months OK? I can easily get dizzy by just tying my shoe laces and then getting up too fast. I also get dizzy when my workout is a tough one (usually with weights) but never get dizzy on a treadmill (multiple nuclear stress tests showed no problems). What are your recommendations since I am apparently on-hold for 2 months. Can I start exercising at the gym again? Is there something I can do when I start feeling dizzy to prevent passing-out again? Both in 2000 and 2009, when I passed out, I got hurt. This time, pretty bad. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do NOT smoke (never have), do NOT drink alcohol, and always exercise. I'm not sure what's wrong.

[chuparosa]

Your situation sounds serious and you have every right to have all your questions answered by your doctor. You may have to wait to have the EP Study done but I would imagine that your EP doctor or cardiologist would allow you to schedule an appointment beforehand to have all your questions answered. Just call an ask for a consultation with your doctor.

[Mom2four85]

I would def not continue to exercise until they find your cause of the problems.  You could have malignant heart rhythms like me [polymorphic vt's that go into vfib] which sometimes cause my heart to do crazy things, I pass out and like you have hurt myself, but not as bad as you have.

Seek another opinion - ask for a TTT - tilt table test or some call it a HUTT - head up tilt test - to see if it shows a reason for your fainting.

The other option as mentioned is the EP study w/mapping to determine if it is your heart.  During my EPS, is when my EP found the malignant rythms which made me go into v-fib 3 times during surgery.  My ablation was 99% successful but I did have to have a pacemaker/icd implanted for the heart prob.

I wouldn't wait unless it's absolutely necessary because of your jaw injuries - ask lots of questions about the procedure - how many your dr has done, success rate, how many problems has he/she had during surgery etc

btw...I had a tilt table test and it showed I had NCS nuerocardiogenic syncope and OI Orthostatic Intolerance; I passed out my bp tanked to 0 and my HR was less than 20 and no palpable pulse.  They quickly lay the table down if you faint and put your legs up so the blood gets rushed back to your heart and you wake up, so they're prepared for everything.

[BobRBob]

Yikes, sorry about the injuries from fainting. As for continuing with your exercise regime, I recommend that you look to your cardiologist for a reading on that. Personally, I would be pretty wary about continuing with strenuous workouts, at least for now, given your history. Exercise appears to be a factor in bringing on your episodes.

Best of luck with the electrical mapping when you get to it.