MRI ( with Pacemaker)

[HedgehogHero]

I received a Pacemaker in August in an emergency admission as I have third degree heartblock. I had been experiencing syncope for 29 years on and off and after a cardiologist inserted a loop monitor in June they finally diagnosed me with Ventricular Standstill and rushed me to hospital after my last syncope episode when my heart stopped for 18 seconds. I am a 50 year old female who is a Headteacher .

I have waited 10 weeks for my cardiac MRI for morphology and function and I have this today. I am a little worried about the procedure as I now have a Pacemaker!

I have also developed terrible anxiety and low mood since all of this happened and my GP has said she thinks I have PTSD. I have spent 29 years ‘blacking out’ and now realised my heart has been stopping and how dangerous this was! I keep reliving every blackout, can’t sleep and I have been off work since August. I am dreading the procedure and also the outcome of the MRI.

Has anyone got any advice on the procedure, when they tell you what they have found and what it is like when they turn off the Pacemaker. I would be grateful if anyone with experience could offer advice. Thank you 🙏🏽

[Weetabixie]

Hi, I'm afraid I have no experience of what you mention. But I just wanted to wish you well as I know procedures and tests can be frightening and I hope the MRI goes well and all will be ok.

[EMBoy]

My heart goes out to you - it must have been awful putting up with episodes of syncope, and not knowing when the next one was going to happen. I've had only one episode of pre-syncope and one episode of syncope which resulted in a pacemaker being fitted as a matter of urgency (I have Mobitz type 2 with intermittent stage 3). It frightened the life out of me.

I haven't had an MRI, but when I go for my annual pacemaker checks, they turn it off for a few seconds, and it doesn't feel any different. I know that when you have an MRI, they turn off your pacemaker, but there is always a Cardiac Physiologist monitoring the situation, so it is all perfectly safe. Even with a stage 3 block, your heart has an escape rhythm which means you still get ectopic beats that give some ventricular contractions.

I wish you all the best.