syncope

[Kgenter]

Hi everyone!
This is my first posting here and the reason I am here is to try to find out where to go to diagnose the cause of so many passing out episodes. I am a 32 years old female and I have been passing out since I was 14/15. I have been to many different doctors and they can't find the root of the problem. I saw Neurologists and Cardiologists, I had MRI, CAT scans, EEGs, EKGs, I wore a Holter and also an event monitor for a month, tilt table test, you name it and still the doctors look at me and say they don't find anything wrong and I keep paying anual trips to the ER after passing out. Because of this problem I am acquiring new ones: I just had head surgey to fix a CSF leak, possibly due to trauma to head when I fall (I have fractured a cheek bone and right orbit). Tomorrow I am calling the cardiologist to follow up from the last episode, October 10th, and see if they found anything else from the event monitor. I do feel symptoms prior to blacking out; I feel lightheaded, a funny tingling on my face and cold on my face as well, then I wake up on the floor (when can't make it to a couch or bed), heart feels slow and I'm sweting a lot. Also this seems to happen a lot in the middle of the night, when I get up to go to the bathroom or kitchen...
So, if there is anyone out there that could shed some light on me, or point out some questions I should ask the doctor please, please say something. I don't think anyone wants to live like this and I truly appreciate and help and insight. Thank you for listening.

[emsapowell]

What you are describing, especially with a positive tilt test, is Dysautonomia, or POTS. See if you can find a Dr. that specializes in this disease. It's very difficult to do, but there are some that do know and understand this disease. I have it. Dx'd 2 years ago after YEARS of having various weird dx's. If you would like to email me for more info feel free to do so. dysblog at live *******  Also I have a weblog http://mirandapowell.blogspot.com and there are links as well as other blogs from women who are also dx'd with Dys. Good Luck!

[klm0624]

Hi Kgenter, I had the exact same issues and all my tests came back negative also.  I am a 42 yr old woman and my diagnosis was Vasovagal Syncope - research it along with the VAGUS nerve.  I have posted several times here but having experienced this myself and getting very little information from my own doctors, I feel a duty (for lack of a better word) to share what I have learned through my own research... Even though I was given this diagnosis, I didn't understand it at all.  When I began researching it, especially the Vagus nerve (you'll be shocked at the forum discussions, I could not believe how many people were effected and not getting any help).  It helped me to actually understand the physiology of the condition and that there was an explanation other than "anxiety".   In my case, Celexa has helped immensely but it is not an answer for everyone.  In some cases, SSRI's CAN help (Celexa, Zoloft, etc.) but there are many variations of this apparently.  Please research this, I sincerely hope that you get the help that you need :-)

[Kgenter]

Hello Meagan, thank uou for the info. I read all about the vasoval syncope from that website and it seems like that is what the doctors think I may have, they also put me on metoprolol 12.5mg twice a day. They just say I have low blood pressure and to drink lots of fluids and more salt, but none of them ever came to me and specifically told me the diagnose "hey your problem is this"! That is frustrating! I'm going to see the cardiologist again for a follow up appointment and discuss about my event monitor results.
Thanks again Meagan!

[Kgenter]

I haven't been diagnosed with anything, they just say I have syncope. the tilt table test was positive, meaning I had an episode there but they had given me epinefrin or norepinefrin, don't remember well. The nurses measured my blood pressure while in different positions and it was stable. The holter didn't show anything, but the event monitor went off many times while I was sleeping because my heart rate would go very low like 40's sometimes, but I run a lot and race, so that's normal for well conditioned people. I do however forgot to mention that I feel bad palpitations sometimes, I had bad ones while racing a half marathon on Oct 4th, 2010 and kept feeling them for days after and then on Oct 10th I passed out around 3 am while helping my son to the bathroom. One other time the event monitor caught my heart rate at 160/min and I was just getting my son ready for school around 7 am. It is all a mystery. Thank you Meagan!!!!