Fainting

[ArikaRose]

My 14-year-old daughter has been fainting off and on for the past few years. Her most recent episode was this morning. The same thing occurs each time these episodes happen. She gets up from sleeping and comes into my room complaining of getting a cramp in her calf. Meanwhile, she seems very distraught and uncomfortable and wants to lie down. Next, she says she needs to go the bathroom and goes to sit down on the toilet. She was leaning forward stating her chest hurt. She sat back up again. She was very pale and said she was hot and sweaty. Then, with a soft moan, she will just slump to the side. I was there to hold her up and I called out her name with no answer. She also made a strange sound that sounded like a snore. Otherwise, she was still. Not even a minute later I noticed she began to urinate and she then woke up. She was very tired, pale, and was sweating. She ended up going to bed for a few hours. I spoke to a nurse in triage who took my information and we have an appointment set up tomorrow to speak to the doctor. She still goes to her pediatrician. She has had an EKG, and a couple of x-rays. But nothing shows up. Also, in between these episodes, which are around 4-6 months apart, I have also taken her to the emergency room on several different occasions because she has felt like she could not breathe. The most recent time was in February and I was told it may be an anxiety attack. I am very worried and have no idea what to do think about this. Any ideas if this may heart related or something else?

[pallavitomar]

I had similar fainting episodes since I was 12,it usually happened to me mornings 1st day of my periods and in same way,waking up going to the toilet and bamm ....i use to turn pale all sweaty ...got checked for whole lot of things but nuthing explained it...I am 29 rt now from age 12 to 29 I had it 8 times my latest was this year .I have a daughter who is 5 and rt now I a pregnant and it happened when I was 12 week pregnant.

[stevie_wonder]

This should be checked out by a pediatric cardiologist. There are many different cardiac conditions that cause fainting and with her chest discomfort and that fact that it happens shortly after waking up I would definitely pursue this promptly. Ask the cardiologist to refer you to an Electrophysiologist (cardiologist that specializes in heart rhythm disorders). Check out the www.sads.org website for info about all the different conditions there are. Some are genetic so you should also review your family health history. My family has a condition called Long QT Syndrome. It is treatable but if left untreated is very dangerous. Most people don't realize that there are alot of heart conditions that affect young people even under 20. Please check this out. Good luck.
Stevie

[sueinns]

Have you had her seen by a neurologist regarding a possible seizure disorder?  It sounds more like that then heart related.

[ArikaRose]

Yes, I have asked for more thorough testing to be done. We'll see what the doc says today. He has stated that she has been having some puzzling things going on and doesn't seem to know what it could be. I will definitely make an appointment on my own for her to see a cardiologist. Thank you for your responses.

[lanakaye]

No, this does not sound like an anxiety attack.  Please take her to a pediatric cardiologist.  If there isn't one in your area, take her to a cardiologist in another city right away. I know that you are very concerned and so am I.  What has your own Dr. had to say about this.  If he knows hasn't he run some tests or made a referral?  Please just make an appointment yourself with a cardiologist.
if these folks in your area have not gotten excited enough to do so.  I would want to know that possibilities have been ruled out, before I could settle down.
Let us know

lanakaye.

[anacyde]

Please let us know what comes of the appointment.  That does NOT sound like any anxiety attack I've ever experienced, and if this were my own daughter I would ensure that she saw a cardiologist and perhaps wore an event monitor to try and catch one of these episodes.

I wish you the very best, and I hope everything turns out okay.