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Help with vascovagal syncope/blackouts
Thank you so much for your time. I
i am a 21 year old femail and i am having a kinda weird problem i was told that i might be havin vascovagal attacks.The problem is that when i get sick it doesnt matter how sick i am i always blackout.I have been passing/blacking out since i was like 15 i never thought anything of it until the other day i got sick i was alone and i went to the bathroom i started feeling as if i was gonna passout so i did like i have done for years i took a cold rag wiped my face i felt fine and i dont remember anything after that except i woke up on the floor with pain in my head and face from hitting a concrete floor. when i went to the bathroom it was almost five in the morning and when i woke up it was a little after seven so i was out for about a hour or morei dont know what is causing this and i dont understand it most ppl when they passout they say its like bein asleep but mine arent like that when i am out i can still hear people talkin to me in the room tryin to wake me up and i can feel them touching me but i cant move twice i have passed out with my eyes open and could still see i just couldnt move i know they say not to post questions on here but im thinkin that if yall have the same things goin on maybe someone out there can possilbly tell me what is wrong with me i mean i am scared and worried i went to the er after i hit my head on the floor they are telling me to go to a neurologist. I just need to know what i can do till then what if i get sick tomorrow and pass out and hurt myself worse than i did the other day? If anyone knows what i can do please help me. you can email me at ***@**** or instant message me on aol at F33LiNfRiSkY420
My grandson was diagnosed with focal seizures. He has a short startle reaction then he becomes stiff and just stares straight ahead for a few moments. This was going on for quite a while because I believe they had to catch one on an MRI or other brain scan. He is on phenibarbitol now and it makes him tired but is helpin. Good luck.
I certainly understand your frustrations! I am told it can be very difficult to tell the difference and it seems to be the case. I have been told I could be one of the unfortunate ones with both.
I have been diagnosed with NCS and am being treated for it. I've had this diagnosis confirmed by another EP at another university hospital.
I have, also, been diagnosed with E by 1 epileptologist, but it's doubted by another (many neuros believed I had E and NCS). One epi said the abnormal VEEG helped determine this, the other said VEEG didn't convince him. This has been gone on for over 4 years. I had a Reveal monitor implanted for 15 mos. to figure what was from the syncope and what was possible seizures.
I still have to be monitored by EEG, because they say my seizures may be deep enough not to register on EEG. A normal EEG doesn't mean you don't have seizures.
You might want to check out this link, a nice forum on epilepsy:
http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=133
I have been diagnosed with NCS and am being treated for it. I've had this diagnosis confirmed by another EP at another university hospital.
I have, also, been diagnosed with E by 1 epileptologist, but it's doubted by another (many neuros believed I had E and NCS). One epi said the abnormal VEEG helped determine this, the other said VEEG didn't convince him. This has been gone on for over 4 years. I had a Reveal monitor implanted for 15 mos. to figure what was from the syncope and what was possible seizures.
I still have to be monitored by EEG, because they say my seizures may be deep enough not to register on EEG. A normal EEG doesn't mean you don't have seizures.
You might want to check out this link, a nice forum on epilepsy:
http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=133
Hello,
Sorry to hear about your black out, but you get an "A" for effort for having a sense of humor about it.
Syncope is a tough problem -- expecially vasovagal syncope. The positive tilt table suggests that VV may be the cause, but it depends a bit on how the doctor interpretted the results. Did you pass out? did your blood pressure drop and heart rate drop or did you blood pressure drop and heart rate increase or did heart rate increase preceed blood pressure drop? It is important to see the results and rhythm strips to see exactly how your heart rhythm responded. If you live near Cleveland, Dr. Fouad here at the Cleveland Clinic only sees syncope patients -- it is her forte.
What is the purpose of Paxil?
Many people that suffer syncope also have anxiety problems. Sometimes syncope is preceeded by anxiety attacks, most of the time not. Some doctors try paxil incase there is a strong anxiety component just to see if it helps. In some patients it makes sense and actually helps.
What could this be?
I would guess it is vasovagal syncope, but would need to see the tests or repeat them to know for sure.
Where do I turn to next?
I would see a doctor that specializes in syncope. Syncope is a tough thing to treat and sometimes even tougher to diagnose with certainty. Look for a specialist near your home or come see us.
Can the infections cause the blackouts?
Yes, but probably not with the frequency you describe. You tell me you have a fever and are dehydrated everytime it happens, maybe, otherwise, probabaly not in your case.
Everytime I have a spell I have sores on my face.
Do you mean from trauma -- from falling so quickly?
You have had a lot of different tests and it sounds like you are still searching for a definite answer. That makes me think it must be difficult to diagnose. Look for a specialists -- someone that says they have a particular interest in syncope. I think that is the next place to start.
Typically other things we do are a high salt diet, beta blockers,support hose, and midodrine. Other people may benefit from sensitization training if a particular trigger for syncope is identified.
Hope this helps -- good luck!
Sorry to hear about your black out, but you get an "A" for effort for having a sense of humor about it.
Syncope is a tough problem -- expecially vasovagal syncope. The positive tilt table suggests that VV may be the cause, but it depends a bit on how the doctor interpretted the results. Did you pass out? did your blood pressure drop and heart rate drop or did you blood pressure drop and heart rate increase or did heart rate increase preceed blood pressure drop? It is important to see the results and rhythm strips to see exactly how your heart rhythm responded. If you live near Cleveland, Dr. Fouad here at the Cleveland Clinic only sees syncope patients -- it is her forte.
What is the purpose of Paxil?
Many people that suffer syncope also have anxiety problems. Sometimes syncope is preceeded by anxiety attacks, most of the time not. Some doctors try paxil incase there is a strong anxiety component just to see if it helps. In some patients it makes sense and actually helps.
What could this be?
I would guess it is vasovagal syncope, but would need to see the tests or repeat them to know for sure.
Where do I turn to next?
I would see a doctor that specializes in syncope. Syncope is a tough thing to treat and sometimes even tougher to diagnose with certainty. Look for a specialist near your home or come see us.
Can the infections cause the blackouts?
Yes, but probably not with the frequency you describe. You tell me you have a fever and are dehydrated everytime it happens, maybe, otherwise, probabaly not in your case.
Everytime I have a spell I have sores on my face.
Do you mean from trauma -- from falling so quickly?
You have had a lot of different tests and it sounds like you are still searching for a definite answer. That makes me think it must be difficult to diagnose. Look for a specialists -- someone that says they have a particular interest in syncope. I think that is the next place to start.
Typically other things we do are a high salt diet, beta blockers,support hose, and midodrine. Other people may benefit from sensitization training if a particular trigger for syncope is identified.
Hope this helps -- good luck!
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