syncope and numbness

[Marinella82]

Hi guys,
I am hopeing you can all help.  I have been dealing with syncope, migraines, and numbness in the left side of my body for a year and a half now, I get sudden sharp pains in my fingers and bottom of my foot and toes.  I get spikes and drops in my blood pressure and will have anywhere from 1-20 syncope episodes a day.  I am frequently dizzy and sometimes lose my vision for a few minutes a day as well as my left side mobility.  Literaly my left side gets stiff and weak.  I also have trouble speaking and forming words, reading or doing simple math when I have these episodes.  When my episodes go away I am symptom free.  I was originaly diagnosed with vasovagol but I have tachycardia sometimes wich isnt common with vasovagol and the numbness (like novicaine numb and sometimes burning but not like pins and needles) is not common with vasovagol.  Does anyone know what's wrong because I've seen many specialist but never really got any answers?

[Marinella82]

I have had all test done mentionedthey and thenI some.  they said I have autoimmune autonomic neuropothy brought on by lyme disease, very rare and very little know about it.  I'm learning to deal with it and the meds help I have not had a syncope episode in a long time.  I hope someday there can be a cure.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
For syncope/fainting to occur, either the reticular activating system in the brain needs to lose its blood supply, or both hemispheres of the brain need to be deprived of blood, oxygen, or glucose.

So it can be due to fall in BP, hypoglycemia, dehydration and inadequate electrolytes in the body, postural hypotension(orthostatic hypotension),, blockage of arteries supplying blood to the brain esp. the carotids, anemia, vasovagal attacks or underlying neurological conditions(like MS and motor neuron disease)

Sometimes, there are partial or complete blockages in the arteries that supply the brain with blood.  These blockages can cause a temporary loss of blood flow (called transient ischemic attack, or TIA for short), or permanent loss of blood flow (called stroke; also called cerebrovascular accident).This can lead to impaired blood flow through these arteries and so dizziness. In such cases CT brain can be useful. I feel that you seem to be having TIA. Please consult a neurologist for complete neurological examination.
I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.