syncope or seizure, dysautonomia

Dear Dr.,
Sorry, NCS is a sort of an acronym I borrowed from the heart forum. It is used there for neurocardiogenic syncope.

I am wondering what about my syncope or seizure episode post made you think of dysautonomia? I ask this because my last neuro told me he suspects that I have it. I would, also, like to know what does it mean to have it? Is there a course it usually takes?
Oh, and in another recent post (...crazy little things...) you said something about a deep breathing test,can you tell me about it? Also, about a bipap, I thought that was only used for sleep apnea?

Here is a repeat of my history:
Mitral Valve Prolapse,Mitral Regurg.,Tricuspid Regurg. (all mild),Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia,Neurocardiogenic Syncope (near fainting),Irritable Bowel Syndrome (constipation),Raynaud's,Costochondritis (about 11 mos. now),sleep disorder (fragmented sleep and excessive and dominant alpha waves into all sleep stages),Granuloma Annulare,another keratosis they want to biopsy (to see if it is autonomic or something "old men" get),I am cold most of the time sitting, but if I walk slightly brisk pace I am hot and my eyes water,I am sensitive to meds,Fibrocystic breasts,Cervical Spondylosis with degen. spurs and radiculopathy. My last neuro suspected Postural Ortho. Tachy. Syndrome, too. Now add to this the newly developed buzzing and blacking out.

Thank you for your time and help once again.

[CCF Neuro[P]-M.D.-RPS]

Dear Jan:

Although alpha intrusion into deep sleep is uncommon, usually it does not cause too much problem with sleep.  Fragmented sleep is usually due to other causes such as snoring, hyponea, apnea, etc.  Bipap can be very helpful in situations where there multiple arousals from either of the above.  If you indeed have POTS, combined with syncope, tachcardia, IBS, then you might have a dysautonomia.  The deep breathing test is one of the ways to test for disordered autonomic system functioning.  As far as outcomes?  it varies from case to case and depends on the degree of dysautonomia, the patient, the types of dysautonomia etc.  One has to rule out epilepsy as this can give similar systems at times.  I hope you find your answer to your symptoms.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD