Daughter Fainting

[Isabelle'smum]

Hi! My 12 yr old daughter has been fainting at school, friends places, at home and in town. Anywhere, anytime. She has been checked by her Peadiatrician and all ok. Yesterday she had a tilt table test at a much larger Hospital than her own and it was a positive result, she fainted. They are telling me she will be ok. We have a strong heart history, ie: her dad's father and grandmother both dying of sudden death in their 30's and at 40yrs of age. Also her dad has been diagnosed with Familial Hyperlididaemia (sp)., he is 32yrs old. Does there need to be further testing for my daughter? I'm so worried she will be another victim of sudden death. I have not heard from her Peadiatrician and just wondered if any further tests should be performed?? If she is not fainting, she is feeling dizzy all the time. Her diet is fine.
Thanks

[grendslori]

You may want to consider seeing a cardiologist with your daughter. When my daughter (who had known heart disease) was put on a Tilt test, she went into shock. I'm not saying your daughter has heart disease, I'm just saying to have her evaluated further. It is not normal for young people to be passing out like that. She could be having irregular heartbeats that cause a lack of blood flow to the brain. Hopefully she is eating breakfast because low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)can cause this to happen as well.

[Isabelle'smum]

Thanks very much for your reply. I will wait and see what her Pead says about it all and yes I agree she needs to be evaluated by a Pead Cardiologist. I make sure she eats breakfast every day, she is tall and very lean but she eats more than her father. She has a very good appetite. I will update when we know something. Thanks for your comment.

[grendslori]

Hi Isabelle'smum
You might try having her thyroid tested as well. Keep us posted okay?

[Isabelle'smum]

She has had her thyroid tested and all is ok. She has an appoint on Monday morning with her Pead so will update after that. Its Friday here in NZ so a few days away. Thanks for your friendly advice...:-)

[grendslori]

Good luck....let me know how things turn out. :)

[Isabelle'smum]

we finally have a diagnosis!! She has a cardiac condition called Neurally Mediated Hypotension. Are you familiar with it? It occurs when there is an abnormal reflex interaction between the heart and the brain. She has been put on a medication called Fludrocortisone and will eventually be put on a beta blocker also. We are seeing a Cardiologist in 2 months time and her blood pressure will be checked every month. So basically it is a blood pressure regulation problem. Her Pead said it will be a lifetime illness and the chances of her now outgrowing it are very slim but we can minimise her symptoms as much as we can through diet and medication. It's all still very new to me and I am researching it as I type this but all the symptoms of this condition fit perfectly with Claudia. She was having the faints, the headaches, the constant dizziness. It all fits into place. Thanks again for your input and I am relieved we have a diagnosis.
Suzy xx

[Isabelle'smum]

Here I am so absorbed in my own child's health I had no idea your girl has had a heart transplant. I so wish all the very best for her outcome and will now keep popping in to see how she is doing. Our problems are so insignificant to your own...:-(

Thank you for taking the time out to reply. It's much appreciated...:-)

Suzy xx

[grendslori]

Hi again!! I am so glad that you have a diagnoses!! There is NOTHING worse than having a child that you KNOW there is a problem with and no one can catch it to tell you what the problem is!!! I am not sure about the diagnoses. Kristy passed out walking down the street after bending over. They did a tilt test on her and she went into shock so they diagnosed her with diastolic hypotention, which was a better diagnoses than having a life threatning arrhythmia which she later did end up with. Two weeks after she turned 3yo, she started having pain in her joints; it was so bad she would be screaming in pain, had a hard time walking etc. It took 2 1/2 more years for her to be diagnosed with Juvenile Rhuematoid Arthritis! That was the longest 2 1/2 years of my life. I was so glad to hear the pediatrician tell me what was wrong; I wanted to jump up and kiss the guy and he was sitting there, feeling sick telling me! At that point we could treat her because we knew what was wrong. I have a feeling that I know exactly how happy you must be right now! I wish you well.
Silvia