Near Fainting (vomit, turning white, cold sweat, thrist, very tired)

[Mommma]

My son is a normal, thin, active 8 year old.  About a year or so ago he went to the dentist and about 10 minutes after his appointment he turned completely white (very white lips) and said he was thirsty.  Then he broke out in a cold sweat and then vomited.  He then wanted to lay down and was very weak for about 30 or 40 minutes.  He could hardly move a muscle.  Then he recovered fully after that.  He had two more of those episodes after going to the denist during the last year.  Then he had one while at his Violin lesson only he did not throw up at that one.  Then he had another one while standing and making candles at a candle making class.  At both the violin lesson and the candle class he did not throw up but felt like he might.  He was standing at those two incedences for no more than 15 or 20 minutes.  His doctor had an EKG done and it came out normal.  The first two times they were about 7 or 8 months apart.  The last two happened in the last month.  I don't know if I should worry or if he is normal. Several people have thought it was a dibetic problem and gave him sugar and it does not seem to make any difference if he has the sugar or does not.  
The doctor has scedualed for him to see the Pediatric Cardiologist the first week in December.  I don't know if he needs to, but I am worried they are happening more frequently.  He has had 5 episodes all together, maybe I am just a worried mother.                 Thanks so much for your time.

Marci Evans

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Marci,

Sorry to read of your ordeal.

I'm sorry to bow out, but I am not a pediatrician and don't feel that making comments would be my place.  The symptom complex you describe could be from many organ systems.  

A very important thing that you can do to help his doctor determine what is happening is to keep a log of the events and a detailed description of the circumstances: time of day, had he eaten?, sleeping pattern, where he was, what he was doing, were there warning signs?, how did he feel afterwards, etc.

I can also tell you that checking his heart rate during an episode will go a long way to determining if his heart is contributing.  A very slow or fast rate might be suggestive of a diagnosis.

Good luck, and I hope you find an answer.

[pkjrsa]

My child has symptoms very similar to the child described by "Mommma".  Do you have any new insights into what may have caused these symptoms?

Thank you!

[dylansmom]

Hi Lynn, I was just reading what you posted and I have a son that was having those symptoms, but without the thirst. Anyway, not to scare you, and this is a long shot, but maybe he is having absent seizures. My son turns pale, but his lips are almost blue, rapid heart beat, nausea and/or vomiting,cold sweat, and a brief staring episode. Just a thought because I had no idea that he was having seizures. When they are doing this,their breathing declines.
Good Luck: Keep us posted

[HealThySelf]

Sounds like classic near Syncope or Vasal Vagal Syncope.  There are various triggers for it.  It can be accompanied by extreme nausea, vomiting, diarea, etc.  It's sometimes caused Vasal Vagal Response.  I think that most kids will grow out of it.  I think that the episodes at the dentist might have just been triggered by stress.

Plug it into your search engine.  There is a tremendous amount of info on this condition on the web.

Best Regards

[LynnSB]

>> I will take him to the Pediatric Cardiologist. <<

I'm so glad !  That way, you'll have peace of mind and the odds are enormous that whatever has caused these episodes isn't serious and even it is  -- it can probably be "fixed" or treated.. it's not knowing and not treating that's dangerous.
It's important not to over-react but when it involves , possibly, the heart and your child it's so much better to be safe than sorry.

Good luck and God bless.

L

[Mommma]

Thanks Doctor for replying to my question.  What I am really hoping is that it never happens again or it is something normal for some people.  I hope it is not his heart!!
Have a great day!!
Marci

[Mommma]

Lynnsb,

Thanks so much for giving an idea of what could be wrong.  This has been so hard for us to figure out.  We have been told many things.  The first dentist said that it might be that some of the medicine went down his throat and it tasted bad and made him react this way.  I knew that was not right, but what you said makes since.  Many people have thought it is a low blood sugar problem but he comes out of it without eating anything.  I will take him to the Pediatric Cardiologist.  The doctor mentioned that he might need to wear a devise that could take his heart rate and record it during an episode.  He has always been very healthy.  He is very active and loves his vegetalbes.  My husband and I both have good genes for the most part.  WEll, thanks so much for the idea.  Have a great THanksgiving

Marci

[LynnSB]

What struck me was the fact he had an episode after going to the dentist.. was your son given an anesthetic for a procedure -- such as novacaine for a filling?  If so, that contains epinephrine and -- should your son possibly ( and of course, Idon't know) have something like WPW  or reentry tachycardia , that could have caused the symptoms you describe. I know because 1. I've read about this happening in the medical literature nad 2. it happened to me! I remember becoming so ill with the same symptoms as a youngster and young adult until I was able to insist that the dentist use non-epinephrine anesthetic ( lidocaine) .

I didn't know what was wrong with me, but knew something in the "shot" at the dentist's made me sick.  OF course, I had other "spells" but my reaction to epinephrine was clearly important.

Decades later, finding out I had adrenaline sensitive atrial tachycardia, i learned why the trips to the dentist had made me so sick..

I may be totally wrong here, but it might be a clue. If I were  you ( and I'm a mom, by the way), I'd INSIST on a consult with a pediatric cardiologist for my boy.

good luck.