Neurocardiogenic Syncope (Vasovagal Syndrome)

[Stephanie Lee]

I'm 15 years old and was diagnosed with NCS over a year ago. Besides fainting, heart palpitations, seizures, tremors, insomnia, and head pounding migraines are a constant reminder of it in my daily life. The doctors are totally clueless on what to do. I was diagnosed with this disorder after being on the tilt for only 30 seconds (without the IV and medication) I have to admit that I am better after cutting things out of my diet such as soda pop, chocolate, and anything that contains caffeine or aspartame. I drink over 5 bottles of Gatorade a day and eat gross amounts of salt on everything I eat. This has cut down on my daily fainting. Before this diet I was fainting up to 9 times per week, even sitting down. After I woke up seizures would occur as well as vomiting. I almost went to cardiac arrest at the hospital. This disorder has been a burden to live with. Currently I'm taking Florinef twice a day. The only thing it seems to eliminate is the migranes. I still faint and can not stand it anymore. I'm 15 years old and should be out there having the time of my life instead of sitting inside my house every weekend fearing that i might faint. If anyone has any suggestions please tell me....Thank you...Stephanie Lee

[Mike44]

I have had NCS for about 4 years (I am 44).  When it was first diagnosed my doctor told me "you will feel like you are dying but you are not, so you just need to get used to it".  I should have known then that I was in trouble.  I went to see a neurologist today who sat me down and said I need to seek help from a psychiatrist. Because "no one has problems like I am having from NCS".  Obviously I have mental problems.  I have read all your postings and feel for what you are going through, because I have been there.  If you don't mind I would like to post my symptoms and see if any of you have the same before, during or after an attack.
Dizziness.
Cold sweats.
Headaches in the left side of my head.
Vision goes blurry in the left eye.
Chest pains.
Pains down the left arm.
Sick to my stomach.  
Ringing in the ears.
Tunnel vision.
Dry Heaves.
Legs go numb.
Arms go numb.
Heart pounds.
Muscles will shake.
Legs will collapse.
I then pass out.
I am tired all the time, weak, unsteady, and fall easily.  My hands shake a lot, and my feet and hands are cold all the time.
Some attacks I recover from in 30 minutes or so (can get up and walk around again) but sometimes the effects last 24 hours or more.  The attacks come and go.  I can have no problem for a full week and then I get them three times a day for 3 months. Any heavy physical exertion brings on an attack very quickly.

I am on Metoprolol (beta-blocker) and Florinef.  The symptoms are less frequent and less severe on these meds but they do not stop them.  I am also now on Paxil and Alprazolam (I guess to help with my mental illness).  Well thanks for reading all of this,  I needed to vent after todays Dr. visit.  

[Mike]

I have had NCS for about 4 years (I am 44).  When it was first diagnosed my doctor told me "you will feel like you are dying but you are not, so you just need to get used to it".  I should have known then that I was in trouble.  I went to see a neurologist today who sat me down and said I need to seek help from a psychiatrist. Because "no one has problems like I am having from NCS".  Obviously I have mental problems.  I have read all your postings and feel for what you are going through, because I have been there.  If you don't mind I would like to post my symptoms and see if any of you have the same before, during or after an attack.
Dizziness.
Cold sweats.
Headaches in the left side of my head.
Vision goes blurry in the left eye.
Chest pains.
Pains down the left arm.
Sick to my stomach.  
Ringing in the ears.
Tunnel vision.
Dry Heaves.
Legs go numb.
Arms go numb.
Heart pounds.
Muscles will shake.
Legs will collapse.
I then pass out.
I am tired all the time, weak, unsteady, and fall easily.  My hands shake a lot, and my feet and hands are cold all the time.
Some attacks I recover from in 30 minutes or so (can get up and walk around again) but sometimes the effects last 24 hours or more.  The attacks come and go.  I can have no problem for a full week and then I get them three times a day for 3 months. Any heavy physical exertion brings on an attack very quickly.

I am on Metoprolol (beta-blocker) and Florinef.  The symptoms are less frequent and less severe on these meds but they do not stop them.  I am also now on Paxil and Alprazolam (I guess to help with my mental illness).  Well thanks for reading all of this,  I needed to vent after todays Dr. visit.  

[Mike]

I'm 44 years old and have been diagnosed with Syncope for the last 20 years.  Before that at age 12 I was diagnosed with Hypo-glycimia(sp?) due to my terrible eating habits as a kid.
As I got older my original syncope symptoms were getting up too fast at night to go to the bathroom.  My fainting spells lasted about 30 to 60 seconds. However now I get up slower and do not have that problem anymore.  I have, in the last 10 years, developed new symptoms where I faint.  This only happens at night after I go to bed, I will feel a pressure in my bowels that makes  me feel as if I have to go to the bathroom.  After getting up to  go the pressure may increase to a mild pain and be very uncomfortable.  If I can not move the pressure by a bowel movement I will most likely faint.  I experience this about 3-4 times a year.  I'm getting ready for another round of test.  Previous test only showed borderline Hypo-Glycimia and a low B12 count.  I now take B12 shots once a month for that.  I have read though this forum and do not see anyone with these symptoms.
(E-Mail: ***@****)

[Mike]

I'm 44 years old and have been diagnosed with Syncope for the last 20 years.  Before that at age 12 I was diagnosed with Hypo-glycimia(sp?) due to my terrible eating habits as a kid.
As I got older my original syncope symptoms were getting up too fast at night to go to the bathroom.  My fainting spells lasted about 30 to 60 seconds. However now I get up slower and do not have that problem anymore.  I have, in the last 10 years, developed new symptoms where I faint.  This only happens at night after I go to bed, I will feel a pressure in my bowels that makes  me feel as if I have to go to the bathroom.  After getting up to  go the pressure may increase to a mild pain and be very uncomfortable.  If I can not move the pressure by a bowel movement I will most likely faint.  I experience this about 3-4 times a year.  I'm getting ready for another round of test.  Previous test only showed borderline Hypo-Glycimia and a low B12 count.  I now take B12 shots once a month for that.  I have read though this forum and do not see anyone with these symptoms.
(E-Mail: ***@****)

[Kay]

I was diagnosed with having vasovagal attacks just last week, and after the dr told me what I have been suffering for for the last 17 years (I am now 32) that was it and he said that there was nothing I could do about it. He didn't even offer m,e what you are all calling a "tilt test" is that correct ? What should I do about it ? My GP's (Doctors) are all saying that they cannot do anything and because I live here in England perhaps they haven't progressed this far yet . Any ideas ?
The Consultant that I finally went to see said that because I only have them four /five times a year it wasn't worth really worrying about...... does anyone know :-
1. is it hereditery (I have two daughters)
2. is it preventable ?
3. will it damage me in any way if I just leave it (like the doctors have advised )
4. Can I prevent it
5. What causes it ? Stress ? Fear ?  Please e'mail me I am so desperate for any help at all : ***@****  Thank you

[Christine]

I've had vaso-vagal attacks since I was 14, although I didn't get a diagnosis until about five years ago. I'm 48 now. Pain of some kind always triggers the attack. Usually severe stomach cramps set it off, but I suffer from fibromyalgia and occasionally the pain from that has set me off. First I feel vicious pins and needles virtually throughout my body, then, within seconds, my ears start to sing. I go incredibly hot; the sweat pours from me, and I look very pale. I then get flashes of black before passing out completely.
I have always laid myself down on the ground, though, as soon as I've felt the pins and needles, so that I wouldn't fall heavily. I can be unconscious for anything between two minutes and almost an hour.
Does anyone else have the same or similar lead up to the attack? None of your messages mention pins and needles - which I understand is the capilliaries tightening, and I think only one of you mentions being very hot.
Are many of you unconscious for up to an hour? Does this sound dangerous to you? My doctor doesn't seem to be taking it at all seriously.