Syncope, arm numbness, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, normal BP

[PrayingForAnswers]

As my ID indicates, I am at wits end with researching my wife's condition.  I pray that a fresh pair of eyes sees this post and can offer us some insight.

Background:

My wife, caucasian, 27, was admitted to the hospital in March 2003 after fainting while sitting with me on the couch (watching TV).  Her BP was a bit high for her.  She had many tests:  EP study, EKG, chest MRI, Stress Echo.  Everything "normal". She failed the tilt-table.  Diagnosis:  Neuro cardiogenic syncope.  Treatment:  Celexa, 20mg daily.  NO pacemaker implanted.

NOTE:  This does not seem to be stress related.  Also, this happens when sitting, standing and lying down.

Back in the hospital a few weeks later.  Added 10mg Celexa and Florinef (spelling?) to raise BP.

Symptoms:

She sporadically has "episodes" where she gets VERY dizzy, has chest pain (described as "cramping"), varying pulse, shortness of breath, fainting (not always), nausea, feeling of coldness, tingling in all four limbs, and just recently - lasting numbness in her left arm.

We were back to the hospital again last weekend due to the numbness and another fainting spell.  Neurologist ran CAT Scan and head MRI (both normal).  Heart doc dismissed all symptoms as "normal".

We are currently seeing a herbal doc that has her on mega doses of C, E, B-100, Magnesium, Omega-3, calcium and a daily multi.

This illness has not been terribly debilitating.  However, she cannot drive (passes out) and she has been increasingly having more severe "episodes".  I CANNOT STAND PEOPLE TELLING US THIS IS NORMAL!  Thanks for your help!!!

[klm0624]

I am a  42 yr old female... I really think without these forums and sharing of information, a lot of us would be at a total loss, sadly.  Last December, got up in the middle of the night, passed out cold - ended up with a concussion.  Diagnosis was "Vasovagal Syncope".  I didn't really understand it and thought it was a 1 time thing... In Sept 2010, ended up in the ER 3 times.  Rapid heart rate, shaking, severe light-headed feeling, very strange sensations in my head, weakness in my limbs, squeezing feeling in my abdomen - felt like my entire body was shutting down and afterward extreme fatigue.  All tests were normal... 1 dr was shocked that I was upset when he told me I was "OK".  OBVIOUSLY NOT.  I can relate to the frustration of this condition being written off as "anxiety".  YES, when you feel like you're dying, it's safe to say... anxiety would present itself !  My symptoms also started to change, I began to have numbness and pressure on the left side of my neck and chest and my left arm and hand would tingle.  The squeezing feeling in my abdomen no one could explain... After researching on my own, I discovered that the Vagus Nerve extends into the abdomen, it begins at the brain stem and travels down both sides of your neck, around the heart and lungs into the abdomen - all related.  My symptoms became worse and worse, not obviously in response to anything... it would literally wake me up at night, happen when I was watching tv, in the car, at restaurants, whenever and often.  1 episode lasted 12 hours and I felt like I was going to have a seizure.  I had been taking Xanax off and on because it helped me to get through the episodes without ending up in the ER.  After this particular episode, spoke with my doctor as I read that for some SSRI's could help (i.e. Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac).  Started taking Celexa and the side effects were horrendous (facial numbness, severe pressure behind eyes, headaches, serious lack of energy or motivation, sexual side effects as well).   Continued taking the Celexa because it actually did help with the VV symptoms and as lousy as the side effects were, they were better than the VV episodes !!!   Since I started taking Celexa in Oct 2010, I've had only 2 episodes and they were short lived and fairly mild.  I have days that I don't feel quite right, my head feels fuzzy and I can just tell it's going to be a down day BUT no real VV issues other than that.  I would advise everyone to read as much as you can on this subject - particularly the Vagus Nerve - it really helps to understand the physiology of the diagnosis.  Before I educated myself on the subject, I literally thought I was dying - it's terrifying to KNOW that something is going wrong inside your body and no one can really explain why.  Thank you all and good luck :-)

[ladyjojo88]

hello i am 21 yrs old. and i myself are experiencing the same things your wife is! just started on tuesday!! getting a holter monitor on monday to wear for a week or so! they are baffled by mine as well...i cannot get any answers!!!

[cindyandbrad]

I am 39 and fainted a few weeks ago. I was sitting on the couch watching tv(freaked my husband out)-- went to the ER feeling stupid because it didnt seem so serious. I followed up this week with my primary and had to wear a 24 hour holter. All tests up to this point were fine-- EKG and all. The info from he holter show that there is something wrong. I feel healthy. I have only passed out the one time -- they want me to have a pacemaker installed next week or report me to DMV to revoke my driving priviledges. I really do feel good. I am really floored. Any advice?  

[Lebugg]

I am a 42 year old female and I recently began suffering from the same symptoms... First time was Oct 2009.  I had a terrible headache followed by a sudden onset of chest pressure, arm & leg numbness, near fainting spells and then vomiting.  The last time was right after Christmas.  I have had a lot of tests since then (EKG, Nuclear Stress test, MRI's, Holter and bloodwork) and so far they have found I was severely deficient in vitamin D and nothing else.  The vitamin D deficiency correlates with a lot of my symptoms but I am still having the carotid doppler this week.  I just wanted to say that it is very reassuring to me that I am not the only one.  Both trips to the ER had me thinking I was crazy and they made me feel like I was making it all up and dismissed it as anxiety.  Well sure I have anxiety...I felt like I was about to die and I have a 3 year old son to raise!  Thank you for sharing and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Mom2four85]

Check out the Dysautonomia forum here - it has alot of useful info on POTS, NCS, OI and other autonomic related issues.

I've passed out since I was 9, lightheaded, pre-syncope and other symptoms associated with ANS problems, but just now at age 42 been dx with NCS and OI by my EP before I had an ablation.

[vasovagaltoo]

Wow....I was doing a search on vasovagal and came upon your original post back from January of '07.  I am a 47 year old female and your wife's story/symptoms are identical to mine except that I've never completely passed out.  I have also had all of the tests.  This began for me mid July of '09 and I've been having "episodes" about twice a month now.  It is oddly comforting to know that I am not alone in my somewhat strange medical "malady".  I also suffer from IBS and my Dr. started me on 10 mg of Celexa 3 weeks prior to haveing my first "episode/event".  I am trying to determine if there is a connection there as well.  I am still taking the Celexa as it works SO well for my IBS (not one episode since I started the Celexa).  
A Dr. at OSU Ross Heart Hospital where I had my tilt table test,said he has heard of cases where the celexa has been a cause of such events, although it is rare.  I have an appt with my primary in 2 weeks to follow up all the cardio & tilt table tests and will discuss the Celexa connection with her then. by the way, I am also in north central Ohio.