syncope or something else???

[dayomo20]

I am 22 years old.  A mother and normally very active/healthy.
I was diagnosed with syncope recently after always feeling dizzy, I failed a tilt table test.  But I have other serious problems that are not explainable and feel that I am just being handed a diagnosis because I am a young female who faints...
I also have shortness of breath, sever chest pains, bad headaches, joint pain, fatigue and numbness/discomfort in my arms..  Are these normally associated with syncope- if so why?  If not, I am open to any ideas I may pass along to a doctor here!  In your oppinion should I see a specialist, or stay with my general practitioner?

[rootie]

My six year old grand-daughter is having seizure like episodes.
Passes out and has noted rigidity in arms and bicycle pedaling movement in legs. unconscious episodes have lasted as long as thirty minutes.  Jerking and movement of trunk also. She has complained of a feeling as if her heart flipped over and her ears shut off.

[dayomo20]

I asked my doctor about the possability of  chiari ... he said that it would have shown up in my MRI.  Yes, I've had a good number of tests done now, even heart echo's and tilt tables.  I have problems very similar to good gal's also... this is so distressing sometimes, I am going to check out the ndrf.org site maybe it will help.  I am lucky though because my low bp has been raising a little bit since i started having salt all the time.  I also tried attentol but it made me collapse.  Since Christmas I have had to limit my activity.  I work independently as a Mary Kay skin care teacher so I am blessed to be able to work only when I feel like it otherwise I fear I might have lost a 9-5 job by now.  Anyways I look forward to any more advice/suggestions/questions. Thank you and God bless!

[Goodgal]

hi dayomo---read some of my posts in the other discussions.. and tell me if your symptoms are similar?

[rack]

Hey,

My heart races a lot and i get extremely lightheaded too.  How many times have you fainted and when did you start fainting?

Thanks,
Sarah

[pazifij]

I just read (in the February 29, 2000, Woman's World magazine) about a rare disorder called Chiari Malformation.  The woman's symptoms started out with fatigue, joint pain, and numbness in her hands.  This progressed to severe headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, and memory loss, followed over months/years by bladder and bowel problems and periods of blindness.  Her doctor said it can be caused by a blundered spinal tap or epidural (you mentioned you were a mother--did you have an epidural?)  I don't think it said in the article how this is diagnosed.  It is a RARE disorder, but I thought I'd mention it since I just read this article yesterday and your symptoms sounded similar.

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear dayomo,
Vasovagal syncope, also called neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS), is a common finding in young women.  It is diagnosed by tilt-table testing and treatment is usually increased salt in the diet, avoiding triggers of the fainting and sometimes with medications such as beta-blockers.  It may be accompanied by some fatigue.  It is not usually accompanied by shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, joint pain and numbness.

I would probably ask you doctor about seeing a rheumatologist.  It is possible you have a rheumatological condition that is causing your symptoms.