cardiac syncope

[Jenn0030]

I was diagnosed with epilepsy as a teenager as a teenager and now have been told at age 32 that I may have been mis-diagnosed and actually had cardiac syncope all these years.  Could anyone help me with some info.  I have episodes which look like full seizures, but with warning signs prior to the event.

Thanks jenn

[Jenn0030]

Thanks again for your help.

[Brooke_38]

Hi Jenn...

I strongly urge you to get a 2nd opinion, with your past medical history (that includes an MI) family history of early heart disease and heart attack....Run, do not walk, to a 2nd opinion (that will include the TTT)!

I don't blame you for the squeemish feeling that you have whelling up in your stomach...It is disconcerting, to say the least, when you obtain medical records and see those words "Possibility"

Please keep us abreast of how this progresses:)

[Jenn0030]

oh, I don't know if this helps...

My father has a history of early MI as well (in his 30's) he has a pacemaker and ICD that was placed in his 50's.  

I didn't know if you knew if there was some hereditary issues with this.

Thanks for all your info

[Jenn0030]

I was originally diagnosed with narcolepsy because I had a normal eeg (or so I was told).  I guess my parents weren't happy with the narcoplepy dx so they went to a spec. and had video eeg monitoring (I guess this was not routinely done in the early 90's) which was supposed to be more sensitive.  This was located a seizure focus in the left temporal lobe.  I have copies from my testing done at age 16 and 17, both say the same thing.  "suggest the possibilty possibility of partial and secondarily generalized seizures, probably of left temporal origin".  

It just makes my stomach turn to think that I may have been taking meds all these years that I haven't needed.  Especially when I see the word "probably" in these reports.  I just got them last week.

Jenn

[Brooke_38]

sorry for the typo... I meant to say, during the syncopal episode "seizure-like" activity may occur.

I guess I should have proof read my comment before I posted it :D

[Brooke_38]

Yes, during the opal episode "seizure-like" activity may occur.This convulsive activity is thought to be distinct from a seizure disorder.

When you were diagnosed with Epilepsy as a teen, was it after an EEG? or was it just based on symptoms observed by your family members? I think that you should definitely get to the bottom of what your actual diagnosis is. Antiseizure medication is not the medication used for NCS. Get the TTT (tilt table test).

[Jenn0030]

Is it possible for NCS to look like a grand mal seizure including something like a post-ictal state lasting 20+ minutes.  I guess that my body tensed and contracted with my hands and fingers drawn into my chest, this lasted only 5 mintes.  I was very confused after this shaking stopped and didn't respond to anyone for quite some time.  I don't remember the episode except knowing that it was going to happen and waking up confused each time.  I only have the stories of family members of what happened in the 20+ minutes in-between.

[Jenn0030]

I had a complete blockage of a branch of my left coronary artery which was anatomically smaller than it should have been (aka too small for a stent).  No one did testing for hypercoagulable conditions, fiqured it was due to family history, I found out several years later that my factoe V ledien was a major cause as well.

[Brooke_38]

Hi Jenn...

You are right, a stress test is used to show how your heart works during physical stress, how well the heart is perfused with oxygen rich blood.

It is not the type of test that will be able to rule in or out they possibility of NCS (neurocardiogenic syncope)

You didn't mention the past MI in your original post. What was the underlying cause of the MI?

[Jenn0030]

I have been on Epilepsy medication, a beta blocker due to a MI that a had when I was 28 and high dose folic acid for factor V leiden.

I recently had a stress test, but I am assuming that the results will not show the same type of thing?

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

Neurocardiogenic syncope (vasovagal syndrome) is related to an autonomic dysfunction. In this condition blood vessels tend to expand, which leads to pooling of blood in the lower parts of the body. As a result, less blood reaches the brain and this causes fainting. The usual stimulus for this action resides in the nerves of the heart.

A head-up tilt test can uncover the underlying cause of the fainting in this syndrome. Neurocardiogenic syncope is usually treated with medications that reduce the probability of cardiac nerves triggering the cycle that leads to lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting. This syndrome is most often treated with a combination of increased salt and water intake along with medications that regulate blood pressure.

If you haven't had a tilt test yet, I suggest this as a way to confirm the etiology of your symptoms. Are you currently taking any type of medication?