vasovagal syncope

[senior moment]

Is there any meds that will calm the oversensitive vagus nerve?  I faint when I have colon cramps.  
It's a very depressing & embarrassing situation to be in.  I'm afraid to leave home for fear I will have to use the bathroom away from home.  At home I keep a small table I can lay my
head on when I feel I am losing consciousness but I would not have that  away from home. I am
a senior & a fall could be devastating to me. I used to recovered from one of these episodes in about an hour but now it takes all day for me to get my strength back.  I am scheduled for a colonoscopy & know the prep will cause cramps & I will pass out.  How will I ever get through hours of cramping? Once I faint it will be over.  My neurologist doesn't think think this is anything to worry
about but I do.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

[PinkPatty]

Hi.  I'm not sure if you have what I have but I have something called Neurocardiogenic Syncope, you can do research on it on the internet.  I went to Vanderbilt University in Nashville to be checked to make sure that this is what I had.  It is basically that under certain circumstances/stresses, my neurologic system will cause my cardio system to shut down, my heart rate will drop very quickly and I'll pass out.  The main test is called a  tilt table test.  While on a table and upright but tilted slightly backwards, I pass out completely.  My triggers are heat, heavy periods, severe abdominal cramping, high fever, extreme stress, dehydration, having blood drawn, standing up too quickly, there are quite a few (sometimes I've heard Vasovagal syncope).  I went to Vanderbilt to be checked and make sure there wasn't something much more serious going on.  There wasn't.  Since I have known that for the past 8 years or so, I have been able to try to avoid the triggers, and at the very least, know when I feel like I'm headed for a fainting spell and lay down or put my head between my knees and wait for it to pass.  

I get severe stomach aches from MSG so I avoid it, I'll avoid extreme fatigue, extreme heat, if I get the flu I know I'm in trouble but my husband and family watch me closely.

Vanderbilt is probably not the only place that has a center that can check for this, my general practitioner sent me to a cardiologist to make sure my heart was ok, it's all conected but my neurologic system is what starts the problem.  Sometimes beta blockers can help but they have side effects.

There is a website that I found it is http://www.hrtcare.com/neurosyn.asp .

Good luck.

Patty

[heart2heart2]

I have the same problem, I have fainted from stomach cramps, period cramps, etc. Sometimes ending up in the hospital overnight because my bp and pulse would crash. I think the only way to stop this is to nip it at its source, stop the pain from occuring. Do you have some kind of colitis? Your doctor will have to give you some kind of anti spasmodic for the cramping. I hope you are seeing a gasto enterologist who is taking care of your colon problems, you must tell him about the fainting episodes. They can give you something for the cramping prior to a colonoscopy.  If you find yourself ready to pass out, at the first symptom, (sweating, weakness, etc) you must lay down - on the floor if necessary, or at least put your head down to increase blood flow to the head.