Passing out and migrains

[ErikaLynn91]

I am a 19 yr old female and I have been getting horrible migrains almost everyday for about three months my doctor will not do anything about them except put me on pain pills. I have passing out about 4 times a week for almost 3 weeks now, yesturday i passed out twice in an hour when im just about to pass out i get a huge hot flash everything goes white and i cant hear anything then i just fall. I went to ER last night they ran some tests and couldnt figure anything out and my doctor has no idea..does anyone know what it could be? any suggestions would help, i just need a starting point for possibilities at this point, i am getting ready to start a new job soon so i need to get this taken care of or i will just get fired.


This discussion is related to Dizziness, Fainting, nausea, and headaches.

[ErikaLynn91]

thank you for the feedback.the only tests they did in the ER is some blood tests to test for anemia and an ekg after that the doctor said there is nothing that she could do and sent me home, i was so mad i should have asked for a different doctor first but i just wanted to go. i dont know if this is a symptom but for the past two days i have been crying for absolutely no reason just out of no where i start crying.

[ErikaLynn91]

Thank you for feedback. I will ask my doctor about these things and have an appointment scheduled for a neurologist in march which im trying to get in sooner. I do not know what to do until then because i never know when im gonna get these feelings and i go to college and starting a new job soon.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi! If you have headaches and hot flashes and lightheadedness with passing out, you could be having either polycystic ovarian disease or GERD with or without H pylori infection. These are the two conditions to be ruled out first. If you use computer a lot or read a lot then the symptoms could be due to compression of the spinal nerves in the cervical spine region. This can happen due to overuse of computers, work involving straining of neck, herniated disc, canal stenosis, bone disease, spondylosis, poor posture etc. A MRI of the cervical spine and nerve conduction studies may be required. Please consult a neurologist. Physiotherapy will help you and hence you should learn neck exercises to relieve neck strain. Get your blood pressure checked. This can also cause headache with dizziness. TMJ is another possibility. If you have been out in sun a lot or drink less of fluids then it can also be due to electrolyte imbalance or dehydration. Benign intracranial hypertension also causes dizziness with headache and a spinal tap is confirmatory. It can be a migraine attack too. Other conditions to be strongly ruled out in your case could be Meniere’s disease of the ear, wax in the ear, infection of the middle or inner ear, and benign positional vertigo. Hence it is important to consult an ENT specialist and a neurologist too. Other causes are anemia, hypoglycemia or low sugar and some endocrine problems, such as an underactive thyroid (called hypothyroidism), overactive thyroid (called hyperthyroidism), adrenal insufficiency (called Addison's disease),  and in some cases, diabetes, may lead to hypotension and hence lightheadedness and an off balance feeling. It can also be an anxiety and panic attack. Epilepsy too is a possibility. It is really difficult to comment on the net. I suggest you consult your PCP to run the basic investigations and get an insight into what could be the cause. Depending on clinical examination and tests, your PCP can refer you to the appropriate specialist. Hope this helps. Take care!

[caregiver222]

A CT scan is inappropriate.

You need both an MRI and a dye-contrast MRA, preferably with 3T machines.

I do concur that your present physician (if the facts are as you presented) appears to lack judgement. I am concerned that the ER did not come up with anything.

My gut feeling is that you have seizure problems, but that is by no means a foregone conclusion.

You really need to find another medical facility for a thorough evaluation.

[kenonurse]

Hi. I have to say I haven't heard of people passing out from migraines. You don't say if they did a CT scan or what the tests were in the ER. You need to see a neurologist immediately and have a CT scan or MRI? These tests need to be done asap. If it was me I would dump your current doctor. I find it unbelievable that he hasn't done anything else to help you. Such as the CT and MRI. Please go to a neurologist and insist on having an MRI. You have to be your own advocate and be assertive regarding your healthcare. Don't let the doctors run all over you. You have the right to have input into your healthcare and request the appropriate tests. Good luck!