dizziness,severe shaking,blured vision,shortness of breath,as if to faint

[Rachel L.]

hello i am almost 16,i am the youngest varsity girl on my cheersquad.i have great friends,i eat and exersice well,i am normally a happy person.for the past 3 months i have been having these attacks.i get dizzy,feel as if i need to faint(but never have),blurred vision,sometimes even tunnel vision,uncontrollable shaking,shortness of breath,feel as if im not myself and not completely there,numbness in the face.i feel as if i am going to die it is very scary.it is usually followed afterward by a great nausious feeling,diarriehia and a loss of appetite. i have been to the doctors(family physision and cardioligist) and ER after attacks and every thing always comes back perfect.EKG's,bloodwork,ultrsound on heart everything is always normal.these attacks are very scary,and i hate leaving the doctors being told everything is normal when i know it is not. i need help.it keeps holding me back from my life,friends,and even family, these attacks happen at anytime,even in my sleep once. i've had these attacks about 4-5 times in the past 2 and a half months.does anyone have suggestions?im scared and desperate.i just want to be and feel myself and just to feel normal again.

[k81990]

I'm about 13. and have been having the same problems. I agree with 'madgeowens' because it is low blood sugar. when i'm exercising, I always have a snack, protein helps, and water. I'm quite small as well, and the doctors thought it was hypoglycemia. nope. it was LBS .

[Bari999]

My husband and I can't believe it...you are experiencind EXACTLY the same episodes as I am. These episodes have happened while driving, doing housework, and during my sleep. I find it hard to believe I can have panic attacks while my sleep?! The strange thing is...the symptoms usually begin when I lie down. It doesn't matter what time of day it is (afternoon nap...evening to sleep)...I lie down and suddenly I start to get dizzy or spin. Usually, the second my brain falls asleep...it feels as though someone grabs my hand and flings me around the room. If I'm awake, I get blurred vision (or tunnel vision)...then, I get a funny taste in my mouth...I start to sweat...my heart begins to race and feel short of breath...almost as if I'm going to faint (although I never have lost consciousness)...and then I start to shake uncontrollably. I bought a blood-sugar monitor because these are the symptoms of hypoglycemia. However, doctors do not understand why my blood sugar is usually normal at the onset of these episodes?! The episodes have been getting more frequent, longer in duration, and more intense. Sometimes I don't feel well for days at a time. After these episodes, I have slurred speech and stiff muscles. Sometimes I have trouble walking. And, I always need to have a bowel movement afterward (one time during an episode I almost went in my pants!!)...and I always urinate a LOT afterward...and find the urine to be almost clear. I have found a direct correlation to my menstrual cycle and my episodes. They are more frequent and intense as my period nears. And, as soon as I get my period...they subside. There must be some link to a hormonal imbalance...so I am currently working with an Endocrinologist.

I am having an ultrasound on my Adrenal Glands (regulate hormone function) next week...and just did my second 24hr urine collection. (The first one came back okay...and I told her sure, because I wasn't having any episodes that day.) The urine test will be checking for a number of things including adrenaline and cortisol. I had a brain MRI (pituitary gland) and that came back normal...however they can be read incorrectly from what I've learned. If all comes back negative from the Endocrinologist...I will be moving on to a Nuerologist.

I read elsewhere that it helps to keep a journal of your activities, diet, moods and symptoms/episodes. I think that's a great idea and helped me pinpoint/remember new symptoms. I have a long list of symptoms that may or may not be related...but you never know. Some of my other symptoms includes dry/lifeless hair, lack of sex drive, tingling/numbness of face and limbs that comes and goes, pressure/pain in lower back, bloated belly, dry skin, difficulty concentrating, etc.

I have two children I need to get back to taking care of...and I AM going to figure out what is wrong with me. I won't stop until I do...and I hope you do the same. This is no way to live for anyone!!! Please let me know how you are doing...and I will post any new info. Take care and be well :)

[Julieb89]

OMG i never thought any one else goes through the same thing. i have the same problem and its been happening for several years now and just want a cure for it. I am also a very active person and always wanting to have fun, but this shaking is starting to become a problem. i have exactly the same problems. i am really scared and desperatly want a cure for it. mind u i have never tried, trying sugar while in this mood, but will try to see if it works.
PLEASE if someone knows anything do let me know.

[Apotter]

Yes, you are right. I've been having these problems since i was 9 (29 now). The first time that it happened, I immediately knew I need something sweet. My brain wanted it. If no sweets around, it can get very bad and when it passes, I need a lot of junk food..Sometimes it happens a dozen times within 6 months, sometimes it doesn't happen for years. I also have a candy bar around me. The weird part is that I hate sweets. I don't even remember if I've had some for the past 2 months, but i always store some in the house. BTW, when this happens to me, my mouth produces a lot of saliva... like the body is trying to get rid of something or fight it.

[Sola91]

I've had the same symptoms numbers of times, and my medical tests always came out healthy too. It wasn't until I met a nutritionist that I found out what was wrong. I eat healthy too, but I burn it too fast, so I'm hypoglycemic - with too low blood sugar. It works for me to eat a candy bar or drink juice, although after the worst fits I need a lot of sleep. I carry candy with me in my purse. Peanut butter and a banana used to work too. You should try this next time you have a fit : )

[CheerMom2008]

My daughter is a cheerleader and having the same problem.  Halfway into a routine she begins having trouble breathing.  She has had some dizziness and if you take her shoes off, her toenails are bluish.  Sometimes she is so shaky after coming off the floor that she has trouble holding a water bottle.  She goes to the cardiologist and pulmonologist in a few weeks.  I'll update you when they tell us something.  Good luck, I know how much it scares me and her!

[mrr2]

i am 24 years old.  isnt this too young for a heart attack?

[mrr2]

this same thing just happened to me for the first time.  i had just had a cup of coffee and am afraid it offset some kind of balance in my body.  lasted for 2 hours.  very scary, i was home alone.  have not gone to the doctor about it because i am uninsured.

[rthomas003]

I'm not a doctor nor do i have any real knowledge on any medical conditions so i cant offer much to you as far as a lead into what actuall health problem you might be having but what you describe sounds very much like a panic attack. when i used to have panic attacks they played out something like that, i would feel suddenly very aware of myself, rubbery, short of breath,dizzy or lightheaded as if i would faint ,increased haert rate (but not always you can have a panic attact without that) and then i would many times have bowel issues afterward, i would feel very worn out after an attack like that as well, i would talk to your doctor about that possability, one quick way to rule that out as a possability so that youll know if you need to look further into it would be to take the medication a doctor would prescribe to you to help with anxiety/panic disorder, if it doesnt do anything to prevent these problems then you know you need to look into it further,(though sometimes people do not respond to medication) however if it deos stop the problem you can have no doubt in your mind that thats whats causing these attacks.
good luck

[ozark]

at 16 this is pretty scarey for you. Do these attacks happen after cheerleading days?  Do you get thrown into the air as part of the cheerleading?  Has your neck ever been traumatized? It could be a number of things. You should have your parent talk with the pediatrician.  You may need to have  a workup for low blood sugar.  Also maybe a heart monitor at home to check if you get an arrythmia at the time of the attack. They may consider migraines as well, also maybe you need your neck xrayed. I hope you feel better.  Good luck

[madgeOwens]

Have they checked your blood sugar? Sometimes if your blood sugar drops to low you will sweat profusely and get the shakes and feel nauseated etc.....try keeping life savers on hand and the next time you feel this way suck on them or have a soda with sugar. This is just something to consider. Hope you feel better soon.