Re: My Vaso Vagal Episode

From: Kathy
Date: 11/17/99
Time: 11:29:32 AM
Remote Name: 216.78.3.161

Comments

My daughter had her first "passing out spell" when she was 16. She is now 19. She had a stomach virus and vomiting. She dehydrated and I took her to the emergency room. They gave her something for the nausea and were going to get her up for an x-ray. She passed out (quietly). They told me it was from the medication. As she was having the x-ray, while standing, she passed out again. Again, it was supposedly from the medication. She was kept in the hospital. In the next 2 days whe went from passing out twice to twelve times in one day. The Dr.'s said she was doing it on purpose. Then she started having seizures. Small ones at first. Just stiffening. Then full blown ones, kicking arms and legs. Always when she came too, it was with a loud shrill scream. Took her to specialist, diagnosed depression, took her to phyciatrist. No help. Still passing out, having seizures, screaming, fighting when she comes too. Took her to other specialist. Diagnosed migraines. Took betablockers. No help. Our local emergency room told us not to bring her back. That she was faking. How can you fake a dead faint. When this child went out, it was like dropping a rope. She wen straight down. Whatever she hit, she hit. She fell out of the wheel chair in our local doctors office and cracked her wrist, but they told us that she was faking.

Finally took her to a cardiologist. He said her autonomic nervous system was out of balance. Tilt-table test was not conclusive. Put her on salt tablets, increased fluids, and a medicine called flourinef. It seems to work pretty well.

She just had a episode today while she was at work. She was sick and vomited. When she stood up, she knew that she was going our, but could not stop it. She passed out a total of 7 times, and had body seizures with all but the first one. She has to lay down and let her body comletely relax, but this doesn't always help. No matter how many time I see this it scares me. One time today she came back to without the scream, and I knew that she was not all the way back because her eyes were glazed. She did not know anyone around her, not even me, and she was terrified and fighting. She passed out again and came back with the scream and knew everyone. It seems hers are triggered by nausea and vomiting, or sever pain, such as menstrual cramps. I hope this helps someone. It is so discouraging to go to dr. after dr. and not be able to know what is wrong with your child. Especially when they think she is putting on.

Does anyone have any new info re: vaso vagal?

From: Teresa Mefford

Comments

I have never been formally diagnosed with vaso vagal syndrome, but I have been having these "episodes" for at least 10 years. Sometimes it seems months will go by and I will not have them and then when they start it seems like they will never stop. Predominantly in the morning- that is when they occur. I did have one episode that was diagnosed as a vaso vagal episode while I was working in the hospital. I am a nurse and one morning while taking my patients vital signs I had to excuse myself because I could not stand the nausea any longer. My head was swimming, I felt like I could just puke(Pardon the expression). I started to take my own blood sugar in the med room when I remember reaching out and calling another nurse's name when I passed out. Actually, I could hear everything going on around me, but I could not see anything or move. I felt like a limp dish rag as the saying goes. When I was finally place in a wheel chair, I could still not hold my own weight. Off to the ER they sent me and I was told then that I had a vaso vagal episode usually caused by stress, fatigue, and anxiety. I did not have another one for probably a year and have never passed out again because when I start to have those feelings I hit the floor, bed, or what ever I can find to lay down on before I do. I break out into cold sweats if I don't get there fast enough. They are annoying, especially when you are in a hurry to get to work and you have to lay down for 15 min or so just to be able to finish getting ready for work. I have been having a lot of them lately. Mornings 99.9% of the time. If anyone has any new info, I am having a hard time finding the cause of these things. I mean- Why me and not the next person. Who's not stressed, fatigued, or has anxiety in their life! That about describes everyone doesnt it! Anyhow, any info welcome! Thanks, Teresa

V V & Stress

From: bobbi

Comments

My husband has had 3 episodes within the last 2 years, all apparently related to high levels of stress. The first two were after we bought our first house. He was skipping meals and not drinking water. The cardiologist recommended salt, water, not skipping meals, etc... he also put him on paxil for a period of time. He had another last week after he lost his job and went to file for unemployment. He was feeling sick all day and slept most of the day. One episode when he was standing on a crowded commuter train. The other 2 happened after urinating in the middle of the night, and in front of me [very scary!] Both of those times I called the rescue squad after he did not respond when i called him -- he looked dead! Maybe he should be on an anti-anxiety medicine or ant-depressant?! I am also looking for a job to try and relieve some of the financial burden that he is internalizing! ANYONE ELSE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH YOURSELF OR A SPOUSE?

This web site is not a substitute for a thorough medical evaluation and diagnosis of your vaso-vagal type symptoms. Medical treatment and diagnosis is the only acceptable initial response to these serious symptoms since they might present from any number of life threatening and treatable illnesses. It is for you and your physician to rule out more serious illnesses; Please don't use this online forum as an alternative to getting responsible medical attention and being under the care of a physician for the duration of any unknown, suspected or dangerous vaso-vagal syndrome symptoms.

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Vaso-Vagal Discussion