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From: bbrown1@aol.com (Elizabeth)
I was diagnosed with malignant vasovagal syncope after my heart stopped in the hospital. I had these episodes for a year previous to this experience and was told that I had "panic/anxiety" attacks. Finally after seeing me "flat-line" I was diagnosed. I left the hospital with a pacemaker. All was well for a few months. However, I began having episodes again. I became so dizzy that I was unable to drive. I was told by my cardiologist that the pacemaker would only keep my heart from stopping and could not prevent all of the symptoms. I was told that "this stinks, just deal with it". Well, I "dealt with it" and traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN last week. I am 25, cannot work (after completing a degree in Finance) and cannot drive a car or live alone. I am compeletey dependent on my parents for everything. I had become so weak that I have difficulty walking (my parents have to hold me up). I was told at Mayo that I have the most severe chronic case of vasovagal syncope. I have the dizzyness, weakness, low blood pressure, seizure-like tremors, etc. 24 hours a day. I have returned home with a prescription for a medicine that will help open my blood vessals, support compression stockings, and an order to begin supervised rehab to build the strength in my legs. This may or may not work. There isn't a cure and needless to say, I am having a very hard time dealing with this emotionally and physically. I am going today to get my stockings and a cane to help me walk. I feel like my dreams for a normal life have disappeared. Does anyone else have this condition as severely as I do?