Syncope frightening to deal with

January 8, 2013 By

Q: I am a 73-year-old female in relatively good health but in December 2008 I awoke in the middle of the night with cramping. When I came to, I was on the bathroom floor with a badly bruised arm. My doctor said he thought it was a vasovagal incident so I finally forgot about it. Then in December 2010, the same thing happened but this time I came to face down in a pool of blood on my bedroom carpet with carpet burns on my face and a cracked nose. I have no memory of blacking out. This time my doctor decided to investigate further. I have had all the heart tests including a stress test, EKG, echocardiogram, and an ultrasound of my carotid arteries. They are wide open. I had a CT of my head and face.

I have never heard of vasovagal and since this last episode, I have been really stressing about it happening again. Why has it happened during the night? I’ve taken steps to make sure when I get up during the night (which I do a couple of times to empty my bladder), I make sure I am awake and aware of my surroundings.
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Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , ,

Laughing Syncope Isn’T A Laughing Matter

March 8, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’m a 43-year-old male with enough medical problems to last me until I am 90 years old. I’ve had kidney stones nine times, auto-transplant of my left kidney, have had both melanoma and basil cell skin cancers, seven mini-strokes in a year, had pulmonary embolisms, and stent replacement. I forget people’s names that I have known for years and also have a factor V clotting disorder. As if that weren’t enough, now when I laugh hard, I pass out.

I am the youngest of 10. My mother passed away at the age of 44 when I was four years old. I’m approaching her age quickly and want to take steps to prolong my life.

DEAR READER:
First, let’s review your conditions.

Kidney stones are a common but extremely painful disorder. Most pass without intervention by physician assistance. Others don’t. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column Tagged With: ,

Near-Syncope Frightening For Teen

February 13, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My son, who is 15, has been suffering for the last year with a debilitating illness. His symptoms are dizziness, tunnel vision which turns into total blackness, severe headaches, and feelings of blacking out.

He will have to stand in one place with his hands against the wall for support until his vision returns. He has seen a neurologist and a cardiologist. The cardiologist suggested syncope (fainting) and the neurologist saw nothing on an MRI.

My son is desperate to find out what is wrong with him. After a little online research of our own, we are thinking POTS, or orthostatic intolerance. His symptoms occur upon standing. What do you think?
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Filed Under: Daily Column Tagged With: ,