vasovagal syncope
By lapabalan
@lapabalan (41)
Philippines
June 4, 2007 11:35pm CST
my wife developed a condition..VASOVAGAL SYNCOPE... we just found out about it when she was consistently experiencing sudden blackouts and brought her to the doctor. she was asked to do the tilt table test and there she tested positive for this condition.
doctors say that it is so rare that there is still no medication for it. i would like to know if you have friends or relative who has the same condition and how do they cope with it..
thanks
1 person likes this
2 responses
@DesigningLife (903)
• United States
5 Jun 07
Wow, I have never heard of this. I get blackouts sometimes and can only see very dark shadows...not even enough to get myself out of a store or to read, or do anything without help. I thought I was losing my vision a few times and it was very scary.
I'd like to know more about this.
I hope your wife is doing well.
1 person likes this
@lapabalan (41)
• Philippines
5 Jun 07
she's coping but she has attack more often especially now that its summer time here in the philippines and the heat is really terrible.
doctors say that it is so rare that less than 1% of the world's population have this. it is a condition that prevents proper blood circulation from the lower extremities going back to the brain thus causing blackouts. the worst that she had happened in feb this year, she was trying to get something from our top cabinet and i was awaken by a big thud and just saw her hanging by our daughters playpen...
it is indeed scary coz sometimes she experiences this even while driving...they say that prevention is the only thing that we can do as of the moment. she just has to be aware of the signs and be prepared...but you really cant say when the worse will come.
thats why i started this so we could get feedback from other people who may have this..
thanks for your interest and concern for my wife
@DesigningLife (903)
• United States
5 Jun 07
I did some reading online last night about this, and found a few informative sites. Treatments include use of beta blockers, something called Fludrocortisone, Midodrine, and even Paxil (an antidepressant) seems to have had a positive effect.
Here are the sites, if you would like to look at them:
http://www.londoncardiac.ca/pages/vvs.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vasovagal-syncope/DS00806/DSECTION=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_syncope
1 person likes this
@lapabalan (41)
• Philippines
6 Jun 07
thank you so much for the info...we'll be looking into this articles..
thanks again...
@DrGuss (19)
• Australia
29 Sep 07
I feel sorry for your wife. Unfortunately there is no definite cure for this condition but rather control of the episodes.Here are few tips:
1. Avoid triggering factors: emotional upset,pain,standing still (especially in the sun),and anything that might bring about these episodes.
2. When she feels signs of the episode, she can bend forwards with the head down or lie down.
3. "Smelling salts" can be carried and used in these circumstances. She can also try perfumes with sharp and strong smell.
I hope this will help.
Wish you and your wife good health:)
N.B: Some of the facts above have been quoted from the book :" General Practice",John Murtagh.
