hi.. i was wondering how closely related epilepsy and vasovagal syncope are..? i thought i had epilepsy.. went to the doctor today and he thinks it might be this instead? getting a physical done before i go back to my neuro... [re: http://www.heartcareassociates.info/neurosyn.html ]

any information would be appreciated .. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

They are not related at all. Vasovagol Syncope is a condition that relates to blood pressure. It is normally tested with a tilt table test. Apparently it is caused by blood pooling in the lower extremities and when you stand you get a sudden reduction in blood pressure and sometimes a reduction in the heart rate. The treatment is normally education on how to deal with it. Sometimes they increase your salt intake. Some medication is used but that is generally for 12 mths then it is tapered off. Hopefully this has helped a little.

Tooheys

hmm.. i probably should've worded my question better.. what i meant was has vasovagal syncope been mistaken for epilepsy in anyone's case? or vice versa? i realize they aren't the same thing at all, but i want to know how alike the seizures/fainting is..

any info is appreciated.. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

My daughter was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope and we have thought for years that this is what she had. After 5 specialists they are now saying that she has epilepsy brought on by exercise. I hope you find your answers. It can be very frustrating.

Do you actually faint and drop to the floor or do you just "check out"? What I mean by that is, are you still awake but not yourself...can't remember what just happend to you but you were alert? Am I makeing myself clear or is this confusing? http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/tongue.gif

KittyMom

I know this is an old post - I'm hoping some your still here posting...
After 20 years of being told I have epilepsy, I have now just been told by a cardiologist that I do not have epilepsy, I have neurocardiogenic syncope. I'm not sure.
Before I pass out, I have symptoms that can last anywhere from a minute to several hours...I get nausea (sometimes quite severe), hot flashes, sweating, clamminess, anxious feelings, hard to get a good breath, feel a tightness in my chest, turn very pale... then I pass out briefly. When I come to I feel no confusion (as there might be with seizure) but I feel sick to my stomach, and often throw up. This has been happening about 1-5 times per year since I was a child (now I'm 40).
Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks, Maggie

A neurologist told me that a person could be afflicted with both so that each event should be analyzed to determine what caused it.

I've got both neurocardiogenic syncope/dysautonomia and seizures....for quite a while, they were treated the same (and Neurontin is used for ncs, as well as sz). For me, the difference is this- with the NCS, I pass out, then get up and am basically ok within a few minutes- don't recall impact with the floor, but am not confused once I wake up. The seizures/post ictal state lasts much longer (up to hours), and I'm out of it- also have color changes that are different from the pallor of fainting (nails/lips turn blue, chest gets blotchy, face gets flushed, area around mouth is pale, limbs get ice cold, speech slurred/delayed, gait unsteady,feel like I'm a million miles away from anyone who talks to me, then conk out, and sleep DEEP , followed by urinary URGENCY and some frequency). Depending on the length of seizures (ie--a relatively short one) the symptoms can look similar- but the confusion/post-ictal stuff is a differentiating feature. Have you had a tilt-table test? (I flunked that with a bp of 44/16) There are meds that can help ncs- mine has been pretty well controlled for 7 years. Avoid places that are too warm, and lie down ASAP if you feel it coming on.

According to Taber's Dictionary (a standard medical reference) dysautonomia is a rare ethnic problem. Florinef has been used to treat NCS along with hyper-hydration and increased salt intake. It seems to me a non-professional that epilepsy and NCS treatments may conflict.

According to Taber's Dictionary (a standard medical reference) dysautonomia is a rare, ethnic problem. Florinef has been used to treat NCS along with hyper-hydration and increased salt intake. It seems to me (a non-professional) that some epilepsy and NCS treatments conflict eg. increasing fluids.

There are more than one type of dysautonomia.... very true that FAMILIAL dysautonomia is a genetic disorder- somewhat rare (Tabers is a very brief, incomplete reference- sort of like looking up " wallpaper" in Websters, and not getting a picture of all the types and patterns there are). There is another type of dysautonomia that relates to either primary or secondary autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Neurocardiogenic syncope is one type of dysautonomia, along with orthostatic intolerance, Shy-Drager syndrome, and many others. Some diseases, such as Parkinsons, include types of dysautonomic symptoms. www.dysautonomia-edinfo.org (http://www.dysautonomia-edinfo.org) is one site that explains the non-familial form of dysautonomia. Some symptoms are very similar to those of seizures. And people can have both diagnoses...at times, they trigger each other. Generally, an electrophysiologist will be consulted to deal with syncope issues, then refer to a neurologist when cardiac strucutural defects/diseases are ruled out.