sizure like activity after fainting

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this may be cheating, as i posted it over in the er forum, but i figured some folks here might have some insight.

vasovagal syncope with seizure like activity: anyody seen it?

in other words, a typical vasovagal trigger, followed by fainting, and tonic movements.

this article claims an 8% incidence rate, and i am wondering if others have seen this. i haven't.

[color=#333333]http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/generallinks/a/syncopeseizure.htm

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[color=#333333]in a 6-year study conducted by investigators at northwestern university, up to 8% of patients with vasovagal syncope displayed seizure-like activity when they lost consciousness during a tilt table study. these patients underwent extensive neurological evaluations including eeg (electroencephalogram - a study of the electrical signals produced by the brain), cat scans, and mri scans, and none proved to have evidence of a true seizure disorder. their seizure-like movements during syncope are apparently caused by temporary but extremely low blood pressure during the syncopal episode.

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Specializes in Emergency room, Flight, Pre-hospital.

saw it once in er, pt fainted and started twitching then came to, really weird, I grabbed some ativan thinking was a seizure, but it wasn't. Only that one time, haven't seen it since.

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I've seen it many times. Nothing to worry about according to the docs I've worked with.

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My 10 year old daughter fainted after having blood drawn and immediately had a grand mal seizure. We saw the same thing happen 3 years prior, when she fainted after seeing her twin sister get a tooth pulled. She fainted, hit her head on the dental chair and floor and had a seizure. I am afraid that every time she faints, she will have a seizure. In this last episode, they immediately took her to get a CT scan. It was normal. Doctor said it was "fright" that caused vaso-constriction, that brought on the seizure.

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ever since i was a child if i fainted i always had a seizure afterwards. and the doctors dont know why it happens. and i know its not epilepsy. there has to be something i just wish the doctors did their job properly and was able to tell me what it is.

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Specializes in NICU.

I've seen it twice in "fairly" healthy adults (both with well-managed chronic illness, but who were not "sick" but were visiting family). The first time I was SURE it was a seizure and made a big stink with the Rapid Response Team. The second time, I pulled aside the ER doc (who responded to the Rapid Response) and told her what I saw; she assured me that jerking and twitching were very normal with syncope.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I have seen it, both in patients following a vasovagal and once after my daughter fainted.

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I've had vasovagal syncope with hypoxic seizure. My understanding is that it's not uncommon.

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I had it happen to me 2 years ago. I fainted and my husband was sure I was having a seizure. Foamy mouth, lost bladder control, twitching..it looked like a typical seizure. He called 911 and when they came, they couldn't even get my BP it was so low. I was admitted and spent a few days having EEGs, MRIs, bloodwork, etc. but nothing was discovered. I haven't had one since but I know what it feels like when it starts to happen and I know what to do to prevent it from happening. (Lay down on the floor and put my feet up.)

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

This actually happened the other night, to a family member :uhoh3: The person also had a pacemaker so that may have contributed to the fainting, but apparently seizure(-like) activity s/p vasovagal syncope isn't uncommon.

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