Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Can Vasovagal Syncope Happen While Lying In Bed?
Question: Is it possible to have vasovogel syncope whe laying in bed? Happened to me 6 weeks ago.
Hello.
Thanks for writing to us.
Yes it can happen while lying in the bed. But if the episodes are frequent then other causes of dizziness should be ruled out.
I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you.
Regards, Dr. Praveen Tayal .
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal YYYY@YYYY
Thanks for writing to us.
Yes it can happen while lying in the bed. But if the episodes are frequent then other causes of dizziness should be ruled out.
I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you.
Regards, Dr. Praveen Tayal .
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal YYYY@YYYY
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
36 year old female very active and healthy. Avid runner and tennis player. Had vasovogal comvulsive syncope 10 years ago and had entire work-up including EEG, MRI and everything came back normal. Did not lose bladder control or bite my tongue. And was responsive upon awakening. Like i said has only happened 2 times but still feel concerned as to what this might be??
Brief Answer:
Not likely, possible seizure.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
I read your query and I understand your concern.
A vasovagal syncope usually happens when a patient is in an upright position and it is upon lying that the patient regains consciousness. So it is very unlikely that your episode is a vasovagal syncope.
That doesn't exclude other types of cardiovascular reasons for which a Holter (24h) ECG should be performed.
The other possible reason could of course be a seizure. I understand that MRI resulted normal, which is reassuring as it excludes life threatening seizure causes like a tumor and the long time in between excludes causes like infection, inflammatory vasculitis.
However there are metabolic causes for which routine tests like blood sugar, liver and renal tests and electrolytes should be performed (could be normal after 6 weeks). There are of course when all other causes are excluded idiopathic seizures for which no cause is found but to reach that conclusion the above mentioned options should be excluded.
I would suggest an EEG even though the first is normal. A single EEG outside the episode shows abnormalities just over 50% of the time but studies have shown that repeated exams increase the chance of catching anomalies upto to 90%.
All that being said though I see no reason to panic especially if heart arrhythmias have been crossed out. Even if a seizure as I said no threatening causes and since the occurrence is so rare I wouldn't start treatment unless more frequent episodes followed. Try to stay away from stimulants like coffee or energy drinks, sleep regularly.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Not likely, possible seizure.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
I read your query and I understand your concern.
A vasovagal syncope usually happens when a patient is in an upright position and it is upon lying that the patient regains consciousness. So it is very unlikely that your episode is a vasovagal syncope.
That doesn't exclude other types of cardiovascular reasons for which a Holter (24h) ECG should be performed.
The other possible reason could of course be a seizure. I understand that MRI resulted normal, which is reassuring as it excludes life threatening seizure causes like a tumor and the long time in between excludes causes like infection, inflammatory vasculitis.
However there are metabolic causes for which routine tests like blood sugar, liver and renal tests and electrolytes should be performed (could be normal after 6 weeks). There are of course when all other causes are excluded idiopathic seizures for which no cause is found but to reach that conclusion the above mentioned options should be excluded.
I would suggest an EEG even though the first is normal. A single EEG outside the episode shows abnormalities just over 50% of the time but studies have shown that repeated exams increase the chance of catching anomalies upto to 90%.
All that being said though I see no reason to panic especially if heart arrhythmias have been crossed out. Even if a seizure as I said no threatening causes and since the occurrence is so rare I wouldn't start treatment unless more frequent episodes followed. Try to stay away from stimulants like coffee or energy drinks, sleep regularly.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
