She has been seen by both a neurologist and a caridologist, but we still don’t know if she is experiencing seizures or vasovagal syncope. She has had 4 EEGs, including 72-hr. video EEG with no sign of any seizure activity. This led us to see the caridologist. He thinks it probably is vasovagal syncope based on the description of the incidents.

What’s confusing is that the majority of the history seems to match syncope but some factors seem to match seizure.

She was outside and standing in all 3 episodes. 2 were on very hot days — so she may have been dehydrated. She was exercising in 2 cases and had been on amusement rides in one case. In one incident, we think she tripped and scraped her leg before the syncope (may have been some very minor blood from the cut).

Also, I have some prior history of fainting, though in my teens to early 20s. I never had episodes as young as my daughter. Mine came one when I donated blood, when I scraped myself in a bike accident and when I was overheated.

After all 3 incidents, however, my daughter was disoriented and immediately slept after. This reaction seems to fit with seizure more than syncope. Also, in the first incident (the only one where I was present), her lips were definitely blueish. The cardiologist told me that syncope is usually characterized by complete pallor — very white whereas people having seizures are usually not white — he said they may appear flushed (red) or blueish. Also, when she was very young (12mos – 2 yrs) she had periodic staring spells that they thought might be absence seizures and daycare used to tell us that she occassionally had “drops” (vs. falls), but she never passed out with these falls.

Lastly, I’m a little confused as to how to distinguish a prodrome and an aura. The first incident (at 3.5 yrs.) she got very upset beforehand — complained of feeling “funny” and said her tummy hurt before she lost consciousness. This was an incident that occured on a hot day, in Central Park after going on kiddie rides that had some spinning. She has not described any ringing thus far.

Any thoughts? How long did it take you to get the seizure diagnosis (i.e. how many EEGs before a seizure or abnormal brain waves appeared?) I just feel like if we go for another EEG now, it is certain to come back clean given that her episodes are so far apart.

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