13 year old DD keeps fainting

[Belo]

My 13 year old has fainted 6 times in the past 6 weeks. (and 3 of those times was in the past week). Each time she is out for about 3 minutes. She has had blood tests and an ECG and there appears to be nothing wrong with her. Apparently it is common for teenage girls to faint. Does anybody have any experience of this? Is it normal? I can't help but be worried.

have a look at STARS who are a brilliant charity for people who faint, loads of help leaflets, and a telephone help line.

sorry, wrong link STARS

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I've just googled PoTs and I think we should get that investigated. She gets a lot of neck and shoulder pain, has poor concentration and anxiety. She has just had a big growth spurt. Three of the times when she fainted was whilst running and once she fainted whilst swimming. Those occasions don't fit in with the reasons for PoTs fainting but the other occasions do. Is certainly something I will ask to be investigated so thank you for mentioning this. I had never previously heard of it.

She fainted again yesterday at a sporting event. There were paramedics in attendance and one of them got to her when she was still unconscious. He said we need to get seizures ruled out as each time she is out it is for about three minutes. And he thought she should wear a heart rate monitor for at least a week. She's now fainted four times in under a week.

We are going to take her to the GP tomorrow and request further investigation. The quick in surgery ECG and blood test's and not enough to put our minds at rest that she is okay.

Her periods started in the summer and they are horrendously heavy. I'm hoping it's just going to be caused by that but I want reassurance.

Thanks for the STARS link. Will look at that now.

You mentioned that she is out for about 3 minutes whenever it happens. That sets off alarm bells for me as most postural blood pressure triggered fainting is instantly righted when the body lays flat. Does she actually seem unconscious for the 3 minutes?

I'd be asking GP for the tilt table test but maybe also for more thorough cardiac checks (?24 hour tape) and extended EEG to rule out epilepsy.

Three minutes sounds a long time was she flat? Raise her feet in future too.

My husband is the suspicious type and did think that she was putting it on. (All those hours of drama lessons had paid off!) but yesterday the paramedic said he squeezed her under the chin in a place that would hurt her if she hadn't been unconscious.

My friends Dd was only diagnosed last year at 17 after 6 years of fainting with Non Epileptic attack syndrome.

Yes it's common not to be believed. I hope he has apologised ans put right those he scoffed at your dd to.

Can I ask did any of you fainters have febrile convulsion suffers? DSis suffered from febrile convulsions and later on was a fainter I was wondering if there might be a link.

DS had over 20 febrile convulsions until he was 13 (gefs+ goes back many generations in our family) and DD had 4 between the age of 3 and 4 and neither have been fainters. I have never heard of it as a link and both my mum and sister and grandmother had them until the age of 10.

forgot to say anothernumberpme DS was obviously seeing a consultant after the last one and I dont remember them asking any questions about fainting.

Friend of mine was exactly the same when we were at school. They thought it was epilepsy and for a while she couldn't drive (was 17). Turns out it was a simple case of not eating enough. She had recently lost quite a bit of weight and was hardly eating...

The fainting during activity is worrying. Agree with more thorough cardiac investigations. Sounds to me like long qt might be an issue

I faint a bit, although not with the frequency of your dd, it is almost certainly related to over heating. I now eat breakfast regardless of how hungry I feel, and drink plenty of water, I now recognise the signs and can usually lay myself flat before I fall, but not always possible. I passed out on a plane when pregnant!
I'd keep a diary of episodes and ask for a referral if this frequency continues. Try to also note eating, drinking, and exercise etc.

My DD16 has had many fainting episodes in the past 4 months. She has a history since age 12 of mild anaemia. She had a slightly abnormal ECG in August and was diagnosed by blood test as having an overactive thyroid. She's had that corrected but is still fainting so she had a series of blood test last week to test for Addison's Disease (lack of Cortisol produced by adrenal glands). If that result comes back normal I'm not sure what the next test is. Maybe some things to think about?

Hi, my dd has bouts of fainting. Since about the age of 13 it was occasional, but now at 17 she has bouts where it can be 5/6 times a week and severely impacts on her life. Her ecgs have been fine. The cardiologist said it was neuro cardiogenic syncope, in simple terms, her nervous system doesn't 'talk' to her cardio (or other muscle systems) correctly, ie, the heart is not told to pump fast enough to compensate when she stands up or does exercise. Apparently fairly common in teens but you usually grow out of it. My dd suffers mainly when she has to get up early, when she is stressed, or when she is unwell. It can also give her what seem to be unexplained bouts of diarrhoea and sickness - NCS doesn't have to include these but they are related to nervous system not instructing muscles correctly. I suggest you ask for a referral - if NCS is diagnosed, there are simple things u can do to help re exercise, fluid intake, salt intake, lifestyle, and a cardiologist will be more specific. STARS, as mentioned, are brilliant. Try to get a referral to someone who actually has an interest in syncope (fainting) or POTS. My dd is currently waiting for an appointment with an electro physiologist (specialising in heart rhythm disorders).

Good luck!

I was about to recommend the STARS website.

Both dd1 and ds have had reflex anoxic seizures; ds has now developed epilepsy.

Dd2 once had a febrile convulsion leading to three nights in hospital.

I'm sure they are all linked.

Agree with asking for a long ECG (can be five days) also an EEG.

Has she been checked for anaemia? I would get her something like Floradix, taken with orange juice (helps uptake of iron).

There may be a link between vitamin B12 deficiency and what your daughter is experiencing.