Natalia’s Vasovagal Syncope Story

Young mum Natalia Anderson, from County Durham, first began to have unexplained blackouts when she was expecting her second child, in February 2002. Doctors put it down to her pregnancy but as the weeks went by, Natalia began to suffer the blackouts at least once, sometimes twice a day and all she wanted to do was sleep.

They made caring for her toddler son very difficult and she found herself admitted to hospital several times and longing for the birth of baby number two, so the blackouts would end.

Indeed, after her daughter was born in August, they did seem to stop, but by the following May, while at work, the symptoms returned. After that, Natalia was again back and forth to hospital and became too weak and tired to get out of bed, let alone look after two small children.

The worst attack happened one Saturday when her husband was at work:

“I was at home alone with my two children. I remember going upstairs with Jake, who was almost three and starting to feel unwell. Before I could seek help, I blacked out. Jake new exactly what to do, he reached for the telephone and pressed the redial button. My sister, Janine, answered the phone and heard a little voice saying ’Mammy isn’t very well’.’’

Janine recognised that it was Jake and asked who was at home. Jake told her that Mammy had fallen down and baby Lilli was alone downstairs. Janine’s husband raced to Natalia’s mother’s house, two doors away, while Janine kept Jake talking. Jake calmly stayed on the phone and kept checking both his sister and his mother to make sure they were all right until help arrived.

Since then, Natalia was been diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope, a type of arrhythmia. Now aged 23, she is receiving treatment for her condition from the Falls and Syncope Unit in the RVI Newcastle.

Editor’s Notes

1.   Vasovagal Syncope is also known as Neurocardiogenic syncope or severe fainting and is a type of arrhythmia.

2.   Natalia Anderson is a member of STARS, the charity that helps people and families affected by Syncopes and Reflex Anoxic Seizures. She is available for interview by contacting Trudie Lobban at STARS on 0800 0286362

3.   The Falls and Syncope Unit in the RVI Newcastle is run by Professor Rose Anne Kenny, a STARS patron.

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