Passing Out

[Murray1987]

I am in the ARMY and in mid February I passed out while doing PT. Everyone who saw it said my legs didn't cave they locked and I ended up falling straight backwards. I hit my head and ended up with a skull fracture, and bruising and bleeding on the brain. Before I passed out my chest felt like it was on fire and then I got light headed and the next thing I knew I was sitting up from the floor. Now everytime I get worked up I feel like I am going to pass out. I was in the hospital for 10 days they did EKG's, EEG's, a 24 blood pressure and EKG and a stress test on the exercise bike for 30 minutes. While doing the test I was ok until the cool down and the same thing happened my chest got real hot and I got light headed and passed out again. The doctors can't seem to figure out why this is happening and the ones who say anything say that I was dehydrated, but I wasn't. I stay hydrated and when I was in the hospital I had an IV drip 24/7 to keep me hydrated incase that's why I passed out initially. Now I am getting migraines, stabbing pains in the back of my head where I hit the floor, sometimes I have trouble remembering things, I am getting irritable and angrier a lot easier than I used to, and sometimes I notice I have shaking spells in my hands. Any input would be appreciated.

[SamPCS]

I can completely understand heart beat feeling.  I had that feeling for few months may be because I was prescribed Elavil - low dosage.  At this point I don't know why the doctor prescribed since when I went to the Neurologist I didn't have headaches or sleeping problems and doctor assumed I had even though I said I don't.  I sincerely took that medicine and tried all others medicines for several months which did nothing and now I cannot get out of Elavil.  

You definitely want to go check with cardiologist.  Who knows there may be something simple and can be treated.  At the hospital they thought I have syncope.  I had holter monitor for a month and ran all the tests and cardiologist said my heart is fine and all the symptoms  are from the brain which I already guessed because I was doing fine before the brain injury.  Even at this day whenever I go to stores, malls etc., I feel like I am going to pass out.  

Also check out University of Buffalo concussion clinic where one doctors treats NFL players with controlled exercise and have seen success.  

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
The symptoms could be due to concussion and this will go with time. However, it could also be due to pinched nerve in the neck. The passing out could be due to vasovagal attack. The complex group of symptoms is mediated by the vagus nerve. This nerve is irritated by prolonged standing, standing up suddenly, stress, pain, hunger, dehydration, intense emotion etc. It can happen post exercise too. A tilt table test, holter monitor (wear this while exercising too), echocardiogram etc are done for confirmed diagnosis. Discuss this with your doctor. Take care!

[Murray1987]

Thanks for the input. I will have to look into what you have said.
Also I don't know if it is a big thing or not but I can usually always feel my heartbeat and it feels like it is beating hard. I don't really know how to describe it but I can always feel it beating. I did some research and that is a symptom of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and so is the fainting. Is this serious should I ask if I have HCM or am I just being paranoid?

[SamPCS]

I fell down, hit the back of my head like you and had bruising and bleeding on the brain (like yours).  Happened a year and a half ago and still suffering with various symptoms and been to many, many specialists, therapies, meds etc., and not much help.  My symptoms got severe only after a month with near passing out and went down hill after that.

They put this collectively under Post Concussion Syndrome and there is no specific treatment but lot of other alternative treatments out there and tried quite a few and helped only a little bit (neurofeedback, HBOT, vision therapy etc.,) .  You can consult a Neurologist for migraines and again PCS is something cannot be treated by medicines alone and poorly understood condition since it involves brain which is understandable.  Don't expect much from doctors and if possible try to find someone who specializes in concussion/MTBI.  For memory, anger best to consult a neuro psychologist.

The best thing is to rest and take it easy.  Not sure pushing much will help or not.  Each brain injury is unique and you have to find the right thing for you.  I haven't found mine yet.

good luck.