almost blacked out at work yesterday.........

[nancy]

I work as a nurse in a nursing home. Yesterday at work I was standing at the med cart, and all of a sudden I started to get really shaky and felt like I was going to throw up. Then everything around me started to get black, and  everyone's voices got kind of fuzzy. If i hadn't of sat down I would've passed out and landed on the floor. Once I sat down I began breaking out in a sweat, and my hands were freezing and wouldn't stop shaking. I felt very nauseous, and felt like throwing up. They had me lie down, and I felt a little better. But the dizziness, shaking, and nausea were still present. I have high blood pressure, and am currently taking Toprol XL. I went to the doctors yesterday and they didn't know what caused it, and gave me an EKG which was normal. The doctor said my heart could have been beating irregularly when I almost blacked out. Could my blood pressure have dropped, and lead to this episode? When I got home yesterday from the doctors I went to bed, and upon waking this morning I feel much better. I was just wondering if this episode was possibly related to my blood pressure? I am 22 years old and have had high blood pressure diagnosed for 3 or 4 years now. I've had dizziness related to headaches in the past, but nothing like I experienced yesterday.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Everyone is entitled to one episode of passing out without worrying too much about it.  The "common faint" is just that - common and caused by a variety of different things, from standing in one spot too long, to the sight of blood, etc.  If however this is continuing to happen a more complete work-up should be done to exclude the possiblity of more dangerous causes of fainting such as arrhythmias.

[ginny]

Dear Nancy,
I understand and can relate to your problem because my daugther(18 years old now)has suffered a similar episode.  She was working for a Vet and passed out.  They called Emergency/Rescue who worked on her for 20 minutes and then transported her to the local hospital emergency dept.  They gave her an IV drip and she recovered over the next 4 hours.  They discharged her and told her to see her doctor.  Our doctor ordered blood tests which showed that she suffered Reactive/Post Prandial Hypoglycemia and Thyroiditis. Then referred her for an echo and holter which showed slight tricuspid regurgitation. Then referred her to an endocrinologist who diagnosed PCOS. Then referred her to a nuerologist who determined that she suffered from orthostatic hypotension and Common Migraine. Then referred her to an infectious disease doctor to rule out Lymme Disease.  This doctor ruled out Lymme but thought she might suffer from CFIDS.  Was sent for a Tilt Table Test which was negative(She did not pass out, but her blood pressure dropped 15 points on rising.) The MD diagnosed Chronic Fatigue(CFIDS) and has now referred her to a rhuemotologist.  What this all means to you is to trust your body and the signals it sends.  When something is wrong, you should schedule a doctor's appt.  Keep that appt. and get a diagnosis.  It is not normal for anyone of any age to have
syncope(Fainting/Light Headedness/Dizziness.)  A doctor should seek a diagnosis and if he/she cannot, they should refer you to another specialist who may be able to.  I did not write this message to scare you, but to show you that you are the best judge
of your body and it's condition.  You are your best advocate and are in partnership with your doctor in determining what is wrong.
Sincerely,
Ginny C.

[sue]

My 17 year old daughter has suffered for almost 3 years with similar symptoms.  She has been diagnosed with CFIDS (Chronic Fatige Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) and POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardic Syndrome).  I suggest you talk to you doctor about having a tilt table test done.  It is the ony definitive test for POTS and NMH (Neurally Mediated Hypotension).  After much research the best site I have found for an explanation of these syndromes is
http://www.clipper.net/~calder/POTSWEB.html

After reading it, discuss your symptoms with your doctor to see how they relate and if you should investigate further along these lines.

Good luck.

[g]

What sort of work up have you had for your BP??  you say it's lasted 3 or 4 years ... so you were only 18 when it was first diagnosed ... high blood pressure is not a diagnosis in it's self (at least not in someone your age) ... i hope you have at least had 24-hr urine analysis, renal function, thyroid tests ... if not get that done ... someone your age is unlikely to have hypertension for no reason.

Gord.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Thanks for posting the site Sue.