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Fainting and IBS

Has any one had fainting with IBS?  This has happened to me 4 times.   Last time fell forward and broke my check bone.  Always follows a bout of IBS,i.e., cramping, stools, sweating, etc.
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Avatar universal
Hello, yes I also frequently faint during an IBS episode. I was relieved to discover that I am not the only one who faints during an IBS attack, I recognise the signs  now before it happens  so I prepare myself by locking the bathroom door  so as not to be disturbed & putting a few towels  down in case I fall,  and lots of toilet roll , Luckily I haven't injured myself ,  then I start to  get really painful stomach cramps and I start to feel hot & clammy & then cold, then I come over all faint & weak and  I want to Lay down,  but I  know I  have to try  &  stay on the toilet,  but when  I try to control  it ,   it makes it worse, so I just sit there & let it happen,  I tie my hair back out  of the way ready to fall, then I usually pass out and open my bowels on the floor.  it comes as quick as it goes, and suddenly its all over, I will lay down for a while until I feel well enough to slowly get up, I often feel tired after the whole experience  as it usually lasts about 10- 15minutes. before I am fully recovered.
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Avatar universal
I am relieved to know that I'm not the only one with IBS who faints. I have had 3 episodes in the past year and have fallen twice. The pain is excruciating. After the attack, I have no memory of falling. I sweat profusely. My GI doctor has me on Bentyl which doesn't seem to help much. I am afraid of having an attack when I am home alone. I would probably end up on the floor. Last night I tried to get up from the toilet, couldn't and my dear husband helped me get seated again. In the process I hit my eye socket on the bathroom countertop and now have a black eye. I have no memory of it happening and wonder if other people who have this also don't remember it. I am scheduling an appt. tomorrow with my gastroenterologist. I am so afraid of it happening outside my home.
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Avatar universal
Yours sounds alot like mine. I have fainted because of the pain being unbareable. My IBS usually consists of strong cramps with a bowel movements, I get so hot during it that it has made me faint. Also when I have a flare up I will have so many episodes my stomach will keep contracting and I will begin to bleed.
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Avatar universal
I thought I posted this earlier but can't find it.  Excuse if it is duplicate.  I have fainting with colon pain or any pain in that vicinity.  It is caused from sensitive vagus nerve.  At the first sign of IBS attack I take Levsin S/L.  If I take it early enough I can avoid fainting but sometimes still have the sweating & nausea.   It is very disturbing & stressful.
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Avatar universal
Hey
Anyone on Colofac? I have been on it for two months and find it has really made me sluggish, even affecting my mood?
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Avatar universal
Does any doctors in this site respond to any of the IBS forum?  I don't recall I have seen any so far.  I know they have responsed to other health areas.
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420281 tn?1204647504
hi, you were saying that your doctor is starting you on miralax, so you have ibs with constipation it sounds like.  how often do you go (or not go) in a week?  maybe if your backed up, that might be part of your problem, i wish i was constipated sometimes, better than the other way!  my problems are with my intestines or stomach, i have had a bad stomach ever since i was young, don't know why.  i do not have any problems with sweating or cramps, like most ibs people seem to have, i just have loose movements alot since my gallbladder was removed 16 years ago, and when i am nervous about something or eat the wrong thing im in trouble.  i also just have a very sensitive stomach and cannot eat much of anything anymore, also, when my period is here, i have alot of stomach distress.

talk to you soon

crumy
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Avatar universal
I have not seen any difference in seasonal affects.  I am a fruit and vegetable lover although I do eat meats.  Too much fresh fruit does affect me.  I think everyone has to figure out what bothers them and what helps.   Do you take Bentyl?  Is you problem more in stomach or colon?   When you have a bout do you have the terrible sweats as well as cramps?  Stress definitely does not help but don't think it is the base reason. So glad to hear from you
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420281 tn?1204647504
Im glad to hear that you are seeing a gatro doctor, lets just hope he is going to help you out, i have been with mine for 13 years and sometimes just feel that he has done nothing for me.  He just seems to want to stick a tube down my throat, but everytime i get it done, he says good news everything looks great, not exactly what i want to hear.  My husband feels that alot of my stomach issues are due to my nerves and stress.  I have to say that it has gotten worse over the years and am now on an anti anxiety medication after much pain and denial.  It seems to help but do not really want to be on any medication besides my question lite powder that i take to help bind my stools for fear that i will never be able to get off.  my husband has suffered from depression all his life and has been on medication for 7 years now, he has tried to get off but goes back to being depressed, i am not a depressed person per say except when i am having really bad stomach episodes, it seems to really hit me more in the winter time, do you ever feel it during different times of the year more, sometimes i wish they could go and cut my stomach open and take a look and see what i am feeling!  oh well, good luck with you hope nothing too serious, be careful getting up and take your time.

crumy
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420281 tn?1204647504
Im glad to hear that you are seeing a gatro doctor, lets just hope he is going to help you out, i have been with mine for 13 years and sometimes just feel that he has done nothing for me.  He just seems to want to stick a tube down my throat, but everytime i get it done, he says good news everything looks great, not exactly what i want to hear.  My husband feels that alot of my stomach issues are due to my nerves and stress.  I have to say that it has gotten worse over the years and am now on an anti anxiety medication after much pain and denial.  It seems to help but do not really want to be on any medication besides my question lite powder that i take to help bind my stools for fear that i will never be able to get off.  my husband has suffered from depression all his life and has been on medication for 7 years now, he has tried to get off but goes back to being depressed, i am not a depressed person per say except when i am having really bad stomach episodes, it seems to really hit me more in the winter time, do you ever feel it during different times of the year more, sometimes i wish they could go and cut my stomach open and take a look and see what i am feeling!  oh well, good luck with you hope nothing too serious, be careful getting up and take your time.

crumy
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Avatar universal
Thanks for your reply.  No, I am not anxious before fainting - in fact, I forget about it and don't even realize that I might faint - just stand up and next thing I know I am awaking on the floor.  Yes, I do see a Gastro - have seen him again since last bout.  I do take Bentyl and he wants me to start Miralax.  Since last bout, I have seen 6 doctors, including the cardiologist.  I broke my cheek bone and damaged a nerve  which has affected my feeling in some teeth.  Am scheduled for a brain scan - but doctors are just not taking any chances.  We do know that a nerve in colon area is affected by blood rushing to that area during a bout.  Then when you stand up, blood pressure drops.  My Gastro says he has seen this happen before but never as often as I have experienced. So, be careful when you have a bad bout.  Thanks again.  Would like to hear how you handle your problem.    Caliston9
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1 Comments
Hi ,
I was  relieved when I  discovered someone else suffers the  same symptoms  of IBS as me, I too  often end up fainting & collapsing on the floor  after  a painful  episode of IBS,  luckily I have never injured myself, sometimes the stomach cramps are so painful,  I feel faint and  weak &  I get diahorea & cannot control  my bowels and I end up going to toilet on the floor, because I recognise the signs  I always try to prepare myself before it happens by quickly going to the bathroom & locking the door so as not to be disturbed, which has been  difficult with two children, I get a couple of towels ready on the floor incase I  faint. I often come over all sweaty & clammy combined with feeling hot & cold but not sick , the whole experience is very nasty and unpleasant , after I have come round I will lay on the floor for a while until I feel stable enough to slowly get up. I often feel tired afterwards then it suddenly disappears. and I'm  back to normal again, its really  weird. I would say it lasts about 10minutes from beginning to end.
420281 tn?1204647504
It sound to me as if you may be experiencing some anxiety.  I may be wrong, i dont feel like fainting, but i am nauseous alot of the time when my stomach is acting up.  Are you nervous all the time for fear of fainting?  Have you talked with a gatro doctor about this and are you on any type of medication that may be causing this problem?  let me know whats going on.

thanks

crumy
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