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Avatar universal

Fainting In Airplane 3 days ago and still dizzy and chest discomfort.

Hi there,
I took a flight, albeit a long flight a few days ago where I suddenly became ill.First off to mention,I had eaten,drank lots of water,walked around the plane and visited the bathroom all before this happened.And I am a otherwise very healthy woman age 37 with a 9 year old son.It began suddenly with the sweats/intense heat rising up neck and the beginings of blacking out.
Thinking I was going to possibly vomit I stood up to make my way to the rest room. I didnt make it all the way and was apparently caught by an attendant as I slumped to the floor outside the bathroom door.She held me as I came to. But I was out for a couple of minutes.I awoke to a doctor {who happened to be on board} taking my pulse and having cold compresses for my head and neck areas applied.The doc said my pulse was too low at first and recommened I not move for a bit, as they called the hospital on the ground.They then advised I take a test when I get home. I dont remember the name of the test. I was assisted back to my seat after about 15 minutes where I was given the oxygen tank and juice. I felt better after about 40 minutes on the oxygen.
And felt well enough to get on my next short flight. But also needing to get home and my son was with me.
Well long story. Now still 3 days later I am still having dizzy spells,weak shaky moments,waves of nausea,low grade headaches,and most disconcerning a dull discomfort in my chest area. I realize I have jet lag and it was a very scary experience but now I just feel a bit concerned.Also I know I am not pregnant.Thanks for any advice.
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Avatar universal
Hi everyone,

Has anyone had tests or followed up on this? This has happened to me on 3 flights but they are always at night (I fly during the day with no issues) and always around midnight - 2am when the fainting happens. I am also sick many times after, up to three or four hours.  So far I have been to a respiratory specialist and had tests done involving less oxygen but nothing so far. Next is likely to be a neurologist but I think it may be something to do with my sleep rhythms, given it only happens after I have been awake all day and half the night. I would love to hear if people have actually had any outcomes.

Cindy  
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1 Comments
I had a similar experience recently and had a blackout on a flight. The symptoms were similar to what many people posted on this forum. I did have a check up after landing including a day at hospital for monitoring my heart rhythm. Doctor wanted to do a CT angiogram and TMT but I opted against these. Is this something serious? I am very keen to know the root cause of this. Since this was the first time it has happened to me, I am quite shaken and scared. Please help.
Avatar universal
After I had an episode like this on an airplane, I contacted an industrial hygienist who works with flight attendants. She said that I had carbon monoxide poisoning. The airlines and airplane manufacturers have known about this design flaw for the 1950s and have done nothing to solve the problem. They acknowledge it behind closed doors but not to passengers. They are required to report incidents but often do not. Aircraft filtration systems are not designed to filtery out toxic fumes and there are 2 types of poisoning that I learned about: 1)carbon monoxide, which is what I had because while the symptoms were intense (feeling 100% when I boarded plane but while still parked at the gate I got incredibly dizzy and my vision was rocking violently- felt as if I were going to pass out- threw up multiple times) they gradually subsided when I got fresh air and I got back to 100% after a few days. 2)(I am going off of memory here!) there is an additive in oil that makes airplane engines run better. Sometimes the engine seals leak and the fumes get into the cabin. The symptoms are the same as carbon monoxide but the difference is that this causes long-term neurological damage.
Somehow this message needs to get out to the public.
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Avatar universal
Almost same experience twice on a long flight recently. I am a healthy 55 yr. old male, no alcohol, seasoned traveler. I do avoid eating or drinking before flights. I have do have a fairly low pulse rate due to being a long distance runner when I was young. First time, I think was after a nap. The second time, I was just reading. Felt nauseous, dizzy, slight pain in chest, then passed out in my seat. Came to shortly later, nobody noticed. It just happened a second time on my last flight and I am not sure how long I passed out. I did manage to check my pulse and it had dropped down to about 30 (normally 50 to 60 for me when sitting) Seeing that it is a common occurrence, I will just ride them out from now on. Although I felt a slight sense of panic, I don't think they are dangerous at all after reading this forum.
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Avatar universal
Have you learned any more from medical exams? Everything showed healthy for me, but i am with you in that it happened while napping, rather than after standing up. My doctor now wants a sleeping EEG... i have taken a few flights since my episodes. My rule is to not fall asleep. Flying again tomorrow, worried...
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Avatar universal
Well, this has been an enlightening forum.  I too just returned from flying from New York to California and had a very similar experience to the many posted here.  I had an earlier flight from Jamaica to New York with a few hour lay-over, during which I had a salad and glass of wine.  I boarded the airplane for the last leg of our journey.  My husband and I watched a movie and I had a 2nd glass of wine.  Then, because we didn't have a third partner in our row, I actually was able to lie flat and slept.  However, I woke feeling nauseated.  I got up to throw up in the bathroom, but got into the tiny bathroom and fainted.  After waking, I returned to my seat.  Soon I felt sick again, found an airsick bag, and in a few minutes thought I would use it..... but fainted again.  I fought the sickness until we got off the plane.  I walked, a bit unsteadily to the baggage claim, but found I needed to throw up.... this time I did.  My husband got me to a seat, but I bolted toward the trash can again and fainted there.  My husband caught me, but my head hit the ground anyway..... Then all heck broke loose, as I was bleeding.  The next 18 hours was spent in the ER with a multitude of tests that showed I am a 58 year old who is  healthy as a horse..... So..... here I am trying to figure out what the heck happened.  I do have naturally low blood pressure, and am thinking that I will not sleep again, nor have any liquor on a flight.  Wow!  what an experience we have all had!!!!
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Avatar universal
So grateful to have found this online discussion as I too have had similar recent experiences. A women, early fifties and a seasoned traveller I had my first episode just six months ago. About an hour into a short haul return flight to Dubai I woke from a brief sleep feeling nauseous and faint, got up to use the bathrom only to awake in the aisle attached to an oxygen mask and surrounded by airline staff . As we were approaching Dubai, they organised for me to visit the medical centre where I had an ECG and medical examination but by then i had been quite violently sick, both in the airline and in the medical centre so felt much better so boarded my connecting long haul flight back to the UK, during which i was fine, if not just exhausted. I convinced myself that I must have had food poisoning so sought no further medical attention. A few months later i flew from London to Delhi and and just an hour or so into the flight I had a worse experience - fainting, severe vomiting etc. The staff gave me some motion sickness tablets which i took before the return journey and despite a 14 hr delay I was vigilant, hydrated etc. and had no' episode'. However, just recently on a holiday flight I had an uneventful outward journey (so felt confident it was all over) but on the return journey, within an hour I fell ill and went through the same routine - fainting and nausea etc.. I have visited my GP in the interim and had ECG and Full blood tests which were all normal, so back next week to see what they next recommend.  What surprises me is that on every occasion the in flight staff indicated that it's not a common occurrence and the medical profession also can't suggest a solution but it's kind of good to hear that there are other suffering souls out there!
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Avatar universal
I also had an experience like these, on a flight from JFK to Ireland via Aer Lingus...I love to fly, I was excited about my trip, I ate dinner on the plane, had one glass of beer, fell asleep happily, woke up sweaty, feeling dizzy and my face felt like it was going numb. I told myself to sit back and just try to go back to sleep. The next thing I remembered was waking up while vomiting on myself. It was such a shock, I had never been "air sick" before, at the time I was 32, healthy, etc. Such an embarrassing experience. Walked to the bathroom, had to take everything off and try to rinse my clothes in that tiny sink. The flight attendants were worried and gave me a blanket, sat me up near the front of the plane...While on vacation for 10 days I was dreading the flight home, but I took some air sick tabs that I bought in England and made sure to keep the air blowing on my face the entire flight home to the U.S... I was fine. I have since flown two short trips to Atlanta and back with my boyfriend, and thankfully have had no episodes. So glad to hear that I'm not the only one this has happened to, because everyone I've told about this has been shocked.
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Avatar universal
Gabriel, are you going to see a doctor? This forum has been very helpful for me. That is interesting, a difference between class and oxygen levels? But why did we all faint and it seems 99.9% of healthy individuals have plenty of oxygen and never pass out. I too lost control of my bladder, making  the uncomfortable situation immeasurably worse.

Has anyone found this to go away by not letting yourself fall asleep, or is there anyone with a similar episode that was not sleeping?
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Avatar universal
I’m a 39 yro heathy men and had the same incident described above in an Air France night flight from Rio to Paris, yesterday. I went to sleep after having the on-board dinner and ONE glass of wine. Later on I woke up dizzy, disoriented, sweating and with that feeling of blacking out. I tried to stay awake but I must have passed out on my seat for a few times before I had the chance to wake up the passenger next to me and leave the seat. On leaving I noticed my pants were wet and thought that some beverage was accidently spilt. However I soon realized it was an involuntary bladder release. I went to the back of it and asked permission to lay down on the floor. I guess the crew thought I was drunk or just bored, because they didn’t seem to care. I felt better after laying down on the cold floor for a few minutes and went to the bathroom to try to clean myself with a blanket. From there I went back to a seat by the corridor. The dizziness returned less than an hour later and instead of trying to fight it I stood up before starting to faint and returned to the back of the plane floor. This time the crew was very attentive and laid me down in a proper place with the head lower than the legs. They took my blood pressure, offered me oxygen and asked me all sort of questions. I didn’t know what was it, but I knew I would be OK for as long as I laying on the floor. I felt better when the plane started to descent and went back to the seat.  I have fainted before, but never on a plane. Thanks to the comments on this post now I’m sure it was due to low oxygen supply. As a regular economy class passenger, I’m concerned if there is indeed an oxygen supply segregation according to the seat classes of plane sections. This is mean!
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Avatar universal
I just had the exact in-flight fainting episode addressed here! What did you learn? Next week I have an MRI, blood work test, And EEG scheduled after visiting a neurologist first thing when I was back.

I am 25 yr old male, have flown my entire life no problem, and even recently. Then, on a trip to Hawaii this week (after a stressful and sleep deprived few days) i was feeling great, took a nap 6 hours into the flight, started looking for a barf bag, and then fainted in my seat. Everyone said it was because I had an unhealthy previous few days. Then, after a relaxing vacation, 6 hours into my return flight (well nourished, well hydrated, ate well, slept well) i woke up from another nap, felt like my leg fell asleep, felt sick to my stomach, then fainted again. Horrible experiences, and i felt woozy on and off the rest of both of these days.

What have we learned? Should I waste my time with these expensive medical tests? I am really dreading flying again... It seems like the pattern for all of us is:
1) never had a problem
2) fainted randomly after napping
3) sporadically reoccurs
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Avatar universal
This happened to me on a flight from Chicago to Rome. I took a unisom to help me sleep on the overnight flight and had one beer an hour before our flight while we waited. A bit in on the flight, the same thing, I woke up from sleeping, I felt sick and hot. I was able to wake my husband up to get some help but my eyes were rolling in the back of my head. I was able to recover with some deep breathing, taking off my sweater, etc. The flight crew told me that never happens (I don't think I believe them!). I don't have any medical conditions, but I do tend to nearly faint if people are telling a gory story or something. On the way home I decided not to sleep, to drink lots of fluids and to just get up a lot to use the bathroom and I was fine. I made sure I kept the air blowing on me and lifted my knees. Obviously I'm a little worried about ever sleeping or going on a long flight, but I think if I stay alert and as active as possible on the flight I'm okay.
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Avatar universal
I am not sure this issue is really being addressed. It happens to me. When it first came on I had flown without problems previously so it was a shock. I don't pass out but I feel very faint as if about to pass out and my stomach is churning, my mouth filling with water and I feel like I am going to vomit. I go very pale. I have always had low blood pressure but now I am older it isn't as low as it was so I don't know if that is significant. I have asthma but it is very well controlled. I am physically well and reasonably fit for my age (63) as I walk quite a lot and go to the gym.
I had a few of these episodes on return flights then they stopped so I thought I was over it but last year I had another one, again, only on the return flight. Went to Cyprus a week ago and no problems on the way out but on the flight home I had another and I did everything I could to override it but couldn't and the need to get out out of my set is urgent, as I dread passing out and vomiting whilst in my seat! I usually wobble to the toilet and get my head between my knees for a while. On this flight I had another episode as we we were descending but managed it in my seat this time as it wasn't as severe as the first. I felt 'off' all the rest of the flight though and to be honest I've felt a bit 'off' ever since, sort of woolly headed!
I dread these episodes as for one they are embarrassing and for another the feeling is awful. I have tried keeping the blood flow moving in my legs, alcohol or no alcohol makes no difference as I always have alcohol before the flight out and it never happens then! I've tried avoiding coffee; no difference. Whether I have a meal or not before the flight seems to have no effect either.
Thinking of trying flight socks and I don't know what else! My GP said that when it happens I should stay in my set and put my head between my knees. Ha ha! Has she flown economy?! I am a nurse by the way, so know all the prevention ideas but cannot get my head around why it happens only coming home!
If this fainting is so common (the flight attendant told me it is very common) why is no-one trying to find out why / prevent it? It's easy to put it down to alcohol or panic....but that's a cop-out.
If you still have chest discomfort and feel dizzy, get checked out by a doctor as soon as you can though.
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Avatar universal
This just happened to me for the second time in 2 years. Both were on Air France night flights--I pass out and wake up covered in vomit. The second time I woke up light-headed and lurched to the bathroom and felt better immediately with the improved air flow inside. After returning to my seat with an air-sickness bag (though I couldn't make myself vomit in the restroom) the vomiting and fainting happened. My mother complained of an inner ear condition that she said had made her, on rare occasion, lurch around like a drunk, and I wonder if this might contribute. I've learned to travel with a change of clothes, and am relieved to learn I'm not alone. I'm a 66 year old otherwise healthy woman. The oxygen suggestion interests me.
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Avatar universal
You may want to wear a neck pillow...these all sound like cases of bad posture of neck during sleep causing restricted blood flow upon standing...or too much alcohol repressing breathing.
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Nicelady
Darla_DExternal User
I am responding to several other people who experienced dizzy symptoms while flying in an airplane. I am surprised no one has yet mentioned carbon monoxide poisoning or whatever other gas is released from the burning of fossil fuels... sounds like an odorless fume is accidentally being sucked into the plane and even in micro-quantities, might be affecting people on the plane... Check with the airlines on exactly how the filtered air is released into the atmosphere. Not sure about this... just an idea.
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Avatar universal
I am glad to find this link; the above experiences are similar to mine yesterday.  I am a 60-year-old man in excellent health. I have flown many times over the years without incident. This time, after several long flights, I was on a 4-hr flight. About a half an hour before my plane landed, I passed out on the plane. I had been sleep deprived, had mild intestinal flu  which may have resulted in dehydration, and about an hour into the flight I consumed a glass of Chardonnay wine on the plane but without taking any food at the same time - also I had no food at the previous stop on the ground due to concerns about my waistline. I dozed and woke up and felt hot and almost immediately started to feel nauseous. As others have said, the reduced oxygen levels on any plane flight, plus the shallower breathing during sleep, may well have contributed to what happened. I got up, headed to the back and, "I think I'm going to throw up, can I have a bag for throwing up in." They gave me one, and i turned around and headed for my seat, but passed out on the way. The next thing I knew, about 4-5 people were helping me into my seat, giving me ice, oxygen, taking my pulse and blood pressure, asking if I had health problems (no) or take medications (no again). In the meantime the plane was getting ready to land. I didn't throw up or lose control of my bladder. After the jet landed, paramedics came on board - but all was well and I walked off the plane myself and did not need further medical care. It might be a good idea for the airlines to warn people that these conditions can lead to passing out on a plane.
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Avatar universal
i know these comments where posted a while ago but i am so happy to finally found some one who has had the same experiences as me especially the embarrassing part of basically wetting oneself  !! this has happened to me twice both times 2 hours into a long flight and both times within 30 mins of falling asleep i wake feeling nauseous and clammy and knowing i am going to pass out , the first time i was traveling alone and no one really noticed but i did tell the stewardess and she was great giving me a new seat and being very attentive even giving me a pair of legging from her hand luggage to wear for the rest of the flight    , the second time  i was with my husband and it frightened the life out of him as i also had the whole rolling eye thing as well ,he thought i was having a stoke or something , i do faint quite easily and he has seen me faint on a few occasions but never with the eye and wetting bit so it was quite distressing for him , but like most of you after about 10 mins i felt fine just had to wait till my jeans dried out !!! :( which took most of the flight , it does make me worry now about flying but i think i will not sleep and try to do day flights rather then night , and keep the air flow directed right at my face , i also went to the doctors just to check up on the whole blood pressure and heart thing but was told everything was fine but she also had no idea as to why it had happened  
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Avatar universal
My Wife (48) has passed out on airplanes on 5 occasions as described in previous postings over a 15 year period.  We have learned to request the oxygen bottle when the symptoms come on.  On one occasion while flying to Cairo, a Neurologist checked her blood pressure and blood sugar level and found all was normal.  On his recommendation, she had an MRI, sleep apnea test and blood work.  No abnormalities found.  We both work for an airline and hear that passengers passing out occurs often.  We feel it could be a form of altitude sickness and prepare by having her drink fluids, take B vitamins and get good rest the day before flying.  Most airlines are allowing use of Potable Oxygen Concentrators (POCs) which is a battery powered device that can be rented but must be pre-arranged to use with the airline and the model listed by the FAA.  We have not felt the need to rent one yet.  We fly once every other Month.
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Avatar universal
Same thing just happened to me on a flight from Christchurch to Sydney after waking.  Flight attendents put an oxygen mask on me and within 10 minutes I felt fine.  I am a very frequent traveller.  I'm a healthy 44 year old male.  This is the 1st time it's happened to me.  
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Avatar universal
I fainted the other night on a flight from Canada to Israel; 7 hours into the flight I got up and walked to the end of the plate (Gally) and fainted. I got hurt on my face, cuts and bruises.  This is the third time that it happend to me on the same airline.  Everytime it happened I felt the need to get up and for some reaon i faint.  Unfortunatley there was no one at the end of the plane to help me but when people heard the big noise they got to me and cleaned up my face.  I went to the hospital did all the tests and evertyhing was fine.  I'm not sure why I fainted as I did not have any alcohol except water.  the other 2 time 7 yrs ago I had wine with the meal.  Any advice can help, please.
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Avatar universal
Well I fainted a couple of months back on a short flight from Bangkok to Delhi...Well to start with Cathay pacific has these strange shell seats, in which a person cant recline the back. Then I did the following mistakes which everyone should avoid:
1) I hadnt had any food or water for like 5-6 hours before the flight
2) We were late for the flight, and just managed to catch it with 5 minutes to go...so a lot of stress
3) Had a fight with one of my friends, lot of shouting.. ....stress again
4) When the food arrived , we ate a lot(we guys had patched up by then), repeated servings etc..
5) We drank a lot of red wine..5 glasses each(we realy had patched up well!!)
6) Our friend in the middle seat was very fat...and leaned over to our seats as well..

I slept after consuming all that Alcohol, after a while I woke up, feeling dizzy and short of breath...was in an awkward position with head dangling in the aisle side...I desperately wanted some air blowing in my face, and some water...got up suddenly, and blacked out right next to the washroom..nest thing I remember is My friends and the cure air hostesses asking me to get up...once up, I was very embarassed...the whole effect of Alcohol was gone..infact I felt fresh!...they made me lie down with legs higher than the head, and was given some ice to put on my forehead...and thanks to me, all three of us got business class seats!..One hour of flight was left, and I remember I felt something major will happen to me...and was desperate to get on the ground to meet my wife and daughter... Well I got back and got my tests done...I have been a healthy guy for the entire 31yrs...and now I was detected with Hypothyroidism and high TriGlycerides...Well I am on medication, and am dreading to go on a flight again...although I have to as my work demands....so I need Help from anybody who can suggest, what I should do to avoid such incidences apart from the above 6 factors. Help shall be realy deeply appreciated
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Avatar universal
Hello all the above rings so true with me so dont need to go into detail, again it only seems to happen when waking after sleep has happened on long flight back from florida and shorter flight from cyprus,Now holiday in las vegas in may believe its a 13 hour flight no way will i be able to stay awake.Has anyone got any help for this condition ?? is there some sort of medication to take, am planning to go to doctors soon i dread them telling me not to fly, im perfectly healthy, people with heart and lung conditions can still fly without any trouble so there must be something. Any advise would be very appreciated,
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Avatar universal
Hello - fainting on the plane just happened to me yesterday for the 3rd time. I fly very frequently and I am a 28 year old female. In all three cases, the only commonality I can find is the fact that I am asleep. I wake up and immediately feel extremely hot (drenched in sweat), very nauseous and scared. I tried to calm myself down yesterday but it did not work and I knew I was going to faint so I alerted my husband and that's the last thing I remember. He said my eyes rolled back in my head and I was unconscious for about 30 seconds. I was born with a hear condition so I am going to get checked by both a primary care doctor as well as a cardiologist as soon as I can.
This is an extremely scary feeling that I do not want to experience anymore. I would recommend keeping yourself alert and not falling asleep at any time during the flilght. It's hard, but necessary.
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Avatar universal
Very comforting to hear of these experiences as they describe mine exactly.  I have had three episodes of fainting and I am so anxious when I fly that I take Xanex to relax.  After my third episode (last night) I discovered the pattern: I doze off and sleep, and when I awake I am warm, sweating a bit nausious, and my mouth is dry and I feel parched.  Within a few minutes I feel my self blacking out and I am totally conscious of what is happening.  Last night I was even telling myself "NO NO NO not again!"  This time the flight attendant saw it take place and I was out for 30 seconds.  The previous two times my bladder released and it was very embarrassing.  Over the last six months I have flown several times and the two times I have fallen asleep this situation has happened, so I am inclined to believe it has to do with oxygen levels and a subsequent dropping blood pressure which further depletes the oxygen flow to the brain.  But, to be safe, I am going to my cardiologist for a Table Tilt Test.  I am a very healthy 40 year old with good blood pressure but I do get hypoglycemic from time to time.  Thanks everyone for helping me understand why this happens.  It is very traumatic and frightening and losing control like this in public is never fun.
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