Anyone have the feeling of passing out?

[Maggie'sMom]

On Feb. 1, I was standing in my office and had the feeling that I was going to pass out.  At the same time, I told a co-worker that I felt incredible heart burn. I never did actually pass out.

I had the "feeling" again two more days in a row and went to see my doctor.  She drew blood and sent me packing.  That night, I had wave after wave of the feeling.  It's sort of a weak, blood drained feeling that lasts seconds.  I do not actually get dizzy, just the feeling that I'm about to pass out.  I also had heartburn which made me feel like I was having a heart attack.  I went to the ER and was diagnosed with gastro problems and heartburn and given Prilosec.  The ER doctor told me that heartburn can affect the vagel nerve and give the feeling of almost passing out.

All of my blood work came back normal for liver function, kidney function, thyroid, anemia etc., so my doctor is perplexed.

Since then, I've had a few of these episodes and there is no rhyme or reason for them, except I'm usually slightly nauseaus and I notice mild heartburn when the episode is over.  There is no actual stomach pain.

I have a gastro appointment in May, but I just had an episode this morning and I'm scared.

Does anyone have experience with this???  Could it be a gastro problem????

Thanks!

[ladybugota74]

A related discussion, Lightheadedness followed by bowel movements was started.

[haircut4u]

The way you described the feeling coming on suddenly,out of the blue,it sounds to me like you could be having anxiety attacks.The same exact thing happened to me about four years ago as I was driving my children to school.We were riding up the rode, carrying on a conversation (my children were only 5 and 2 at the time)I was actually in the middle of a sentence when all of a sudden,out of the blue,with no warning what so ever,I felt as if I was going to just completely fall out,I became extremely dizzy,my heart started racing,I felt nausiated, and all I could think was "God please don't let me pass out while I'm driving with my kid's in the car" I probably should have pulled over,but I made it somehow.I did it again the next morning as soon as I woke up,I was extremely paranoid that it was going to happen again while I was driving,felt light headed and dizzy until I got back home again.Then it happened again while I was walking through an antique shop,that day I really didn't think I would make it out without falling out.The worst time was one morning when I took my daughter to school,after fighting the overwhelming urge to pass out and a dizzy feeling the whole time I was driving I was actually crying and sick to my stomach when I finally got back home.That day i went to the Dr. and found out I was having anxiety attacks.After I found out what was actually wrong alot of things made since. Anxiety attacks come from your subconcience and pop up out of the blue,they trigger the same response as extreme sudden fear,but you don't have anything to be fearful of when you have one,because it is triggered by your subconcience.You then begin to bring them on yourself out of the fear of having another one out of the blue.Hope this will help,sorry about being so drawn out. By the way I never passed out,I had been told several days before the first one that I had moderate cervical cancer,I was secretly freaking out and keeping it to myself as I had to be strong for my husband and children,even though I didn't talk about it the thought of cancer was constntly overwhelming my mind.They became anxiety attacks.I did not have cancer either, it had all been a mistake.

[HollyF]

Are you kidding?  Every single night, immediately, like 3 seconds, after I fall asleep.....I get this "flushing" feeling...all over my whole body....and it feels like I can't breathe....even my hands go numb.  I jump up, gasp for air, take an additional 2 or 3 Tums and maybe or maybe not it happens again.  Sometimes I get hand or feet jerks with it.  I'm a 36 year old female, otherwise pretty healthy, but I'll tell you....this is some nasty stuff this hiatal hernia ****!  Oh, and I'm on Aciphex right now and it's doing absolutely NOTHING to help me.

[Maryd]

I was so releived to hear other stories similiar to mine, I was beginning to wonder if I was alone till I found this site.    I had severe chest pains 3 weeks ago, sweating real bad, feeling like I was going to pass out, vomiting etc.  ER ran heart tests, cat scan,did the stress test all of which came back fine. My reg. Dr had ultrasound done on gall bladder, liver and kidneys, which also came back fine.  Five days after the first "attack", it happened again, out of the blue.  One minute I'm feeling great, and the next feel like I'm dying!  I go to a Gsstorenterology Dr next week, but am at a loss.  I have no symptoms I'm aware of this being acid reflex (although they have me on 30 mg. of Prevacid) a day.  Could this be gall bladder even though the ultra sound came back fine?  Any help or suggestions would be great  The first time this happened, I was driving to lunch and was lucky to pull off the road. As a single mom of 3 kids I need to get this figured out as quickly as possible.  Thanks

[Adelrose]

I just found your post as I was trying to find some information on the very same sort of episode.  

Just three days ago, I had a strong feeling that I was going to pass out along with a brief "flush" feeling and a flutter at the base of my throat.  I was followed by milder waves of the same until if finally subsided. Since I have Rheumatic heart disease, mitral valve regurg in my case, I immediately assumed it was my heart.  

I've had one other episode that was more severe about 2 months ago that we thought was an allergic reaction or sensitivity to the antibiotic Tequin.  But at the time of this latest episode, I was on no antibiotics.  

I had also just had my yearly blood profile done last week and everything is absolutely perfect.  My blood pressure is great, etc.  

I visited a doc the afternoon of the episode and he seemed to think that it is related to sinus congestion.  While I was happy that he didn't seem to think it was my heart, he couldn't explain the flutter feeling to my satisfaction.  I was able to talk to a nurse later however and she told me about GERD and that sometimes an esophogeal (spelling?) spasm can feel like that flutter.  After reading more about GERD, it does seem to fit my symptoms better than anything else I've found. Though I didn't have indigestion at the time of the episode, since then I've had very strong indigestion.  I'm scheduled to see my regular doctor on Monday.

Does this sound like anything anyone has experienced?

[busymom!!]

I am a 31 year old woman with the exact symptoms you describe.  I too notice the connection with bowel movements after my episodes.  I see a GI in a couple of weeks so maybe let's keep each other posted.  My neuro has been tapped out ( I also have tingling)

[AuntLane]

Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think that someone else would have these same strange symptoms.  I have been to many dr's over the last 2 years.  I was beginning to think that I was crazy and it was all in my head.
I called my episodes "waves".  I can also tell you that when I had these episodes, they made me really tired.  I also noticed that most of the time I had to have a bowel movement right afterward.
I still have many problems with my stomach. I also have an appointment with a GI dr at the end of this month.  I also have an appointment with a Cardiologist next week.
I am anxious to hear what you find out and I will share with you if I learn anything.

AuntLane

[Kat2u]

Felt like passing out many times in the last few years. Also had drops in blood pressure.

I dont know why, but since having my GB removed, my blood pressure is higher now and I am not getting the dizzy feelings any more. I hope it continues and isnt just a fluke!

[pikamom]

WEll, when I had those symptoms and went to the ER, my EKG was abnormal and I ended up having a catheterization and diagnosed with chronic tachycardia and coronary artery spasm. My symptoms correspond with arrhythmia and my heart not getting enough oxygen. But from posting over on the heart forum I've learned there are all kinds of reasons for symptoms, and can include reflux. Some people even think their arrythmia's are caused by their reflux, by that nerve being irritated. Now I'm even wondering if my tachycardia is being caused by the reflux I've had for the last 10 years. I've made an appointment with a gastroenterologist but that's not till the end of May. The cardiologist gives me cardizem and I've not had any more heart pain but I think the drug has increased my heartburn!

[Araine]

Reflux?  Hrm..  I've had GERD for 16 years, and I've never felt that bad... I get dizzy and lightheaded sometimes, but only because of standing up too quick, not eating, etc., I've never been able to point it straight at reflux.  Hrm.

[Dale in Seattle]

I was looking for something entirely different and ran into your post.  I was very interested because some years back I had the exact same symptom of feeling like I was going to pass out.  It was something like the jerk feeling you get just before falling asleep but this was while I was awake.  There was no pattern and it seemed to be connected sometimes with driving a car or going over a bridge.  The symptom also appeared just once and while and them periodially many in a day.  You are right, it is VERY frightening.  I went to my internal med doc and he did some simple neurological tests.  Beleive it or not, he said it could be a goofed up Serotonin level.  He prescribed 20 mg prozac per day and it seemed to stop.  Later it happened a few times and he increased the dosage to 40mg.  I don't have the episodes anymore but I have had bouts of GERD.  I would be interested to find out other's experiences.  Thanks for listening.

[Maggie'sMom]

Thanks for your response.  Actually, my doc thinks that blood pressure is not the issue because I actually have high blood pressure that we're trying to get under control right now.

Also, my glucose etc. seem to be normal.

I was thinking that the reflux could be causing the feeling...so I thought I'd write and see if any of the other reflux sufferers have the same feeling.

Thanks!

[Kiagirl98]

Could the imbalance of potassium cause that feeling?  I have had potassium problems from not eating and those episodes happen with me also.  I assumed my potassium was better beings that the dr hasnt mentioned it again to continue on the medication for it

[reb]

Hi there, have you had your blood pressure checked? Could you be dehydrated at these times? Apparently feeling like you are going to pass out can be a sign of low blood pressure or an imbalance of eletrolytes in the blood (eg due to dehydration). Feeling like you are going to pass out can also occur from a quick change in blood pressure (eg you stand up too quickly). It can also be a sign of low glucose levels in the blood (eg you haven't eaten in a while). If one's symptoms are caused by these things drinking Gatorade or some other sports drinks (designed to combat dehydration) will help.
I have had the symptoms of being nauseaus and feeling like I was going to pass out for hours at a time, although I do not recall having heartburn afterwards. I had all the classic signs of dehydration (above) although I was clearly not dehydrated. In my case, was just one of the symptoms that my digestion was disrupted due to taking antibiotics (caused an imbalance in digestive bacteria). My blood pressure dropped from 110/80 to 90/60.
Try to get your blood pressure checked, and see if sports drinks helps (they have a balance if glucose, sodium, potassium). Try not to worry, I know that it can be scary when you feeli like you will pass out.
All the best.