Syncope supine with extreme Heart Palpatations

[Marielindsay]

I was laying in bed 2 weeks ago, when I felt the urge to move to my right side. I was unable to move at all. I tried to call my husbands name, but was unable to speak. I tried 2-3 times- but no sucess. I then tried thinking that maybe I could just move one hand to pinch myself. I was unable to do this also. Suddenly about 1 minute last I got this huge rush and lost my sight completley. Everything went white and I felt as tho someone was sitting on my chest and pushng down. After the pressure on my chest got worse- my heart started to slow down. I felt like my bood was thick and the heart could not pump it out. At this point I was still paralysed and thought that I might have died... b/c I had lost complete feeling in my body- could not move and my chest was really heavy. Not to mention my heart felt like it had stopped almost compltely. Time wise not sure how long this lasted- b/c I went to bed at 11:00pm and I was able to look at the clock at 11:35. This series of events happend a second time when I was able to see but not move. My heart sped up and then slowed again- while still parallysed. After both episodes happended I got up feeling a little light headed, but extremley neasous. I went to go to the washroom- as I thought I was to be sick, but nothing happened. I have had a partial episode like this happen, but I wasn't completely paralysed just numb. I have consulted my doc about this and have been sent for ECG, ECHO and 24 hr holter. I meet with the specialist on the 12/01/2009. If anyone has experienced this please share. I am 25 year old femail- with 1 fainting episode 2 years ago.

[Marielindsay]

I haven't had any episodes since, bt have consulted a cardio about this. He suggests that it has to do with the amount of sleep that I am getting, but again he is not sure. I appreciate the response, and since nothing has happened to me I have not been back on this forum. Thanks for your advice I do appreciate the insight. I will post of anything else happens, but hopefully I won't have to go there!!

[Zachs]

And of course, please seek professional medical advice to be absolutley sure, and for piece of mind, that there isn't a underlying dangerous condition.

[Zachs]

I don't know the proper terminology for the paralysed wakening, but it does happen from time to time.  It has happened to me, where you open your eyes and it is almost impossible to move, and if you can move something its like in super slow motion.

I can explain the terminolgy, but I don't know the exact name for it.  When we go to sleep, our brain paralyses our bodies so we don't injure ourselves while sleeping.  Sometimes we awake suddenly, and our brain doesn't turn back on. Essentially we are still paralysed, but we are concious. It does happen.

I would speculate that this induced a panic, which can explain the other symptoms other than being paralysed, which is a symptom of "half" waking up. I remember in my experience was that I could only move my head, which then I could only move it if I tried super hard, and it moved really slow.  Was a very scary expereience.  It has happened to be 3 times.

I also have the tendency to flinch really bad right before I fall asleep, because it feels like I'm "physically" falling.

As far as vomiting.  It could be that you have the flu, or its probably caused by the sheer panic of experiecing something never felt before.  I remember when I first got really scared one time, that I had uncontrolled vomiting.  Basically a complete hysteria of events resulting from a panic attack.  

I hope you can find retribution with this information.  Always... Zach

[Brooke_38]

Hello..

I think that you should be consulting your Dr about what you expereinced last night. I wouldn't rely on what you read online. We should never allow ourslevles to fall victim to self diagnosing symptoms.

Anytime there are multiple episodes of fainitng or near fainting, it should be evaluated. I think that you should be making a phone call to your Dr on Monday. Until then, make sure to keep yourself well hydrated, don't make sudden positional changese...especially when getting out of bed. Sit at the edge and allow your legs to dangle over the edge before you get up. If you are felling dizzy, then you probably shouldn't be driving. Is there someone at home that can get you to where you need to go?

Let us now how this works out for you.

[Marielindsay]

Hi Heart of mine,

thanks for the tip:)

Last night I had a very frigtening experience...

I woke up with the sudden urge to deficate. I went to the washroom, but became very weak and dizzy.  I then felt extremly neasous and sweaty. I was only able to dry heave at this point. So I layed on the floor, because I was so hot and lightheaded. About 3 minutes later, I was vomiting.

This continued every hour from 1a.m to 6:30am this morning. I was able to vomit 2 times, but was still feeling very weak an dizzy. I thought maybe I had caught a flu bug... but as I was reading online- this episode is linked to vasovagal syncope... not sure what to think...

[heart_of_mine]

Sometimes when potassium is low these symptoms can happen. There is alot of info on the internet on this. There are certain conditions which can cause low potassium so I think it is a good start that you are seeing someone on the 12. When you go for your echo and holter make sure that you can tell this doctor about these symptoms. Sometimes when you go to see a cardiologist you don't actually see them until after the results of the echo and holter are in.
Good luck and eat a banana and drink orange juice everyday to keep your electrolytes in order.