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Fainting - was it heart?
I haven't posted for a long time, so here's a recap and a new problem. Hope someone can help. Or tell me where I should post this question if it's not heart related.
A year ago I began experiencing PVCs, however I have had very few the last 6 months. I quit all caffeine and my multivitamin, thinking that was it. I've had a few, but usually stress related. But here is something new:
A few nights ago, I was sleeping, but felt off and on mild nausea. I thought it was something I ate. And maybe it's unrelated to what happened next. My husband, who often wakes suddenly choking on saliva (he has for the last 17 years), woke and made a very loud sound. He had fallen asleep on the sofa. I thought he was having a heart attack. I jumped up quickly, ran down the stairs and started feeling really really bad, very hot like I had the flu. It was a horrible feeling. I opened the doors looking for cool air--too warm, ran down the basement--too warm. Then I went upstairs to get my glasses and the next thing I know my chin had hit the floor. It was very brief. I got up and went back downstairs and told my husband that I think I had just passed out. I started to take my blood pressure and began feeling very bad again. I stood up and became short of breath. I was terrified thinking I was going to die. He held me up and called 911. I think I started to faint again then came to and felt better. My blood pressure was about 95/46. I usually run low, but the bottom number was very low. In the ER, my blood pressure came back to normal after a few hours, but the bottom number at one point got as low as 25. Heart rate was okay, but did go up to 128 at one point when I started feeling hot again. It only lasted a few seconds. My EKG was fine, blood work was fine. I had no palpitations during this whole experience. Haven't had any problems since.
I work out regularly and am otherwise very healthy. I don't know if this was heart related or stress related thinking my husband was having a heart attack.
What do you think? Looking for answers.
Thanks,
L
A year ago I began experiencing PVCs, however I have had very few the last 6 months. I quit all caffeine and my multivitamin, thinking that was it. I've had a few, but usually stress related. But here is something new:
A few nights ago, I was sleeping, but felt off and on mild nausea. I thought it was something I ate. And maybe it's unrelated to what happened next. My husband, who often wakes suddenly choking on saliva (he has for the last 17 years), woke and made a very loud sound. He had fallen asleep on the sofa. I thought he was having a heart attack. I jumped up quickly, ran down the stairs and started feeling really really bad, very hot like I had the flu. It was a horrible feeling. I opened the doors looking for cool air--too warm, ran down the basement--too warm. Then I went upstairs to get my glasses and the next thing I know my chin had hit the floor. It was very brief. I got up and went back downstairs and told my husband that I think I had just passed out. I started to take my blood pressure and began feeling very bad again. I stood up and became short of breath. I was terrified thinking I was going to die. He held me up and called 911. I think I started to faint again then came to and felt better. My blood pressure was about 95/46. I usually run low, but the bottom number was very low. In the ER, my blood pressure came back to normal after a few hours, but the bottom number at one point got as low as 25. Heart rate was okay, but did go up to 128 at one point when I started feeling hot again. It only lasted a few seconds. My EKG was fine, blood work was fine. I had no palpitations during this whole experience. Haven't had any problems since.
I work out regularly and am otherwise very healthy. I don't know if this was heart related or stress related thinking my husband was having a heart attack.
What do you think? Looking for answers.
Thanks,
L
Hi,
If you have been seen by your Doctor and it has been determined that the problem was not likely Cardiac, Vasovagal Syncope seem like a possibility. The symptoms, described elsewhere and rewritten in my words are below.
"An episode occurs while standing, occasionally sitting and almost never lying down. Patients often describe feeling very warm and sweaty before blacking out. Nausea can come before an episode. People witnessing the event sometimes describe the patient as pale (“white as a sheet”). The patient is usually “out” (fainted) for under a minute. Although there may be some twitching while "out", the patient seldom shakes violently, bites their tongue or loses control of their bladder. (These symptoms may indicate a seizure). Unlike a seizure condition, the patient is usually immediately aware of their surroundings. Dizziness sometimes persist afterwards, and may feel tired for the next 24 hours".
Do some research online. Apparently blood pooling in the legs is a contributing factor. Suddenly standing after lying down and resting may be the right combination for the pooling.
Did you follow this up with your Doctor?
Life just keeps getting more and more fun the older you get. Arriving at work one morning, just after leaving my car I passed two coworkers and felt as if my vision was not right, then I suddenly became very dizzy. Not a problem, I've been dizzy before, but suddenly my eyes crossed. Great, I'm dizzy and my eyes are crossed. Can't be good. I went to the door to yell for my coworker to come back, he heard me and started my way. Then my head became quite befuddled, I was sure I was dying. I looked for a place to fall, bending to reduce the distance to the pavement, and the befuddlement passed. My eyes were still crossed and I made my way to the phone. Interesting, there were two dials. I've only seen one before. (Of course my crossed eyes caused this). I tried dialing the emergency number, but hit the wrong number. I redialed. I finally got the in-plant paramedics and quite clearly explained my situation (I was lucid). I then was guided to a seat by others at work. By the time the medics arrived, my eyes were straight again. I walked under my own unaided power to the ambulance.
Briefly, taken by the ambulance to the hospital, given a CT and blood tests, and some lying and standing blood pressure tests. They were disappointed, they thought a drop in blood pressure had caused my symptoms. I was released, went to see my Neurologist, had, within days, MRI and MRA tests, then back to the CT Scanner with Contrast this time. All was well. I was told I had a Basilar Migraine.
Life just keeps getting more and more interesting.
Moral of this story. Be aware of your Health, keep in touch with your Doctor, and realize that some pretty strange stuff can occur without being as dangerous as one may believe.
If you have been seen by your Doctor and it has been determined that the problem was not likely Cardiac, Vasovagal Syncope seem like a possibility. The symptoms, described elsewhere and rewritten in my words are below.
"An episode occurs while standing, occasionally sitting and almost never lying down. Patients often describe feeling very warm and sweaty before blacking out. Nausea can come before an episode. People witnessing the event sometimes describe the patient as pale (“white as a sheet”). The patient is usually “out” (fainted) for under a minute. Although there may be some twitching while "out", the patient seldom shakes violently, bites their tongue or loses control of their bladder. (These symptoms may indicate a seizure). Unlike a seizure condition, the patient is usually immediately aware of their surroundings. Dizziness sometimes persist afterwards, and may feel tired for the next 24 hours".
Do some research online. Apparently blood pooling in the legs is a contributing factor. Suddenly standing after lying down and resting may be the right combination for the pooling.
Did you follow this up with your Doctor?
Life just keeps getting more and more fun the older you get. Arriving at work one morning, just after leaving my car I passed two coworkers and felt as if my vision was not right, then I suddenly became very dizzy. Not a problem, I've been dizzy before, but suddenly my eyes crossed. Great, I'm dizzy and my eyes are crossed. Can't be good. I went to the door to yell for my coworker to come back, he heard me and started my way. Then my head became quite befuddled, I was sure I was dying. I looked for a place to fall, bending to reduce the distance to the pavement, and the befuddlement passed. My eyes were still crossed and I made my way to the phone. Interesting, there were two dials. I've only seen one before. (Of course my crossed eyes caused this). I tried dialing the emergency number, but hit the wrong number. I redialed. I finally got the in-plant paramedics and quite clearly explained my situation (I was lucid). I then was guided to a seat by others at work. By the time the medics arrived, my eyes were straight again. I walked under my own unaided power to the ambulance.
Briefly, taken by the ambulance to the hospital, given a CT and blood tests, and some lying and standing blood pressure tests. They were disappointed, they thought a drop in blood pressure had caused my symptoms. I was released, went to see my Neurologist, had, within days, MRI and MRA tests, then back to the CT Scanner with Contrast this time. All was well. I was told I had a Basilar Migraine.
Life just keeps getting more and more interesting.
Moral of this story. Be aware of your Health, keep in touch with your Doctor, and realize that some pretty strange stuff can occur without being as dangerous as one may believe.
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