Today I fainted for the first time, does this sound like V Tach?

[katie4593]

Hello all I'm a 23 year old female. History of hypertension(deemed genetic) and recently diagnosed with Inappropriate sinus tachycardia. I was recently hospitalized due rocky heart rate sustaining in the 160's and I felt very short of breath. My heart rate can get as high as 190 but it stays in sinus rhythm. Back in December the doctor inserted a Medtronic loop recorder because I constantly felt palpitations, short of breath, etc but never fainted. My cardiologist is actually sending me back to the eclectrophysiolgist because I do not respond to medication. I take bystolic 20 mg, Ivabradine 5 mg twice a day, cardizem 180 and synthroid 50 mg. I will mention oddly enough I was also recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism, the doctors were looking for hyper with my heart being so fast but found the opposite! But long story short today I fainted for he first time. I'm visiting my boyfriend in Florida, I'm from NY. We were paying at the arcade, all of a sudden my vision developed spots, I thought it was going to pass, at this point I don't think I was thinking clearly. I suddenly stopped talking, dropped my phone, lucky my boyfriend was next to me & realized something was wrong when I stopped talking, he told me I fell backward & he caught me. I was out for about 10 seconds, he told me i woke up but it took me about a minute before I started talking. When I woke up they had placed me in a chair. I felt very our of it for a little while but felt better fairly quickly. It was very scary. I can tell you I realized my pulse was very very fast I had realized a couple minutes before I fainted. I should have went to he hospital by who wants to when they're on vacation? I know I should have. I tried calling my cardiologist but they were closed already. I luckily have a loop recorder inserted that hopefully picked up on whatever happened. Is it possible I went into V tach? My blood pressure is not low despite all he meds I'm ok. Its regularly 150/88 still. Would v tach cause sudden shortness of breath &fainting like that? Or can even sinus tachycardia so so? Thank you

[MichelleP_3811]

It's more likely related to your inappropriate sinus tachycardia in the atria.  Considering you rebounded quickly by sitting it is possible there was a drop in blood pressure that caused the fainting.  If your heart was beating fast prior to the fainting then you could have had your pressure dropping and when it got too low your body started to faint as a result.  It is good it was caught on the loop monitor so they can see what it was.  i would contact the doctor when they are in and see if they can check it out for you or if you have to go in the office to get the device read but at least you have some symptoms to investigate.  I would suggest if you sense your heart beating fast you don't necessarily have to run to the er but you should sit down and wait for it to pass.  Maybe try vasovagal maneuvers like holding your breath and straining like you are bearing down to go to the bathroom.  Drink some water to help the heart function better.  Keep us posted what the recorder picked up.    

[itdood]

There are quite a few reasons for syncope.  You'd have to catch it on an EKG recorder to know the root cause.