"blacking" out - advice?

[perSue]

okay, first let me say i'm not prone to passing out or whatever.
it's only happened once i remember as a teen (but that was obvious dehydration in hot summer weather).

here lately, and i've got the bruises to show for it, it's been happening a LOT.
in the past 3 weeks it's happened twice. ok so not often enough to be alarming... but i'm wondering if it's "seasonal"... something one can "grow into"?

i'm not prego (for sure). bp is very good.
i eat well, exercise regularly, it's not super hot/humid here yet.
i keep hydrated pretty well (or at least i visit the bathroom plenty! lol), don't drink much caffeine...

can't think of any other obvious things.

but i get this super dizzy/disoriented feeling... then i suddenly get super hot, feel nauseous, blurry vision...
and i "come to" on the floor! not fun I tell ya!

anyway, any ideas?
(i dont have a Dr nor insurance. not looking to be "diagnosed"... and would probly only go to the hospital if it were a true emergency. just trying to rule things out.)

thanks in advance.

[suki]

Check your blood sugar when you have a spell hit you. Also check your blood pressure when you start feeling this way.

Go to webmd with your symptoms for more information.

* Actually, re-read and the frequent urination coupled with this are signs of possible diabetes. Definitely start with checking the blood sugar.

[ladykemma2]

hypoglycemia?

[IntlMom]

I have this happen occasionally. My bp is a bit low. I know that if it happens (get up too fast or something like that) I know to get real low to the ground so the bruises aren't so bad!! Plus I have low iron, and run a bit low on potassium, so my bruises hang around for a reallllly long time. (I do have insurance and have been to the dr and specialists, they know about it, but not terribly freaked out, so hopefully the same would be for you)

[suki]

I've been pretty darn anemic (low iron) and bruised easily but didn't pass out from it.

Get your iron and B-12 supplements! If you're B-12 anemic, it can cause liver trouble... so take care of it.

[hippytreehugger4ever]

okay, first let me say i'm not prone to passing out or whatever.
it's only happened once i remember as a teen (but that was obvious dehydration in hot summer weather).

here lately, and i've got the bruises to show for it, it's been happening a LOT.
in the past 3 weeks it's happened twice. ok so not often enough to be alarming... but i'm wondering if it's "seasonal"... something one can "grow into"?

i'm not prego (for sure). bp is very good.
i eat well, exercise regularly, it's not super hot/humid here yet.
i keep hydrated pretty well (or at least i visit the bathroom plenty! lol), don't drink much caffeine...

can't think of any other obvious things.

but i get this super dizzy/disoriented feeling... then i suddenly get super hot, feel nauseous, blurry vision...
and i "come to" on the floor! not fun I tell ya!

anyway, any ideas?
(i dont have a Dr nor insurance. not looking to be "diagnosed"... and would probly only go to the hospital if it were a true emergency. just trying to rule things out.)

thanks in advance.

diabetes?

[Ceashels]

When is this happening?
Does it occur when you stand up and walk across the room or up a flight of steps?
Do you get that feeling sitting down at rest?
Does it happen in areas of bright light or twilight or dark rooms?
Have you had any other balance or equilibrium concerns?
Have you had any recent infections around your ears or throat?
Is it happening before you eat anything in the morning or when you are getting hungry?
Do you seem to be thirsty a lot?

There are so many things that this could be attributed to.

[perSue]

lol thanks!

i know it's a bit of an open ended question.

i know my iron levels are good...

sugar... i dont know! never checked.
no equilibrium issues/infections.
dont have diabetes (nothing worse than a glucose test!).

and it doesnt seem like i get that dizzy/nausious/uneasy feeling at certain times.

the last time it happened i was in the shower. i dont take super hot showers. it was random... but that scared me... cuz i "heard" my heartbeat in my ears... and KNEW something was wrong... cuz it was VERY slow.

otherwise, like today, i thought "ok it's humid, maybe i havent had enough water"... nope... humid, yes... water... by then i'd already had 3 cups.

just bizarre i guess.
i should look into the hypoglycemic thing tho... i'll check out webmd.

i didnt know you could black out from low sugar!

scary experience when it's happening... i'm not super worried... more curious "why is this happening".

thanks again all!

[sunshine]

I'm worried for you! Call your doctor. Passing out is not normal, nor nothing to "blow off".

[suki]

Blood sugar and blood pressure both need to be checked. Both can make you pass out.

Saying you heard your heartbeat makes me think it could be blood pressure. But, you've got to collect more data, even if you go to the doctor... you need more information to take with you.

Note your vital signs when this happens... pulse, respirations, blood pressure and blood sugar would be good too.

Webmd is a fantastic resource.

[Frugal Nurse]

diabetes is not generally diagnosed by hypoglycemic episodes. Instead it is the hyperglycemic episode that prompts investigation.

Hypoglycemia is caused by too much insulin to sugar in the blood stream. With undiagnoised diabetes, the problem is not enough insulin to handle the sugar- therefore an abrupt rise in the sugar.

Did you mean you have an increased thirst and increased bathroom trips? That's a sure sign of hyperglycemia - diabetes. Sink to toilet syndrome.

But that seems to be the only symptoms related to diabetes.

Now for the important detail! the Syncopal episodes. (fainting)
SERIOUS

That is generally associated with impaired cerebral oxygenation. You're not getting enough oxegen to the brain.

here are the medical causes of what a doctor would look for - in no particular order but I have asterik the important and most likely cause. I don't know your history so it's a total guess.

Aortic Arch Syndrome: early symptoms (sx) night sweats, pallor, neauea, anorexia, weight loss, raynauds phenomonon.
Aortic Stenosis: Hardened Aorta (the big blood vessel in the middle of the chest) you'd have chest pain, short of breath with this one.
*Cardiac Dysrhythmia: palpitations, pallor, confusion, sweaty, short of breath, low bp
Carotid sinus hypersensitivity: triggered by compression of the carotid sinus such as when you turn your head to the side. or a tight collar causing decreased blood flow to the brain
Hypoxemia: anything that cuts off air flow. holding your breath, someone else choking you.
*Orthostatic hypotension: if rise quickly blood drops to the bottom of your body. fast heart beat, pallor, dizzy, blurred vision, nausea, sweaty.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA) may cause syncope but generally there are other symptoms depending on the side affected, like numbness, paralysis
Vagal Glossopharyngeal neuralgia: localized pressure to the back of the tongue causes syncope.
Drugs: Quinidine, Prazosin, levodopa, bp meds, heart meds

Again, it's hard to know. If you have high cholesterol... maybe you do have hardened arteries and that is the cause.

Just so you know.
A syncopal episode is an EMERGENCY. But also you have the right to refuse care.
At the very least, perhaps a heart check up.

god! I really hate it when our very own citizens can't get access to health care and yet we give free care to... doh!.... well.. I won't get into that here.

[Frugal Nurse]

perSue... I just thought of something. Your town nurse can come by to check things. free of charge. no wait.. your TAXES already paid her salary.

Call the town hall... ask if there is a town nurse.

[Jskell911]

I get like this from low blood sugar. But I do know there are so many reasons it could happen:

Menopause (yup that lack of estrogen will wreak havoc sometimes!)
Thyroid issues

And all the other issues everyone else already mentioned. I really would think a doctor's appt is in order. I know w/o insurance it's tough, but this is just such a tricky no tried and true answer.

[perSue]

wow... i log off for a few hrs for dinner and come back to a lot of great info!!!

ya'll are better than webmd! LOL

first, thanks for letting me know about a town nurse - FN.
I didnt know about that... I'm definitely gonna check into it.

Secondly, I had no idea that syncopy was an emergency issue.
Good to know!

Now, the 2 you had w/asterisks... "rising fast from seated/laying position" & "heart murmur" (in a really loose interpretation )... you could very well be on the spot w/the first one.
I know I dont have any heart abnormalities... had (w/in 8 mos) a ECG that was textbook!

For all I know... and sadly my memory is fuzzy... I had been vegging and moved about way too fast, headed to the shower, could'a been too hot and *poof* there goes bp... it makes perfect sense.
BUT...

yes, there's a "but"... I dont remember what I was doing prior to the episode (seeing as it was a little over a week ago now).

Next time, I'm going to actually write down what happens prior/during/after... *knock on wood that "next time" doesnt happen*

However, THANK YOU all for the help & info you've provided.

There's a lot to learn from each other, and not knowing something like "fainting" could be so serious is a lesson hard learned...

but MUCH appreciated... and one of the great values of FV.

I'll definitely look into the town nurse... and go down there myself to get checked out (at least vitals).

TYVM!

[AmyBoz]

I'm hypoglycemic, and it was dizziness and blacking out that were my initial symptoms that got me to the doctor to get checked out. Once diagnosed, I have been able to use diet to keep it all under control.