Fainting Spells

Jkip0705

Whenever I am hurt or know something is wrong with my body I faint. Anybody else go through this? What made me think of it is that my mom said I would grow out of it since she was the same way. Well today while unloading the dishwasher I wailed my (bad) wrist against the fridge and thought I broke my wrist...immediately I started feeling the signs of fainting. Luckily I am able to control it with lying down and chugging sugary soda. I am afraid I will never grow out of it. What will happen when I have kids and one gets injured?? I can't faint!!!!

Anyone else faint a lot? Weird question I know! My grandma used to refuse to take me to the doctors unless my mom came because I always fainted lol. 

Karen2905

Yeah, maybe once or twice a year.  But mine's a combination of low blood pressure and occasionally, I have mild panic attacks that manifest themselves in passing out.  And I'm never completely unconscious... I lay down, let everything stabilize, and I'm fine.

Reinedumonde

I have this problem occasionally due to low blood pressure/low blood iron.  Eating foods rich in iron and taking supplements help, though.

 Do you know what causes your fainting?  Have you ever had a doctor diagnose it?  Just from what you've described and my (very) limited experience, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, or even--I don't know how to spell it and I'm not going to try--a rare ailment where people pass out when they're been injured.  My sister's best friend has this problem.

Ask a doctor about this and see if they're able to shed any light on your situation (and maybe take someone with you if you think you'll faint when you go lol).

Jkip0705

I have never talked to a doctor about it...even though I usually faint when I am there haha. I just get freaked out that something may be wrong and I get so nervous that I faint. The last time I fainted I had a wisdom tooth pulled and they found a cyst too so they removed that. When I was done and went out to my mom in the waiting room to leave, I told her they removed a cyst too and she gasped. It made me nervous that it was something horrible so I passed out and convulsed. So it's only when I feel there is something terribly wrong with my body.

Reinedumonde

Then you may have the same problem my sister's friend has, which apparently is called vasovagal syndrome.  I just looked it up and it has a number of different triggers, one of which is a sudden onset of extreme emotions. 

I honestly don't know what the treatment is or if my sister's friend does anything apart from going out of her way to avoid any kind of injury.  I'm really no expert on the matter, but it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor if it's really bothering you.

Karen2905

I agree with Reine.  It sounds like the fainting is emotionally triggered (as opposed to being a physical issue).  Talk to your doctor.  No sense living in fear if you don't have to, right?

nicoleabrock

I definitely think you should make an appointment to see your doctor and let us know how it goes!

krc18

I have vasovagal but not it doesn't happen for me as often as you described. The way my doctor described it to me is when there is a shock to my system instead of my heart rate going up (like a normal person's) it plummets drastically and my blood pressure drops very low and very suddenly which causes my to pass out or have a seizure. Its true that there are many different triggers. For me its dehydration (a big one) or if something gets put in or taken out to disrupt my body (i.e. getting a shot of medicine put into my body or blood drawn). With those, for me its not about feeling pain or something feeling wrong, its that my body can't handle the shock of the change. My sister though has it happen to her on certain times of her period because the cramps are bad, so it can be caused by a number of things.

The main thing that will help no matter what your trigger (according to my doctor) is staying overly hydrated. If you feel it coming on, don't drink sugary soda try gatorade instead. I am not sure if vasovagal is what you have but you should def. check into it. It can be scary and you could get hurt if you are fainting all the time with no warning. If this is what you have, knowing your body and your triggers makes it easy to prevent (when I go get a shot, I just lay down with my feet elevated and I am fine). You should def. talk to a doctor. Once I found out what it was, I haven't had a problem hardly at all.

juangela

I've had a vasovagal fainting spell once (unfortunately on the metro during my commute...and I fell over cause I was standing, so an ambulance was called and I was backboarded and I spent 1.5 days in the hospital...bad experience), I was dehydrated, had to use the bathroom and couldn't, and was on a moving train standing and reading...so my body got overwhelmed and I just fell over. Thank goodness I didn't poo myself! (Sorry, TMI?) My doc explained it to me as just that: my body was overwhelmed and just shut down.

But, like the other ladies have said, definitely get yourself checked out by an MD just to be sure there is nothing else wrong.

Jkip0705

Thanks ladies! I'll have to go to the doctor and see what they say! I have some new terms I can throw at them now to see if that is what it is.

Today was the first day I have felt faint in about a year or so. I was hoping I was over fainting when I felt pain but I guess not!