Hi, my partner has fainted 4 times in a year now. I’m hoping someone has had a similar experience!?
so last year the first time he fell was on his way to work~ he fell so hard and hit his head he went to hospital, and done tests and referred him to a consultant,
Within the time of seeing the consultant he’d passed out another time! So they done a mri scan and saw a epilepsy specialist. Its came back that it’s not epilepsy.
He passed out a third time at work, hitting the back of his head and 4th time was Tuesday morning when I heard a huge bang and he’d fell face first into the floor and was very disoriented.
Hes had blood results back from the doctors which look okay. He does have a slow heartbeat. It drops below 40 when in bed and slightly above 40 when he’s awake.
Hes waiting for a heart appointment which is scheduled for July!
below is his blood results taken a couple of days ago!
mom so confused why it keeps happening? He’s 40yrs old, doesn’t smoke or drink and isn’t overweight and on no medication!
the ecg has picked up bradycardia.
Just so worried as this is the third bump to his head that he’s had.
Personally I think he needs urgent referal to cardiology as it could well be that he is getting pauses in heart beat and may well need a pacemaker. His heart rate is very low unless he is an endurance athlete. My consultant saw things on my ECG which made him recommend one for me which I have had for two years now. Prior to that I did have about three very brief dizzy moments though never actually blacked out. I learned to drop onto my haunches at such times which prevented that.
Hopefully he is not driving until this is sorted out?
One of our members passed out while doing a park run. Luckily he was wearing a monitor at the time and it showed his heart had stopped briefly. He is going to be fitted with an ICD. It’s unfortunate that I can’t remember his name because his story was very interesting, question being did he need a pacemaker or ICD? Hopefully someone else will.
Bradycardia ( low heart rate) does commonly cause dizziness , near fainting ( presyncope) or fainting.The events more commonly occur if you are getting up quickly after sitting for some time or getting up in the night.
Basically it is because the change in body position or quick movement or activity means that the low heart rate doesn't allow the circulation to move fast enough to the extremities and places it needs to be and you have a momentary lower oxygen level which causes you to go dizzy or pass out.
This can also happen with Tachycardia ( high heart rate) too and with low or high blood pressure.
Many of these sudden events with heart rate and blood pressure can happen on changing positions so they are often called Orthostatic.
Do you know what his blood pressure is as well?
Specialist checks are required to rule out any other health causes for low heart rate but then if there are no other illness or medication reasons for it happening they can find medications and diet and exercise changes to help improve low blood pressure.
In the meantime , some Self Care techniques which are used by people with things like Bradycardia and Orthostatic conditions can help prevent falling or fainting until the treatment organised, although let the doctors you see know that he has been using them , especially if it means he faints less because that will help them to come to the right diagnosis and find the right treatment.
Make sure he moves from one position to another more slowly.
Before getting up from bed or from sitting in a chair , take a drink of water , stand slowly, pause and gave another drink of water then walk away.
If getting out of bed sit with legs out drink. Sit at the side of the bed , drink , stand , pause , drink and then walk.
Take more care to keep hydrated at work but also move more slowly when leaning down or picking something up from the floor or high places. Climbing ladders should really be avoided until the issue is properly assessed. Make head movements slower too.
Ask the GP to do a kidney function ( electrolytes) blood test to make sure that it isn't a sodium or potassium imbalance or ranges that are too low or high that is causing the problem. A Magnesium test would also be sensible. Have they had a blood glucose / diabetes or thyroid check too?
Raise the head and shoulders comfortably on pillows at night to reduce the heart rate dropping too low from being in a flat position.
Don't sit still for too long , or keep too still at times of the day when feeling sluggish , having a little stroll around the house or just having a stretch and wiggle of your arms and legs in the chair keeps the heart from dropping too low and improves the circulation, it can help to do this before getting out of a chair to prepare your body for movement too. The heart rate will be stimulated to increase enough to prevent the body oxygen level feeling the need to play catch up.
As well as water , having lighter smaller meals , five small portions instead of three big portions can help improve your bodies ability to cope with digestion and being active at the same time .
If he has passed out 4 times, then another is in the offing. I concur with all the above recommendations in this thread. But I'll add one more, till this is sorted out he is on serious danger of concussion. Apart from the causal condition, the fall itself can kill. He needs head protection. Granted, wearing a helmet is awkward, both from a comfort and social standpoint, but a bicycle helmet might be indicated. Address the actual falling while you are waiting for evaluation.
Good morning, Sorry to hear re passing out and his slow heart rate. I passed out twice prior to having a pacemaker fitted two years ago. I agree with Bob he really needs to see a Cardiologist as quickly as possible.
A private consultation would not cost a fortune, but may be well worth it
My father had a similar issue with fainting from his forties and despite investigations which eliminated epilepsy the cause wasn’t pinpointed for many years.
He was a vicar and at least 3 times it manifested itself while he was performing his duties.
Once he passed out while listening to the bishop preach and no one knew as they were half asleep anyway . Another time he collapsed while he was preparing communion and that caused a real stir as he upset all the bread and wine and the worst one of all was during a burial when he sank to the ground and gently slid into the grave . Luckily it was a second burial in the plot so not so deep and two of the funeral team caught the top of his surplice as he slid and eventually eased him back.
He laughed about these incidents but sadly the dark side was the he eventually developed vascular dementia. Although nothing could be proven one doctor said his late diagnosed bradycardia could have contributed toward this condition.
I was diagnosed with bradycardia at 52 after dizzy spells and was fitted with a pacemaker - I wish my father had had the same treatment.
yes indeed- cardiologist asap or A&E - this needs to be taken seriously. That sounds exactly like my journey. I survived many syncope faints and blackouts when apparently my heart had stopped for up to 14 seconds but due to a system malfunction my Implanted Loop Recorder reports were not being picked up. When physiology dept actually saw the recordings l was scheduled for a pacemaker in 3 days. All sorted! I could have been dead and buried but instead here l am 8 years later. Take action NOW 🤡
I had fainted etc but my surgery would take blood test and say there was nothing wrong too! Had I not gone to Bath Spa with my daughter on her birthday around four and a half years ago I’d still have been waiting no doubt! The paramedics in the ambulance had diagnosed me with paroxysmal AF before we got to the hospital! Of course, had I known I had a heart problem I wouldn’t have gone to the spa with sauna etc!
Good Morning, reading your post was in many ways reading my own medical history. I would advise you and your partner to really chase up cardio related appointments and flag health and safety issues like possible further injuries due to collapses. I am obviously not a medical person but I ended up having a loop recorder fitted in Dec 23 which picked up one of my episodes in jan 24 and from that ended up having a pace maker fitted. Am still under the supervision of neurology because the consultant has said there are seizure related conditions which can cause heart problems too so this is now been looked at by neurology. Would recommend you ask about the necessity of loop recorder and pace maker too. I hope all goes well.
Thank you all so much for your advice and for telling me your personal similar situations, it’s helped lots thank you!
We went to the doctors on Friday and he has said he has sinus bradycardia. He listened to his chest and he doesn’t hear any murmur.
He will get a device fitted to monitor his heart overnight and he said IF they see a pause in his heart then he’ll get his July appointment moved forward.
Reading your similar situations I do think a loop would be better.
The first three times he’s passed out he had a strange feeling~ he says it’s hard to explain but it’s like doom, or something bad will happen mixed with a Deja vu feeling,but this last one he said it happened a lot quicker than the other three, he didn’t feel like he had much warning, just a little feeling in his stomach then passed out. Every time he comes around his pupils are tiny, he’s confused and then a couple of minutes later he’s sweating.
I do worry about him hitting his head so much but there’s no chance of getting him to wear a helmet (unfortunately).
Luckily he doesn’t drive so that’s not an issue, but obviously cracking his head open on the pavement isn’t great either
Hopefully this device they fit will give us some answers 🤞🏼 I will post an update when we get one! Thanks again everyone 😊
I have passed out or nearly passed out all my life. I have learnt to get down on the floor the instant I feel peculiar. This has involved some embarrassing situations but one only has a few seconds and it is better that than actually passing out.
If it’s the first time seeing a cardiologist my advice is cut to the chase and DEMAND a referral to a cardioelectrophysiologist. Once in front of the EP DEMAND he insert an ILR. Only then can your partner be monitored 24/7 to find out what is causing his faints eg: bradycardia or something else. You’ll save yourself a lot of wasted time by the implantable loop monitor should your partner’s condition be intermittent arrhythmia. mayoclinic.org/tests-proced... These things become clearer with hindsight. Sending you both a big virtual hug.
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