Fainted after feeling lightheaded

[Hatelupus]

I fainted last week after a strange lightheaded feeling. A few minutes before I felt flutters in my chest and then lost all energy and passed out. My HR just before I fainted was 93 but when I was out it dropped to 40. GP has referred me to neurology and cardiology, in the meantime I've been told I can't drive for 4 weeks minimum or until they find the cause. I have noticed that every now and then when I'm laying down and turn over I feel dizzy similar to a middle ear infection ( labrynthitis ).

I do have Lupus and Raynaud's too.

My question is has anyone else had similar and what was their outcome? Also what should I expect at my appointments?

[jeanjeannie50]

I've had the feeling I was going to pass out, would start slowly blacking over then suddenly come back to normality. Not had it for many years now. I've had AF for 18 years and my symptoms are minor these days.

I hope someone else will come on here and give you some hope. Usually if a low heart rate is responsible a pacemaker can help.

Jean

[Beta70]

Some of the symptoms you describe sound similar to those I experience with my POTS syndrome (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). I have neither Lupus nor Raynauds. Basically when I get up out of bed or from sitting my blood pressure drops dramatically and I go really dizzy and feel like I am going to pass out, have to steady myself against a wall. Also lying down just turning over in bed first thing in the morning creates the same feelings. I have had this since the beginning of December. My GP has advised me to drink as much water as possible, to avoid tea and coffee and carbonated drinks as they are diuretics and to increase my almost nil salt intake as well. Also sleep deprivation can make POTS worse. As this means I experience both high and low blood pressure I am therefore not able to take blood pressure tablets. This condition is quite uncommon and was only recognised about 15 years ago. If you want to learn more about it there are You Tubes explaining it by Dr Sanjay Gupta and Dr David Weisman plus others. It can be partially controlled by certain medications, though I am not taking any of these at present in the hope I can manage it in other ways. The way it is tested is something called the tilt test when your blood pressure is checked from sitting to standing and sitting again within several minutes. I note that you have already been referred to neurology and cardiology, possibly because of the flutters in your chest (I did not experience these) and am sure they will be able to advise you further. I have learnt to manage mine by ensuring I get up out of chairs and bed slowly holding onto the wall and walking downstairs sideways leaning against the wall. Yesterday I was laid back in the Dentist's chair for a while having treatment and then struggled with the dizziness and feeling faint when she raised it up again form me to get out. You can't plan for every situation ! I may be barking up the wrong tree, as your case may be totally different but as no one else has replied yet I thought I would. Good luck with your referrals I hope you don't have to wait too long. Best wishes.

[Hatelupus]

Thank you for your replies, I really appreciate it .Beta70 at A&,E they checked my BP whilst I was laying down,sitting down and standing and the results were normal. The ECG done in the ambulance was normal too. They even did the cardiac marker Troponin to see if I had any damage to the heart due to a heart attack but again that was normal too. It seems so bizarre, the consultant in a and e just put it down to shock but GP said the flutters in the chest could be cardiac related.

The only other times I've fainted are when I've been pregnant and once on holiday due to dehydration and being out in the sun all afternoon. This time time round none of the above apply.

[AustinATV]

hi,

Sorry to hear of your problem. I have suffered dizzy spells over past 3 years and have at times thought I was going to faint. This subsequently developed to tachycardia with hr at 200bpm for several hours and two visits to A&E for emergency treatment.

I thought I was sorted until I passed out one evening whilst at a restaurant. No warning, all just went black very quickly. After much discussion and pushing on my part a monitor was implanted in my chest to determine cause of faint, was it a high HR or a very slow one. Fortunately for me the monitor saved my life in that it detected a serious problem early one morning and I had a pacemaker fitted 4 days later. Basically my heart rate was dropping too low. Cause of my heart problem is Aortic Stenosis and associated electrical problems. I had been previously told it was probably a panic attack and that there was no problem with my heart. Please be prepared to ask why you are fainting and what can be done to determine the cause. I’m very glad that I did.