I keep fainting when I go out - Fibromyalgia Acti...

Fibromyalgia Action UK

59,987 members67,154 posts

I keep fainting when I go out

arnieatmo profile image
46 Replies

I keep fainting when I go out, my entire system just seems to shut down, I've noticed that a lot of the time it happens during or immediately after having a rest & having a coffee. I can't find any connection on the internet, does anybody else get this?

Written by
arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
46 Replies
Lou1054 profile image
Lou1054

I have heard of a condition that can cause this the initials are POTS, I don't have it but it appears to be linked to blood pressure when getting up. You must have this checked out by your GP x

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toLou1054

Its not POTS Lou but appreciate your feedback

Badbessie profile image
Badbessie

You must see your GP. On hearing your symptoms I thought of POTs...However there could be other reasons. Trying to diagnose on the internet is a guess at best. Please for your own safety get checked by your GP.

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toBadbessie

Hi & thanks but getting a GP to help is nigh impossible, as my GP has quit I now how to start all over again

bobbybobb profile image
bobbybobb

If you keep fainting when you go out, this is not normal and you need to find the cause. Do you have any other symptoms before you pass out. You really need the GP to investigate this. Also, what if you fainted and injured yourself giving yourself a whole load of new problems. x

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply tobobbybobb

no other symptoms, its a faint, I don't pass out as I can feel it come on x

bobbybobb profile image
bobbybobb in reply toarnieatmo

Still, you should book in with a GP and get it checked out. x

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply tobobbybobb

I will when I can get up, bathed & dressed lol

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo

bloods are good, I must have 6 tests at least per year

Midori profile image
Midori

Do you stand up quickly? Then get dizzy? If so it could be postural hypotension. Please see your GP about it. Anything like this needs proper investigation.

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toMidori

No, but my BP goes through periods of dropping when upright, I can't get up quickly as my back is knackered. Tilt table test was negative because its not a constant problem.

Midori profile image
Midori in reply toarnieatmo

It sounds like postural hypotension, I used to get it, but I don't have it any more. But please see your GP (or change GP) to get it diagnosed, as it could be dangerous if it happened when you are out.

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toMidori

Far as they concerned tilt table test was negative so there's no hypotension issues :(

Midori profile image
Midori in reply toarnieatmo

I am rapidly coming to hate GPs. I am between two as I have just moved, and there is only one surgery in town!

Entela15 profile image
Entela15 in reply toMidori

I think I've got this POTs as my sum match. What do you do about it?

Midori profile image
Midori in reply toEntela15

Mine is resolved now, when my bp went up as I agad, I grew out of it. My father had it too

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toEntela15

get revered for a tilt table test or test yourself first with a BP kit, then do lean test, laying to standing and so on

Heathercoral59 profile image
Heathercoral59

My son had extreme panic attacks that made him go dizzy then faint whenever he went out.... I also had a huge caffeine rush on a few occasions that made me nearly faint. Perhaps it's a combination blood sugar levels, anxiety, muscle stress, and fibro can cause all these things to be more extreme

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toHeathercoral59

Yea I think you're right but I don't get dizzy, I just sort of slump! I'm on heavy dose benzos, the clonazepam is a wonder drug, with no more or very minute anxiety. There's so many things it could be or combinations but unless I can pin it down, you know what docs are like.

25rosclare profile image
25rosclare

Hi, Sorry but dizziness is one of the symptoms of Fibro but please get your doctor to check that. I have instances of being dizzy and falling. I booked an appointment with a GP but went to the NHS site on Fibro before seeing him and found under 'Extra Symptoms' Dizzyness. There are a lot of other causes so let your doctor rule those out. Try 111 maybe they can point you in the right direction

Good luck

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply to25rosclare

I'm sorry but I'm not really dizzy & I don't fall, its a faint

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo

GP throws arms in air as she doesn't know what to do next, and to top it all she's quit as the practice is now being run by idiots. Only specialist I have left on the cards is with a cardiologist, 5 to 6 months wait!! Had a colonoscopy Sunday that went well, not expecting any bad results from biopsy. Pain clinic said keep taking the tablets, so no I've got nobody now. .. sorry I'm now in tears

honeybug profile image
honeybug in reply toarnieatmo

🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🙏💗😘

If you’re this bad you ring the docs and demand a home visit. Or ring 111 and get a home visit from them

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toCathjamesandmatt20

no point TBH, I've been submitted to A&E each time I call 111 and that proves a waste of time

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo

yes thanks I've got a several months wait to see cardiologist, I am due in. Thing is I thought the doc I was seeing at hypertension clinic was a cardiologist, I'm all too easily fooled lol

Entela15 profile image
Entela15

I had same symptoms a few weeks ago. Doctor thinks it's anxiety but I'm pretty sure it's Pots. I have palpitations, tremors, feel dizzy and blurred vision. Not sure how long it takes to see a cardiologist. 😥

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toEntela15

Months!

I really thought mine was pots/syncope but I also thing its sort of sub conscious extreme anxiety, I wake up in night feeling terrible, I have attacks during the day at home or when out, so hard to explain to anyone just how it feels, its not a panic attack as I've had a couple of them, this is different. Clonazepam (klonopin) saved me from anxiety, wonder drug, I was full of xanax & diazepam before shrink put me on clonazepam but she told me to take diazepam as a back up if I have problems while out. I don't consciously FEEL like I have any anxiety now, but maybe I am.

I've only been having palpatations last several months, every night almost and some during day when I lay down, bloody frightening aren't they!! Specifically if like me you've had two TIA's and a stroke in last 12 months.

I've got videos on my phone of the tremors, looks like aliens within lol, and blurred vision, yep that's an issue at times, mainly floaters followed by migraine. I dunno if any connection but I've had several eye problems last 2 years, pressure released by laser, laser holes sewn back up as in wrong place making matters worse, 2 cataracts & both corneas had alcohol scrape as bumpy surface.

God I'm on a roll tonight, I'll never get to sleep lol, good luck hun.

Lulububs profile image
Lulububs in reply toarnieatmo

Hi

I used to have this... i would just faint... like my mum and husband said it was like id fallen asleep for abit then id wake up....

I could always feel it coming over me like a creeping up neck and head then it would go dark and then id just wake...

I eventually got admitted to hosp as i fell forward once and went through a glass coffee Table.

I was diagnosed with hyperventilation syndrome... it when u have had so much stress or anxiety for so long u prob dont even think u have it anymore coz ur so used to feeling that bad that ur body basically starts turning itself off... so it like a flight or fight thing that ur body cannot fight it anymore so it just turns u off.

I went to a breathing physio....

showed me how to meditate and breath properly as i was shallow breathing which meant my brain was never getting enough oxygen.

That was 8 years ago...

Since them nothing... i still meditate and do my yoga and breathing exercise and not fainted again since

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toLulububs

OMG that sounds bang on, only I don't think I'd crash enough to do that, always a first time though. Thank you so much, I'll research hyperventilation syndrome, thanks again Lulu

Lulububs profile image
Lulububs in reply toarnieatmo

I used to look like i had just dozed off ... it wasnt dramatic ..

I never got dizzy... i never felt ill... id just faint...

I did stand up mid faint coz i panicked it was gona happen in a coffee shop which i shouldnt have done hence falling through table lol....

Not great but i did find out while at hosp which considering i was goin through all sorts in my head!! Ie brain tumour....

then it was like a light went on and i went “ AHHHHHH”

And just got it... it made sense

Coz 8 Months before i lost job, my dad died so it was like 8 months of stress built up.....

U can get these really good meditation thing on youtube.. i put one on before bed and it a man or woman helping u to ease stress and anxiety....

It really works!!!!!

Also learn to breath PROPERLY... know it sounds funny u think WE ALL BREATH.. but we dont all breath properly...

Once u learn it really helps

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toLulububs

Yea thanks I'll talk to my GP about it. I have tried so many things, I can't stand the tapes or CBT, I've also tried loads of hypnotherapy, hypnosis, counselling, MIND etc. I can't keep the breathing up, I have tried and meditation but I just can't chill enough to even breath normal.

I went to cafe this morning, had a coffee, 2 hash browns, beans & grilled tomatoes, that was just about okay as I left there and managed to walk round most of Tesco's without fainting, but the food/drink had really knocked the energy I had beforehand, right out of me. Rest of day in bed as usual.

It seems you dismiss every offer of help,shame really,,the most obvious question is have you stopped drinking coffee ? Could you place a chair outside and go outdoors and sit In the air a few minutes have your mobile with you.? Change the way you do you go outside if I doors it doesn't happen, are you overweight or obese like me? I had to stop rushing myself and learn to pace myself..if medics can't help then only you can try some changes to your routines.,good luck,are you a fibro s ufferer?

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply to

you can't read me right Gladys, you not making much sense TBH so I'm not going to wind myself up & bite!

bobbybobb profile image
bobbybobb

Did you say you have had your bloods checked, your clotting and such. x

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply tobobbybobb

I've had dozens of blood tests Bobby

Feather profile image
Feather

I had the same symptoms you described. It wasn't Pots, all tests returned normal too. GPS were uninterested. I have cfs and fibro. I changed my start time and explained to people what is happening so I don't rush to get out. Reduced my activity and paced. It helps.

For me, it is a symptom of M. E. A mix of postexternial malaise combined with an M.E crisis. Watch the documentary unrest, you'll see many examples of what you describe. You are not alone in this.

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toFeather

yea me to & I've seen that thanks Feather. If I slow down anymore I'll be at a standstill, I work from home in bed, I'm lucky I have my business else it would be daytime TV all day arrgh!!

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo

FYI Ms Pugh, please don't tell me I'm dismissing everyone, But, No I'm not Obese & YES I have fibromyalgia etc. Please don't comment if you have nothing nice to say. Its unwanted & upsetting.

honeybug profile image
honeybug

Hi arnieatmo

😊🌿🌸🦋

Sorry for your suffering. It sounds horrific.

Could it be vasovagal syncope??

My mum suffers this.

It’s so scary to watch her go through this.

I just said a special prayer for you my friend.

Best wishes for a good doctor and proper diagnosis.

In the meantime stay safe my friend.

EJ 😊🙏🤗💗😘🌿🌸🦋🕊

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply tohoneybug

yes it could be but won't know anymore until I get an appt with cardiologist, thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts x

honeybug profile image
honeybug in reply toarnieatmo

Welcome my friend. xxx

2Sleeping profile image
2Sleeping

I have felt light head and faint with fybiomalger and I almost past out with the pain as well I think my is form over doing and body feels so drained dont know if it helps touch wood I have not past out I get in to bed when I feel like it and sleep it off well try to lol

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply to2Sleeping

I know how you feel, you must take care not do that little bit too much. I work from bed on my computer, very tiring but is all I can do. I can't even chat on phone to mates for more than 10 minutes without getting exhausted.

WildswimmingLady1 profile image
WildswimmingLady1 in reply toarnieatmo

Have you had ECG....? .just thought a relative of mine who fainted blackouts had electrical problem with her heart that could result in sudden arrythmia. .....g.p could do ECG or you could wear Holger monitor for as long has it takes to capture you fainting............all others mentioning BP problems .....have you had this checked ......even something as simple as anaemia may be cause......hope your g.p takes seriously and checks you out.......lots of people are just fainters!Best of luck hope it's sorted

arnieatmo profile image
arnieatmo in reply toWildswimmingLady1

Hi , I had a loop monitor put in my chest months ago and a machine by the bed which picked up heart rates of 40 to 240 bpm at rest so after a CT scan 5 months ago I waited 10 weeks for an answer. 2 weeks ago the cardio phoned to say that I have to go on warfarin and change some other BP meds because I've got AFIB although there is nothing wrong with my heart, pump, valves, arteries are all in good shape.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Fainting

As anyone as a result of having fibro ever fainted I ended up in A&E and they said it was my fibro...
mystic profile image

Fainting episodes

Does anyone else have these? My G.P has taken blood tests and ordered ECG to rule out heart...
Crackers1 profile image

Here I go again!!!

Hello everyone, I was having a problem with logging on so all sorted. Does anybody suffer with...

dont wqant to go out any more

hi guys its bin a very long time since i have been on here..... well what can i say apart from my...

Keep falling

Hi, I am discovering that I am having a few falls, I seem to loose conscious for a few seconds...
Huskywomen profile image

Moderation team

See all
Hazel_Angelstar profile image
Hazel_AngelstarAdministrator
Lynda_FMA_UK profile image
Lynda_FMA_UKModerator
Sarah_fmauk profile image
Sarah_fmaukModerator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.