Odd & severe reaction

[Snowglobe]

Can someone please help me make sense of what happened to me yesterday? I’m currently not located where I can easily consult my doctor about this…

I had to go out for breakfast, and my only option was a local greasy spoon - and greasy it was. As I was eating, I knew that I was going to feel the effects of too much oil used to cook my otherwise healthy omelette + potatoes. I just was not prepared for what hit me.

Within the first half hour afterward, I was hit with severe waves of gut pain. This I was expecting from my IBSD. But within ten minutes of waves of intense pain, I started feeling a hair away from passing out. Although I was able to make it to the toilet in time, it didn’t end there as usual. My body did something else that I’ve never experienced before:

I became intensely weak, I broke into a profuse body-wide sweat (very unusual for me), and my husband said that I had turned very white and clammy when he came to help me. My pulse was unsteady. I lay down, and soon fell asleep from feeling exhausted. I slept solid for a couple of hours while my husband sat nearby reading a book and keeping an eye on me.

When I woke up, I felt back to normal - the gut had settled, and my pulse was no longer erratic. Can someone please help explain what happened to me? Should I report the details of this incident to my GP when I return home, or is this just a severe form of IBSD reaction that is simply new to me?

Thank you.

[Snowcat18]

Hi. Sorry that happened to you. It must’ve been scary! It sounds to me very much like over stimulation of the vagus nerve which can happen during a bowel movement - I think it’s called the vagus vasal nerve reflex. It can cause that clammy feeling and fainting. Usually it happens if you spend a long time on the loo. Look it up and see if it seems familiar - I’d still mention it to your doctor just to be sure.

[BabsyWabsy]

Hi Snowglobe, it's horrible isn't it? I hope you are OK now. This happens to me if I over do the sugar. I have heard it called Dumping Syndrome. I wonder if fats/oils might be the issue for you? This is what the NHS has to say: dumping syndrome nhs.

[xjrs]

I agree with Snowcat18 . It could be your vagus nerve, but best to talk it through with your GP when you are back.

[Bracondale]

I have had a couple of similar episodes (though possibly not quite as severe) over the past three months. It's taken a lot of research and interactions in a few FB groups for me to work out what is happening, but your post has confirmed it. Firstly, much sympathy...it is extremely unpleasant to say the least and quite scary to suddenly feel so acutely unwell. On both occasions I had a very sudden onset of nausea, profuse sweating, palpitations, lightheaded/weak ness, abdominal 'gripings' and using medical/nursing terminology, a strong urge to open my bowel. Both times, I'd had a slightly more stressful day than usual, was underfed and thirsty, had caffeine (unusually for me) and crucially had just consumed fat on an empty stomach. I've concluded that the issue was hypoglycaemia (indirectly) due to an overreaction to fat. Fat triggers bile release, which triggers gut mast cells to release histamine, which can trigger insulin release. A sudden spike of insulin can lower blood glucose quite drastically, as well as potassium in the blood. This can trigger a vaso-vagal (fainting) response. For me the 'bowel urge' definitely followed the onset of symptoms ie did not cause the other symptoms. Bile is very effective at stimulating the gut to contract (peristalsis). Those of us with IBS are already likely to have higher histamine levels due to gut irritation, especially IBS-D, and so have a much lower threshold for tolerating any additional histamine. (Histamine levels are higher at night due to the immune system being more active then.) I'm making sure to have plenty of carbohydrate/protein with any fat that I consume...so far, so good. Wishing you well.

[Luisa22]

It's possible you had what's called a "vaso-vagal" attack, where the vagus nerve gets over stimulated by what is going on in the tummy. Those things if or when they happen can feel mighty scary. I know as I had one, once.

Recovery from them is usually quite rapid but it can feel like you're almost dying when one happens!

They can create symptoms like shakiness, dizziness, faintness, heart palpitations or increased heart rate, nausea, hot flushes, anxiety, and a feeling of complete exhaustion as the worst passes off.

The vagus nerve affects so many systems (mainly in chest and abdomen) as it's the longest nerve in the body

As I said, I had one and a borderline second one in the past 5 years. But though they felt terrible, no ill effects came from them and I felt quite normal after it had gone (apart from the usual tummy ups and downs of course.)

I would advise though, that if you're not sure or you get any more or any other symptoms that worry you, do see your doctor.

[Badbelly123]

well, glad I'm not the only one, yes I get sweats, chills, head gets pressure, dizzy, tired, funny you said potatoes , I have been noticing more episodes after them. If you tell the doctor they will just look at you weird, Have your electrolytes checked, potassium, magnesium etc.