fainting every time I’m ill

[Frisbeeroo]

hi, really hoping someone can help! Basically I have an under active thyroid that’s medicated with 100 lethothyroxine which seems to keep my levels ok. The problem I have is every time I’m ill i’ll pass out multiple times a day. Most recently I have a cough/cold virus not nice but also nothing serious and yet I’ve fainted 6 times in last 2 days. Previously I’ve had tonsillitis and the same reaction. Last spring I had a tooth extraction and same again fainted and actually had a seizure this time too. All I get told is ‘some people are more prone to fainting’ and maybe that’s right but I’m desperately looking for another option so thinking maybe it’s linked to my thyroid somehow? I have a three year old and it’s pretty rubbish that every time I’m slightly run down I can’t be left alone with her or do the preschool runs because I could faint any help or advice truly welcomed..

[Brightness14]

I actually don't think you are fainting, having a low FT3 can cause the body to try and fall asleep which sounds very odd. I am the same when this happens and at first I thought that I was fainting, no it was low FT3. Especially when you have a virus or cold the body can make even less T3. How are your thyroid levels, post the results on here for more answers.

[Frisbeeroo in reply to Brightness14]

these were my latest results in December so apparently all fine but and was feeling ok to be fair but just this every time I get ill I go back to be super fainty

Results

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Frisbeeroo]

just testing TSH is completely inadequate

Many, many patients on levothyroxine would have TSH well under one when adequately treated

Approximately how much do you weigh in kilo

What vitamin supplements are you taking

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Joant24]

I don’t know if this is any help at all but my husband always passes out if he’s has An upset tummy or is sick. It’s because his sodium gets really low. He ends up in A&E for a sodium infusion and they send him home.

[Frisbeeroo in reply to Joant24]

Thank you for the reply! Anything is helpful at this point, gives me things to check for it try because I’m getting so fed up now every time I’m ill so thank you

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Frisbeeroo]

POTS or postural hypotension could be another cause, especially if the body is under stress, or a problem with the adrenals.

[humanbean]

Is it possible you have narcolepsy? (A subject I know nothing about but I'm just making a suggestion.)

What about low blood pressure?

.

Just to help you do some research, it might help to know that "fainting" in medical terms is called "syncope" pronounced sinker-pee.

youtube.com/watch?v=m9naLKi...(Not working as expected?)

This link might be useful :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synco...

[Brightness14]

Is it the TSH that you have shown, if so you will need to test other things to. Perhaps, low BP also can cause fainting. I hope that you find an answer soon.

[kushami36]

I’m sorry you are going through this. Other people have already made excellent suggestions as to what might be causing the fainting, but I wondered if you have been able to check your blood pressure and heart rate during these periods. It could be illuminating.

Also, it may or may not be true that some people are more prone to fainting, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored! If you can get a handle on the cause, maybe that can be treated, or maybe the fainting (or whatever it is) can be ameliorated.

For example, if it’s orthostatic hypotension, that can be helped by compression leggings.

Your GP can do a simple test to check for orthostatic intolerance called an active stand test or NASA lean test (slightly different protocols; both work). This may of course be normal when you don’t have a bug, and when you do have a bug you wouldn’t want to potentially provoke fainting, so the timing could be a little tricky.

Maybe taking regular blood pressure and heart rate readings would be easier, plus getting a reading as close as possible to when you faint.

Hope you can get it sorted.