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Original poster

to not have realised how scary it is to see/try to help someone in a fainting spell

36 replies

DervlaGlass · 08/09/2025 22:56

DH fainted this evening and it was like he just left his body and was slumped and wouldn't react to anything I said. His eyes were open and it was like he was just the body without the person. Took me ages to realise something was wrong as he was kind of propped against a wall so didn't just collapse (thank God keep thinking what if he hit his head)

I've never seen someone close to me faint and I'd always imagined it was just oh gosh fan them a bit then it's ok again but wasn't at all- his blood pressure plummeted and he took ages to be able to get up

I know it's not a big health deal in itself but he has a lot of underlying health conditions and now I feel scared to go to sleep in case he's not ok in the night

I know this isn't really an aibu except about my own ignorance but feeling a bit alone with this

OP posts:
JDM625 · 08/09/2025 23:27

It can be very scary seeing a loved on in that situation.

OP- have you ever done a first aid course? I'd look into doing one. It might give you some confidence going forward, especially as your DH multiple health concerns.

Original poster
DervlaGlass · 08/09/2025 23:22

Doctor1988 · 08/09/2025 23:08

So he collapsed without warning? If so this may not have been a simple faint, and I would recommend he sees his GP ASAP for an assessment.

Also if he’s collapsed without warning and has a driving license he now won’t be able to drive until it’s been investigated +/- treated. He needs to let the DVLA and his insurance company know, and the rules for unheralded syncope is 6 months no driving unless a cause is found and treated.

It may never happen again but needs to be taken seriously x

He's under regular care with a renal dept and we were in a ridiculously hot room so I think it's probably quite explicable but I'll get him to tell his consultant anyway. We don't have a car fortunately! (Is that the case for all fainting? I can see it would make sense I just didn't realise - as above obviously I was quite naive!)

OP posts:
Zapx · 08/09/2025 23:10

I’ve been a chronic fainter in the past. Fainted into/onto/in front of loads of people. I did always make sure I apologised afterwards… but yes I believe it did look pretty alarming for some of the occasions. Really hope he (and you!) recover quickly.

Doctor1988 · 08/09/2025 23:08

So he collapsed without warning? If so this may not have been a simple faint, and I would recommend he sees his GP ASAP for an assessment.

Also if he’s collapsed without warning and has a driving license he now won’t be able to drive until it’s been investigated +/- treated. He needs to let the DVLA and his insurance company know, and the rules for unheralded syncope is 6 months no driving unless a cause is found and treated.

It may never happen again but needs to be taken seriously x

AnneLovesGilbert · 08/09/2025 23:08

DervlaGlass · 08/09/2025 23:03

he's fine now thank you for asking - there was actually a doctor there (complete with blood pressure monitor!) so he gave us some reassurance that it should be ok. DH actually doesn't remember it at all and is now touch wood quite chipper have been bringing him liquids to keep him nicely orthostatic.

He says he didn't really know it was coming - is that normal in your experience? im really annoying him by asking every five minutes if he feels ok

Show quote history

I haven’t done it in a while thankfully but it’s varied completely from everything going black and feeling like I’m falling down a tunnel with rushing in my ears to not having a clue till I’m at the bottom of a flight of stairs or otherwise on the ground and someone’s been standing over me. Fainting itself isn’t usually that worrying, as you say, it’s more the risk of bashing your head on something hard or other fall related injuries.

I’m glad he’s alright. Sounds like he’s in good safe hands.

Jonismorf · 08/09/2025 23:08

I'd have this investigated further if I were you. It's a bit unusual for someone with no history of similar events to just faint whilst sitting down.

KpopDemon · 08/09/2025 23:07

My mum fainted once at her birthday dinner! God I thought she’d had a stroke, I was terrified. Turns out she’d been feeling a bit below par after a nasty cold, and her oxygen levels dropped. She was out for two minutes, which felt like a ludicrously long time.

She was a fainter when I was a kid so it shouldn’t have surprised me. But yes it did scare the bejeezers out of me so you have my sympathy!

ninjahamster · 08/09/2025 23:04

Oh you poor thing, it can be quite a shock. One of my daughters is a regular fainter, she goes absolutely white as a sheet for a while afterwards. I hope your husband is ok x

Original poster
DervlaGlass · 08/09/2025 23:03

AnneLovesGilbert · 08/09/2025 22:58

Oh you poor thing. How’s he doing now? I’m the fainter, combination of factors none serious, but I’ve never seen anyone else do it. Sorry you went through it and I hope you do manage to get some sleep.

he's fine now thank you for asking - there was actually a doctor there (complete with blood pressure monitor!) so he gave us some reassurance that it should be ok. DH actually doesn't remember it at all and is now touch wood quite chipper have been bringing him liquids to keep him nicely orthostatic.

He says he didn't really know it was coming - is that normal in your experience? im really annoying him by asking every five minutes if he feels ok

OP posts:
SkaneTos · 08/09/2025 23:02

That sounds scary! For him and for you!
I hope he is feeling better now!

AnneLovesGilbert · 08/09/2025 22:58

Oh you poor thing. How’s he doing now? I’m the fainter, combination of factors none serious, but I’ve never seen anyone else do it. Sorry you went through it and I hope you do manage to get some sleep.

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