Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Dh fainted at work and scared to tell gp

19 replies

Velvetsofa · 30/10/2019 08:17

My Dh passed out at work today. This hasn’t happened before. Was walking/speaking to colleague, felt hot and woke up on floor.
Colleagues who witnessed it bought him home.

He is now refusing to tell the gp as concerned that he might lose his license (had a friend who this happened to)
Is it likely he would have his license removed for fainting? He’s not got any known medical conditions but has been very constipated in the last week.

OP posts:
AmIThough · 30/10/2019 08:29

He might have it suspended while they do tests, and rightly so. Would you really want to risk him driving until he knows what's wrong?

It might be something really simple like a viral infection but he needs to get checked out.

Fairylea · 30/10/2019 08:31

If he’s been very constipated and hasn’t been drinking lots it’s likely he’s dehydrated which could have caused him to faint. He needs to have some tests done.

Taytotots · 30/10/2019 08:38

This dvla guidance note (bit old though) says if it was a simple faint he wouldn't lose his licence. This is likely if the 3 p's were present (posture - e.g. standing for a long time, prodrome (sweating, warmth) and provoking factors (e.g. pain). I am no doctor but hopefully this will reassure him enough to go to his GP.
He really needs to rule out any conditions that could have caused it. If it is something more serious ok he might lose his licence but hopefully they can treat it and neither he or someone else will die as a result.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Wilmalovescake · 30/10/2019 08:40

I wouldn’t go to the GP for one faint.

TMI but I’ve fainted off the loo with diarrhoea before; due to the dehydration. Any chance he could be dehydrated?

Apolloanddaphne · 30/10/2019 08:44

My DD has fainted on a few occasions and has never gone to the GP about it. It has almost always when she has been too hot and not had enough fluids. I don't think fainting once is enough of a reason to go to the GP. If it keeps happening on a regular basis then he might have to think about it, but not this time.

LoyaltyBonus · 30/10/2019 08:47

Yes, unexplained blackouts would be a reason to have a driving licence removed. Could anyone argue it should be otherwise?

flabagoose · 30/10/2019 08:47

The DVLA were SO slow investigating mine and told me i could keep driving until I was told otherwise.. took 6 months for them to get back to me which is the amount of time would have had it suspended for anyway. (I chose not to drive for those 6 months though as didn't want to risk hurting myself or anyone else)
It could be nothing or could be very serious so he really should get checked over unless he really knows what caused it.

TwattingDog · 30/10/2019 08:51

Ok, what has he done to find out what could have been the cause?

Has he looked at what he ate and drank in the preceeding 24hrs? I had bouts of passing out due to not eating or drinking enough, then having a massive sugar spike with cans of coke etc.

Has he felt dizzy before or since? Any other symptoms? What was he doing just before he felt like this?

codenameduchess · 30/10/2019 08:54

I fainted once in a particularly bad attack of constipation (IBS related), I was driving at the time and luckily DH was able to get control of the car. We went straight to a&e, had ecg and a few other tests to check for epilepsy and other serious causes and they ruled it a reaction to extreme pain. There's a chance it will happen again as it's the bodies reaction to stimuli (in this case the pain), but as it's an avoidable trigger there was no affect on my driving license and no need to notify dvla. If I have any tummy trouble I just don't drive until it passes.

For a one off occurrence if he went to the gp your dh would probably have tests done to rule out any underlying causes but I'd say there's a reasonable chance it could be related to constipation/dehydration.

Babdoc · 30/10/2019 09:00

Does your DH drive a bin lorry in Glasgow, OP? Remembering the dead and injured pedestrians up there, thanks to the driver who lied about his fainting episode, might encourage him to seek medical advice.

LimaOscarLima · 30/10/2019 09:00

Don't most people faint once or twice in their lifetime? There'd be hardly any drivers on the road if anyone who once fainted lost their licence.
If it's a one off I'd not bother going to the gp, if it becomes regular then yes he should see the gp to find the cause.

AmIThough · 30/10/2019 09:21

Amazing how many people wouldn't go to the GP. What will your excuse be when you faint at the wheel?

Original poster
Velvetsofa · 30/10/2019 09:54

Thanks for advice, he’s agreed to see gp

OP posts:
Original poster
Velvetsofa · 30/10/2019 10:35

Verdict: has an impacted so attributed to constipation/dehydration

Has got to continue with lactolose and been prescribed something additional to use at night.

Has been booked in for a blood test and scan to confirm nothing underlying.

PHEW

OP posts:
Original poster
Velvetsofa · 30/10/2019 10:37

That should read has an impaction/blockage

OP posts:
slipperywhensparticus · 30/10/2019 10:38

Wasnt the Glasgow bin lorry man epileptic? He didnt just faint once when unwell

Lilimoon · 30/10/2019 12:58

Good news OP.

DreamingofSunshine · 30/10/2019 13:00

I've fainted when trying to poo when constipated, apparently it affects the vagus nerve? Worth getting it checked out and taking the Dr's advice on notifying the DVLA.

Likethebattle · 30/10/2019 13:34

@slipperywhensparticus no he wasn’t epileptic and had fainted. Encore when in charge of a bus. He passed out and killed several people.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread