Wtf just happened to me

[Mylee]

I really want to know if anyone has ever experienced anything like this. I’m currently waiting for a call back after contacting 111 for advice

Not sure if this is relevant, but I had a large tattoo done on my shin yesterday. Very reputable award winning place so no issues with hygiene or anything. I’ve been resting my leg and keeping it uncovered and clean. I also have anemia but this is managed with medication

I got up from the sofa and went into the kitchen. After about 5 minutes, DP commented on the colour of my shin, and it was a really deep purpley red all over. I started to feel really weird and like I was going to pass out. I sat down and I couldn’t see anything, really dizzy, my head was pounding and I started dripping with sweat. My face had apparently gone really pale and my lips and gums had gone completely white. DP was considering taking me to A&E as I looked so bad. After about 10 minutes I started to feel better. I feel a bit cold and shaky and I’m drenched in sweat, but I feel 90% better than I did

Can anyone shed any light on what this might be!? I’ve never felt anything remotely like it before

Look up the sepsis signs just to be safe!

Some people are allergic to the dyes they use in tattoos, especially red and yellow.

I think you were about to faint, but didn’t. Drink lots of fluids-

@LynnInAVan it’s not weepy really, just quite sore and the skin is very tight as usual

@CJat10 I’ve never heard of it before, but that does seem like it could be the answer. I can’t deal with any blood or injuries or anything like that. It always makes me feel light headed and queasy, even if someone is just talking about something gory. I didn’t actually faint though and never have so I don’t know if I could still be the same. I do have anxiety but take medication and it’s usually under very good control

@ScabbyHorse can you develop an allergy out of nowhere? I’ve had loads of tattoos before and never had anything like this happen

Was also thinking tattoo flu

Worth getting checked out at gp or small injuries; but I think what you experienced is similar to someone fainting at the sight of blood; and having anaemia means you have a susceptibility to that too

Severe case of tattoo flu! I'm about 70% covered in tattoos mostly doing day sittings (and own a tattoo shop) and I can tell you lower legs are some of the hardest to heal!

Unfortunately it's furthest away from your heart so is going to take longer to heal in general, swelling is going to be bad and settle lower, it aches like hell and you can get a nice shooting pain when standing after resting. Keep an eye on it but you'll likely be fine.

@TheBodyPiercer thought I’d always manage to avoid tattoo flu but maybe not I’ve got my calves and other shin done and they weren’t too bad, but not as big as this one so I’m feeling very sorry for myself hah. I am getting the shooting pain when I stand up and that felt bad enough!

Here’s a pic of the offending article in case anybody wants to see!

I love the design. Hope you're soon feeling better 💐

It’s beautiful and clearly very well done. Hope you get answers soon!

A&E is for life threatening emergencies - please call 111 as first port of call.

[quote Mylee]@TheBodyPiercer thought I’d always manage to avoid tattoo flu but maybe not I’ve got my calves and other shin done and they weren’t too bad, but not as big as this one so I’m feeling very sorry for myself hah. I am getting the shooting pain when I stand up and that felt bad enough![/quote]
Yes not fun, unfortunately you can't win with leg tattoos. You rest; it hurts when you move; you move; the swelling gets worse!

As long as redness isn't spreading outwards away from the tattoo you're most likely fine.

@JMAngel1

A&E is for life threatening emergencies - please call 111 as first port of call.

Yes, and an allergic reaction could cause anaphylactic shock, which is life-threatening, as is sepsis.

@JMAngel1 it does say in the first line of my op that I’m waiting for a call back from 111. DP is very averse to hospitals or any medical help, so for him to suggest it means I must have been in a bad way at the time.

@TheBodyPiercer so fun isn’t it! Sometimes I wonder why I do it to myself, then it heals and I go and do it again no sign of redness spreading but I’m keeping a very close eye on it

Wow that's beautiful I'm in no way jealous at all🤣

I remember a thing from my first aid course - if a burn is the size of the casualty's palm or bigger, go to a&e. A tattoo is a wide, shallow injury, too. I'd go.

You know I'm not one who normally likes big tatoos, but that is really gorgeous. So well done.

But yes, any more weird feelings, go straight to A&E. 111 have been shocking about calling back whenever I've needed to call.

What you describe sounds very similar to the presyncope and subsequent syncope I experience as part of a medical condition, characterised by a low BP and a high heart rate. Blood often pools in my legs which look dark purple and my face and lips etc go very pale so some kind of shock response frankly does seem most likely. Presumably one is lying or sitting down a long time to get a tattoo of that size as well as it being physically stressful.

I wouldn't attend a&e if you say you now feel completely normal but would call my GP in the morning, and obviously call 111 back if it happens again in the night. They might ask you to go anyway to be checked if they don't have an answer.

Get yourself a proper electrolyte drink (not sugar),stay hydrated and elevate your legs if you can, do some gentle walking, check your HR on your phone if concerned.

Thank you very much for all the help everyone. Have had a call back and they’ve agreed it does sound like it could be vasovagal syncope given that other things make me feel the same (although never to this extent). They’ve suggested I call the GP for an appointment to check up on the anemia as well just in case, and to keep an eye on it and go to the local walk in if it happens again. What a very strange experience!

@dontgobaconmyheart yes I was lying down most of the day with my leg stretched out straight. I got up for regular breaks but was very uncomfortable by the end of it

@dontgobaconmyheart sorry I posted too soon then! That sounds exactly like what I had, I could feel my blood pressure and heart rate dropping whilst I was sat down. I wasn’t sure whether to keep it elevated or not as it seems to be worse if I have it up for ages and then get up

@TheBodyPiercer do you remember roughly how long the shooting pains lasted with yours? It’s happening every time I stand up, with a kind of cramping pain. I’ve never had it before so just trying to work out what to keep an eye on and how long to expect it for

Ah glad you are feeling better now. My DD had a vasovagel thingy a few years ago, she was only 9 and we were on holiday, she just came over really funny and dropped to the floor! Came round quickly but then did it again so we went straight to A&E.

That tattoo is absolutely flipping beautiful!!!

@dontgobaconmyheart would it be OK if I pm'd you please as a family member is experiencing the same symptoms?