Fainted 4 times in 2 weeks. Next available GP appointment 31 Aug

[WillitFit]

I've never fainted before in my life (52 years) but seem to have suddenly started in the last fortnight.

I've explained symptoms to GP receptionist (like you must to get offered any appointment these days) and the best they can possibly do for me is 31 Aug.

Is that OK? I mean, can it wait that long or should I do "something" else?

OP if I were you I would ring up as early as possible in the morning and stay on the line as long as it takes. You need to insist on being seen tomorrow.

I do think you need to be seen before you go away, agree with PP that you could injure yourself or be driving. My friend’s DD had a couple of fainting episodes after COVID, she was taken to hospital by ambulance and had ECG and a 24 hour heart monitor. They did put it down to COVID in the end, but you need to be seen to rule other things out.

I went through a stage of fainting when I stood up and was diagnosed with postural hypotension. I had to get my self into a standing position very slowly, if I did it too quickly I’d faint.

it only lasted a few weeks, no idea why. It does need a doctor to tell
you what’s wrong though!

I'd tell the receptionist that if you don't get checked out you'll go to A&E
They seem to find appointments then.

I have. It only asks if I've fainted in the last 24 hours (yes). It doesn't ask for details of previous faints. The verdict was call your GP...

Can you not call the GP surgery at 8am and get an on the day urgent appt?

POTS is quite possible after Covid, it’s quite common post viral infections.

I don't think so not here. When I needed some help for a friend with MH issues, I got "well you'll just have to go to A&E then".

I'm not worried about driving. I've never had any dizziness at all when sitting or moving about. It's only when I first stand up, which I'm learning to do slowly. The last couple of times, I braced myself against a wall or chair, so although I've momentarily lost awareness, I haven't fallen.

It's totally broken isn't it 😡

Monitor your blood pressure at home. Record the numbers.
Email them to the GP every week until your appointment.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/fainting/

I am against suggesting a private GP because I suspect the private GPs should all be in normal GP surgeries seeing people the traditional way.

Haven't RTFT but a relative had something similar (passed out at work) and it was taken seriously and it turns out she may need a pacemaker, which has come as a shock all round as she's one of the fittest people I know. Even after she'd been seen the first time by the cardiologist it was all rather casual and she's on quite a long waiting list.

There are legal ramifications involved, OP: I'm sure someone's already said it, but you should stop driving after fainting unexpectedly and the GP/ surgery ought to have talked that through with you. Don't want you passing out at the wheel. Good luck, it's scary.

Unfortunately, OP, your insurer is unlikely to see it that way if you faint at the wheel and cause an accident.

Yes, it is

Op - get yourself to a&e (ideally get someone else to drive you). They will understand when you explain that you have tried to see the GP/called 111 but didn’t get an appointment until 31st AND you have had repeated episodes of loss of consciousness (having been fine before) and you were worried. It’s important to rule out some serious things - that they can do by a few basic tests and measurements (they can do quite a few tonight if you go - bp, ecg, urine sample, chest x ray, bloods). Once this is done, they can advise you on the next course of action (which may be a gp appt or a specialist appt or whatever).

Do you have an urgent care attached to your local A&E? I'd head there, honestly. No point in in keeping trying with the GP because you're going to get nowhere. Search "urgent care" and location and head there.

But I'm not going to faint at the wheel because it only happens when I stand up. The DVLA is only interested if you've suffered blackouts whilst sitting, I checked.

Seeing a private GP is an option, but it could get expensive if they refer you on for blood tests, or to a consultant. It might still be worth it to see what they think and perhaps they could then get onto your NHS GP if they think it needs urgent referral. The other option is A&E. You can’t wait 5 weeks.

Then stop with the scaremongering. Fainting when you first move to standing doesn't affect driving.

Well @WillitFit you say you had Covid recently. I did post somewhere about my bad reaction to the 2nd vaccination. I had a heart rate/blood pressure monitor at home anyway - I had patches of passing out for fractions of a second and periods lasting a few minutes to 20minsw to 2 hours where I was continually in the point of passing out. I thought it might have been low BP - in fact it was my HR falling into the low 30's. Because it wasn't investigated - it couldn't be at the time - height of Covid - it's not possible to conclude the vaccination was the cause although the reading/research I and my GP and a heart consultant did suggested there was a link (I am very pro vaccination FWIW) - the BHF cardiac nurse I spoke to said they had seen many cases of miocardia and pericardia - probably (again not conclusive) linked to the vaccination. There was a paper published in the Lancet (I think - from memory) that suggested a possible explanation for this - the presence of spike proteins in the heart muscle. So - have you checked to see if your HR is low at these times?

My heart rate is usually low because I'm quite fit. If anything it's a bit high for me atm, although still below average for my age.

I’m sorry but some pp are correct, I know you say you’re only fainting when you first stand up but it might progress and maybe it’s not safe to be driving. Next time you faint you could suffer a head injury.
i would phone 111 and explain what’s been happening, they might give you a 24hr ecg/ blood pressure check and then someone will phone you for an appointment etc. Its best to try that than wait for an appointment.
Its a shame that doctors surgerys have come to this!

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg109

Transient loss of consciousness guidelines for you to read through.

Where I am 111 can book you in to an out of hours GP appointment who can do an ECG and they can if necessary even book you into an in hours GP appointment.

I think I would try that this evening - you might have to travel to somewhere they are running appointments but it's not 5.5 weeks wait.

Hi Op,

Low iron levels can lower blood pressure - and if you are recovering from infection then your iron could have bottomed out. maybe request a full blood count when you see the Gp.

I also second going to a pharmacist and get your blood pressure checked. Might make it easier to get in and see a GP...

ED doc of 20+ years here

i would absolutely want an ECG. It may just be dehydration / heat related but at over 50 (sorry!) I would want to screen for cardiac issues.
if it happens again and you get no joy from the GP I would present myself to A&E for an ECG. You are not wasting their time and would likely be referred to TLOC clinic for further investigation unless there was something obvious on examining you