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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not have called an ambulance?

140 replies

covidaintacrime · 29/12/2020 18:40

Bit of an odd one, and wasn't exactly sure where to put this.

Last night after dinner I was in the shower with DH (not doing anything other than showering, was pregame for a nice bath) and after about 15 minutes my vision went blurry and I grabbed his arm and said "I'm going to pass out". I don't know what happened after that but I hit the deck pretty hard and he moved quickly to get me out of the shower, and I remember "waking up" and crawling to the toilet because I thought I was going to be ill. Thankfully I wasn't physically sick or I probably would have called NHS 24, but I was faint and lightheaded for about an hour after getting out of the shower.

Does anyone know what this would have been? I'm in my twenties and no prior health conditions that I know of other than being a bit chubby. I have been getting a bit faint in the shower recently but I usually have enough time to hop out, whereas this time I fully lost consciousness.

(Not looking for expert medical opinions, just interested to see if anyone has had a similar experience and if it led to any diagnoses or medical conditions)

OP posts:
Original poster
covidaintacrime · 29/12/2020 20:02

If they run blood tests, do they have to do it in the crease of your arm? I'm very squeamish about it and it puts me off going to the GP (I know, childish irrational fear but it's quite overpowering).

I'll register with a GP as soon as I can though.

OP posts:
Godimabitch · 29/12/2020 20:03

I do think you should go to the gp. Could be anaemia or a different deficiency or low blood pressure. I'd want blood test and blood pressure testing if I were you.

Toddlerteaplease · 29/12/2020 20:05

I had this when I had Covid. Felt really faint when I first got up in the morning for about four days running. My first thought was that the water was too hot but it wasn't. Tried sitting on the sofa first before having a shower but still felt funny.

Toddlerteaplease · 29/12/2020 20:06

Didn't need an ambulance.

Backbee · 29/12/2020 20:08

If they run blood tests, do they have to do it in the crease of your arm? I'm very squeamish about it and it puts me off going to the GP (I know, childish irrational fear but it's quite overpowering).

If you're apprehensive let the nurse know, there's usually one within a surgery who is an absolute pro and you won't feel a thing, but they can all do things to try and help you feel more comfortable. I used to hate hate hate them, and actually used to faint before at the thought, and then had to go back and have another go and the first time I fainted afterwards. I don't mind them now as I had so many during pregnancy- the nurses I had were amazing and made me feel a lot better about them; they're used to people feeling nervous and worried so do let them know :)

ArabellaScott · 29/12/2020 20:19

Check with your doctor, please. I had a friend who started fainting in the shower and it turned out to be a very rare form of epilepsy. Obviously it's unlikely to be this and there are lots of other possibilities, but worth getting checked.

Marmunia1975 · 29/12/2020 20:25

Bear in mind it’s not normal to faint randomly! Something causes it.

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 29/12/2020 20:32

You felt faint several times before and this time you lost consciousness and passed out hitting your head.
YANBU... PLEASE see your GP and get a check up. There's all sorts of things it could be and small things that you could change to stop it happening.
What if this happened when your partner was out? or downstairs?
I used to hate needles, but they are so good at taking blood these days, tell them you are nervous and they will take extra care. Just look the other way and hum a song in your head focussing on the Lyrics... always works for me.. its over before you know it. Good luck

Teaga · 29/12/2020 20:32

This happened to me all the time as a teen and I still get easily light headed now when I stand up or shower. Doctors did lots of test and never found out a cause 🤷🏼‍♀️ I do have low blood pressure so I’m not sure if that’s it.
Had mri, ecg, bloods and a sleep test and there wasn’t an obvious cause.... just for reassurance I’m living and healthy 15 years on, if your blood pressure is on the low side too it could be that but you can always speak to your gp but they didn’t so anything for me I had to go through private healthcare as my mums work covered me.

Original poster
covidaintacrime · 29/12/2020 20:37

I'm going to eat some red meat for dinner (and probably keep eating more meat for the next few weeks in case it's anaemia). I'll get myself registered at a GP in the next few days, and I might try and see if they can do the blood pressure cuff without any proper blood tests until I can work up to it - of course, if they recommend doing them I will just have to push through it but it's an upsetting thought.

Thank you to everyone who posted! Good to know it's common ish but still needs to be checked out, I would have ignored it otherwise if I'm honest. Smile

OP posts:
PeachesBright · 29/12/2020 20:42

I get this. It's low blood pressure caused by the sudden change in temperature.

To recover, lay down, drink a pint of water and eat something salty. Packet of ready salted crisps is my go to.

Do speak to your GP though and also take a pregnancy test

iklboo · 29/12/2020 20:53

Lightheaded or dizzy with spinning? (definitely different feelings). I have Ménière's disease & I see to (what looked like) faint before it was diagnosed as 'drop attacks'. Agree see a GP when you can register, maybe have a chat with a pharmacist until you can.

MrsT777 · 29/12/2020 20:55

@Toddlerteaplease

Didn't need an ambulance.
The OP didn’t call one!
Demitri · 29/12/2020 20:59

Exact same thing happened to me last year. I didn’t go to the hospital but did call my gp who asked me in for blood tests. Turns out I had really low iron as well as depleted iron reserves. I also had very low vitamin d. I was put on iron tablets and b12 injections and it’s never happened again. He also said my blood pressure was low but put it down to the anaemia.

Spaghettibetty345 · 29/12/2020 21:00

I'll get myself registered at a GP in the next few days,

Do it tomoro! It can take a while to register and send all your documents to them. Many go surgeries are not registering new people due to COVID as well. Even to get a gp tel appt is difficult these days.

Hollybutnoivy · 29/12/2020 21:02

15 minutes is a long time to be in a hot shower - I would probably faint too. Still a good idea to check it out though.

Biddie191 · 29/12/2020 21:05

My daughter passing out was her first sign of covid. Probably not this, but may be worth checking if it's a possibility, the aching muscles can also be a symptom. xx

nosswith · 29/12/2020 21:20

Visit or get advice over the phone from a GP. Your not calling an ambulance is probably appreciated by the ambulance service given how stretched they are.

LunaTheCat · 29/12/2020 21:36

Sounds like a faint but happening often -see your GP.
Could you be pregnant ? If so then see GP quickly as if symptoms are relatively new need to consider ectopic pregnancy.

SeaToSki · 29/12/2020 21:45

Given how stretched the medical services are at the moment, it might be worth getting an automatic blood pressure cuff to use at home (inexpensive on amazon) then take your pressure before getting out of bed, while sitting, while standing, after 10 mins in the shower and immediately if you feel faint again. Write them all down. It should tell you your pulse as well, write that down too. Then you can call the GP with some helpful information.

loveyouradvice · 29/12/2020 21:47

I'm another one ... I still have to lie down fast for 10 mins or so when I get out of a hot bath

I have low blood pressure PLUS hyper mobility (which I think means my veins are more "mobile" or elastic too) .... Bizarrely it was a gynaecologist who said to me I needed to drink two large glasses of water first thing every morning.... to keep my blood pressure up...and a french GP who said I needed to be sure to eat enough salt for the same reasons and never to go low salt...

Once you know what it is you just handle it - and do carry a bottle of water round with you. I almost fainted on crowded tube in pre covid times and had to be looked after by 9 year old daughter....

And yes I fainted about four times in my teens... all the same thing.

Worth remembering when/if you get pregnant as can play up then too.

But of course if your blood pressure is average or high, you need to look at other causes

But certainly not call an ambulance - just get a phone call with your GP to start exploring options

Classic POTS symptom too so worth checking out but no urgency on this

CaffiSaliMali · 29/12/2020 22:07

I was told by an A&E nurse to always go to A&E after an unexplained faint.

I was telling him that I had had a fall and 3 faints a few weeks before and that's when be told me. I had slipped on some ice and passed out when I hit the pavement, a lady helped me up but I went again and when she sat me down on a nearby bench I went again. The lady was eventually able to walk me home. The nurse told me off for not going to A&E.

It later transpired that I have POTs. I fainted a lot as a child and teen at school. Hot showers can be a trigger. I also need to drink a lot to counteract it - I drink 4 750ml bottles of water a day, plus tea, milk and orange juice. I also eat a high salt diet to raise my BP.

I would go and see your GP to check blood pressure etc and bloods in case of anaemia.

Nanny0gg · 29/12/2020 22:08

@covidaintacrime

I do tend to feel quite faint when I stand up, but I usually attribute that to being mostly horizontal during lockdown Grin Maybe that's the cause?

POTS is a good shout though. The only time I remember last passing out was during a school play where I managed to fall off the stage!
(could always be a heat / lighting issue I suppose, maybe I just crash when I get too hot but I've never experienced it like this before?)

Check your blood pressure.
Mittens030869 · 29/12/2020 22:39

Definitely get yourself checked out by a GP. It doesn’t sound as if it’s anything serious, but we’re not medical professionals so we don’t know.

I agree that you were right not to call an ambulance as they are overstretched right now.

Graphista · 29/12/2020 22:41

Hot shower can drop your bp quickly.

Dehydration

Hangover

Low blood sugar

Becoming aroused

Or any or all of the above or combinations plus many other things can cause bp to drop

Or something as daft as an inner ear infection or sinus infection can affect balance and spin you out, I have crappy sinuses so often have this too

I've had this happen a few times but then I have pots, and it was particularly bad when I was on a certain med too, which I'm no longer on.

Anaemia isn't just about eating good high in iron you also need vit c ingested at same time to absorb it, a good varied balanced diet is essential to health of course.

I'm also in Scotland op and many of the hcps I speak with on various medical matters think vit d should be in the water up here! I'm taking high dose supplements myself at the moment as I'm housebound and with the apparent link to covid and I'm asthmatic I figured it was a good idea.

I'm overweight and have naturally low bp it's definitely possible and more common than many hcps would like to admit

People saying dont call an ambulance, why?

It's not an emergency it's quite common and usually has a simple non urgent cause and remedy

111 are ridiculously over cautious I won't even call them any more they're useless

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