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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 22:56

I've just checked my shower, and it's 35C. That's not ridiculously hot for a shower, is it?

OP posts:
PurplePansy05 · 29/12/2020 23:25

No, I think up to around 38C is pretty standard, although at the warmer end. Was it hot there before you had a shower? Heating?

Original poster
covidaintacrime · 29/12/2020 23:36

Was it hot there before you had a shower? Heating?

Not at all no, we usually keep the flat around 20C (give or take) so not very extreme either way.

OP posts:
shas19 · 29/12/2020 23:46

Hypertension maybe

lovelemoncurd · 29/12/2020 23:50

Yes when pregnant. Are you?

Original poster
covidaintacrime · 29/12/2020 23:52

Yes when pregnant. Are you?

Definitely not pregnant, bit upsetting though so not getting attached to the idea of it being a symptom of that.

OP posts:
wensleydalecheese · 30/12/2020 00:27

Not to be rude but I'd be a pretty pissed paramedic if I was called out (especially at the moment) to an otherwise healthy young person who just fainted after a hot shower when you only drink 2 cups of water a day.

Worth checking your blood pressure, drinking more water, taking a multivitamin (esp with B12) and getting a blood test.

ThePerfectPintOfIceColdBeer · 30/12/2020 01:17

This used to happen to me a lot and still occasionally does now. I find that if I stand up too fast, stretch when I stand up or stay standing up for too long that can make me feel really dizzy and sometimes actually faint.

I've never phoned an ambulance for it, I'm more of the type to minimise things, but if it keeps happening definitely speak to your GP. Although sometimes it's difficult to find what causes it as it has been with me.

Caplin · 30/12/2020 01:25

I used to get this a lot. I have a heart murmur when they ran checks. My aunt is the same. I also have very low blood pressure and back in my 20s regularly suffered low blood sugar which chaises me to feel faint.

I also fainted when in pain eg cystitis.

Basically I faint loads. Once fainted in the aisle on a packed easyJet.

It is just something I am aware of and know when to lie down...mostly!!

Bloodybridget · 30/12/2020 01:34

A pp mentioned the length of time you said you'd been in the shower, 15 minutes, was it really that long? That's absolutely ages - I can imagine getting dizzy and faint if I'd been standing in a hot shower for that long.

LoveMyKidsAndCats · 30/12/2020 02:03

I used to have that when the shower was really hot. Think I was pregnant thinking about it.

LoveMyKidsAndCats · 30/12/2020 02:05

no need for an ambulance OP. Just make an appointment with your GP.

Original poster
covidaintacrime · 30/12/2020 12:31

I really didn't think 15 minutes was that long, do people have really short showers (or freezing ones)?

Thank you to everyone sharing their experience, it helps a lot! I started developing some flu symptoms last night so I think it's likely to be the flu due to this time of year.

And if some PPs can (politely) ease up on the snarkiness, I didn't call an ambulance and I would probably have just called NHS 24 if anything. The title was just clickbait, I suppose because I haven't had symptoms like this before.

OP posts:
Aprilx · 30/12/2020 13:12

@covidaintacrime

I really didn't think 15 minutes was that long, do people have really short showers (or freezing ones)?

Thank you to everyone sharing their experience, it helps a lot! I started developing some flu symptoms last night so I think it's likely to be the flu due to this time of year.

And if some PPs can (politely) ease up on the snarkiness, I didn't call an ambulance and I would probably have just called NHS 24 if anything. The title was just clickbait, I suppose because I haven't had symptoms like this before.

I think 15 minutes is a really long time to be in the shower, five minutes would be a bit more normal?

Calling an ambulance would have been ridiculous over this and I think you would have got a telling off for wasting emergency resources. I wouldn’t have called 111 either. As a one off I would probably forget about it, but a visit to your GP might make sense if it happens again.

BakewellGin1 · 30/12/2020 13:23

I've done this several times over the years in various places.. Twice I've cracked my head and been to hospital. They have found nothing but put it down to a drop in blood pressure. To be honest I am no good after a hot bath but I live them so I tend to have one then lie on my bed to cool down again because I'm a definate fainter

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