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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think fainting when having a poo every now and again is normal (for me)?

81 replies

faintingontheloo · 22/12/2022 21:54

TMI warning lol.

Ever since I was a teenager I have very sporadically had bowel movements that have caused me to faint whilst on the loo (sense of doom, cold sweat followed by collapsing), usually after diarrhoea. It happens very infrequently, maybe once every 2-5 years. I remember Googling it when I was around 16 and reading about vasovagal syncope and just accepting that that was what it was and never thinking much of it.

This year it has happened 3 times, alongside some other symptoms so I went to the GP and a stool test showed high inflammation, and it has made me wonder if the fainting is linked to the cause of the inflammation. The GP didn't seem really seem interested in the fainting, so AIBU to think it's just normal for me to faint from this? I don't have low blood pressure

OP posts:
richlydetailed · 22/12/2022 21:58

I've never had this and had never heard of it but then I've just read Susannah Constantine's memoir and she describes it in there!

xogossipgirlxo · 22/12/2022 21:58

Ibs? Endometriosis?

berylvenus · 22/12/2022 22:00

Look into dysautonomia. Issues with your autonomic nervous system.

Remainiac · 22/12/2022 22:01

DH occasionally faints when he’s got up for a wee in the night. There’s an almighty crash and down he goes. Docs couldn’t be less interested 🤷‍♀️

xmaslurgy · 22/12/2022 22:01

Is there pain?

RunLolaRun102 · 22/12/2022 22:02

It’s a sign of pcos or endometriosis if it only happens once or twice a month.

Nimo12 · 22/12/2022 22:03

I have IBS which is mostly under control with diet but every couple of years I get a really bad attack and will feel faint while on the toilet. I've fainted a couple of times onto the floor. It's scary and horrible. No advice on how to deal though.

Itwaseasierforyounotobelieveme · 22/12/2022 22:05

I don't faint. But the sheer agony!

dizzydizzydizzy · 22/12/2022 22:08

I would be concerned about regular fainting. You might seriously injure yourself. I would contact GP.

robobot · 22/12/2022 22:10

This happens to me sometimes. I have inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis).

I just thought it was normal for me and hadn't really connected it to anything else.

Dilbertian · 22/12/2022 22:13

No idea, but just wanted to say that I often get cold sweats, fuzzy-headed, and a dreadful sense of doom just before diarrhoea. Especially if the diarrhoea is unexpected. I've often wondered why.

Namechange567775 · 22/12/2022 22:16

Endo symptom for me as others are saying - similar to you, happed very very infrequently for years and then suddenly got more frequent and worse with other symptoms. If you have any other endo symptoms might be worth mentioning it to your doctor (although it will take 68374774 years to get diagnosed and treated)

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 22/12/2022 22:16

Remainiac · 22/12/2022 22:01

DH occasionally faints when he’s got up for a wee in the night. There’s an almighty crash and down he goes. Docs couldn’t be less interested 🤷‍♀️

This happened to me once, and it was suggested that it was due to me getting up from the bed very quickly and the blood 'being thrown' from my head.
Now I tend to get up slowly and pause part way through and it has never happened again.

Blocked · 22/12/2022 22:20

I used to get this when I had a large ovarian cyst, and shortly after the ovary was removed. Never had it since and that was 10 years ago.

Dedontdodatderdode · 22/12/2022 22:20

I do, on occasion, get so light headed that I feel I’m going to pass out. I know not everyone does though. It’s quite a new thing for me but I do have randomly plummeting BP so assume it’s that.

Bigsislookingforadvice · 22/12/2022 22:21

My partner has had 2 Vaso episodes linked to toileting - sudden drop in bp Dr said from loss off fluid when had upset stomach. Scary at the time but otherwise Dr not interested

Willowswood · 22/12/2022 22:21

Remainiac · 22/12/2022 22:01

DH occasionally faints when he’s got up for a wee in the night. There’s an almighty crash and down he goes. Docs couldn’t be less interested 🤷‍♀️

That sounds like a postural drop, so your blood pressure goes down when you get up

Mangledrake · 22/12/2022 22:22

It's probably a vasovagal reaction - pushing on nerve. Some people are prone to this. Sense of doom etc involved too.

I've had this.

TodayIsFridayHooray · 22/12/2022 22:25

This used to happen to me!!! In my twenties I'd say it happened once a year or so, and maybe same through my early thirties. I'm 43 now and don't think it's happened for about 2 or 3 years! I'd actually forgotten about it! Don't know what it was! I'm sure I mentioned it once to the Dr who didn't seem bothered! It's not nice though. I remember a few times having to lie down on the bathroom floor.

If you find out what it is OP, please post back! I'd love to know!

Mirabai · 22/12/2022 22:26

Stool test with high inflammation could indicate IBD. Feeling faint could be linked to that particularly as you experienced it with diarrhoea and cold sweat.

CambsAlways · 22/12/2022 22:27

Sounds awful

RebulahConundrum · 22/12/2022 22:28

Didn't this happen to JD in Scrubs? Maybe you should watch that episode

ILoveeCakes · 22/12/2022 22:33

I've had some emotional jobbies in my time. Eye watering in fact. But you appear to be describing something different.

ecosystem · 22/12/2022 22:35

Could be all sorts of things eg. low blood pressure, endometriosis as others have said. But check it out with the doc. You really don't want to faint and hit your head or something.

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