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

[faintingontheloo]

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

Maybe hypovolemic shock if it’s happening after diarrhoea rather than a normal bowel movement.

I have this exact same thing! I was just talking about it yesterday. Love mumsnet for things like this.

Vasovagal response.
Totally normal although clearly a bit overactive in your case. It's to do with the nerves which allow you to poo also lowering your blood pressure
There's a reason that hospital toilet doors often open outwards rather than in...

I get this thing when my period is due. After a bowel movement I have horrific pain, am sweaty and my arms feel numb! It then wears off. It’s always when period is due.
When I was pregnant, literally 2 weeks pregnant, I had the same pain but horrifically worse.. it felt like my womb was on fire and I assumed it was a miscarriage.
I never was investigated as it isn’t as bad now but I think maybe it’s endometriosis related.

Yes, I believe that's the same thing - had a friend who was told so anyway.

It is an awful experience, I can't begin to describe how awful it feels. My hearing starts to go funny, my body feels like it's falling, I become drenched in sweat and feel like I'm dying. All I can do is pray for the feeling to stop.

I had it once after diarrhoea, knocked myself out as I fell. I asked the doctor about it and he said it wasn't uncommon and wasn't overly concerned because the diarrhoea had been the cause.

I'd forgotten the ringing in my ear until you mentioned your hearing. It was strange and really quite frightening.

I've managed to stave off another couple of episodes by lying down as soon as I felt in the initial stages of an episode. Not necessarily easy when you're in the middle of a toileting event but needs must.