Page 4 | To ask if you've fainted

HalloweenGhost · 2023-04-24T22:06:03+00:00

I've always had lowish blood pressure and have had a number of funny turns - pre stage of a faint, head hot, dizzy, desire to lie down right now in the middle of this shop sort of thing. Today however I experienced a true faint three times, properly losing conscience. Has this happened to you? I keeled over and was launched into a lovely dream each time (now forgotten), that seemed to last ages - long enough to be really calming. Husband said I was out for only about 10/15 seconds each time and he was calling me to wake up - I heard nothing - but woke to find him lifting me onto a bench or into the car each time. I couldn't help but wonder why he didn't leave me in the lovely dream, it was much better than feeling so ill. Why do we as a rule rush to wake fainters? In the ambulance they were keen to keep me awake too.

JoanOgden · 25/04/2023 01:33

Yes, a couple of times - including yesterday, I was out hiking with a friend and quite tired towards the end of the walk. Slipped coming down the mountain and banged my hip bone quite hard. Sat down to recover and felt myself losing consciousness. I did have a lovely brief dream but the friend I was with was terrified! I was fine though, no need for medical assistance, just a rest before we went on.

Findyourneutralspace · 25/04/2023 01:43

I fainted at a bus stop when I was 17 and everyone just stood there gawping. I remember coming to and seeing my bus pass lying in the road, and feeling embarrassed and confused. I think the other people must have assumed I was drunk or or drugs or something but I was on my way home from the library!

I also faint when I injure myself, so I have decked it when I stood up after busting my knee, and another occasion when I had a slipped disk XH caught me as I was about to hit the ground in the kitchen. The only time I’ve had flu (rather than a nasty cold) I was starting to faint in the shower, and had to quickly lie down in the bath before I went.

It’s always a relief because that hot, tunnel vision feeling is grim.

AllIeveknewonlyou · 25/04/2023 02:10

No, that sounds scary.

I once went with a friend to the std clinic as she'd had unprotected sex. We were such a pair of wallies it was unreal, I was very faint beforehand, and wobbly on my feet. I had to call a taxi to get home as I thought I was about to pass out.

She was OK before testing but passed out in the testing room. We reconvened a few hours later about what had happened!

Nat6999 · 25/04/2023 02:33

I fainted a lot when I was young, first time was when I had a stomach bug age about 10, went four times in one day. The most embarrassing time was when I fainted on a school careers trip to a bank. The feeling of your eyes & ears going as you faint is horrible. Thankfully I haven't fainted for years now.

Mistymoonsinastarrysky · 25/04/2023 02:33

Yes, a number of times preceded by feeling very sick, giddy and slightly panicky. Horrible sensation 😵‍💫

Mistymoonsinastarrysky · 25/04/2023 02:34

And the sensation of falling backwards down a tunnel very, very quickly 🤢

Spybot · 25/04/2023 02:35

I used to faint a lot. When 22 I fainted and fell into the River Thames. I woke up under water! I heaved a load of water out my lungs and managed to swim to the side. I was alone but a man stopped by the bank to help me out. It took me a while to know where I was and why I was there. I was lucky I didn't drown. Had some tests at the hospital for seizures as they run in my family but it was simply a faint due to low blood pressure and low sugars.

Blamethecat57 · 25/04/2023 02:43

I used to faint a lot.
The dream thing rings so many bells .
I "woke up" happy all the time until I worked out where I was. Then I felt ashamed.

I also have low blood pressure.

I wasn't eating enough. I haven't fainted in many years now .

AllIeveknewonlyou · 25/04/2023 02:57

Spybot · 25/04/2023 02:35

I used to faint a lot. When 22 I fainted and fell into the River Thames. I woke up under water! I heaved a load of water out my lungs and managed to swim to the side. I was alone but a man stopped by the bank to help me out. It took me a while to know where I was and why I was there. I was lucky I didn't drown. Had some tests at the hospital for seizures as they run in my family but it was simply a faint due to low blood pressure and low sugars.

Oh no, that sounds awful! Thank god you were OK. Thames is pretty murky as well.

saltandpepper86 · 25/04/2023 03:30

I go into a pre faint and have to lie down (a handful of times a year) I only actually faint when having blood taken

FangsForTheMemory · 25/04/2023 03:57

Yes, if I see something really gruesome. I can’t cook offal, for example. The world spins and falls away, and everything goes grey. Very unpleasant.

augustusglupe · 25/04/2023 04:11

A few times. I last fainted in Dec 1998. I'd been very stressed and had a gp appointment which DH attended with me. As I left and walked outside I felt my legs buckle and I passed out. I woke up as DH was carrying me to the car.

At a Prince concert 30 years ago. It was a boiling hot day and I woke up to people pouring water on me to get me round. He was worth it though 😉

When I was about 13 I was on a hosteling trip with school. God knows what I'd eaten but I was up all night being sick and then the next morning I fainted a few times. Dad drove all the way to Edale to get me. The gp said it was food poisoning but the school wouldn't have it and said I'd eaten too many sweets. I hadn't.

concealer141 · 25/04/2023 05:59

I have had lots of pre faint moments and 2 actual fainting episodes. I also recall the dreamy floaty feeling and felt I was smiling (I wonder if I was LOL). Interesting to hear other's experiences similar to mine!
I have low BP and anemia.

MrMarkham · 25/04/2023 07:32

I used to faint on the northern line about once a week! Always had low blood pressure though. It was horrible as I had no other way to get to work sometimes.

mawbroon · 25/04/2023 08:02

I faint any time that I throw up. I've learned to make sure I'm already on the floor.

Kucinghitam · 25/04/2023 08:05

I used to faint occasionally as a teen, usually when on my period (they used to be like the lift scene in The Shining). Also in my late teens, I worked at a veterinary clinic during the school holidays; the first time I observed surgery I went over like a felled tree. And I had a fear of needles so had near-fainting episodes at the doctor's when they needed to take a blood sample.

I soon learned to recognise the pre-fainting symptoms and how to stop it happening by sitting on the floor, putting head between knees (or lying down if possible).

I've always had low blood pressure so I think that might have something to do with it as well.

The unconsciousness felt like a lovely long dream each time, even though the faint was only for a few short minutes or even seconds.

Wishona · 25/04/2023 08:07

PollyPeptide · 24/04/2023 23:18

I used to pass out. Period pains. Once did a face plant landing on my chin (still have a scar) and sheared off my back tooth. I dudnt have any nice dreams. Everything went white and that was all I knew til I came round.

I used to pass out frequently from period pains too. When I had my first baby they commented how calm I was…I walked in at 10cm. Bar the pushing I had done it about 160 times already 😂

Wishona · 25/04/2023 08:09

Kucinghitam · 25/04/2023 08:05

I used to faint occasionally as a teen, usually when on my period (they used to be like the lift scene in The Shining). Also in my late teens, I worked at a veterinary clinic during the school holidays; the first time I observed surgery I went over like a felled tree. And I had a fear of needles so had near-fainting episodes at the doctor's when they needed to take a blood sample.

I soon learned to recognise the pre-fainting symptoms and how to stop it happening by sitting on the floor, putting head between knees (or lying down if possible).

I've always had low blood pressure so I think that might have something to do with it as well.

The unconsciousness felt like a lovely long dream each time, even though the faint was only for a few short minutes or even seconds.

Ha I did a period faint at work experience at the vet. They thought it was what I was watching, only the whole time I was standing the pain was getting worse and worse and I wasn’t sure what to say.

Original poster

HalloweenGhost · 27/04/2023 11:40

I'm amazed at the experiences you are all sharing. Some dreamers, some who hated it, some who liked it. I'm relieved that the Thames fainter got out safely.

OP posts:

wonkylegs · 27/04/2023 11:51

I faint quite dramatically, usually linked to stress & bowel issues - my mum has the same condition. My blood pressure just drops dramatically very quickly - been investigated loads but no underlying cause.
Nowadays I can usually spot the warning signs and see off actually fainting but sometimes I'm still caught unawares.
I am very pale and go almost green when it happens and drop like a stone (I have caused myself a few issues), when I come round I'm very shaky, and have a clammy cold sweat - I also feel like I've been through the wringer it's an awful experience.
I cannot be brought round even by pinching me really hard, I just come out of it on my own - I seriously freaked out even my Dr DH a few times, mum has had a few ambulances called (she's non verbal with dementia so they don't know if it's a faint or something worse)
It takes me a good few hours & usually a nap before I am back to normal.

DemelzaRobins · 27/04/2023 15:53

I used to faint loads as a child and teen. I have a POTs like illness which causes it. Don't have a precise diagnosis as I had to quit the tilt table test a few mins in.

Haven't had a full faint since January 2010 (fell over and fainted, was picked up, fainted again, repeated and managed not to faint after being picked up the 3rd time. I've had many near misses since.

Triggers are dehydration, standing for too long, being unwell (colds, chest infections etc) and my squeamish ness. Had to keep getting sent out of history (descriptions of torture and execution), RE (crucifixion) and biology at school. I have to lie down for blood tests.

I am better at understanding the warning signs now (ringing in my ears, a feeling of pressure and sounds around me going distant). Drinking lots helps. I drink 5 750ml bottles of water a day, plus morning OJ and cups of tea.

I've never had dreams during my faints, or if I have, I've not remembered them.

So sorry for your loss OP.