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Children's health

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Original poster

DS becoming unresponsive/passing out whilst vomiting

23 replies

ShowOfHands · 08/10/2021 08:28

DS (10) has developed a vomiting bug but as soon as he starts being sick, he falls backwards, and his eyes roll back in his head. This lasts for no more than 3-5 seconds and then it's like his body starts heaving again and he sits up again and carries on vomiting. I've tried 111 but their answerphone says they're experiencing high call volume and whilst on hold (20 mins and counting), DH phoned BIL who is a paramedic to ask if we needed A&E. BIL says it's his vagus nerve from the heaving and the fact that he becomes normally responsive again straight away and is not otherwise altered and only doing it after violently heaving means that he's certain that's what it is.

Has anybody else experienced this? It's really freaking me out. BIL says 111 will just send an ambulance which he thinks is unwarranted. He gave plenty of advice re hydration, what to do if anything changes etc and asked many questions.

DS is watching cartoons/reading and isn't experiencing anything remarkable outside what looks like momentarily passing out whilst being sick. I think what freaked me out the most was that while on his back he started becoming rigid and jerky which to me looked like the start of a fit (niece is epileptic, as is a good friend, seen it many times) but BIL said that his body's reaction to the vagus nerve signals is to make him sick and that's what he's trying to do even while passed out and certainly, he does then sit bolt upright and carry on being sick in a normal, conscious way.

This is an entirely new thing to me.

OP posts:

ButEmilylovedhim · 08/10/2021 08:30

I think I’d want some paramedics to actually look at him to be honest OP. Can BIL come round? If not, I’d be calling an ambulance.

Proudofher · 08/10/2021 08:32

Go to a&e or call an ambulance. Sounds like seizures, they don't all look the same (not full shaking unconscious)

Proudofher · 08/10/2021 08:34

Oh and video him incase he's stopped by the time you see a doctor

choosername1234 · 08/10/2021 08:39

Really good advice to video him, feels cruel at the time but will be so so useful to the Drs
It could well be vagal nerve stimulation causing this - unusual but not impossible (The vagal nerve is also stimulated when we poo, this it is not unusual for ill and elderly people to die on the loo).

Healthy pre teen children shouldn't faint and this needs investigation.
I would get him seen today

girlmom21 · 08/10/2021 08:46

Take him to A&E. I'd want him checked over properly.

BIL is probably right but if he passes out and doesn't come back around straight away you're going to panic. It's better than you know for certain.

ArianaDumbledore · 08/10/2021 08:55

Although everything BIL says is the likely outcome, I do think it's over the care at home threshold, and I would persist with 111.

Original poster

ShowOfHands · 08/10/2021 09:19

It's been an hour and 111 aren't answering. Just keeps saying they're experiencing extremely high call volumes.

A&E might be my only option but it's a 45 minute drive and he's still being sick every 20 minutes. I'm worried he'll vomit and pass out while I'm doing 70mph. I'm getting a bag packed and will hang on to 111 for a short while longer. I might ask a friend to drive us instead.

OP posts:

CurlyMcCurlFace · 08/10/2021 09:22

@ShowOfHands

It's been an hour and 111 aren't answering. Just keeps saying they're experiencing extremely high call volumes.

@ShowOfHands sounds like a good reason to call an ambulance for me - you don't have to wait for 111.

In my experience they don't want you to take people to a and e yourself if there is a chance they might pass out on the journey - incase it compromises their airway.

Best wishes to you

girlmom21 · 08/10/2021 09:26

I think I'd phone an ambulance in this instance too. You can't safely get your child there and passing out in a car means you're not going to have a great amount of space to help him.
The restraints of seatbelts etc will make it more dangerous and increase the risk of choking when he vomits because his body won't have the freedom to do what it needs to do.

Original poster

ShowOfHands · 08/10/2021 09:42

111 finally answered. They've advised not to move him and a paramedic is going to ring me in the next 60 minutes.

OP posts:

ArianaDumbledore · 08/10/2021 09:42

I wouldn't drive him, even getting a friend to do it the motion itself could make the vomiting worse . I know it must feel awkward to go against BIL advice but I do think 999 is warranted in the circumstances.

ArianaDumbledore · 08/10/2021 09:46

oh x post. I'm glad you got through. It must be really worrying, I hope you get the call back asap.

Theunamedcat · 08/10/2021 09:49

Fingers crossed he gets seen soon

Kittykat93 · 08/10/2021 10:28

With a child it's always worth getting checked out. Rather be safe than sorry and all that.

Original poster

ShowOfHands · 08/10/2021 17:38

Thank you everybody. Just home from a very long day in paediatric A&E.

BIL was right is the working diagnosis. ECG, bloods, obs etc clear and the consultant and registrar agree that it's a vasovagal syncope.

We are utterly exhausted and in need of bed. Fingers crossed whatever he has disappears quickly.

How early can I go to sleep? Now? It's now isn't it?

OP posts:

hashbrownsandwich · 08/10/2021 17:44

Any person who is unresponsive needs checking out. 999.

Kdubs1981 · 08/10/2021 17:57

Go to sleep as soon as he does!

ArianaDumbledore · 08/10/2021 18:20

I'm glad he's been thoroughly checked over and you have a working diagnosis. It's probably something that's going to be helpful to have officially noted.

It is absolutely your bedtime now!

Solfege · 09/10/2021 00:22

I've had this happen to me a few times in the past. One time I vomited on a coach (school trip) and missed the sick bag I'd been holding in front of me because I passed out as I was sick. Another time, when I was leaning over the loo to be sick, I 'came to' to find myself with my head slumped onto the toilet rim... thank god my head didn't fall head first into the toilet boll!!

girlmom21 · 09/10/2021 07:22

Hope you all got a decent sleep @ShowOfHands. How is he today?

Original poster

ShowOfHands · 09/10/2021 09:54

I spent a good amount of time yesterday having to pull his head out of the sick bowl where he was slumped mid-vomit. His big sister faints on day 1 of her period and we have to be really careful what we do that day. The consultant says it does run in families and that vomiting with an empty stomach was causing some significant retching/heaving, he's got an underlying head cold (we all have) and his BP and heart rate were dropping when sick. I spoke to my parents last night and it turns out my dad faints after vomiting sometimes too.

The consultant predicted that he would sleep like a rock and be utterly starving this morning. He's slept for 13hrs and is ravenous. He's much brighter, still pale and not 100% but reading a Beano and eating a cooked breakfast.

OP posts:

Original poster

ShowOfHands · 09/10/2021 09:59

And, er, it occurs to me that a couple of years ago I was out running in the rain and fell v heavily on concrete, took the skin off my knees and hands, sprained my ankle, bruised my shoulder and cheek and was seriously winded. I got up as I was late for the school run and managed to half jog/limp as far as the playground before blacking out entirely. BIL pointed out at the time that it was a vasovagal response. Maybe it does run in the family after all?

OP posts:

girlmom21 · 09/10/2021 12:40

I'm glad he's on the mend! It sounds like you all have a bit of a nightmare sometimes when you're ill!

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