Keep collapsing

[Thecatisboss]

Every 10 or 11 months I collapse completely and lose consciousness, cooming round about 10 minutes later in a daze and with a very bruised up face (as I always land on it). This has happened 4 times now.

Ive had a heart monitor fitted as last time bloods taken indicated it might be a heart issue with an very fast heart rate. Happened again last week and the monitor hasn't picked up on my heart rate at all.

I didn't get taken to hospital last week (no ambulances available) so no bloods this time and wondering if I need to go back to GP and what alternative investigations can be looked at or what this could be caused by.

I'm quite healthy apart from this, 47, post menopausal, do a fair bit of running which I'm now worried to do.

What else did they test your blood for? Did they test you for anaemia or other deficiencies?

Is there a pattern to when you faint? E.g. is it when you stand up from sitting or lying down?

My Mum had a similar experience, turned out her blood pressure tablets were too high a dose, causing too low blood pressure. This was identified by a student doctor on her 3rd blue light trip to hospital, she had seen more senior doctors on her previous visits and her GP several times inbetween. I am honestly not criticising doctors, they work under so much pressure but just making the point that sometimes the obvious is overlooked.

Is your blood pressure being monitored for example?

Thank you both for replying.

I always collapse when I'm walking along - always a fairly leisurely pace not pushing myself. Though the time before last my fitbit said my heart rate reached 170 - however last week nothing was recorded at all on either fitbit or ILR.

I'm not sure if I got tested for anaemia or anything. I think I need to make a list of questions.

I believe my blood pressure is a bit above average but I'm not on any medication for it and it's not being monitored.

Just wish there was a reason I could find and then stop it happening.

Have you been checked for epilepsy?

I don't believe I've been checked for epilepsy either - all the investigations so far have looked at my heart only. There is a family history of epilepsy (my aunt) too.

I think I need to be asking my GP if further investigations can continue not just looking at my heart.

I'm sorry @Thecatisboss, it must be very scary for you. I hope you get some answers soon x

What exactly do you mean by nothing being picked up on the fitbit or monitor?

Thanks for that @46RockingMyFiforbthat. I really hate it as I'm confused when I come round and in pain. My family are terrified to let me out without them now and I'm scared to go trail running now. It's really impacting negatively on my quality of life.

Yup, could be seizure activity, might be worth investigation I hope you get a diagnosis soon

@TheCanyon apparently the ILD monitor is meant to pick up if my heart goes abnormally fast or slow and it did neither when I collapsed also my fitbit said my heart never went over 140 (though I take the fitbit with a grain of salt as I know its not very reliable!)

When I first got the ILR fitted the hospital did call to ask if I'd noticed anything at 5 in the morning the first night....apparently my heart rates goes very slow at night. So it is working.

Just had a call from my GP who's not impressed with cardiology as they've not done all the tests they could have done. He's written to them and will refer me to neurology though he doesn't think this is epilepsy as I come round relatively quickly.

This happened to me when I was going through the menopause. Referred to cardiologist and all that was picked up was that si had very low BP and RHR, which when tested went down to 39 beat per minute.

However, the fainting was random. I've now learned that the low BP/he would trigger an anxiety attack, out the blue, and it's the attacked that made faint.

It resolved itself as I got into full menopause. BP is RHR still low but not as bad as it was then.

Good luck with this, OP. It must be frightening as well as very disruptive

Thecatisboss I’ve had similar and the GP referred me to cardiology and neurology and nothing found. My doctor too thought it could be epilepsy but the neurologist thinks they are vasovagal attacks. Good they are doing all the cardio and neuro tests.

@Oldmum55 thats very interesting you saying about vasovagel attacks. About 10 years ago I hit my funnybone and fainted from the pain and came round having a funny turn as my head had slipped onto the pillows of the bed and was higher than my body. My previous GP thought that was a vasevogel attack I'd forgotten about that.

Thank you @SpudsandGravy it's not the greatest I must admit especially at the moment with the NHS, being so under strain.

Whats Vit D levels like

Never had them checked @WLAH but I do take a vit d supplement and have done for the past 8 months. I also do a lot of outdoor running (though that won't help at the moment!)

I was collapsing bout 4 years ago. My vit d was very low. Started supplement and havent looked back