Fainting but told not to worry

[HealthQu]

I have fainted a few times in the since 2017. Firstly, I fainted, felt very sweaty and threw up violently in 2017 on a business trip to the US.

In 2019, the same happened again. Except I didn't throw up but I did get very sweaty. I had some times where I felt a bit dizzy near this and then it stopped.

6 months later in the year 2019, I had an ocular migraine and lost the sight in an eye for about 5 hours. Then it returned. No fainting this time.

Since then, I have felt faint but have learnt how to deal with it to stop myself passing out. Head down and wait for it to pass. Due to mostly, working from home these episodes aren't memorable because I'm working from home and so it's not dramatic. I just rest a bit and am ok.

4 and 6 weeks ago I almost fainted, sweating badly and felt very sick. I had to lie down for 20 minutes on both occasions and it took a while to return to normal. I have since felt a bit dizzy and sick but again have been careful to manage it.

I spoke to my works doctor and they said I should urgently see my GP. My GP delegated to a nurse who just took my blood pressure and said it's a bit low.

I have been to the doctor each time. I've had bloods done, which were fine. I've had blood pressure measured, it's low. And told there is nothing else they can do. When I have said this has happened a few times, that are reassured that there is nothing really wrong with me if it has happened before. But I'm starting to wonder if the repeated nature of these things is concerning.

I read an account of someone who has a brain tumor and their only symptom for a very long time was that they fainted. The doctors took him seriously and the tests showed her had a brain tumor. I also remember a friend grandmother being diagnosed with a brain tumor because they fainted.

Now, this is very unlikely to be the case for me or any person who faints. But I'm starting to wonder whether I have an underlying health condition that is causing these issues but not diagnosed. I could imagine it could be a problem with heart, brain or even an hormone regulating thing.

The doctors I have seen are happy to refer to for blood tests or blood pressure tests but seem to be reassured that I have fainted a few times.

I'm not being taken very seriously at this stage. They have mentioned it could be stress but I'm not sure that makes sense and know it can cause under diagnosis of serious long term conditions. And perhaps if I have a serious problem, knowing now could help me.

Would you ask for further tests? What do you think would be reasonable to request? Or do you think the doctors are right and fainting occasionally isn't really an issue, just live with it?

Well they have told you the reason you're fainting is because you are hypotensive. There isn't really a pill for this. Drink more water? (Although that being said, I'd have thought they would do an ecg to rule out any funky arrhythmias)

.... And this started in 2017, I was 29. I have been pregnant in this time, so unlikely to be menopausal.

I have fainted before 2017 but it tended to be linked to something very specific. I studied biology and couldn't stomach dissections. So likely to be very different cause.

I was not noticeably ill for any of the episodes since 2017, so it was not caused by a virus.

Thank you. Yes, they also said whilst it was low, it was in the normal range and so it's not conclusively because of blood pressure. I'm normally about 100 over 70. The rationale for not worrying has been that I've had a history of fainting (so it's normal but maybe just undiagnosed) and blood tests are fine.

I might mention the ECG idea and see what they think.

If there is something to worry about, finding out now could save the health service many $$$ on a cheap test to prevent further illness.

You could try eating more salt. Add salt to foods you cook, and have salty snacks (salted nuts, salted popcorn, etc).

See if it raises your blood pressure, which is on the low side, and see if raising your blood pressure eases the fainting.

Fainting as much as you do isn't normal. I suspect your doctor has you down for a hysterical female.

I have fainting spells caused by low blood pressure. Mine happen when I haven't had enough to drink, particularly in hot weather. GP did do some blood tests and ECG but found nothing of concern and told me to drink more.

I've always had low blood pressure and have fainted occasionally since I was about 12, I'm now 52. Usually triggers are standing up for long periods of time and particularly when it is a warm airless place. Most often it has been when I've not been feeling particularly well. You get used to knowing the triggers and avoiding them if at all possible.

Thank you for sharing.

Its useful to hear others have also assumed they just have to live with it. I have been happy for the drs to say "your fine" and on each occasion just moved on with life. The fainting is inconvenient but I'm getting used to it.

My last drs appointment was a month ago, to talk about the previous two episodes. Again, I was pleased that the nurse just did a quick test and sent me on my way with normal blood pressure (that's on the low side).

And it's only now I'm reflecting on it and thinking the concern of my work's doctor who spoke to me immediately after is at a very different level from my own GP.

Do you think the tests you received would have detected a real problem if one existed?

Fainter from a fainting family here. My mother always fainted at the drop of a hat, sister was the one who always fainted in assembly at school. I used to faint or nearly faint frequently. All down to low BP.
I don't do it now I'm in my 60s though my BP is still lowish.

Thanks

I haven't noticed triggers. I was sitting down both times this year. Felt fine. And then just felt myself going. Each time has been before 10am and after breakfast. Perhaps a pattern will emerge.

It makes sense that standing would be harder if blood pressure is low. I hope your are finding it less regular.

That's good that you are improving as you got older.

Also interesting to hear if runs in your family and perhaps why it is often not considered concerning. I don't know anyone who faints. But many people don't know I faint. So that's not surprising.

The trigger for me thinking perhaps this is not normal, was hearing about others who had something serious they found due to fainting. And I realised the tests I've had would mean these conditions would go undetected.

Thank you. That's a good idea re salt. I drink a lot of water, as they recommend this.

I did wonder whether it might be dismissed for the wrong reasons. Although, I don't think I would have come across as hysterical.... yet. I've been quite nonchalant about it and happy to get a quite reassurance that it's fine. Only now, am I thinking that maybe I should ask more questions.

Although, I have heard that sometimes women's health is belittled to be anxiety/in the mind. But I have no reason to believe this is the case unless it is normal to have more tests when a person faints.

Another lifelong fainter here. I’ve had blood tests and ECG but like you’ve found, I’m told It’s just low blood pressure and it’s no big concern. I increase my salt intake when I’m feeling like I’m in a flaky patch. The main danger seems to be how I injure/ embarrass myself if I faint unexpectedly!

Eep hope you haven't injured yourself badly.

I've been fine but it can be a bit embarrassing, especially when people are very kind and there is a lot of attention. I had an episode in London and I was totally ignored, which helped with the embarrassment 😂.

I've always been a fainter.
Google 'Valsalva maneuver' for a useful technique

My fainting spells were investigated. Apart from low iron and thyroid trouble, I have Ehlers Danlos syndrome with orthostatic instability. Salt helps but please get it investigated. I had lots of tests and blood samples taken before the diagnosis.

I went through a spate of this as a teen. On the most memorable occasion I fainted in a lecture at uni. Funnily enough it was in a medical school and no one knew what to do. Woke up surrounding by people staring down at me. My friends drove me to my parents who then took me to hospital as j still wasn't with it. Blood pressure was 60/40 when I got there. They didn't know how I was awake. Loads of tests done but they never worked it out. A few years later it just stopped

A friend has EDS and I believe it's quite rare, she was diagnosed late too. I hadn't realised about the fainting just her joint instability. It's a good example of a rare condition that can be missed.

Thanks for the encouragement to look a little deeper in to it. At least getting an ECG sounds wise to test for obvious arrhythmias.

Not hysterical in the sense of rolling around on the floor crying, etc.

But someone who is so emotional that the normal ups and downs of life affect you more deeply than they should. It's an idea based on women being seen as emotional and irrational (vs men who are seen as rational).

I think you've been dismissed by your GP. Increasing your salt intake is a very obvious thing to try and he didn't suggest it.

I’m a fainter although I have fainted less as I’ve got older. I was 8 when it first happened (in assembly at school). I either faint from standing up too long/in a stuffy atmosphere, getting up too quickly, pain (I once banged my arm going into DD’s bedroom and fainted on her bed!). My BP was generally on the low side but it’s increased a bit w age so maybe that’s why I don’t faint as much.
I had bloods on and off but nothing ever found. if your Bp is low 100/70 is low - then that makes sense.

Lifelong fainter family here. For me it's anything medical - even if not happening to me. Hate it happening it's awful.

I'd say it could be something or it could be nothing. I fainted for the first time when I was 7 and it happened once every year or so ever since. I've done different tests throughout my childhood and I'm healthy, just one of those things. On the other side there is a friend of mine who has also been fainting all her life and recently found out that the reason that happened is because of her brain shape that was blocking blood flow to her brain. She had to have a surgery at the end. Anyways the reason it finally got diagnosed is because she started getting other symptoms and so they sent her for an MRI scan. I had MRI scan and ECG monitoring done as a kid to rule anything out and it was all fine (I didn't grow up in the UK). Some might think that was excessive but I'm glad it was done and now I feel comfortable about the fact that it's just something I have to deal with.