Fit/faint or funny turn

[bananarama80]

Hello - has anyone been to the first fit clinic and been given the all clear.

Been ill over Christmas, had a new tattoo, not slept, late nights and first day back at work got up and tried to dig my car out of the snow and I believe fainted. I went lightheaded and carried on walking for a bit but was dizzy then fell on the ground, husband said very gracefully. He panicked rang an ambulance, my chest was tight but I am asthmatic and cold is a trigger. I remember it all and walked to the ambulance in the snow. Had bloods and ECG all normal - clinic not until a month and unable to drive or go to work. I completely understand the reasonings for not driving but it's still frustrating and the time to wait is what is hard also - thank you for reading

who has told you that you can’t drive or even go to work?

so they think might have been a seizure?

Hiya I was given a leaflet at the hospital and it says do not drive until been seen in clinic. When I rang to see how long the wait is, supposed to be two weeks but they are seeing referrals from November due to no staff so said won't be for a while, was also advised not to have baths or lock bathroom door and work have said I am not able to until seen in clinic - not sure why; asked for a fit note from GP they said they couldn't do anything until seen in first for clinic either - I assume they do think it's a seizure the paramedic crew said they thought it was more of a faint also

the leaflet said it but no one actually who had treated you?

OP ring the clinic and ask

what work do you do?

Hi, the consultant gave me the leaflet and said to give it a read through and show to family/friends as it contains first aid advice if it happens again and what to do and said not to drive until seen in clinic. I am a manager and was told to disclose this episode to employer which I have done who have said they don't want me back in work until seen. I feel fine; I have been back to normal literally from being in the ambulance so now stuck on SSP until I can get appointment which there is a backlog for. I think I may go privately and see a neurologist just so they can assess and see if they think it was a fit or a faint. I have security footage outside of my house and can clearly see me walking slowly and looking a bit like I'm drunk then falling to the floor. I am not unconscious at any time. My husband moves me and I am shaking; but that could because I was cold and wet from being in the snow.

but you’re not being paid?

I know ! I'll use savings to pay privately

When this happened to me I asked for any cancellation appointment, and I got seen very quickly that way.
When it is your appointment, take the footage you have, it will be helpful. No-one witness my seizure, just the aftermath of me being delirious!
Best of luck OP

So, you don't know for definite whether it was a faint or a fit?

Had you had a virus in the weeks/months before this? After having Covid, I developed pre-syncope - faintness without actually passing out. To cut a very long story short, it's turned out Covid after-effects were making my blood pressure drop too low.

I had a lot of tests, which ruled out anything more sinister, and am fine to drive - in fact the doctors when I went to A&E told me I was cleared to drive as it hadn't come on suddenly and that's been confirmed in subsequent appointments.

If you can go privately and that would speed things up, that's what I would do - but private waiting lists aren't that short now either because of the demand.

In the meantime, look after yourself, get great nutrition, drink at least 2.5 litres of water each day. If you can do some gentle yoga and especially breathwork, that might help too (as long as there's someone else around in case you faint again).

Thank you, great idea I will ring and ask to be considered for any cancellation. When I rang they said they were booking patients referred in November I to February clinics. Hope you were/are ok after it happened to you.

Nope I think this is what I am struggling with, just knowing if it was a fit or faint. I had been poorly with cold and cough all through Christmas so this would be make sense.

I will ring round some private hospitals and see if they have any availability soon.

Did you have to have loads of tests before you were given the all clear to drive ?

Thank you

I had all the tests in A&E (over several visits as it kept happening) and each time the doctors told me I was fine to drive as I hadn't actually passed out and had warning that it was coming on. I have had low BP in the past so I knew to sit down and get my head between my legs.

Your situation is different because you did actually faint suddenly and my understanding is that they have to tell you to stop driving in those circumstances. It doesn't mean it was a fit though.

Later in the year, I had Covid again, different symptoms emerged, and it's only now become clear that it's effectively long Covid.

The doctors didn't join the dots at first which is frustrating.

If I'd known what I know now, I would have slowed down and followed the lifestyle advice for long Covid sufferers (nutrition, no alcohol or caffeine, hydration, strategies to shut down the 'fight or flight' response, pacing myself) - that may have avoided my symptoms escalating, but I am now recovering slowly.

DM me if you'd like more details - the lifestyle measures would benefit everyone and certainly don't cause harm.

@didntlikethis thank you for the information and advice, glad your recovering albeit slowly.

I did walk four houses down stumbling so wasn't instant and did feel funny but obviously didn't know what was happening. I think it's just a waiting game which is frustrating but it what it is. Thanks again

You're welcome. If you can, take your husband to your appointments so that he can describe what happened. The more clues the doctors have, the better.
I was shaking after the episodes I had and my BP was very high - I was told that was the physiological response to my BP initially going too low.

@didntlikethis - I will definitely ask him to attend with me and take the footage and the documents from A&E which are on my NHS app so I am prepared 😊