Fainting after vomiting??

[RipplePlease]

This has been happening to me for most of my adult life.
I’m just recovering now from a sick bug/food poisoning (don’t know which one).
I gave up alcohol because of it.
It’s extremely scary as after I pass out, I can still vomit through my closed mouth so there’s obviously a chance of choking.
Luckily, DH has always been there when this happens. He says that after I vomit, then faint, my body goes extremely still. I’m usually passed out for about 30 seconds.
On one occasion, he had to force my jaws open as to stop me from choking whilst I was vomiting.
I don’t remember any of this except the vomiting.
The last time this happened was thankfully years ago and, because I gave up alcohol which was old often result in being sick, this scenario only happens if I get a sick bug or food poisoning which is obviously not that often.
Years ago, after one horrible incident, I did get to see a neurologist who couldn’t figure out why this happens or how to avoid it.
Any help or advice would be extremely helpful.

Have you had any cardiac testing done?

Im so sorry to hear that you suffer from this. My husband also has the same issue. He was told it’s to do with the vagus nerve getting over stimulated. He also associated it with possibly too much alcohol on a night out but a couple of times it happened but he hadn’t drunken much. He then did an allergy test and realised he was allergic to shellfish and this had been the cause of the vomiting( maybe see if there is an underlying cause of your vomiting first). He was told by a cardiologist that as soon as he feels an episode occurring to lie down and raise both legs as soon as possible( If you’re on your own, I assume you’d lie on your side to prevent possible choking on vomit). Your legs need to be raised so they’re higher than your heart( so to speak). I hope this helps. My husband was told it’s not actually harmful but I get its very scary when it happens. Best of luck

My husband too. It has happened twice and both times I thought he’d dropped dead of a heart attack on me. ECGs etc fine afterwards. Very scary. Luckily he is rarely sick.

Yes , I agree with the above reply in getting your heart checked just in case. My husband did see a cardiologist ( who then gave him the advise I have passed onto you).

Vasovagal syncope, vomiting is a known trigger.

This has happened to me a few times: waking up with your face in a puddle of sick is not to be recommended! It necer occurred to me there might be worse consequences than that!

I deal with the collapsing on the bathroom floor risk by kneeling down in front of the loo or getting on to all fours before I'm sick. But I had no idea it was possible to go on vomiting while already unconscious, that's rather worrying. No-one has ever witnessed this happening to me (stomach bugs always seem to hit me in the middle of the night) so don't know if I do that or not.

It's happened to me once. The hospital said that vomiting had caused my blood pressure to drop and I was dehydrated anyway as I had a stomach upset and diarrhoea as well. That was enough to cause me to pass out. They gave me some anti-emetics to keep at home for emergencies, and told me to take one if I ever felt nauseous.

Thank you all for your advice.
No, I haven’t had my heart checked and I have always had low blood pressure.
I’m going to make a doctor’s appointment and take DH along with me.
DH recalled to me yesterday what happens when I pass out and it must be terrifying for him. Apparently when I pass out, my teeth tightly lock shut, my eyes are wide open and my body goes incredibly stiff.
This lasts for about 30 seconds to a minute and then I slowly come round.
He said he was on the verge of calling an ambulance.
Looking back, this was definitely the worst incidence to date….I must have passed out about 15 times. The whole thing lasted about 6 hours.
Still not feeling 100% - a bit light-headed and have a slight headache - but I know I won’t vomit again, thank god.
DH was amazing and didn’t leave my side.
Re the doctor’s appointment, DH wants to know if what he does is correct (putting me in the recovery position, clearing my mouth and throat of vomit when needed, not calling an ambulance??) and, most importantly, is there anything I can do to avoid it happening again.
Feeling teary now but as I said in my first post, this hasn’t happened in years so hopefully we’ll go another (very) long time until the next time.

Almost certainly because vomiting stimulates the vagus nerve. My husband does it and I agree it’s very scary.

That does sound more extreme than just fainting? Not expecting you to answer but if you also lose control of your bladder you should tell the GP that as well.

I'd get the doctor to check for epilepsy too

That's a seizure?! I had one like that before where my teeth all smashed because my jaw was so tightly clenched. I have absolutely no recollection of it whatsoever other than the person who was with me who was terrified and told me.

It sounds like a form of seizure due to vasovagal syncope. You vomit, the vagus nerve gets stimulated this causes your heart to slow down, your blood pressure to drop and causes less oxygen to the brain giving you reflex anoxic seizures. It's not epilepsy as such. A good neurologist who specialises in "fits, faints and funny turns" will be able to explain it but it is a physiological reaction to the vomiting.
Really important to go with every bit of information you can and take husband. The history is so important. I did a neurology job when I was a junior doctor and was terrified of the professor as he'd pull us to bits for bad history taking. Taught me a lot!

Thanks.
The neurologist ruled out epilepsy. It was more a case of, we don’t know what causes it and there’s no cure.
I can accept there might not be a cure but would love to know exactly what the condition (?) is, the best way for my DH to deal with it and if there’s anything I can to to avoid it.

@FettchYeSandbagges
Do the antiemetics help you?
I’ve been prescribed them in the past but they didn’t act fast enough to stop the nausea and vomiting.

Fortunately I don't need them any longer, but they did help. You do need to take them fast though, otherwise they aren't in you for long enough before you throw up, tablet included!

You are absolutely correct. My son has had reflex anoxic seizures and vasovagal syncope since he was a toddler (now 11) so been dealing with it a number of years. They're not epileptic fits.

This happens to me. I have to vomit sat on the floor and then get flat on the ground quickly. It’s a bit of a nightmare as it can cause me to have seizures too.
Apparently it’s to do with the vagus nerve causing my naturally very low blood pressure to drop even more.

@Realisation14
I’m sorry to hear this about your son.
How do you deal with it?

Thankfully vomiting isn't one of his triggers but vomiting and bowel movements are common triggers for others. His triggers are the sight of blood, strong pain, dehydration and emotional shock. The fainting scares him so he tries to avoid triggers as much as possible, he doesn't know about the seizures because to him it's the same thing - he's "asleep". It's scary and horrible to witness but we just have to cope. Managing school is difficult as you can't stop other children bleeding.....cut knees, nose bleeds, scraped elbows etc, the teachers do try hard to make sure he doesn't witness because as one teacher said to me a few years ago "dealing with a bleeding crying child is hard enough without dealing with another passing out on you" lol

@Realisation14
Sounds like he has a lot to deal with. I’m glad the teachers are on board with trying to limit the triggers.

Oh that's just one of his many issues unfortunately! There is a vasovagal syncope Facebook support group that is helpful to follow.

I’ve got my GP appointment today. DH is coming as he wants to describe what happens after I vomit, what we now think are seizures.
I desperately want to get a referral to a neurologist (although I’ve already seen one) or cardiologist (?) or just someone more knowledgeable that the GP who can help me.
I know I probably can’t insist on this but is there anything I need to say, other than the truth?

Vasovagal syncope. I get it too. From severe stomach ache, diarrhoea, being dehydrated, low blood sugar.

the first time it happened was scary. Sweating all over, the lights fading in. Feels incredibly weak

Do you go stiff and rigid? Thats exactly what happens to me.