Vasovagal syncope:

I... think that's the right term.

Started by thelonewolf 27 on 05 Jan 2005, 04:34 UTC · 11 preserved posts

116-106196084605 Jan 2005, 04:34 UTC

Yeah. Err, basically the medical term for fainting due to low blood pressure leaving the brain with insufficient oxygen, caused by stress or pain. Though I thought I had neither after taking three of my five vaccinations for my upcoming trip (For those who don't know, I'll be flying to Harare, Zimbabwe to help All God's Children become "computer literate", and to fix a few hardware issues on their systems.)...

About ten minutes after they were administered, I went out and gave the receptionist my debit card.

While she was getting all the paperwork together, first I felt a little hot and started sweating. Then I had that nasty sick feeling in my stomache, and my ears started ringing. She asked me if I was feeling OK, while my periphial vision started turning black. Being the kinda guy that never makes a fuss about things like that (I usually end up with a bruise and several open cuts a day) I mumbled that I "felt a little weird", and she quickly called the nurse, who immediately tried to tell me that I needed to lay down right then and there. I couldn't hear her, so she motioned it, and I got the point at about the time things started turning completely black. As soon as my head started going down, I could already feel things getting better.

Well, since I wasn't doing anything during the 25 minutes before they'd even let me sit up, I commented that the spackle on their ceiling had no abnormalities, no George Washingtons, no sublimal messages, and was kinda boring for their passed-out patients to look at. Oh, I did get to sign my debit card bill, while I was lying on the floor! ^_^

After about 35 minutes, I was fully recovered, and learned about a reaction that I never knew I had. Yer larnin' somin' new ev'ry day, I 'spose...

I'm curious if anyone else has had a similar reaction? It's allegedly more common among men than women, and my dad suffers from it. The nurse said it may be hereditary, but is not sure. I really don't think stress and pain are the only causes, because I didn't even feel those needles, nor was I worried about it. I have alot more worry and pain in my average work day than with a couple shots.

69-106279399505 Jan 2005, 05:53 UTC

I nor anyone in my family have ever experienced it, but I have heard of it. Apparently it isn't a disease in and of itself, but more a symptom of another condition. It is normally brought about by harmless causes, but it can also be due to cardiovascular or neurologic problems. If your family has any history of heart disease, you may want to have yourself checked out.

You mention that you didn't think you were under any stress. Could it be from another source that you just haven't realized yet? I remember you speaking of how your college/future plans (which I won't go into for your own privacy) were not turning out as you wanted. I don't how you are currently dealing with it, but it could be a possible cause.

*lol* You pass out, and all you care about is that their ceiling is boring.

83-106196071605 Jan 2005, 06:23 UTC

Ack. Glad you're okay, 27. I can't really add more to what Echo has said, though.

I've never had such a thing happen to me, the worst was a dizzy spell that last several days. Probably caused by physical exertion on my end. XD

71-109168036906 Jan 2005, 17:29 UTC

Glad you're all right 27. That's pretty scary when something like that happens. Maybe not to the person going through it, but to the others watching.

I've been through it before, or something simular, but I don't think it was caused by pain or stress. I was standing in line to get a drink at the mall and all of sudden things started to spin. I got my drink, but my ears started to ring and my eyes started to go dark so I quickly sat down at a table, only after I had spilt my drink all over the place. Afterwards I felt awful though and stupid for spilling my drink. The other time it happened I was volunteering at a vet's office and a cat came in that had been mauled by a pitbull. It was really nasty since you could see all the tendons and stuff in it's leg. I was holding the cat still while they worked on the leg. At the same time they were putting a dog out for surgery and the mixture of stinky cat and dog plus the knock out gass had rather a bad effect on me. I started to get real dizzy and my eyes were starting to dark out too. The lady working on the cat noticed I had turned quite white and told me to go sit down. My adventures in almost passing out. lol

116-106196084607 Jan 2005, 03:50 UTC

Echo> Well, you bring up some interesting thoughts... First it's not a medical concern, the doctor said it's quite common, and it was brought about by the shots.

It's interesting you mention the other factors, they had been giving me a little bit of... mental strain lately. Though, since I've never had this happen before in my life, I'd opt that it's my body's way of saying, "Well, if you won't stop that guy from pokin' me, I'll turn off!!" Kinda like playin' dead. :laugh:

Hey, artistic decor is important!

Silver> Couldn've been a slight reaction, what vaccines were they? Td?

Grey> Hmm, not sure about the first one, but the second one was definately the same thing, just caused by the gore rather than the needle.

83-106196071610 Jan 2005, 01:23 UTC

Hmm... I could have phrased that wrong 27. I believe I physically exhausted myself in some manner, probably unsafely exercising. The result was being really dizzy for a few days. It was pretty strange to lay in bed and feel motion sick. O_o;

116-106196084610 Jan 2005, 01:39 UTC

Ahh, got ya. Yeah, that's weird. o_O

83-106196071610 Jan 2005, 01:44 UTC

I'm just glad it wasn't anything serious. ^^;

71-109168036911 Jan 2005, 05:29 UTC

Wow that is wierd, and thankfully it wasn't serious.

76-106196064514 Jan 2005, 23:41 UTC

Hey lone, im glad you're ok, one thing you can try when you feel you're gonna pass out, is quickly tighten your muscles and try to force the blood back to your brain (Air Force does it) works for me when i get up too quick, but i dunno if it'll work fof something like what you had

103-107040115424 Jan 2005, 08:01 UTC

Geez, glad you're Ok. I've blacked out twice, I thought it was pretty neat. I couldn't see anything, couldn't feel anything, until I came to, then there was the pain of landing on a kitchen stool. This happened to me when I was sick and got up to do something, I believe its because I have low blood pressure at times of sickness more than anyother time. And, I agree with you 27, if I'm to lay on the ground for that long, I better have something interesting to look at while I'm down there.