Paranoid about fainting

I’ve had something similar. Started a couple of years ago and becoming more frequent. Other symptoms probably masked it.
Wore a 24 hour heart monitor this week and fortuitously it happened whilst I was wearing it.
I’ve been diagnosed with a slow heartbeat and my heart stops beating momentarily, causing the fainting.
I’m being fitted with a pacemaker this week.
Ask your doctor if this could be your issue too.
I hope you get a diagnosis and appropriate treatment soon as it’s very scary when it happens.

Thank you all for all your experiences, it’s comforting to know I’m not alone. I am on medication for high blood pressure and it’s ok when tested. I also have ectopic episodes, which is when your heart skips a beat but I know when this happens and it definitely doesn’t happen prior to the faint. Because it has only happened three times over a three year period the cardiologist isn’t too concerned but it’s like the sword of damacles hanging over me. I’ve increased my intake of water early in the day too, so hope that helps. I will do the bum and fist clenches if I have to stand for too long. Only hope it’s not too obvious to others. 🙄

I have been fainting for the past62 years, and watched people's feet passing by outside Sainsbury's when it happened there.
Recently however has been very much better, with the only real difference being that I start each day with a drink of a litre of warm water. Warm as then I can get it down me more quickly, and move on with the day. Doubtless this isn't an instant fix, but it would be a good idea to add up how much water you drink in a day, how close you are to the recommended 2 litres daily.
Sending you best wishes, sounds as if we should both be toe wiggling!!

I'm told wiggling the toes is also very good. I'm 70 next week and this is what I do.

In my view you need a pacemaker. I have one. Make a fuss. Don't accept the situation. Good luck.

I have this fear also. But I have never fainted in my life One Sunday in Church , no breakfast and very hot day I nearly went but caught by ambulance man who regularly stand in case of faints as they are so common in that environment, that it’s almost expected. They are generally not serious except in underlying problems which you or I don’t have. I got over it for a while by saying to myself ‘ Sure someone will pick me up’ But every now and then it comes back I think it’s a phobia now. Can’t shift the fear.

bobbydog24

I am 77 years old. I’m type 2 diabetic (15 years) and have under active thyroid (20 years). Lost my husband 5 years ago. 3 years ago I was in my kitchen washing up and I fainted, falling into a radiator. When I recovered I felt slight nauseous and tired. Daughter took me to doctors next day and after various medication (vertigo, sinus)
I was fitted with a 24hr BP monitor, 24 hour heart monitor and had a brain MRIscan. Nothing was found. Fast forward 1 year ish and it happened again but with all my family around. Same tests done again plus an ECG. Was found pulse low during the night so taken off beta blocker. All good, thought we’d found reason. 18 months later (August last) it happened again but I was sitting this time. Have had same tests again and put under cardiologist.
Saw him on Monday and my tests are all clear. He thinks because all three times I was standing prior to fainting (I had been standing for a while before sitting on last occasion) oxygen isn’t reaching my head and I faint. I can’t understand why, when I often stand chatting to people when I’m out walking my dog or on supermarket when I’m shopping. I’m now paranoid and every time I’m out I’m petrified of fainting. It’s taking over my life. Has anyone else had this happen and was it resolved. Please don’t frighten me more than I am already.

I'm very healthy, sporty. I've low blood pressure - faint if I've not had enough water. Perhaps drink much more water, get up slowly?

I used to faint frequently from a very early age. I remember the first assembly when I was in the infants. Also school photos.show me unconscious, being held up by friends. Some times it was more dangerous. I once came round having been rescued from the middle of a busy main road
None of the tricks to prevent it worked for me. When I was in my 20s I went to an osteopath for back and neck pain and that cured the fainting. I see a cranial osteopath - very gentle- it is only when you get up afterwards that you realise how everything is altered.

So sorry you’re worried.Has your blood pressure been checked?
If it’s too low you can faint.Do get it checked.x

I am renowned for fainting and did it at 14 and probably still capable at 67. Two children and many tests on my diagnosis a combination of panic attacks (although I am not really an outward panicker) and low blood pressure. I am not on any medication, so for me........ Thats Life, so I'm not worried about it now Horrible when it happens but less frequently thesedays

Professional actors are taught if they have to stand still for a long spell to relax leg muscles as much as possible without moving so it can be seen, As far as I know guardsmen, including the Swiss Guards in the Vatican are taught this too.

So, the advice you have already been given to avoid standing is very sound.

Due to a bad hip, my mother could not stand for long, and bought a stool that was tall enough for her to wash up, peel potatoes etc. sitting down at the sink. It admittedly takes a little time to get used to doing things like washing up, peeling potatoes or ironing sitting down instead of standing up, but is worth it if it means you can do these things without either fainting, or being afraid that you might.

I'm type 2 and when my blood sugar gets down to 5 ish I feel nauseous and tired, I recover with a carb or sugary snack. Can you check your blood sugar after this happens.?

Only fainted 3 times in my life and it was always 3rd day after covid jabs. Not saying this was due to you fainting but wondered if it did tie in with you having the jab recently before you fainting. Haven't heard of anyone else fainting after the jab except myself.
My daughter used to faint when she was thin and didn't take enough fluids due to low blood pressure but pregnancy cured that and she's a good weight now lol

Drop forward, head between the knees, takes the oxygen to the brain.

I'm 82 and have the same problem, but only fainted once and come near it several times. Doctor not interested because all the tests come back ok.

I have learned : I get very hot just before I faint, so try to be near somewhere to sit, plus take off my coat and just sit for a while.

I sit to do all food prep and ironing.

I have been told to increase my salt intake and to add vinegar to my diet, and to move my feet and ankles when standing in a queue - will now also clench my hands after reading the response above!

It's really infuriating, I was quite active until all this started. We bought this house because it was walking distance to the GP's, medical centre and local shops, and now I can't walk that far, even though I feel quite fit.

Good luck!

Like you i am under a cardiologist . I was told i have atrial fibrillation i am on medication but still have dizzy spells and pass out. I am 57 and i no longer go out by myself not knowing when these episodes will occur . Before Christmas i had a episode outside asda where no one came over to see if i was alright . One lady stood there shaking her head at me either thinking i was drunk or i had taken drugs . My GP thinks i should have a pacemaker fitted and this would stop the episodes . I do feel for you has i know how it feels . I can have several episodes in a day then nothing for 3 weeks . Dont give up i now take someone with me when i go out , then at least it eases the embarrassment if something should occur . I wish i could say there is a miracle cure but i haven't found one yet . Stay safe xxxx

This happened to my son a number of years ago and various tests all proved negative (for any sinister cause), a new G.P at the practice referred him to a "Falls and Syncope" clinic - perhaps you could ask about one of these?

He was diagnosed with Vasovagal syncope (common faints), they gave him various strategies for helping with this...he copes quite well although I can well understand how scary it is.

The loop recorder continuously records your heart rate and rhythm.
You will be given a monitoring device that will send data every 24 hours to the team that implanted the recorder.
You can also initiate a sending of data if you have a worrying event.
The hospital team will contact you if they detect if they see anything amiss.
Yes I had a pacemaker inserted 14 months ago with no problems, I forget it’s there,no fainting episodes since.

Just think positive - you’ve had all the tests. I can understand you wanting answers / causes, but the human body is very strange .
My friend used to have something similar and the doctor said that when she felt faint, she had to clench her fists and literally pump the blood up to her head. That’s how she managed the condition. Good luck bobbydog

*Thorntrees. How does the loop work and how is the information gathered. Did you end up with a pacemaker. I’ll have to have another fainting spell before I can have loop inserted.

If you are offered a loop implant I would really encourage you to go for it.
Inserting it is no problem and it will give you peace of mind to know you are being monitored and hopefully in time an answer to what is causing the problem.
I had mine in place for about 3 months before it showed the drop in heart rate and pauses which just did not show up on an ecg as it wasn’t happening at the time.

My cardiologist did mention a loop implant if I faint again but it’s a double edged sword. I don’t want to faint again but want a reason why I do. It’s on my mind constantly and think I work myself up to a near panic attack. I’ve never felt so helpless before.

I had the same thing happen to me over a period of about five years, it was very scary.
Checks by gp,holter monitor for 24 hrs showed nothing amiss.
Eventually we paid for a private cardio consultant appt
. He suggested a 14 day monitor,this showed low heart rate and paroxysmal AF at times.
Next step was an implanted loop recorder,this revealed the next time a faint occurred not only did my heart rate drop but the heart was pausing for up to 20secs.
Within three days I was fitted with a pacemaker and all is now well
It did cost us for the first test but the pacemaker was done on the NHS who were excellent..
Not having the worry of fainting now is worth every penny and I know we were lucky to be able to pay.
I do hope you can get to the bottom of your problem soon,you have all my sympathy.

This is good advice from Elegran. I would also advise keeping up your fluid in take, carrying a flask of water, and also keeping your eyes moving across varied distances too. Changing your focus from near to middle and far distance and back again will help your balance. Try squatting exercises too, especially when out with the dog, as this shortens the distance your heart has to pump to your head.
You have Type 2 diabetes so you must have had lots of advice on keeping your blood sugar levels stable.
I do suffer from vertigo sometimes, but have never fainted, although I know plenty who have.
I hope your anxiety about this is lessened soon.

I think you need to find a way of NOT standing still in one position, and practise whatever helps you to do that.

When you are standing chatting to someone you do move about a bit - you move your head around as you speak or you nod it or shake it at what the other person is saying, and you shift your weight from one foot to the other, or turn to look at someone walking past. You are not aware of it, as you are interested in the conversation.

Having the dog with you is another thing to make you move about. However obedient and quiet the dog is, they do move around themselves, making you turn to see what they are doing, or speak to them to praise them or to correct them. that is enough to break the spell of being immobile.

Perhaps you could get into the habit of not standing still at one thing, like washing dishes at the sink, for more than a few minutes at a time? Remembering to shift from one foot to the other or to raise and lower your arms a few times at frequent intervals could make a big difference. Singing to yourself as you work would make you move in time to the music - like doing a dance without leaving the spot. Playing a radio would give you rhythm to tempt you to move, too.