Fainting Spell

[cherylnb]

For the pre-menopausal educated crowd:

I am 41 and beginning to have a couple of possible symptoms of pre-menopause.

My question is this: have you had a fainting spell, maybe in connection with a "hot flash"?

This happened to me out of the clear blue this evening in the mall. Thank goodness a friend of mine was with me or I would have been more freaked out. I actually had to sit down on the floor to keep from collapsing on the floor. After I felt myself again, I was hot and sweaty all over, but then I felt absolutely fine.

Naturally I will keep an eye on this and see a doctor if it recurs, but of course I wonder if something similar has happened to any of you.

By the way, everyone wondered if it was hunger, but that wasn't it. However,I had just had a sample of a new herbal tea. (It was tea store.)


Thanks!!

 

[Tamster]

Well, I am a member of the frequent fainters club, and for me it isn't a peri-menopausal thing. I have low blood sugar and have had more fainting spells than I wish to remember. The last one was about 8 weeks ago. I was up all night one Saturday with a urinary tract infection. When the urgent care office opened Sunday morning I was the first in line. The doctor prescribed the medicine, my husband drove me to the drug store to fill it, took meds on the way home, and as we pulled into the driveway I started to feel dizzy. I got out of the car and passed out in the driveway - not once, but twice! We later found out that the med I was given was not good for people with low blood sugar.

My fainting spells are sudden and I always wake up hot and sweaty, but cold and clammy to the touch. I am usually drenched with sweat and then I am freezing.

Please go see your doctor and have any necessary blood tests taken. It could be just a fluke thing, but you never know. It may not have been from hunger, but it could be from low blood sugars, or the herbal tea affected you in some manner and dropped your blood pressure too low.

See a doctor!

Tammy

 

[claridge]

Im not a member of the FFC or the PMC but low blood sugar was the first thing that come to my mind as well.

I do have friends with low blood sugar/ low blood pressure, and they carry around Jelly Beans in their bags. A quick response remedy until they can visit a GP if necessary.

I think a check up would be advisable first - to rule out any other causes - before you self diagnose.

 

[starlight6]

Hi Cheryl,

I've had spells like that myself off & on for years...my doctor seems to think it's my blood pressure, which has always been very low.

I agree you should seek your doctor's advice though.

Ruth

 

[clareMc]

Do you have heart palpitations along with it or any other symptoms? If so, it sounds perimenopausal to me, because sudden anxiety/panic attacks and faintness are symptoms of declining estrogen according to research I have read.

Clare

 

[KathyH]

Yes this happened to me too. I was out one evening for dinner w/friends & the restaurant was very hot. I suddenly had one of my hot flashes & before you know it I was having a fainting spell. Thank goodness I didn't completely pass out. It was the only time it happened. Were you wearing an overcoat at the mall? Was it very hot?
Kathy

 

[cherylnb]

Thanks all! You're a big help.

I did see my doctor today. She is doing a few blood tests because my potassium was low a few months ago, which seemed to be causing some heart palpitations at that time.

She said statistically speaking it is probably nothing, but she is referring me to a cardiologist just to be sure. EKGs in the office are fine, but they are just a snapshot in time. He may want to do a 24-hour monitor or something.

I hope it's just that rare, weird thing. Last time I fainted was at a Geraldine Ferraro rally at college in 1984!