Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Karen W. on 01/02/2008 20:21:36
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Ok.. I have been experiencing if you will Passing out a lot lately.. I will be standing cooking or doing
dishes or nothing at all and boom I am on the floor. Now I have informed my doctor who is working on the
problem at hand, which is good, but in the mean time I do not understand the physical aspect involved in
passing out or loosing consciousness. Why does a body loose consciousness.. and why when you wake up is
it hard to remember what happened.. Like in between.. I am unaware of what was happening and was
shocked to find myself on the cold floor and came to extremely cold and shaking uncontrollably.. I
thought it was just the cold floor.. any ideas..???
Oh By the way I was already standing and had been on my feet for about ten minutes... so I had not
gotten up fast or anything.. Just suddenly had a terrible feeling and boom..I am starting to recognize
the feeling that occurs right before I go down.. and was able the last round, to holler for help.. my
son was here with his dad watching a game..
If someone could explain.. that would be great!
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Well Ithink it's usually lack of oxygen to the brain. But this could be due to a number of causes- anaemia is a common one apparently.
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Ok The feeling that radiates up my spine spreads out like this these tiny lines . It goes into the back of my head and wraps around my shoulder sand settles in the center of my chest like not heaviness but like something is going to burst.. its weird but lately it gets to that point and stays real funny in the back of my skull and boom on the ground I go...I don't know if that helps but there it is!
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Well Ithink it's usually lack of oxygen to the brain. But this could be due to a number of causes- anaemia is a common one apparently.
I have indeed had some oxygen intake trouble.. but that brings to question why lack of oxygen also!
My last blood test said my potassium was low again.. not bad though, I think she said.. 3.6 she wants me at 4 she said.. so I don't think thats it as it has been 2 in the past weeks.I had to have iv potassium for about 6 hours in the hospital plus t big fat potassium pills before they let me go home..
This time the level was better.
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Another possibility could be epilepsy, although I am not at all sure this would be a cause in this case, but it does seem conceivable that slat imbalances (e.g. too much or too little sodium or potassium) might possibly have an effect on the nervous system that may trigger epilepsy - but it is pure speculation on my part.
Lack of oxygen is certainly the most common, but who said you have to be common.
I am assuming that when you come around, you are fully functional, and do not have temporary loss of motor function or anything like that (otherwise it might be mini-strokes).
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Just extremely weak and shakey.. a bit disoriented too. kept nodding off.. I felt better after I had some cool water ... My mouth was dry as cardboard when I came to. That was true of each incident.
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Thanks for the suggestions.. I have seen the doctor and we are waiting some tests..,
she thinks its cardiac related but we are not sure..
If it were a lack of oxygen, what is it that could be causing low oxygen...? Can
bacterial Pneumonias cause low oxygen?
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Pneumonia does reduce the blood oxygen, because much less of the lung surface is available for oxygen exchange. If you have pneumonia it can be difficult to get enough oxygen into the system to do anything except lie still!
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Not sure that pneumonia sounds like the answer (although I don't claim any qualifications to know). The reason I am doubtful is that Karen said above that she was able to call for help before going down. I would have guessed that anything that primarily effected the lungs, and only secondarily effected the brain, would have made it difficult to call for help. It sounds to me that this is something that has a primary effect upon the brain before it effects the lungs (although pneumonia could be a complicating factor, or be having a chronic rather than acute effect upon the brain - I really don't know).
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Something odd that happened that made me yell for help was that for a few split seconds I felt very aware of my heartbeat.. not in my chest but in my ears like a deep thumping drone.. then I yelled for help.. but Then I remember waking on the floor.. My son had put a pillow under my head and two blankets over me.. Rob had a cool cloth on my head.. but I did not know how long I had been there.. John said 5 or 10 minutes.. could have been hours for all I knew.. I was very confused when I came to.
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Something odd that happened that made me yell for help was that for a few split seconds I felt very aware of my heartbeat.. not in my chest but in my ears like a deep thumping drone.. then I yelled for help.. but Then I remember waking on the floor.. My son had put a pillow under my head and two blankets over me.. Rob had a cool cloth on my head.. but I did not know how long I had been there.. John said 5 or 10 minutes.. could have been hours for all I knew.. I was very confused when I came to.
Sounds like your heart problem playing up - maybe your heart was failing to pump properly, trying ever harder to no effect (hence the thumping in your ears), and then just failed to get enough blood to the highest point in your body (when standing, that would be your brain), so your brain just had to shut down.
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Well whatever it is the Doctor has run more tests in hopes to figure it out. She is thinking along your lines also. We will see.I guess low potassium can do stuff to your heart as well as too much potassium.. she is checking that again as I was just a tiny low the last round.. but its been a few weeks so she checked again wednesday too. I don't know the results yet.
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Just..........get well will ya ?
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Just..........get well will ya ?
Yes Sir.. I am working on it! Thanks Neily.
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I hope they find the answer for you..
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Me too! Thanks Jna.
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Goodness Karen, it sounds almost like what has been happening to me.
My symptoms:
Sudden loss of weight, lost over 1 stone in less than a month and occasional PR bleeding.
Passing out easily when getting up too quick from laying down or after bending down. Feeling feint after eating food. Heart palpitations just before passing out with a strange sensation on one side of the neck and also the beating in the ears. I have passed out a few times while just sitting down.
Like you, just after that happens its boom, on the ground and unconsciousness for a while. The first time it happened I thought it was a heart attack.
Another thing is feeling cold, soaking with sweat and shivering when coming round.
The diagnosis:
Low blood pressure (92) but the heart seems fine. Passing out while sitting was probably caused by an internal bleed. The bleed was caused by a ruptured polyp in the colon. Loss of weight caused because of several polyps and a large sigmoid polyp (now all removed)
The consultant I had was very good and explained a lot.
It seems that when suffering from low blood pressure just a small internal bleed can cause you to pass out. Having a bleed or even just eating can cause the blood to get diverted to the area where it is needed most. A simple thing like stubbing you're toe on the door jamb....ouch! can make you feel feint and standing while urinating can do the same.
In my case it was due to the colon and internal bleeding.
There is a term for it but I forgot what it was called, a double barrelled name with Vein or Veinous in it!
BTW Blood samples were taken and any deficiencies, anaemia or vitamin were ruled out.
Do you suffer from low blood pressure?
In any case, take care and be well soon.
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I have heart problems..aneurysm in my aorta, valve problems, aorta valve problems also.I have some kind of septal problem I think.. anyway instead of the normal three flaps I have two in some valve in the heart.. which he is not sure as to weather its a problem..! Having some aorta regurgitation and left ventricle problems, and a couple chronic infections, hashimotos disease,It is yet to be decided what is behind the chronic infections!
I have in the past had low blood pressure until all these problems then my blood pressure shot through the roof!
We do have similar symptoms.. It sounds like they fixed it for you eh?? I hope you do well and thank you so much for your post.. Makes me feel less alone.. Really Thank you! And BTW I have passed out twice sitting down doing absolutely nothing and then also whilst standing and moving around. It was very weird!
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I cant find a hug smiley so,
HUG
HUG
HUG
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Thank you Mad man.. very much! Hugs are great!
Here is a smiley site Just copy urls and paste in post..
http://bestsmileys.com/pageindex.htm
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OK.. round 100!!! At least it feels like it! I had a bad episode last night.. Passed out again but was alone.. was out for a few hours. When I came to was cold again basically the same as before except my chest was hurting.. I felt like I was drowning in fluid. It took me a bit of time to get off the floor..and too the bed.. I had been experiencing some personal stress and hyperventilated... felt like I could not breath... then boom on the floor.
I am sure that my being upset did not help me any.... How does one keep their feelings in check to alleviate that unneeded anxiety and pressure?
Any suggestions would be great!
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How does one keep their feelings in check to alleviate that unneeded anxiety and pressure?
Any suggestions would be great!
Not sure how one can make suggestions on that. It is something I do quite well just naturally, because that is who I am. I don't do anger, I don't do panic, and I don't do mad passionate love - that is who I am. You are you.
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Thanks George.. I wish sometimes I did not do them too! I'm afearing that there is nothing I can do except run away and disappear to where There are no problems.. got any places like that to go!
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Goodness Karen, it sounds almost like what has been happening to me.
My symptoms:
Sudden loss of weight, lost over 1 stone in less than a month and occasional PR bleeding.
Passing out easily when getting up too quick from laying down or after bending down. Feeling feint after eating food. Heart palpitations just before passing out with a strange sensation on one side of the neck and also the beating in the ears. I have passed out a few times while just sitting down.
Like you, just after that happens its boom, on the ground and unconsciousness for a while. The first time it happened I thought it was a heart attack.
Another thing is feeling cold, soaking with sweat and shivering when coming round.
The diagnosis:
Low blood pressure (92) but the heart seems fine. Passing out while sitting was probably caused by an internal bleed. The bleed was caused by a ruptured polyp in the colon. Loss of weight caused because of several polyps and a large sigmoid polyp (now all removed)
The consultant I had was very good and explained a lot.
It seems that when suffering from low blood pressure just a small internal bleed can cause you to pass out. Having a bleed or even just eating can cause the blood to get diverted to the area where it is needed most. A simple thing like stubbing you're toe on the door jamb....ouch! can make you feel feint and standing while urinating can do the same.
In my case it was due to the colon and internal bleeding.
There is a term for it but I forgot what it was called, a double barrelled name with Vein or Veinous in it!
BTW Blood samples were taken and any deficiencies, anaemia or vitamin were ruled out.
Do you suffer from low blood pressure?
In any case, take care and be well soon.
Ok.. Tonight seems to have me.. This time when I felt that bad feeling I was sitting watching TV... but had my cuff on. was at this desk.. so I reached for the camera and clicked on my blood pressure readings till I couldn't hold the camera cause I had to put my head down before I slid out of me chair..
Here are the readings:\
I did not feel good so got pictures of pressure readings.. it got worse so I continued to check pressure ..
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb73%2Fkarenw44%2Falbum%2520three%2F00003.jpg&hash=499cfc43227ad15c2a499f243a4b779b)
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb73%2Fkarenw44%2Falbum%2520three%2F00013.jpg&hash=429b02e14afd4fca619fbbb5c89ed3fc)
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb73%2Fkarenw44%2Falbum%2520three%2F00007.jpg&hash=df5b8151e98b7aa5e8d4fd5a001291aa)
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb73%2Fkarenw44%2Falbum%2520three%2F00004.jpg&hash=780830876e817751f46ae2af0bd07bae)
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb73%2Fkarenw44%2Falbum%2520three%2F00012.jpg&hash=72de134aa1e44bc746dcc21ef7ea7811)
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb73%2Fkarenw44%2Falbum%2520three%2F00011.jpg&hash=218bd0f16e3123eb1982e5de8391c21f)
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb73%2Fkarenw44%2Falbum%2520three%2F00014.jpg&hash=cdb48070b0552cf434354a771802b221)
It stayed low for quite awhile... I would say 45 minutes to 1 hour... then I started feeling better but I had laid down..My chair so I could recline a bit..
Pressure seems to come back up after the terrible nausea coughing and general ill feeling has passed.. I was just had not taken the cuff off after monitoring just minutes before..
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That BP seems awfully low Karen but I'm glad the reclining helped you a bit and I hope you go as soon as you can to see the Doctor and explain.
A have to admit also that I'm a bit like George when it come to any anxiety or pressure.
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Seems so to me too. had another round tonight where it dropped way down again..
My lab tests came back said my kidney function thing was high again and suggested it may be that I was dehydrated.. I don't know why.
I went to the doc. yesterday.. she is still trying to figure out whats happening.
I think I am going to lock myself in my room and watch old movies until my brain falls out.. sounds good to me... No more thinking.. maybe that will do it! ..seriously I don't know what to think at this point.. we will see.. I am trying to be patient.. I used to be real good at patience.. better then most.. but lately I am losing it....
Thanks for the advice.. and I did just that.. so we will see what happens! Thanks!
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OK.. I have been removed fro my Norvasc.. which The doctor gave me to help blood flow and circulation etc.... Seems in there effort to control my blood pressure They thing they have over done the medication and that may be the answer to my passing out.. My blood pressure has been dropping down real real low.. and finally being checked at the office during a a bout with standing and feeling like I was about to go down.. They stuck a cuff on me and boom low and behold my blood pressure was so low that it was almost undetectable... he took it numerous times asking me how I felt and me needing to sit while they held me in upright position. LOL.. He decided that as I moved around my blood pressure drops drastically he believes causing me to pass out.. so low blood pressure for sure .. so temporarily I am stopping one medication in hopes it will eliminate that.. but if the pain comes back and blood pressure goes back up we have to go back to it immediately....
In the mean time.. I am feeling some better had some incidents this last weekend but am OK and ready to get going again. Been relaxing and resting as I was told... limited activity for the last few days as directed.. . If all is well Treatment I guess is going ok! Had a bunch of blood work done and waiting for results again.. ESR rates again along with red blood cell count and several other tests .. kidneys ..liver etc.. as well as another EKG that displayed some small skitters that were noted and marked so we will see what it was doing too.. he seemed calm about it and says it should be OK.. asked me if I had my cell phone on in the room... we looked and nope.. it was off so he said he had to do them again and he did and there was still disturbance in the readings again etc.. etc.. So now they want to check them as they have become more active then before!
I will update again soon...
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One thing that might make you feel slightly better is knowing that passing out isn't the brain failing because it can't get enough oxygen, it's a deliberate, adaptive response. It's the body's way of getting the head near the floor so the heart doesn't have so much work to do maintaining a blood supply to the brain. Pumping blood up hill is hard work.
You might find this interesting too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postural_hypotension
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Thanks BC.. I do see a lot of similarities ie, the bed rest, medications,heart problems.. low blood pressure..etc.. It does not however happen with sudden stand ups... it can happen in a sitting position also...also while I have been up being active for ten minutes or so..
That is a good link and what you say does make better sense!
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Well, I have had another round of passinfg out yesterday outside in my carport. it was hot and really got me... I think more then anything.. it was firstly very hot out then I was trying to clean and old safe off to get it ready to give away... lol....
i started coughinh out of control.. got light headed and suddenly was having trouble with air intake..and could not breath....was having that high pitch squeezy thing happening in my throat as if someone was strangling me...then I was on the couch..... This is getting old and sacarring me not to mention Bob... he drug me in the house and soked me with water trying to cool me with soaked clothes he said. He also said I looked ...was terrible looking and pale....and he was scared but said was incredibly hot... and wet...
( sweating profusely)
anyway... he got me water and thinks it was being dehydrated from my pills... I have to drink more water because my meds deydrate me....
anyway it has been some betterbut has not stopped but that may have just been heat induced.. my meds are sensitive to sun..
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Hi Karen
I have read all your above posts. I am not a doctor but I believe I can offer excellent advice. It seems to me that you might be passing out because of the following.
1) An inflammatory condition of the heart causing valves to leak sufficiently to cause critical blood pressure failure. Inflammation subsequently subsiding.
Solution - I would suggest avoid using anti-inflammatory corticosteroid therapy. Other heart medications might help, talk with doctor. Less meat more fruit and vegetables. Sandwiches with salad. Eating less. Get an echocardiogram, an EBCT or cardiac MRI done.
2) Blood pressure lowering drugs in combination with an inflammatory condition or valvular regurgitation causing critical blood pressure failure.
Solution - Readjust B.P. medicines working with doctor.
3) Cardiac rhythm irregularities.
Solution - Should have a 24hr EKG test, maybe a few times. This will be a unit attached to your waist with electrodes to your chest. It will make a record of any heart rhythm irregularities. Doctor will advise on results.
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I have had all of the above tests several times and xblood pressure meds have been adjusted and is more stable.. i have good choletesterol.. it has away been in good range...had aexam of arteries with a clear hall pass.. I do not have
clogqed arteries... I do have some sclerosis of the arorta valve as well as left ventrical..He said it was from the regurgitation and the blood pooling in the aorta when the left ventrical spits it back the wrong way.. it apparently sits long enough for the blood to clot and the aorta it spitting it out.. which is what caused the mini stroke in May last year!
I eat lots of vegetables and reasonable meats althomugh I always have to watch that...
there are orther problems..but you world need to read the congestive heart failure thread.....in this same area back several pages.thanks for the advice and it all seems sound as the Doctor has done all the above....
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Hi Karen
You may have chronic inflammation of the internal lining of the heart. This condition is called endocarditis. A lot doctors can be ignorant about this condition as it may not show up as an abnormality on a scan. I also believe that it can fail to show up on an EKG. Also the heart doesnt have to be enlarged for you to have this condition. This condition can seriously affect the performance of your heart valves and over time make them fail.
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Thanks.... that has been addressed and my general practioner has pushed for it to be checked again... The cardiologist says he hopes to wait a little while before he has to replace the valves... I don't know how long.. but he says they will have to be replaced.
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So I think you are passing out because of inflammation around your heart valves in combination with dips in blood pressure caused by medicines. We have to find a way to reduce or eliminate the inflammation.
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Well I visited Stanford Medical.. The center for aortic anuerysms etc etc.. The passing out was from the low blood pressure and I seem to be having Coronary artery spasms..
They took me off the norvasc a month or two ago my passing out has ceased, but I am still having blood pressure issues! Cut my meteprolo down on the 7th to half dose at 50 mg time released..to raise the pressure up to normal.. as it was way too low!80 over 44. Then it shot through the roof..196 0ver 110~!
Yesterday they put me back up to 100 mg a day time released I take it in the morning.. Pressure was good today again.. we will see what tomorrow brings..
I am running a fever and think I have picked up Strep throat from my Daughters boyfriend!.. Not sure yet.. My left gland under my tongue is very tender to touch under my chin... not swallowing just to touch..
My thyroid feels swollen and large on the left side of my windpipe also!