Was this a fainting episode?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The oral surgeon might want to postpone because of unexplained fainting, or near-fainting. If this is POTS, getting a bunch of IV fluids before and during the dental surgery will keep her from fainting. It’s not about dehydration per se but about low blood volume, and getting more fluids in increases your blood volume. Your story about her fainting after the shower makes me think this is POTS.

If it’s vasovagal, I think surgery will likely be hard for her because blood things often bring on a fainting episode. I don’t know what the advice is to prevent that. I think an ice pack on your chest or something? I have POTS so I’m more familiar with that.

But yeah, the dental surgery does complicate things.

Fainting in the shower can occur with vasovagal too; combination of standing & hot temperature.

[Anonymous]

Vasovagal is so annoying because you just can’t control what will set it off and anything painful or weird to do with your body can definitely do it. I had it recently during a mole removal even though I was completely numb and couldn’t see anything.

[Anonymous]

I have a vasovagal fainting episode once every few years. Its always been related to not enough fluid intake, excessive heat and sometimes drinking alcohol (I'm talking half glass of wine). I also donate blood 2 or 3 times per year and this has never caused me to faint or have presyncope.

[Anonymous]

Does she have migraines? Sounds like an aura migraine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My teenager had two episodes of passing out about four months apart. I mentioned this as she was seeing her allergist (and wise mother) who suggested she get an EEG and think no more about it if it came back negative.

The EEG was positive. We were totally shocked to learn she has epilepsy.

I had no idea that fainting was a symptom of epilepsy.

Seizures do not all look like how they are portrayed on TV/films. My first thought was to get an EEG.

[Anonymous]

Please teach your daughter to SIT DOWN WHEREVER SHE IS when she feels like that, ideally bent with her head between her knees. She should not try to walk out of a store. That way if she does faint she wont hit her head.
Go to a doctor and get checked out. It is probably nothing concerning but you need to check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had something like this happen four times in my life (F, 54). It was considered a vasovagal response. My grandfather was fainting prone especially related to a shellfish allergy (so fainted in a restaurant once).

My events and triggers were:

1) fainted immediately after tooth extraction around age 12 in the dentist office. Mom made me wait at the counter while she settled up. My vision went gray but I did not go all the way out (caught before I fell).

2) recovering from fever and respiratory illness. Fainted in bathroom while standing at sink. Around age 20.

3) fainted during medical test while sitting on exam table. My arm was being mildly shocked (age 27). Doctor sent me for an epilepsy test which showed clear.

4) fainted at work while sitting in chair. Was thinking about recent dental work that was bleeding. Had gone light on breakfast and might have been holding my breath. Around 45 or so. Received full ER workup and diagnosis of vasovagal syncope.

I'm sharing this personal history because you are concerned about your child's dental work. I recommend you disclose and let your care provider decide. However, even if your daughter has a fainting episode, it could still be nothing major. Just make sure she is careful and protected against falling for a few days (baths instead of showers, etc.).

Vasovagal syncope is pretty common and there is no treatment for what I experienced.

If vasovagal syncope is frequent and doesn't respond to behavioral changes, they can prescribe a low dose medication to increase blood pressure which can help in some cases to head off fainting. The motivation for that is to prevent injury from falling.

Yes, I am the person who posted the above. My blood pressure is usually on the lower side of a normal range and I would not take a maintenance medication to prevent something that happens about once per decade and also seems to have a link with medical-treatment-related temporary anxiety. I introspect that breath-holding when nervous about medical care could potentially tie in. Also my doctors did not offer me any follow-up treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD (17) was in a very small, crowded store in the mall this afternoon with her winter coat on - she suddenly felt overheated and nauseas/dizzy. She never really lost consciousness but her vision went gray/blurry for about 5 seconds; she really couldn’t see anything and bumped into a wall on her way out of the store, then she sat down on the the ground and slowly started to feel better. My DS got her a cup of water (she had eaten a grilled cheese earlier, but had not had anything to drink), and since then (it’s been about 1.5 hours) she feels totally fine - 100% normal.

About 4-5 years ago, she got dizzy in the shower, stepped out snd fainted in the bathroom floor, and the ER doc said it was a vasovagal response. I do t recall her vision going gray - she dropped to the floor and was out cold. I’m wondering if this was the same thing.

Why are you asking randos on the internet

Parenting skills lacking much

Pregnant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD (17) was in a very small, crowded store in the mall this afternoon with her winter coat on - she suddenly felt overheated and nauseas/dizzy. She never really lost consciousness but her vision went gray/blurry for about 5 seconds; she really couldn’t see anything and bumped into a wall on her way out of the store, then she sat down on the the ground and slowly started to feel better. My DS got her a cup of water (she had eaten a grilled cheese earlier, but had not had anything to drink), and since then (it’s been about 1.5 hours) she feels totally fine - 100% normal.

About 4-5 years ago, she got dizzy in the shower, stepped out snd fainted in the bathroom floor, and the ER doc said it was a vasovagal response. I do t recall her vision going gray - she dropped to the floor and was out cold. I’m wondering if this was the same thing.

Why are you asking randos on the internet

Parenting skills lacking much

Pregnant

Kindness lacking much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The oral surgeon might want to postpone because of unexplained fainting, or near-fainting. If this is POTS, getting a bunch of IV fluids before and during the dental surgery will keep her from fainting. It’s not about dehydration per se but about low blood volume, and getting more fluids in increases your blood volume. Your story about her fainting after the shower makes me think this is POTS.

If it’s vasovagal, I think surgery will likely be hard for her because blood things often bring on a fainting episode. I don’t know what the advice is to prevent that. I think an ice pack on your chest or something? I have POTS so I’m more familiar with that.

But yeah, the dental surgery does complicate things.

With POTS, wouldn’t this have happened more than twice in 4-5 years? She never gets dizzy with standing…wouldn’t that be a regular thing? But maybe I just don’t know enough about POTS.

[Anonymous]

I’m 49 and I’ve had this happen about 5 times in my life, mostly in my 20’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah it sounds the same — vasovagal. I have this.

Hi. Me too. It sounds like vasovagal. Not much to do. It’s random. I’m glad she’s ok.

[Anonymous]

I think this sounds normal. When I was that age, I fainted in similar situations, crowded and hot. I specifically remember fainting while on stage for a chorus concert (incredibly common) and in church standing along the wall during the holidays. Has happened to both my kids.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if this is still a thing, but I had a tilt table test about 20 years ago, after my 4th fainting spell, and it confirmed that my fainting was caused my sudden drops in blood pressure (cardiologist ordered the tilt table test after ruling out other things).