Losing Consciousness?

[Jade Pray]

I had a strange thing happen to me today. It has happened before but I always passed it off as me just being significantly more tired than I realized. This time though I was not even a little bit tired and it was hours before bedtime. I was spending time with my fiancé and friends when suddenly I started feeling sick. My abdomen began to hurt and I became extremely nauseous. I curled up on the couch hoping it would help with my stomach feeling like it would explode. Then I began to have trouble keeping track of what was going on around me, my eyes kept closing. I felt incredibly dizzy. Then time kept skipping. I missed several parts of the conversation.  I still didn’t feel tired during any of it, just felt dizzy. When it stopped I was aware of everything around me again but I still felt sick. I felt weak and shaky and dizzy. I was completely uncoordinated and my head was under pressure and it was hard to focus on anything. It really doesn’t feel like I fell asleep but that’s what everyone around me thought happened. Has anyone else had something similar happen? Does anyone know what this might be caused by?

[frieze]

I had a strange thing happen to me today. It has happened before but I always passed it off as me just being significantly more tired than I realized. This time though I was not even a little bit tired and it was hours before bedtime. I was spending time with my fiancé and friends when suddenly I started feeling sick. My abdomen began to hurt and I became extremely nauseous. I curled up on the couch hoping it would help with my stomach feeling like it would explode. Then I began to have trouble keeping track of what was going on around me, my eyes kept closing. I felt incredibly dizzy. Then time kept skipping. I missed several parts of the conversation.  I still didn’t feel tired during any of it, just felt dizzy. When it stopped I was aware of everything around me again but I still felt sick. I felt weak and shaky and dizzy. I was completely uncoordinated and my head was under pressure and it was hard to focus on anything. It really doesn’t feel like I fell asleep but that’s what everyone around me thought happened. Has anyone else had something similar happen? Does anyone know what this might be caused by?

sounds like a seizure to me.  see doc, very soon!

[GF Lover]

I agree, you should see your Doctor.

 

Colleen

[IrishHeart]

Well, you did not lose consciousness if you were aware of what was going on, but this certainly is alarming and you should see a doctor.

We are not doctors on here and none of us can speculate about what may be going on.

 

You posted recently asking about diabetes and this sensation you describe could be related.

 

Hope everything is all right. Keep us posted.

[nvsmom]

(hugs)

Before it was treated, I had low blood pressure and when I became sick I would feel faint (or faint) and your symptoms sound similar to what I would experience (minus the stomach issues). I would get light headed and confused, I would get tunnel vision (lose the edge of my sight), it felt like there was no blood in my face and I'd be a bit cold,and I would feel not fully there but not completely out on the ground either.  I had the type of low blood pressure that would fall when I stood up (should do the opposite) so I would need to lie down for quite some time before I could safely walk anywhere.

 

I now take florinef and that has treated the problem.

 

I agree with the others, see a doctor about it - especially if it has never happened before. Best wishes.

[Celtic Queen]

In my pre-Celiac days I would have similar feelings.  Several times I actually passed out, but several times I did not.  My blood pressure has always been low, but not low enough for medication. I went to several specialists - neurologist, caridiologist, etc.  None of them could figure out what caused it.  They diagnosed me with Vaso-Vagal Syncope - which basically means I passed out but they couldn't figure out why.  Kind of like the generic IBS diagnosis they give everyone with stomach troubles.  At one point I was on a custom compounded medicine that seemed to help some.  Eventually the episodes stopped.  Mainly because I have figured out when it's coming on and have learned to stop it before I get to the passing out stage.  It rarely happens to me now.

 

I would definitely suggest seeing a doctor.  Some of the things they might want to consider are low blood pressure, migraines, and seizures.  When I was getting checked for my problems, they ran a bunch of tests - EKG, EEG, Holter Monitor, Echocardiogram, heart cath, tilt table.  I hope you can find out what the problem is.  Sorry you're having to go through this.

[Jade Pray]

well if by some magic I find a large amount of cash lying on the street I will think about going to the doctor. also if i actually find a doctor in this town willing to actually try helping someone. until then i will just have to tough it out i guess. 

[Jade Pray]

I have celiac disease. I get a lot of random symptoms. I can barely afford to eat more than plain rice most weeks, I cant afford to go to the doctor for every symptom. and the last time I tried talking to a doctor about unusual symptoms that horrible excuse for a doctor ran $500 worth of tests and called me to say the tests showed nothing so theres no point in me coming in again because she cant help me. i have problems on top of problems health wise. I have been diagnosed since May 2011 and I barely feel better. I am incredibly careful to avoid ingesting gluten. no matter what I do I am in pain from something every single day. and not only is there no doctors I have found that care to even try to help, I cant afford to search for one that would help and I cant afford to visit the doctor even if they would help. 

[IrishHeart]

You asked does anyone know what might cause you to lose consciousness?

 

hon, we're not doctors on here and all we want is for you to be safe and healthy.

 

If you pass out like that again, you might want to go to the emergency room.

 

Not to scare you, but you can't "tough out" diabetes or a stroke. You may need medical attention.

 

 

Sorry you are not feeling well, but clearly something else is going on besides celiac. Celiac symptoms are managed by removing gluten.

Something is not right if you say you are gluten free for over 2 years and still feeling awful every single day.

[Celtic Queen]

I am sorry if I upset you by mentioning the doctor.  I know how frustrating it can be to spend money on tests that come back negative and doctors that dismiss you.  Believe me I could tell you all about it with the story of my colonoscopy and endoscopy... 

 

But if you are passing out or feel like you are passing out, you really do need to see someone.  It really could be life threatening to you.  Some symptoms people can ignore, but I don't think this is one that should be.

 

One of the first times I passed out, I was driving my car.  Luckily I wasn't on a crowded street and I managed to pull over.  I hit the curb and ruined the tire on my car, but it could have been much worse.  I could have seriously hurt or killed myself or someone else.  Another time I passed out in a store and banged my head pretty badly on the floor.  Again, it could have been much worse because I could have really hurt myself. 

 

If you really can't see a doctor, these are the few things I suggest that may help.  First of all, have you had your blood pressure checked lately?  Is it low?  Some places like drugstores have those machines that will check it for free.  Also, if you sit for long periods of time, be sure to stand up slowly.  Irish mentioned something about diabetes.  Do you have that?  Could it be related to your sugar? 

 

My cardiologist told me that when most people pass out, their body recognizes that their blood pressure is dropping rapidly and sends a spike of adrenaline to push it back up.  For me the adrenaline is what makes me feel shaky afterwards.  It always puts me into a bit of shock and I have to cover up with a blanket and sit still for a little while afterwards.  Over time, I've been able to sense when an episode is coming on.  It's hard to explain, but it's kind of like deja vu.  Now when that starts, I can "talk" myself out of the passing out.  I just repeat over and over to myself, "I will not pass out."  It seems to help.  I'll also pinch myself or bit my lip to shock myself out of it.  But the most important thing I do is put myself in a safe place so that if I pass out I won't myself or someone else.  If I am driving, I'll pull over immediately.  If I am standing, I'll sit down on the floor.  If you can learn to identify the onset, maybe you could use some of those techniques also.

 

Sorry you're feeling bad.

[mommida]

 I can barely afford to eat more than plain rice most weeks. 

I think the answer might be right there.

ANEMIA can cause the light headedness and the queasy stomach.  Are you bruising easy?

Try to get more iron rich foods.

[IrishHeart]

I think the answer might be right there.

ANEMIA can cause the light headedness and the queasy stomach.  Are you bruising easy?

Try to get more iron rich foods.

 

 

and all I could think of all day after I answered this morning was....she needs protein, not just rice. !

[Greebo115]

I had a strange thing happen to me today. It has happened before but I always passed it off as me just being significantly more tired than I realized. This time though I was not even a little bit tired and it was hours before bedtime. I was spending time with my fiancé and friends when suddenly I started feeling sick. My abdomen began to hurt and I became extremely nauseous. I curled up on the couch hoping it would help with my stomach feeling like it would explode. Then I began to have trouble keeping track of what was going on around me, my eyes kept closing. I felt incredibly dizzy. Then time kept skipping. I missed several parts of the conversation.  I still didn’t feel tired during any of it, just felt dizzy. When it stopped I was aware of everything around me again but I still felt sick. I felt weak and shaky and dizzy. I was completely uncoordinated and my head was under pressure and it was hard to focus on anything. It really doesn’t feel like I fell asleep but that’s what everyone around me thought happened. Has anyone else had something similar happen? Does anyone know what this might be caused by?

 

Ok, what you are describing happens to me more times than I would like. I have been doing a bit of reading since you posted this and have made a useful discovery for myself and thought I'd share, in case you think it may apply to yourself.

I have vasovagel syncope (which is part of POTs)- fainting spells when changing position from laying/sitting to standing. The doc just gave me the name when I arrived in her office (with black eyes, cuts all over my face and concussion from blacking out in a public place, about 6 years ago) and told me there was nothing I could do. Well, there is, I don't faint anymore.....but that's not what I wanted to say, just background.

 

What I didn't realise was those times I "go unconscious" after some meals is linked to it! Read this:

 

• Diets high in Open Original Shared Link have been connected to impaired vasoconstrictive action. Eating foods with lower carbohydrate levels can mildly improve POTS symptoms.
• (from halfway down this page: Open Original Shared Link

Also this:

Avoiding any risk factors or triggers for PoTS, e.g., warm environments, prolonged standing, large meals with high carbohydrate content

From 2/3 down the page here:  Open Original Shared Link

 

I made this connection for you, because you mention eating large amounts of rice - I know it happens to me. I know that me and grains of any kind don't get on, (or any starchy food) but couldn't work out why. When my insomnia gets really bad and I get desperate, I will purposely eat a bowl of rice noodles, then I begin to feel nauseous, dizzy, can't focus, need to lay down, pass out....wake up a bit...pass out....poof! gone.Just as you describe....It usually lasts 45 mins (if it happens in the day - But if I'm totally sleep deprived,  and it's 3am, then I stay asleep!).

 

Just a thought!