Vasovagal Syncope something?

[WillyWump]

Well Ive had a crappy week. I was in the ER Mon night for chest pains, didnt really want to go but Im getting to the age where its better to be safe than sorry. Checked out fine. Although they did hear a swooshing in my heart which didnt surprise me because Ive had Mitral Valve Prolapse all my life, never been an issue. I chalked the chest pains up to stress. ER Doc told me to follow up with my Doctor.

Then last night I got up to pee and passed out while standing at the toilet. When I came to and got up I saw in the mirror that my face was bloodied from a gash between my eyes, had a splitting headache and my neck was killing me, I was freaked out. Called my cousin and he took me back to the hospital. I was quite worried after this fainting spell as I had just had chest pains 2 days earlier. After Ekgs, MRi's and Xrays everything checkd out fine again other than a mild concussion and some butterfly closures for my gash, which I AM NOT happy about as Im going to have a hideous scar now above my eyebrow. The ER Doc referred me to a cardiologist for a full cardiac workup (stress test, etc..). I have an appt. in 10 days. Gee, no rush guys.

Er Doc said there is something fairly common called a "vasovagal Syncope" something that happens when you get up in the middle of deep sleep, he said the heart is still in sleep mode and cannot compensate for the sudden standing and walking and not enough blood gets to the brain and you go down, usually just as your peeing.

If this is farily common how come its never happened before and Ive never heard of it happening to anyone? Anyone experienced this vasovagal thing?

I dont know, im still leary of this whole thing because of the chest pain and passing out within 2 days of each other.

In the meantime Ive padded the area around the toilet just in case(im still not sure what I gashed my head on).

-Will

[BlueMoon]

Never heard of it, and I usually get up several times in the night.  Maybe not from a deep enough sleep.

Glad to hear you're getting it checked out, and I hope it isn't serious.

And once you explain that it's a duelling scar from your university days at Heidelberg, it should look quite dashing.

[Hellraiser]

I like a man with some scars, of course when they're face down you can't see the ones on their faces.

[CallMeSid]

Here is some additional information on the phenomenon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_episode

Some would say that "vasovagal syncope" is just a fancy term for "fainting".

I have a similar scar above my right eye from when I passed out and hit the toilet on the way down while removing the bloody gauze from my mouth after my wisdom teeth extraction 20+ years ago.  The scar makes me look butch and dangerous (giggle).

[john33]

I'd heard of this before, although I never paid it many attention.

If i read the article correctly, loads of people have an episode similar everytime they stand up to fast.

John

(corrected as I can't spell for Toffee)

[Hellraiser]

Yeah it seems like it's just a severe version of getting light headed after you had been resting for a while from standing up.  This used to happen to me commonly but doesn't anymore.  I have no idea why it stopped.

[GNYC09]

oh no - I hope you're feeling better 
I used to pass out but it was due to low Potassium and low blood pressure, which I took care of with nutritional changes (like eating bananas).  Did the Dr. say what could be causing it in your case? (I know you have more tests coming up.)  Good luck!

[WillyWump]

I used to pass out but it was due to low Potassium and low blood pressure, which I took care of with nutritional changes (like eating bananas).  Did the Dr. say what could be causing it in your case? (I know you have more tests coming up.)  Good luck!

No, the ER was more concerned with ruling out a heart attack emergency, which they did. The only thing he mentioned was the vasovagal syncope thingy. The potassium and Low BP is something I will add to my list to ask the cardiologist. Frankly, I have no idea where my BP sits.

In the meantime, Ive cut back on the liquids prior to bedtime so maybe I wont need to get up in the middle of the night to pee. Also, my cousin had a good idea, he said I needed to go ahead and kick it up to "all girl" and sit down while I pee so I would be closer to the floor and wouldnt have far to fall. He says Im almost "all girl" anyways.

-Will