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Post by formerlyme on May 17, 2019 17:35:30 GMT -5
I believe that this morning I experienced fainting for the first time in my life. I recall standing up from my bed to go to the washroom to urinate. I felt lightheaded, and my breathing was a bit labored. The next thing I knew was I came to, laying on the floor between my bed and the wall, but not realizing where I was. I was facing the bed skirt, and thought it was a sheet and tried to pull it over me. Then I looked around and realized I was on the floor, with no idea how I got there...very confusing!
With considerable effort, I got myself up and laid across the bed, sweating from the exertion. After a while, I tried to go to the washroom, but my bladder let go before I made it there. Sooo upsetting! While in the bathroom, I had sense enough to chew a full-sized aspirin and wash it down with lots of water...just in case.
I had no signs of a stroke or heart attack. I put two and two together, and concluded I was overly dehydrated (darned diuretic medication). I monitored my pulse throughout the day and it was fine, although my blood pressure was fairly low. I drank lots of fluids the rest of the day, gradually feeling more 'like myself'. On-line research verified that dehydration can cause lightheadedness, and extreme dehydration can cause fainting. Although the medical types want me to limit my fluid intake, I've had ongoing issues with feeling dehydrated. Screw Them, I need MORE fluids than I've been taking.
Anyway, after having some supper, I feel okay, and relieved that this was likely not something heart-related. Whew!
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Post by Drifter on May 17, 2019 19:03:38 GMT -5
Oh my, formerlyme . I'm concerned for you! I'm glad to hear you are doing much better now. That had to be scary. With you heart condition and, weren't you diagnosed as diabetic too? Why would your medical professionals tell you to limit fluid intakes? Diuretics remove water from your body, that's why one is told to limit salt intake. One would think drinking more water would help. I do hope you will let your Doctor know about this.
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Post by nkat on May 17, 2019 19:20:16 GMT -5
Glad that you are feeling better. That would of been scary!
Nkat
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Post by formerlyme on May 17, 2019 21:00:22 GMT -5
Thanks, Drifter and nkat, for your kindness and concern.
Yes, it was frightening when I didn't know what was happening. I feel okay now, just rather tired. I have Diabetes Type 2, Drifter, as well as AFib & Heart Failure. I will be more closely monitoring myself, and plan to mention this episode to my family doctor the next time I see her.
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Post by butterfly on May 18, 2019 8:50:05 GMT -5
Thanks, Drifter and nkat , for your kindness and concern.
Yes, it was frightening when I didn't know what was happening. I feel okay now, just rather tired. I have Diabetes Type 2, Drifter , as well as AFib & Heart Failure. I will be more closely monitoring myself, and plan to mention this episode to my family doctor the next time I see her.
Scary! Could this have been hypoglycemia, i.e., blood sugar too low? I think if I were you, I'd consult my physician sooner rather than later.
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Post by tnthomas on May 18, 2019 10:03:29 GMT -5
Scary! Could this have been hypoglycemia, i.e., blood sugar too low? I think if I were you, I'd consult my physician sooner rather than later. Yes! Please get checked out by your Dr.!
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Post by Kady on May 18, 2019 11:07:04 GMT -5
Wow, formerlyme, this is scary...my husband used to pass out from dehydration a lot, it would always scare me...wouldn't hurt to run this by your doctor....take care of yourself and good thoughts for you.
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Post by formerlyme on May 18, 2019 11:37:19 GMT -5
butterfly , tnthomas , and Kady , thanks for your kind comments of concern...much appreciated. I feel mostly back to normal (at least, my normal) today. I need to buy a few groceries, but will postpone that until tomorrow so I can totally relax today.
P.S. - I've never had an issue with low blood sugar, and I test it every day. If I'm ever outside the 'target' area, and that's not often, it is slightly high, particularly if I've had a big meal with too many carbs.
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Post by smitty45 on May 18, 2019 11:50:08 GMT -5
I'm not a Doctor, but the best thing to do is sit up in bed for a short period before standing. Giving your heart a chance to get the proper amount of blood up. When we lay down, our heart doesn't have to work hard as we are flat. When I get up too fast I too get a bit light leaded. Never have I fainted though. Then again, as many times as I;ve whacked my head I've never been knocked out before either. And I have whacked my head hard at times. Dents to prove it.
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Post by formerlyme on May 18, 2019 12:04:39 GMT -5
Many Thanks, smitty45...that's good advice!
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Post by joymarty on May 18, 2019 13:17:28 GMT -5
Just read your story and yes pretty scary. You have afib and diabetes, are you up on all the information on adequate magnesium. I've been studying magnesium for many years. I don't have your issues and do take a lot of nutritional supplements so I do keep healthy.
Just thinking of a friend who has vertigo a lot but I don't think she faints. She is on heart meds and now dealing with a lot of arthritis. It doesn't stop until it stops.
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Post by formerlyme on May 18, 2019 13:55:54 GMT -5
Thanks for commenting, joymarty. I appreciate the info. I'm pretty educated about my specific nutritional needs, I eat sensibly, and I get sufficient magnesium through a daily multivitamin/mineral pill for women over 50. Fortunately, I've never had vertigo. The Beta Blocker (Metoprolol) I take can tend to make a person lightheaded, but hasn't been a particular problem for me over the years. I believe the main issue right now is to keep myself sufficiently hydrated.
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Post by joymarty on May 18, 2019 16:46:06 GMT -5
I had posted on one being depleted of potassium as I had a friend and she would pass out too much and when they took her to the ER she had almost an empty tank on potassium and she was paranoid about salts and didn't use any.
I like my potassium levels to come at the high end of the range when I get labs done. I eat avocados and often take a couple 99mg potassium tabs. Gives me energy too.
I posted this info and it didn't show up, why I do not know.
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Post by formerlyme on Aug 19, 2019 15:47:07 GMT -5
Uh Oh, I fainted in the Superstore today, came to surrounded by store employees with first aid training. So embarrassing, but they were very kind. They had me laid out on some kind of board. I was sweating copiously, was told my face was very white, but my only injury was an abrasion and scratches on my left elbow.
While shopping in the air-conditioned store, I felt just fine. When I entered the outer lobby to call my taxi, the heat and the 88% humidity hit me like a tidal wave, and in less than a minute I was unconscious. They insisted on calling an ambulance, and those attendants checked me out (EKG, blood oxygen, BP/Pulse). One bit of good news is that they found no indication of 'heart block' on the EKG. I declined being conveyed to the hospital and signed a waiver for them. They were terrifically nice.
A store employee stored my groceries while I was being assessed in the parked ambulance, and she brought them out after one of the ambulance attendants called a cab for me. I got home, safe and sound, but rather rattled and unsettled. This was about the 7th or 8th episode in the last three months, starting when the excessive and unrelenting heat and humidity descended upon us in this area.
Autumn will be very welcome!
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Post by chinadoll1981 on Aug 19, 2019 16:28:14 GMT -5
Oh no!!! That very scary maybe you need consult with doctor please! No wish for repeats!!
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