What Caused This?

[xxcaseyxx]

Two days ago I was shopping with my foster mother at the store BJ's.We were waiting in line to get deli meat and suddenly I got a little dizzy, it almost felt as though I had stood up too fast. I tried putting my head between my legs, but that only made it worse. So when I returned to an upright position I couldn't see anything. I took a couple steps forward and attempted to rest my head on the handle of the shopping cart. I blacked out here and I guess I pushed the cart into the wall. I do remember flashes of images though. When I turned around (I don't remember this, my foster mother told me the story) my eyes were spinning like crazy and I was stumbling into things. Finally, she helped me to sit down and then lay on the ground. They called 911 and before they arrived I was sitting up, only a little bit disoriented. Apparently, when I stood up there was a pool of sweat where my back was.

After sitting in the Emergency Room for about 5 hours the doctor told me I had a Vasovagal episode. After researching this a little bit myself online I found that usually there is a trigger. None of these triggers happened. What could have caused the Vasovagal episode to come??

Thanks!

Casey

P.S.- Sorry about the long lead up. I just wanted to tell you the story in case one of you had had a similar experience.

[lieze]

I'm sorry that happened to you stores are really tough!

I have read that if you feel like you're going to pass out it can help to just sit down.

It may not prevent it since your episode was vasovagal but at least you're closer to the floor that way if you do go down.

[xxcaseyxx]

Thank you for the advice! And I was so embarrassed because that was the first time it's ever happened to me and everyone was looking at me when I got up.

[lieze]

Try not to be embarrassed-it's not something you can help.

I'm just glad you're okay.

[potsgirl]

I've had the same thing happen to me in a Macy's store, outside a post office, and a couple of others places, including home. For me, it's a drop in my blood pressure. During the Macy's episode, I started feeling bad, bent over to grab my knees, and when I stood up again I went out like a light. Do you have low BP? The next time you feel that way, I would find a place to sit and rest for a few minutes, until you're feeling better. Thankfully you weren't hurt!

[Simmy]

Hi Casey, welcome. If it is vasovagal, a trigger could be simply standing.

I don't know how long you've been browsing or how much you've learned from this site about what you may or may not have, but your symptoms sound like a vasovagal episode. They also 'sound like' either a vestibular issue, anxiety related, a drug overdose, a drinking problem, Oppotoetitis, out-of-body experience, alien abduction, or the newly named "Grinch Syndrome" (aka. POTS). The point is, although it sounds like something, it could be anything, so have the right tests done. Do you have a follow up appointment with someone? Neurologist, electrophysiologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist? Someone hopefully familiar with dysautonomia.

You can begin with some simple tests at home, as simple as lying down for fifteen minutes and then checking your pulse, then standing up and checking it every minute, up to ten minutes or if you feel too dizzy to continue. If you have a blood pressure monitor, even better. Please have someone with you to check your pulse, write it down and keep an eye on you. If it rises by more than 30 beats per minute standing up and goes back down when you lie down (or, in rare conditions drops substantially when you stand) you could have POTS and need to find a specialist.

Don't be ashamed of what your body does to you, seek answers. We're all here to help any way we can.

[MomtoGiuliana]

Thank goodness you are ok and didn't hit your head.

It is always best to sit or lie down when you feel that way. Now you know!!

This happened to me once in a store in my 20's. Well before I was ever diagnosed.

[xxcaseyxx]

Thank you all for the advice! I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow. Not exactly sure what exactly they're going to do. I'm hoping that nothing too major is going on with me. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

But it's weird that Simmy said that about the drug overdose. It was really similar to the time that I took too many Tylenol and slept for like three days.

Again, thank you all for the support and advice!

[Brye]

I am a fainter. For me It's low BP or Bradycardia from my atenolol. I usually just sit down when I'm at home and it passes. I'm less likely to sit down in a public place and I normally end up paying for it. Last time I passed out in a parking lot and hit my head on the running board of my truck. Next time I'll be sitting down in the middle of the parking lot for sure! The root canal I needed from my loose tooth cost me a small fortune. Hope they can figure out the problem and it doesn't happen too often for you. It's terrifying!

Brye

[heathmcev]

Hi Casey!

I almost passed out in Target last weekend. I managed to find a chair in the in-store Starbucks before I did, but I was very self-conscious in addition to being a bit scared since i was there by myself. I had to sit for almost a half hour - every time i tried to stand things got all grey again. Its hard to not worry about people staring and to just do what your body requires (although clearly our bodies are in charge here! Lol). Stores are the hardest places for us - and for some reason not many have places to sit! This wasn't something I ever even thought about before. I hope you can get the tests you need and figure out what's happening. In the meantime keep water with you & take it slow

Best,

Dizzyde