Fainting!

[below zero]

On the weekend, I simply fainted in a public location. An ambulance rushed me to the hospital. The put me on a glucose drip but had troubles stabilizing my blood pressure, it kept doing sudden drops, and finally they gave me some injection to keep it in a healthy range. They suspected inner bleedings, but found nothing. The babies are fine. I had to stay in the hospital 4 days while they were checking my heart and lungs. They found nothing. Only thing they found was that hemoglobin is somewhat low, though not extremely low. (Been taking iron since 2 month already.) Docs say its probably "just" the pregnancy and to keep it slow. Now I'm totally freaked out this might happen again, possibly when I'm alone. Then what? Anybody had episodes of fainting? Any advice?

 

[Dizzymum]

That sounds awful. I haven't actually fainted, but one day last week I came over really faint in a shop when I was alone, and it was really scary. It turned out my blood pressure was really low.

I can totally understand that it's freaked you out. Take it easy, and look after yourself,xx

 

[vyktoriah]

I've been fainting a few times a week for the past few weeks. Haven't gone to the doctor, though I probably should. I have low blood pressure normally, so I'm assuming that's what it is. I now wear a wrist blood pressure monitor which I check every now and then to see if I'm in trouble.

I feel for ya and hope it's just a one-off for ya!

 

[below zero]

Thanks I also bought a wrist bp monitor, just so I know when to watch out. The scary thing was that lying down didn't help, not even the IV-drip. When bp dropped the 3rd time below 70/30 they took my temperature and it came out 93 F Clearly not healthy. Was shaking all over, fingers blue (probably lips too), no fun. Weirdly enough I wasn't scared. It was totally odd. I was just thinking, this is all very strange. I think they kept me in the hospital for so long because there's a history of heart issues in my family.

In any case, I'm wondering now if it happens again is there anything I can do except call emergency? It adds to this that I live alone (at least for the next two months), not a comfortable situation.

 

[vyktoriah]

Weirdly I think this thread jinxed me! I've just returned from a trek to town, and while I was there, I passed out at the craft store!! I was in the middle of a conversation with the owner, and alluvasudden I woke up on the floor, and she was standing there with water and a panicked look! She wanted to call an ambulance, but I declined. Then she wanted to call her husband to drive me home, but I told her I'd be fine as I only live 5 minutes walk away.

Talk about embarassing!! That's NEVER happened like that! Usually I faint when I move to fast or go from sitting/laying to standing. But never has it been while engaged in conversation!

Also, when I woke up, I was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. D'oh!

I'm debating about whether I should call the midwife or not, but as I feel fine now and made it home safely, I don't see a point.

I really feel for you living alone. My boyfriend is just out for the day and I was scared! If I was going to be living alone, I think I'd be a lot more worried.

I wish I had advice for you!

 

[PinkEmily]

I sometimes have fainting spells. Usually just due to my blood pressure being too low (i think!) My MW doesn't seem worried by it and said its common in pregnancy. My worst fainting experience was in Babies R Us at 19 weeks, OH rarely lets me go out alone now, especially if im not feeling too good. Thankfully for the past 2 weeks its seemed to have gotten better I think i was just going through a stage of having dizzy and fainting spells, usually happening in the morning.
My advice would be to just take it easy, eat regular meals and keep cool. Hopefully it will pass like mine did.