r/Syncope

Today, I was helping a friend load moving boxes into some U-Haul containers in Arizona. It was over 100f, and I don’t think I had been drinking enough water. I also hadn’t eaten much throughout the day since breakfast at 8:30am. But I was exerting energy loading, moving, and lifting boxes of varying sizes and weights.

Cut to 12:30pm, my friend and I drive to a taco shop for lunch. Everything is fine. We get to his house and I’m doing okay, just hungry. His wife offers me a cold beverage and I initially decline, pointing to my 64oz water jug. But I decide to partake in a refrigerated Sprite.

The absolute second I take a drink of the cold Sprite, I get the WORST carbon dioxide bubble in my chest I’ve ever felt, I stand up and walk towards the entryway holding my chest, and next thing I know I’m laying on the ground, my friend and his wife in shock.

I slowly got up, got my bearings, called my wife to let her know, had some water, and finished my tacos. My wife brought me to the Urgent Care. They did some bloodwork which I’m waiting for results on, did an EKG which noted that I had a slow heart rate (54bpm, though I do a lot of cardio), and assigned me a wearable ECG to wear for 5 days. Nothing of note was found, and we all inferred it must have been the circumstances.

I don’t know if the syncope was caused by dehydration, over-exertion, the CO2 bubble, standing up too fast, or what. Has anyone else experienced something like this? Can carbon dioxide bubbles do that?

TL/DR Helped a friend move, not enough water, had a cold Sprite, big CO2 bubble, fainted. Doc ran tests, not positive what caused it or if something else is going on yet.

For a bit of background, after a very stressful period about a year ago, I started having episodes where I’d suddenly almost faint while walking, and I passed out once. Those episodes eventually stopped. During another blood draw months later, I almost passed out again (i assume that i was fighting it because i WAS awake but my head was lolling left and right, backwards and forward. They gave me warm water with sugar for some reason) and had what felt like a panic attack, so ever since then I’ve been extremely anxious about getting blood taken.
A few days ago I had to get blood work done for my driver’s license.
I warned the nurse that I get really overwhelmed during blood draws and asked if she could make it as quick as possible.
She inserted the needle, and at first I was okay. The last thing I remember is seeing her walk over to her station, then everything went black.
From my perspective, I genuinely believed I was at home having a horrible nightmare. I had no idea I was still in the hospital. It felt like I was caught in a tornado and being thrown around REALLY aggressively. I remember trying to escape it, and I had the feeling that I was gripping onto something tightly.
According to my dad, my eyes rolled back, I started convulsing like I was having a seizure, and I was gripping the chair extremely tightly.
I don’t know how long it lasted, but when it started, the nurse had only inserted the needle. By the time I came back, the blood draw was completely finished, the needle was out, and there was already a cup of water waiting for me.
When I regained awareness, I panicked for a few seconds because I genuinely thought I had just woken up from a nightmare. Then I realized I was still in the hospital and started crying because it was one of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced.
Has anyone experienced anything like this? Does this sound like convulsive vasovagal syncope, or something else?.. just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience or knows what this type of episode is called.

I’ve been struggling with something that’s really worrying me and wondered if anyone else has experienced it.
Today I went into a shopping centre and within a few minutes I started feeling really weird. I became very dizzy, my legs felt like jelly, and I had this swaying/rocking feeling like I couldn’t stand properly. My whole back, from the back of my head down my spine, felt really stiff and tense. I felt so overstimulated by all the people, lights, and noise that I thought I was going to pass out.
I got so scared that people were going to see me faint that I had to leave straight away. As soon as I got back to the car and sat down, I started feeling much better within a few minutes.
The strange thing is I’ve been to the same shopping centre recently and felt completely fine. Some days I can go out with no problems at all, and other days I feel awful.
I also get episodes where after eating (especially in the morning) I become shaky, dizzy, my heart races, and I feel like I’m going to faint, especially if I get up and start doing things.
I’ve never actually fainted, but the feeling is so convincing that it really scares me.
Has anyone experienced anything similar? If so, did you ever find out what was causing it?

I’m a 39F. I started having VS specifically with blood draws and sometimes with acupuncture as well. The first time I remember fainting from needles was after I got my belly button pierced when I was 18 years old. Ever since then it’s been an issue but in my 30s I started to overcome it a bit instead of avoiding it because I at least need to be able to get bloodwork done.

In the past few years I’ve had several successful blood draws and vaccines with no issues. Then a few months ago I passed out at an event where I got acupuncture (very simple treatment, not many needles), fell out of my chair and hit my head on the floor. Then today I passed out at a routine blood draw and got extremely sick and nauseous, sweating like crazy. I threw up twice. They wouldn’t let me leave for a while so they could monitor me. One of the employees had to stay late after they closed to make sure I was ok. They said I was convulsing like I was having a seizure which hasn’t happened in years. I’ve felt sick rest of the day… luckily had saltines and Gatorade.

I’m so ashamed and embarrassed that this is happening again. I don’t even understand why like the needle doesn’t hurt at all and the lab I go to has very experienced people. My sister who is a medical professional doesn’t help bc she says she’s never heard of this happening to anyone and it feels kind of dismissive.

Does stuff like this happen to other people? What has helped you overcome it?

(F20) i’m just curious if this happens to anyone else & i’m not really satisfied with the answers i’ve gotten yet.

we’ll go backwards today and put the tldr FIRST then get to details lol;

waking up to extreme stomach pain —> getting lightheaded on toilet —> losing saturation + brightness in vision —> literally feeling like DEATH (and it seems to feel worse every time) —> then slowly feeling better
(i’d like to mention i never lose consciousness)

so last night this happened and i was so sure that it’d be the death of me lol! i had my dad call 911. when i feel my stomach hurt at night, i know this episode will happen in the bathroom. i usually pump my hands to get blood flowing and i very slowly get up to avoid it worsening. i don’t know if that actually helps, just tiktok logic. anyways, i did lay in bed last night for this exact reason after waking up to my stomach pain. i pumped my hands for a long time but eventually my stomach was hurting too much. i slowly got up and grabbed some water then went to the bathroom. i felt super lightheaded and knew that it WAS happening. i was expecting it to last just a couple minutes but when it didn’t and it kept feeling worse, i yelled for my dad. i really do push through it most of the time. i havent needed my dad in the last half year but i really felt like i did this time. to explain what it felt like: i felt like i was burning up. i’ve run plenty of fevers before but i felt on fire. when i touched my skin though, it felt really cold. i felt incredibly weak and i think that is the worst part. it is a terrible feeling. like i’m uncomfortably hanging onto aliveness. my vision gets really dark and colorless. my words were slurred and it was really hard to talk. i just didnt have the energy. i really feel like i’m going to die every single time this happens but last night i couldnt talk myself out of it. it was horrible. for some history, sometimes i puke. sometimes i don’t. this happens maybe once every other month? i have tried to connect it to what i’ve eaten but it doesn’t matter if i’ve skipped dinner, if i’ve overeaten, or healthily eaten. so maybe it’s really some other stomach issue but my primary care doctors and ER doctors didn’t seem concerned about that. When I went to my pediatrician for it, I was told it was an anxiety manifestation. My current primary care doctor said that women are just prone to fainting and things of the sort, then got me on birth control. ER doctors have said dehydration, a drop in blood pressure, or my brain reacting to the stomach pain was what i was told this time.
and though i’ve never really gotten a fix, i’m sure it could be all of these things. i just want it to stop happening.

also want to mention that i’ve seen both a neurologist and cardiologist and am good in those departments!

37F, no significant medical history, no alcohol use, no recent NSAID use.

Yesterday while sitting on a boat I experienced sudden, severe central abdominal pain radiating to my back and ribs. Onset was immediate with no trigger I can identify. Pain escalated rapidly. I began sweating and became lightheaded, then lost consciousness for approximately 30 seconds. Pain continued after I regained consciousness and escalated to a 11/10. Easily the worst pain of my life and I have generally high tolerance.

Taken by ambulance to the ER. Received two doses of morphine (4mg each time), which dulled but did not eliminate the pain.

Discharged after 5 hours.

Testing done at the ER: CAT scan of the abdomen, bloodwork including liver enzymes, lipase, and amylase, and an EKG. All came back normal. An incidental ovarian cyst was noted on the CT (have had for some time with no complications). No gallbladder ultrasound was ordered.

Follow up today with a PCP covering for my regular doctor. He reviewed the discharge paperwork, suggested an ulcer, and told me to take Pepcid AC and avoid spicy food.

I have not eaten in 24 hours. Pain is currently a 4/10, still present in upper abdomen radiating to my back.

I have a virtual GI appointment Monday.

No alcohol. No spicy or acidic food prior to the episode. Pain was sharp and stabbing, not burning or aching.

What am I missing here?

Age: 19
Sex: Female
Height: 5'4"
Weight: ~145 lbs
Medications: Fluoxetine 20 mg daily, Prazosin 2 mg nightly, Yaz, Montelukast, Nurtec PRN, Zyrtec, Slow-release iron, B-complex, B12, multivitamin.

I'm currently being evaluated by both cardiology and neurology, but my symptoms have continued to worsen while waiting for appointments, and I'm hoping for educational input on what the differential diagnosis might include.

Over the last 3-4 months, I've developed progressively worsening episodes of impaired awareness and loss of consciousness. Initially they were occasional, but they're now occurring approximately every other day.

The episodes vary:

- Sometimes I become extremely difficult to arouse. My eyes close, I stop responding appropriately, and people have to repeatedly call my name or physically stimulate me before I respond. I often "jolt" awake briefly before drifting back into another episode.
- Other episodes involve complete loss of consciousness. On 6/2, after standing for several minutes, I lost consciousness for approximately 20-30 seconds. A witness reported my eyes were closed and that I had some leg twitching. When I woke up, I was confused and repeatedly asked, "Is this real?" and "Is this a dream?"
- My most recent episode occurred after I felt "off" while showering. I remember grabbing a towel and then have no memory until waking up on my bedroom floor approximately 7-10 minutes later. I experienced urinary incontinence during that episode.

These episodes have occurred while sitting, standing, lying down, in class, while shadowing in clinic, watching TV, during conversations, and previously while driving. Because of these episodes, I am no longer driving.

Other symptoms include:
- Heart rate fluctuations from around 60 bpm at rest to as high as 170 bpm, especially with standing or minimal activity.
- Lightheadedness and dizziness, particularly when standing.
- Burning or pulsating headaches that feel different from my usual migraines.
- Memory problems and significant periods of lost time.
- Tingling in my feet.
- Decreased grip strength and generalized weakness, especially before episodes.
- Nausea with occasional vomiting.
- A sensation like my body is in a "wave pool" or dropping, followed by an intense awareness of my heartbeat.
- Occasional bluish discoloration of my lips, although my pulse oximeter is usually 92-98%.

Earlier this year I also developed noticeable changes in color vision, increased floaters, and reduced peripheral vision. Ophthalmology did not identify any structural abnormalities.

My past history includes what was thought to be a possible focal seizure around 6th grade and an episode of sudden left-sided weakness a few years ago that was never explained.

Testing so far includes:
- CT head
- EKG
- Chest X-ray
- Routine blood work
- Zio Patch (results still pending)
- Cardiology follow-up this Friday

I also have a history of anxiety, but these episodes feel completely different from my panic attacks and often occur when I don't feel anxious.

I'm a premed student, so I know enough medicine to realize there are many possible explanations, but I'm also aware that it makes it difficult to look at my own symptoms objectively. I'm trying not to jump to conclusions and instead understand what an appropriate differential diagnosis might look like while I wait for my appointments.

My questions are:

1. What diagnoses would reasonably be on your differential based on this presentation?
2. Are there additional neurologic or cardiac tests that would commonly be considered?
3. Is there anything in this history that stands out as particularly concerning or that I should make sure to bring up at my cardiology appointment this Friday?

The best way to describe it is it feels like I’m not getting enough air and someone is sitting on my chest right before these episodes.
I understand no one can diagnose me over Reddit, but I'd really appreciate any educational insight. Thank you.

I had been doing really well with any dizziness and for the last 3 weeks I can’t get off my couch and walk to the fridge to even get water. Forget going outside, I fall out every time I do. My friend is running errands for me. My electrophysiologist said to prove it to him it’s electrical. The loop recorder showed nothing unusual. I broke much foot February 1 and was not walking for 3 weeks. I don’t know if it’s from being sedentary or not, I can’t live like this.

so I’ll try to make a long story short. I (31f) started having “migraines” when I was 5. along with fatigue and heat intolerance. I say migraine in quotes because several neurologists said they weren’t neurological and standard treatments never work, but it’s all the proper symptoms minus aura. then steadily developing IBS over the years, then after college the afternoon crashes became unbearable. so much so that I was tested for narcolepsy (negative) and eventually given ADHD meds just to stay awake. failed those for high heart rate. Also failed beta blockers in college because it exacerbated the fatigue And headaches. now I constantly wake up with headaches/migraines in the mornings and middle of the night. my afternoon crashes are so consistent and scary. My bp crashes during migraine events. my bp typically starts around 100/65 in the morning and goes down from there. some evenings, on a normal day, I end up as low as 82/56. just failed a tilt table spectacularly at around 15 minutes and they called it NCS with a mixed response (bp and hr drop).

my issue is - I wake up like this after being horizontal all night and it happens on a cycle every day, even if I’m sitting a lot. I feel like NCS isn’t the whole picture. has anybody else seen symptom improvements from big universal symptoms like that simply from treating NCS?