r/VasovagalSyncope

So I definitely have VVS, I've been trying to discuss it in therapy, but even then I'm struggling to even tell my own therapist what my trigger is. It's a mix of the embarrassment, and the VVS symptoms starting to come up whenever I try to talk about it, because just THINKING about it gets me worked up and dizzy. Anyway, my trigger is something that seems to only be unique to me, like I've searched all over reddit and the internet and I can't find anyone who shares my trigger. I've tried to discuss it with those I am close with and they always think I'm lying. Why would I lie about something so specific and odd? My trigger is lotion but more specifically sunscreen. Started when I was a child and I had too much of it on my skin. Felt sick and faint until it wasn't on me anymore. Then ever since then I've fainted in response to others using it or have come close to fainting or have had panic attacks over it. I feel embarrassed. I don't know how to accept it. It's so weird. People thought I'd outgrow it as I grew up but I never did and just last year is when I learned this wasn't just a sensory discomfort thing I was going through but a VVS response. Whenever summertime comes around, I seem to purposefully isolate myself inside just to avoid it at all costs. Which I don't want to do but I also don't want to have an episode in front of people. It's not as bad as it used to be, which I'm grateful for, but I wish it would disappear completely. How do I stop feeling the shame and embarrassment? How can I get people to understand that I am being serious?

About 4 years ago I was making dinner, got real hot and felt my heart beating out of chest, I sat on the couch and my gf could tell something was off.

She asked what was up and I told her my heart was racing and I have had some shortness of breath, she asked if she should call 911 and I said yes.

While she was on the phone with them, one of our kids asked for something and when I stood up to get it, my vision tunneled and I blackout and went to the floor. I don’t think I was really out as I could hear panicking on the phone with them and screaming my name.

She’s not great in stressful situations so I told her to put the phone on speaker so I could hear the dispatchers instructions. He had her get me some Tylenol to chew and take off my shirt. She did and I was able to get my shirt off on my own while still sitting on the ground.

At this point the I’m sweating out every ounce of liquid in my body, starving, and physically exhausted at the same time. The ambulance arrives and the medics start doing some test while getting me on stretcher. I could tell by their faces and how they were driving that they were worried.

Probably a 10 minute ride to the hospital, as I’m stretchered in the one EMT says wow you look better already, I’m half black and she said looks like my color is coming back.

ER does its thing and eventually a Dr. comes in to tell me vasovagal syncope, follow up with your cardiologist.

Cardiologist puts me on a holter monitor for 10 days and orders a tilt table test, everything comes back negative. Says it could be dehydration, lack of quality sleep, stress or anxiety.

4 months later same thing happens, this time we don’t call an ambulance, I just lay on my back on the floor and let it pass.

This happens 2/3 more times.

Fast forward to two weeks ago, I switch cardiologists for insurance reasons. Initial visit EKG and echo. I explain my history and he says it sounds like SVT. Asks me to wear a monitor for 3 days. Luckily or unluckily another episode hits on Friday while I have the monitor on. We have a follow up on 7/9 to discuss.

Idk why I’m posting this, just want to see if anyone else has a similar experience and what the out come ended up being as I’ve been literally driving myself crazy and making my anxiety so much worse. every little thing now feel like the “aura” I get before one of these episodes happen.

For the last month I've been dealing with lightheadedness and random vertigo. I have vestibular migraines as a background info on me.

Today while sitting in bed and playing a game, I suddenly felt weird. My heart felt like it dropped, then started racing, forcing an unintentional gasp and then my vision started going black. It was over in seconds and now my heart is elevated but somewhat back to normal and my head just feels lightheaded. It was very scary though. Any ideas if its Vasovagal related?

My dad (with no history of mental illness) has developed daily panic attacks, can’t sleep and is going crazy … I am seeking help to find some relief. His blood pressure yeilds ER levels daily and my family is desperate for a solution.

Family medical history: high blood pressure and diabetes

Background: my dad is 59yo and does all the right things (manages stress, sleep, exercise, diet, etc). He never relied on medication to fix something, and instead adjusts his lifestyle or takes vitamins and natural supplements (except blood pressure medication after 55yo). About 5 years ago he started having digestive problems which were never completely resolved and may have pointed towards gall bladder issues. He starts taking a natural root supplement that’s supposed to have gallbladder benefits. He goes to the gym one day like normal and faints as he’s walking up the steps. Still unknown if the episode was linked to the supplement or he was just stressed and dehydrated, but he stopped taking the supplement anyway.

Ever since that day, his body has been stuck in fight or flight as well as digestive issues completely disappearing. He started having the same episodes- ringing in his ears, was dizzy and blood pressure through the roof, visit to the ER, all tests come back normal. He sees general doctors, holistic doctors, psychiatrist, and psychologist with no clear diagnosis. My sister and I have both had panic attacks from general and but this is another level. His panic symptoms were temporarily managed by a strong antihistamine as needed but he developed debilitating back pain. He was prescribed a steroid for the pain which made his panic symptoms worse. The real nightmare started when he abruptly stopped taking the steroid…

His body does not allow him to be tired or sleep more than two hours a night. His nervous system and hormones are completely out of whack. Doctors do not seem to be helping that much other than prescribing endless sleeping pills that do the exact opposite of relax him. One day things point to a nervous system issue another day it points to an adrenal issue. We are lost and my dad can’t function and is exhausted. He will try anything at this point.

I am worried his body is going to give out… He has a completely different personality, I miss him. What is happening.. please help

Was sitting in the bath the other day and suddenly felt like I was falling over to one side and I couldn’t get up. I got to the point that I was submerged before I could get up and it kept happening and I felt sick and that my chest was beating hard. Got up and went upstairs then sat on the fooor shaking with double vision for an hour. I then threw up A LOT and continuously. I went to go look in the mirror and I was fully grey. My mum drove me to my aunts who is a doctor and said it was vasovagal syncope. The whole thing lasted a few hours and I was sobbing the whole time, is it definitely vasovagal syncope or what because I don’t think I actually fainted?

Thank you