fainting for no obvious reason

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi I'm a prenursing student. I hate to ask this since there are recent questions about medical problems but I'd like some input from anyone experiecing this. Today I passed out at the bank. I was so embarassed and its the second time I've done so in public. Last time it was at Wal-Mart. I can feel it coming on like my head tingles. It started three years ago. The first time was at a friend's house in her kitchen. Her being a diabetic, she tested me and my sugar was very low. I drank orange juice and eventually got it back up. I went to a doctor and explained everything and told him my grandmother was a diabetic. Well I did the glucose test and he said I was fine. The only thing he offered me was be sure you eat every five hours. Well this was before college and while living in the dorms and things I never ate every five hours and a lot of days never ate breakfast but never fainted. I'm back at home for awhile so I eat better and now the fainting spell is back. I'm going to try to get another opinion. Any ideas?? TIA

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Hi I'm a prenursing student. I hate to ask this since there are recent questions about medical problems but I'd like some input from anyone experiecing this. Today I passed out at the bank. I was so embarassed and its the second time I've done so in public. Last time it was at Wal-Mart. I can feel it coming on like my head tingles. It started three years ago. The first time was at a friend's house in her kitchen. Her being a diabetic, she tested me and my sugar was very low. I drank orange juice and eventually got it back up. I went to a doctor and explained everything and told him my grandmother was a diabetic. Well I did the glucose test and he said I was fine. The only thing he offered me was be sure you eat every five hours. Well this was before college and while living in the dorms and things I never ate every five hours and a lot of days never ate breakfast but never fainted. I'm back at home for awhile so I eat better and now the fainting spell is back. I'm going to try to get another opinion. Any ideas?? TIA

Hello, 2spr0ut02,

I am sorry, but, this is not a medical advice website. You must seek out your healthcare provider for any advice and/or treatment.

I hope you see him/her ASAP.

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Sorry Siri. I understand that I was just wondering if anyone else had fainting problems for other reasons than hypoglycemia. I do not intend to use the board as a diagnosis.

Hello, 2spr0ut02,

I am sorry, but, this is not a medical advice website. You must seek out your healthcare provider for any advice and/or treatment.

I hope you see him/her ASAP.

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2sprOut02,

I am also aware, as siri pointed out to you, that this is not a meical advice board. However we do SUPPORT each other going through interesting, hard, confusing, and difficult times. I so not intend m reply to be medical advice, and I do hope you have already discussed your problem with a medical provider. Let me tell you a story about my best friend in high school, ever so long ago. :rotfl: This poor girl keept passing out for no reason at odd times. She even fell down the stairs one time. She never new when it was going to happen. She eventually was diagnosed with seizures and put on meds. It was only then that she was able to return to high school, after missing a year. I hope this "story" helps you and you have already seen a new MD and are feeling better. PM me if you like. please keep us informed.

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I faint when I'm nervous and standing in one place- like during clinicals. Some things that help me a little are making sure I'm hydrated, keeping snacks w/me like pb crackers or 1/2 a sandwich, and thinking about my breathing when I think I'm in a potential fainting situation. Also, if the situation is something I can avoid, I avoid it.

Hope you find a resolution. Good luck.

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My sister had this problem, but she was physically ill for at least two days after fainting. Her family practioner kept telling her it was hypoglycemia or hormones from her birth control. She went to the gyno, and found nothing out of the ordinary. The gyno sent her to the neurologist. This doctor finally gave her some answers. He told her she had migraines and her body's response to that pain was to pass out at inopprotune times. I guess my point is, to keep seeking doctors until you get the answers you need to prevent fainting? My sister was put on meds and has not had an "episode" since. Best of luck in your quest for answers.

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update--went to see a dr this week and still nothing out of the ordinary. i would push to see a neurologist but i dont have the money for the dr bills. i havent had an episode since so thats good. thanks for your replies.

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Please be careful, fainting unexpectedly could lead to serious injury. While the prospect of medical bills can be depressing, you might attempt to seek further care from a free clinic/sliding scale fee sort of operation.

I do not mean to lecture but a balance in diet, rest, activity, and avoiding stress can only be a positive action in this situation. Good luck and take care.

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

Until I became a nurse, I only fainted when I was pregnant. (Then there was this obnoxious pressure ulcer that I just wanted to look at while the WOC nurse changed it, omg, I did almost hit the floor.)

Are you pregnant?

Other things that can cause fainting: Low heart rate, low blood sugar (one test does not diagnose or rule out diabetes), extreme dehydration, losing quite a bit of your blood volume, and many more that I can't think of at the moment.

If you were suspicious enough about your blood sugar to go see a doctor, check out the american diabetic association's web page (I'm sure they have one, I just haven't looked, google probably will find it) and do some reading on symptoms and such. I don't want to make you a hypochondriac or anything, but fainting shouldn't really be overlooked.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Hope your doctor can pin-point it and give you an answer. Best wishes to you.

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Specializes in acute care.

Other things that can cause fainting: Low heart rate, low blood sugar (one test does not diagnose or rule out diabetes), extreme dehydration, losing quite a bit of your blood volume, and many more that I can't think of at the moment.

Just to add to the list of things that can make you pass out: Not only low heart rate, but also heart rates so high that the heart doesn't pump efficiently (certain arrhythmias). Have you noticed any palpitations before passing out? Keep in mind though that most syncopal episodes are caused by things other than cardiac problems, so don't get too nervous about this. However, if you have a family history of random fainting spells or sudden cardiac arrest (especially at young ages) you need to mention that when you go to get checked out as there are genetic problems that can present this way.

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no not pregnant. not possible at all. i dont think i had palpitations beforehand. heart problems do run in my family i dont know about the fainting thing. my mom thinks i might have been borderline hypogylcemic as a child but cant remember. i was always in and out of the hospital w/ my asthma. i havent asked my dad yet. i walked to the bank that day so maybe my heart was working overtime but until recently i walked all over downtown birmingham and never had problems. the other occasions this happened i wasnt doing anything strenuous. hopefully whatever it is thats causing it can be corrected or controlled. i will mention these ideas to the dr. maybe if i sound like i know what i'm talking about, he will listen.

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