HELP-My daughter passed out!!

[Sweet-n-Low]

I had the biggest scare this morning!

My 15 year old daughter yells mom from upstairs, I dont think much about it because she's always yelling "mom" because some sibling is bugging her....but then she yells again and that time I knew something sounded wrong ....

I run upstairs and can hardly get in the bathroom because she had fallen down behind the door.... she tells me she cant see... (she is fresh out of the shower) So I pick her up and hold her and tell her it okay that Im here and she'll be okay - (trying to calm her down) Then she slips out of my arms passed out ! I yell for my husband to call 911 ,as she comes too I pick her up and she again tells me she cant see ....

She started to get her vision back and the 911 tech said to lay her down ! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH ! My heart was beating out of my chest ! The paramedics came and took her blood pressure and tested her blood .....everything looked fine. They still wanted to take her to the hospital to make sure she wasnt going to do that again and to rule out other things.......the paramedics got here quick !!!
Which I am so thankful for !!! Thank God for medical professionals !!!!

We went to the hospital and finally they decided she passed out because of low blood pressure .... they said to make she she is hydrated and lays down when dizzy! She is always drinking water - and she told me that sometimes she gets "black outs" and lays down for awhile and she feels better.

I was wondering if any one out there has had this problem or know more about it !! Please !

[coffeeplease]

Wow - Hope all goes well. I've never had that problem but I have heard of low blood sugar causing things like this.

[Potaty]

This happens to me fairly frequently. It's always in the shower so she will want to be careful of hot showers. Encourage her to keep the door open and the fan on so it doesn't get too hot in there. It's very scary! Have her add extra salt to her food too. Has she been tested for mitral valve prolapse?

[Sweet-n-Low]

Originally Posted by Potaty

This happens to me fairly frequently. It's always in the shower so she will want to be careful of hot showers. Encourage her to keep the door open and the fan on so it doesn't get too hot in there. It's very scary! Have her add extra salt to her food too. Has she been tested for mitral valve prolapse?

No she hasnt been tested for that! But thanks.... I will look into it !

She passed out coming out of the shower too .... wow ..... thanks so much for responding

[Potaty]

Is she by any chance taking any diet pills or diuretics? That is when all of my problems started. I have no idea if the two are related but you might ask her. When I was on the pills, I was very thin, barely ate, and exercised like a maniac. My "episodes" were very frequent back then, now they are maybe twice a year. Like I said, not sure that it was ever related but might be worth investigating.

[jedswife]

it sure does sound like an episode of low blood pressure either from the heat or it has happened to me after getting up too quickly. i have also had it happen after sitting in a bad chair (like the blood flow was being cut off) and when i got up i fell down - had the same thing vision started blacking out and the weird ringing/tinny sound in my ears.

[Chrystee]

Happened also to my sister.. Sometimes just getting up really fast can cause it. She had started running 3 miles a day, so she had to cut down a little.

[walkthebeach]

This happened to my daughter and they could never figure out what caused it. She was tested for everything it seems: blood sugar, thyroid, stress test, nada. She would really have problems while at the gym, and she had to quit taking her cardio weightlifting and quit running. The scariest part was when she was driving to work in the morning, she would start to feel faint, then get panicky, have a panic attack and have to pull over. Make sure your daughter is getting proper nutrition and taking vitamins, that did help the situation. Good luck.

[Kattbelly]

That happened to me all the time when I was a teenager. I had low blood pressure, the shower, getting up too quick, all of that made me light-headed, dizzy, black out.

It was scary at the time, but I grew out of it. I hope your daughter is doing better and that this is all it is.

[Sweet-n-Low]

Thanks for your replies !

She is doing better now and I will be watching her closely.

I have told her she needs to tell me how often she has these "blackouts" so I can keep record of it....

She also knows not to ever get to hungry and stay hydrated !

I can cry now It was so hard to see my girl pass out ! I have been holding in my tears for her but now I will have to let it out...

Thanks again !

[LoveMyGSDs]

Oh no, how awful for you!

First, have her tested for hypoglycemia.

I'm hypoglycemic. The best thing is a low carb diet and not going for longer then 4 or 5 hours without eating. Carbs should ALWAYS be consumed with protein and/or fat and never alone. I actually haven't had an episode since starting Atkins in 2001.

Also, if she is hypoglycemic, she sould never consume carbs when she gets to the point of feeling light headed. That will just cause a spike in her blood sugar, then she will over-produce insulin and it will plummet again.

I hope this helps a little.

[tiffann4k]

Wow that is scary! No advice, just hugs

[telemetrynurse]

I'm glad your daughter is ok. I'm sorry you both went thru that because I know it can be scary.

Did they actually tell you she was dehydrated? I'm sure they did blood work. I know you were told to make sure she stays hydrated but I have a couple of other suggestions to hopefully help your daughter manage or prevent further problems. Hopefully there won't be any!

She should try to avoid becoming overheated (very hot shower or hot bath) because it can cause peripheral vasodilation which will lower blood pressure. You might ask her if she was taking a hot shower when this happened. Suggest that she takes warm showers.

If she starts to feel like she is going to black out she should immediately lie down and put her legs up (on pillows, books, or whatever is handy) or sit down and put her head down between knees (this will help prevent passing out by getting enough blood flow to the brain).

If she has episodes after getting up from bed or a chair she should make sure to get up very slowly. Don't just suddenly change positions.

If she does have any episodes you should record what she was doing when it happened. Ex. was she taking a hot shower, did she just get up out of bed, was she exercising on a hot day, etc.

I'm not a doctor but I've been a nurse for years and have worked with many hypotensive patients. I hope this helps. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions, I'll try to find answers for you.

[Sweet-n-Low]

Originally Posted by telemetrynurse

I'm glad your daughter is ok. I'm sorry you both went thru that because I know it can be scary.

Did they actually tell you she was dehydrated? I'm sure they did blood work. I know you were told to make sure she stays hydrated but I have a couple of other suggestions to hopefully help your daughter manage or prevent further problems. Hopefully there won't be any!

She should try to avoid becoming overheated (very hot shower or hot bath) because it can cause peripheral vasodilation which will lower blood pressure. You might ask her if she was taking a hot shower when this happened. Suggest that she takes warm showers.

If she starts to feel like she is going to black out she should immediately lie down and put her legs up (on pillows, books, or whatever is handy) or sit down and put her head down between knees (this will help prevent passing out by getting enough blood flow to the brain).

If she has episodes after getting up from bed or a chair she should make sure to get up very slowly. Don't just suddenly change positions.

If she does have any episodes you should record what she was doing when it happened. Ex. was she taking a hot shower, did she just get up out of bed, was she exercising on a hot day, etc.

I'm not a doctor but I've been a nurse for years and have worked with many hypotensive patients. I hope this helps. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions, I'll try to find answers for you.

Thank you !

She was just coming out of the shower ... I have already intrusted her to leave the door open (we have 2 doors to the bathroom) and to only take warm showers.

I was not told that she was dehydrated- ( I didnt think she was because she drinks water like a fish) But they still told me to make sure she stays hydrated.

She is normally very heathy...which is why this scared me so bad... she told me she has been having "black outs" but just lays down and then she feels better. I will be documenting them now. She knows now to tell me when they happen.

She is a small girl 5'2 95lbs.... but thats her frame..... she is a picky teenage eater but she still eats plenty. They made some weird comments like make sure you eat.... I know it was meant well but ...... I guess small people get told to eat and larger ones get told to stop LOL

Thanks for your help !

[Tylar_Connar]

I do that when I take VERY hot showers. I have never passed out because I get out of there and get to a cool place and lay down.

I also have Mitral Valve Prolapse.

[yakara]

I had the same problem growing up, and during this summer my daughter passed out. She was 9 at the time, going on 10. After being rushed to the hospital and told that she was fine, I took her to her family doctor.

Here is what she told me - There are 2 "blood pressures" that can cause this problem. The regular blood pressure being low can cause this, but so can the blood pressure around the brain. (I think she said something about the fluid not being blood but that it maintains a certain pressure just the same). She said that when this happens (World goes black, can't see or hear anything ranging from a couple of seconds to a couple of minutes) she should put her head as low to the ground as it she can get. Try to get head below heart. She said that this happens to many girls around puberty and can last into their 20s. She also said that it was only dangerous if the person was stuck in an upright position because the pressure would not be able to regulate itself.

I used to have these all the time and was never given a reason. I don't have them as often now. They started a couple times a month, then went up to a couple of times a day, not I only have a problem once in a great while.

Hope this helps a little. Good luck!!

[jnjer]

Hi I'm a paramedic and may help you with your question!

It is very common for women to have low blood pressure.
There is also a common condition called postural hypotension. It’s a condition where when you stand up quickly you get dizzy and may collapse.

It could also be an inner ear issue. That leads to lack of balance and can cause you to collapse.

But definitely being dehydrated lowers your blood pressure. You can get low blood pressure by not drinking enough, using diuretics and fluid loss, excess perspiration, or loss of blood by having a heavy period.

It could also bee a low blood sugar issue, did the medics check her sugar?

[xfatchik]

I've always had low blood pressure too. Sometimes I feel faint and very weak. Especially during my periods. When I was a teenager I used to faint sometimes. Even though my blood pressure is still pretty low, I've not been fainting lately. I also feel weaker when taking hot showers, sometimes lose partial eyesight too.

Glad she is doing better.

[Sweet-n-Low]

Originally Posted by xfatchik

I've always had low blood pressure too. Sometimes I feel faint and very weak. Especially during my periods. When I was a teenager I used to faint sometimes. Even though my blood pressure is still pretty low, I've not been fainting lately. I also feel weaker when taking hot showers, sometimes lose partial eyesight too.

Glad she is doing better.

Thanks, we are watching her closely-

Not to change the topic but I showed dh your before and after pics !!! We both agree that you look awesome !!! You are a true inspiration for me!!

[Lil Donna]

I get that shaky feeling when I haven't eaten. I have learned that once I get that feeling that I better eat something fast. I have never passed out but feel like I could have. I also get that feeling sometimes during a hot shower if I am hungry.

I got called to the school last year because they thought my dd10 was having an anxiety attack. I rushed in and my daughter described herself as being shaky. It was about 30 minutes before lunch and she had had a high carb breakfast so it was definitely low blood sugar. I brought her to lunch and then she was fine. It scared her alot! She now knows that if she ever gets that shaky feeling again to tell the teacher so she can grab some crackers or fruit.

[Sweet-n-Low]

Originally Posted by Lil Donna

I get that shaky feeling when I haven't eaten. I have learned that once I get that feeling that I better eat something fast. I have never passed out but feel like I could have. I also get that feeling sometimes during a hot shower if I am hungry.

I got called to the school last year because they thought my dd10 was having an anxiety attack. I rushed in and my daughter described herself as being shaky. It was about 30 minutes before lunch and she had had a high carb breakfast so it was definitely low blood sugar. I brought her to lunch and then she was fine. It scared her alot! She now knows that if she ever gets that shaky feeling again to tell the teacher so she can grab some crackers or fruit.

Yikes!

[JennyJ]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"]That is SUPER scary! I passed out in church when I was about 13. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting there watching the minister and all of a sudden, I couldn't hear anything. I went completely deaf. Then my vision started to go. By the time I was halfway to the end of the pew, I was totally blind and passed out. I came to and passed out about 3 more times in the following 15 minutes, but never did get an explanation for it. for the scare you had!!

~Jen~[/COLOR]

[Denise85]

I have orthostatic hypotention. It's caused from my eating disorder (Bulimia). I have low blood pressure and a slow pulse from the years of my ED. Even though I've been recovered for several years I still have this problem. Heat and humidity are the biggest triggers for me. Also, having to stand in one spot causes it. I have to move my feet around or I pass out. I pray for your dd's sake that this is something that passes. I've had this for 7 years and it effects me daily.

I would also be very careful to watch for signs of an ED. I'm not saying at all that she has one, but 1 in 4 teenagers do and its' not something to write off. I've had an ED since I was 8 years old and my parents never knew and still don't. I nearly died twice and had no idea. I have a heart condition now and a miriad of other health problems. It's just a thought.

[Sweet-n-Low]

Thanks Denise~ Stay well!

[cekayak]

We all have low blood pressure, 63 yr. 37 yr. and 14 yr old. We can't stand in choir without bending our knees. Can you imagine when one of the altos disappears while singing the cantata? It wasn't funny til all the altos looked down instead of at the conductor. We all have low blood sugar, also. dgd has three active classes in a row before a 1:00 lunch period. Her gym teacher is convinced she is a hypochondriac and having a nervous break down. Thank goodness her Latin teacher lets her snack before class starts.
Tell your daughter that when she starts to get the physical signals of an impending black out she should put her head level with her heart. Usually putting your head between your knees is good enough. She can disguise this as tying her shoes if she gets embarrassed. It usually only takes a minute or two for the blood pressure to stabilize. I hope this helps, don't want to seem know-it-all just sharing what works for us.
Maggie

[Sweet-n-Low]

Originally Posted by cekayak

We all have low blood pressure, 63 yr. 37 yr. and 14 yr old. We can't stand in choir without bending our knees. Can you imagine when one of the altos disappears while singing the cantata? It wasn't funny til all the altos looked down instead of at the conductor. We all have low blood sugar, also. dgd has three active classes in a row before a 1:00 lunch period. Her gym teacher is convinced she is a hypochondriac and having a nervous break down. Thank goodness her Latin teacher lets her snack before class starts.
Tell your daughter that when she starts to get the physical signals of an impending black out she should put her head level with her heart. Usually putting your head between your knees is good enough. She can disguise this as tying her shoes if she gets embarrassed. It usually only takes a minute or two for the blood pressure to stabilize. I hope this helps, don't want to seem know-it-all just sharing what works for us.
Maggie

Thanks ~

[blackitty]

at least until they figure out what that problem is and maybe start some significant treatment or therapy program...

I'm am 21 now and last time i had a serious episode was, as I believe, last year, in the beginning of the summer, and that has happened in the church as well. I was standing alone in the ail not to crowded because i knew of my issue and i also knew that if there will be to much body heat around me I will "go sick". I started feeling the symptoms and "stupidly" believed i can overcome them or that they will go away... I was wrong... I walked out (BIG MISTAKE!) and started marching home (quickly), I was almost home, just had to cross the street, had a thought of it being dangerous, but i still decided to go for it... I lost my eyesight half-way tru the street, and i didn't know where I was walking, then my body begun to shut down, I lost my sense of direction, then balance, I bumped into a car and heard cars honking then my legs stopped working and my hands and i collapsed... Right when I was about to hit the sidewalk I regained my eyesight and managed to stretch pout my hands and amortize the fall... (Thank to GOD i only scraped of my knee...) I still saw blurry but there was some guy that came up to me to ask if I'm ok, I told him that I lost my vision and can't see and I still felt very cold and sick and told him where I live and to ring the bell and just sit me down... (he kept on asking if I'm alright... and if I really want him to leave me there... I thanked him...) I sat down on the stairs and regained my vision. My dad came out and all I can remember is him saying: "Why are You green?" and than I don't even remember walking up the stairs. I just wanted to really consciously thank my hero, but I never saw his face.

maybe its stupid but I never went to the doctor to ask him if I'm alright. Why? Because he always says the same thing: "There is nothing wrong with You!" My blood work is better than great, my pressure too I'm not sick and the period thing rules out too because its not dependent in timing...


Only thing that I have noticed is what they have in common in all the cases my body has to deal with being exposed to higher than normal room temperature.


I learned to deal, my advice:

- if You start feeling like its hard to breath,
-if Your chest feels "HEAVY" or compressed
-if You start seeing blurry,
-if You are feeling sick, air-headed, woozy,
-if You feel like You have overheated,
(-maybe you have also other symptoms, listen to Your body pay attention to what happens, before the episode occurs)

tell people close to you (standing close to You, warn them that You may faint or lose Your eyesight or whatever happens to You), doesn't matter if You know them, tell 2 or 3 of them if You can, ask them to help You get outside in the shade, whether you managed or not to get outside, just sit down, no matter where You are nothing is worth more than Your health, if that doesn't help lie down, if You can put up Your feet.

*if You are alone: DO NOT do anything stupid like crossing the street (i've learned), TRUST me its DANGEROUS no matter how close You live or anything like that...

*if You are in the shower, change water temperature to cooler or just simply cool, not icy tho, or just stick your head out the door to get as much cold air as You can (or best both), You can also sit down in the shower or get out and sit down... and PLEASE don't fuss around with putting on towels, You need to do it quick!

*DON'T exercise in places that are not AC controlled!

*When its hot outside have a bottle of cold water and wear something on Your head but something loose not tightly fit!

if I bet there is plenty more I can say, if You need any other questions answered write to me... I'm not a doctor I am just a person who suffers from this "thing" I should say, all the rules are based on my own experiences, those are the ways to live with it... I' mean I just took a shower today and I had to stick my head out and pour myself with the cold water (its good for Your body too, bye bye cellulite! :])

oh and I kind of noticed that it may be genetic, because, I have people in my family who suffer from it as well, mostly women...

Love You All,
Its going to be alright!
Please stay COOL!

[GoodnightRose]

This happened to me several times a few years ago, and it can be VERY scary. I admit though that I never saw a doctor about it because it stopped happening and I just kind of let it go.

The first time it happened, I was at a restaurant with a friend and I just didn't feel right. I told her I was getting dizzy and got up to go to the restroom. I sat down in one the stalls (pants up, lol), my hands and feet started to tingle, the room got dim and the next thing I remember, I woke up face down on the tile floor with a bump on my forehead. I felt like I had been in the restroom for a really long time, but when I finally put myself back together and walked out to tell my friend what happened, she said I was only gone maybe 5 minutes.

A few weeks later, I was shopping by myself and all of the sudden, my hands and feet started to tingle and I thought "uh oh...here we go again." I made it back out to my car and sat there for a while until it passed and I was able to drive home.

The final time, I was driving home from somewhere and had to pull over into a parking lot for a half hour because I was terrified of passing out while I was driving. My husband was out of town and my son was at work so I had no one to call to pick me up. I even considered calling a cab but after a half hour, I felt perfectly fine and was able to get home with no problems.

My grandmother faints quite a bit but she's tiny, has very low blood pressure AND mitral valve prolapse but in my case, I have no idea what happened.

[3dfan]

I hope that everything will be fine with your daughter - take care of her , visit your doctor regularly - problems with low pressure can be serious one!

[searlin]

I passed out in December. It had never happened to me before, and one of the scariest experiences I have ever encountered. Luckily my boyfriend and his loving parents were there to care for me. The doctors never figured out why I passed out, and it hasn't happened since. It is still scary thinking back on it. I hope your daughter continues to do well, and doesn't have to experience that again.