Has anyone ever passed out after an attack?
#305772 - 04/24/07 05:36 AM
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foxj6
Reged: 04/24/07
Posts: 13
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I have been having attacks for the last 1 1/2 years. I go to bed feeling fine, then wake up about 1:00 a.m. feeling nauseous. Severe diarrhea and vomiting hit next, then when I stand up, I immediately pass out and when I come to, then I get these hot flashes that just soak me to the core. I have had all the normal tests (colonoscopy/endoscopy, gallbadder, loads of blood test) and the only thing the docs can figure is IBS. I do know that certain foods (KFC/pizza/creamy soups) cause this so I avoid them like the plague. But no one has ever hard the passing out that I can see. The docs seem to think it is becuase I dehydrate so fast (I'm 5' tall and 100 pounds). Any input would sure be appreciated.
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I haven't passed out but have come very close. When I'm having an attack, it is the debilitating pain that causes me to want to just scream. The wave like contractions are so bad that I feel like I'm in late stage labor. When I feel the pain starting, I run for my medication, Levsbid, put the hot water bottle on my tummy, and start deep breathing. Until the medication kicks in, I too experience the nausea and occasionally vomit and that's when I fell like I'm going to pass out from the pain. Does anyone have a suggestion for dealing with this? I just want to cry.
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I guess I'm lucky because I don't have any pain. I'm just so weak and dehydrated so fast that every time I stand up, I go right down. I've learned how to just put myself on the floor before I go down by passing out and hurting myself.
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I would not be satisfied with an IBS diagnosis with those symptoms. Most people with IBS do not have vomiting or waking during the night. Would it be possible for you to go to a different doctor for a 2nd opinion?
In the meantime, reading the info on this site and learning about trigger foods etc can really help. Try following the diet and see if symptoms improve. However I still say go to the doctor again. Make sure to tell them of any symptoms at all you are having, even if you don't think it's related to digestion.
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Kat
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My regular doc sent me to a specialist. They feel the passing out is because I do dehydrate so easily. This does seem to be linked to food from what I can see, and I am on Prevacid for GERD. So they feel this is just the other end reacting. Thanks for the advice.
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I forget the medical name for it, but if you pass out right after you get up quickly, that's because blood doesn't get to your head soon enough. More info HERE.
This happened to me once when I was a kid: I was lying down on the couch watching TV, and during the commercial I jumped up and rushed to the kitchen to get a snack, and passed out on the floor in front of the refrigerator.
Your description of the attacks you experience is similar to what I go through if I eat too much fat (like in pizza) or if I eat onions (very sensitive to these). I'm OK for a couple hours after I eat, but then my digestion just STOPS. I get nauseated, feel awful--like I've been poisoned---toxified. Maybe the hot flashes you experience (sweating, I guess?) are from the effort of your body to rid itself of whatever you ate---as quickly as possible. Makes sense, because reaction to poisoning--say food poisoning-- results in the same response--vomiting, diarhhea, sweating, nausea.
The dehydration/ weakness cause for fainting makes sense too--since you're losing fluids at both ends quickly.
C
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I had two similar experiences. In addition to your symptoms I experienced severe GI spasms. I was ambulanced to ER each time. A few hours later I felt fine. No cause was ever identified.
I had similar minor experiences but by then I had learn to recognized the possible onset days earlier as an IBS flare up. I had learned to change my diet.
Eventually I found out that I was lactose intolerant and very fructose sensitive. I have adjusted my diet to contain high SF, low IF and low fat PLUS I removed all high fructose foods (e.g. honey, apples, pear, HFCS, etc). I rarely eat dairy but when I do I take lactase to help digest the lactose.
I rarely experience minor attacks any more but when I do I can usually attribute it to a too high amounts of a trigger food. However, I do know that too much fructose definitely causes me to awaken in the night with GI spasms, the sweats and eventually followed by D.
Have you been tested for these lactose intolerance and fructose malabsorption (this test is not readily available)?
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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hi, just wanted you to know your not alone, I'm about 5.1 and break 100 on a good day, and I used to pass out from attacks periodically before I got stable, one of the things that was happening to me though was anemia.although it happened a couple times when my iron count was fine, good luck I hope this stops soon, I know how scary it can be. 
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ibc a but c predominent doing hypnotherapy and taking it one day at a time
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Do you get any symptoms before the pain hits? I too get debilitating pain with my attacks, so much so that I usually end up in the ER. However, I do get "hot flashes" (for lack of a better term), sweating, and nausea before the pain hits. Now that I recognize the precursor symptoms, I can get to my medicine before the pain hits hard. I have my emergency meds (phenergan for nausea, vicodin for the pain)close to the bed, because my attacks usually happen around midnight. I've found that toredol (not sure of the spelling) is best for the pain for me, but you can only take 5 doses or so close together before it starts affecting your kidneys, so I try not to take it if I can. I try to stay well hydrated during the day, because the D can really dry you out fast. Since I've been on the IBS diet, I've only had three attacks (since March 1st). Before the diet, I was having attacks every other day.
I've never passed out, but I have come close due to the pain.
Take care and hang in there
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No, I haven't been tested for any of those. I know I definitely get symptoms when I drink milk or eat ice cream (lots of bloating, gas, D), but the docs have never tested me. It is so nice to see that I am not insane. My docs just keep telling me that they don't know what is wrong. When they did the colonoscopy, 7 of my 9 labs came back with colitis, but the gastro guy said those results "don't count" and therefore didn't tell me until I had had 4 more attacks with the passing out and I was sent back to him (not by choice but by referring doc) and then he bothered to mention it. But still doesn't want to acknowledge it. I just want an answer. So far, they gave me some steroidal drug, but I'm choosing to follow my homeopathic doc and really watch my diet. Am also walking for the 30 minutes after my dinner each night and eating much lighter. Seems to have helped. When I hear some of the stories on the board, I feel very lucky that I only get an attack about every 6 to 8 weeks. I am just so tired of medical science I could scream because they really can't do much for us, can they?
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