Today While I Was Talking With Some Friends Outside The

Posted on Sat, 15 Jun 2019

Question: Today while i was talking with some friends outside the office, i started to feel a strange feeling which i have not had before. I had few going to be black outs like thing. But this time its different. it was like started fluctuating light like thing i can see and i felt like falling down. so i told my friends somethinh happening to me and the they put dome water on my face and carried me to a car nearby. on the at some point i dont remember what happened until i was being taken inside the clinic. the bo was XXXXXXX but pulse was a bit low as per the clinic doctor. i was feeling cery weak later i realised i had even passed urine and stool without my knowledge. They said its dehydration and guven one iv. after that i feel better now. but i am planing to go for s check up tomorrow.
can you give your opinin on this and what tests should i undergo.

Answered by Dr. Aaron Branch (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Episode of syncope

Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. From your description of this episode, with the vision changes and feeling weak, this sounds like an episode of syncope (or "blacking out"). There are many causes for this, including reflex-mediated (common faint), orthostatic hypotension (such as can occur with dehydration), and heart problems or abnormal heart rhythms. It does sound like you likely had a reflex-mediated or orthostatic hypotension due to dehydration, which you wouldn't need to do anything about. But you should make sure there is evidence of any heart problems, especially if you have any risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol.

Usually an EKG and an echocardiogram, if normal, are enough to rule out any heart related cause. You should also have your blood pressure checked again while laying down and then when standing, to see if it normally drops and causes any symptoms like lightheadedness. If these are all normal, you can be presumed to have reflex-mediated syncope or dehydration, and nothing more needs to be done.

I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it with you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Aaron Branch (25 minutes later)

Thanks for wuick response.
There was no pain or disconfort in the chest or breathing difficulty.
Doesit have any relation to the brain?
One even suggested to do an ecg and eeg.

Or any blood trst to rule out any

Thank you

Follow up: Dr. Aaron Branch (3 hours later)

I also had a bowl movement as well as bladder without my knowledge probably during the few seconds of my unconsciousness. Is it something need to of a serious concern?

Answered by Dr. Aaron Branch (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You should get an ECG, along with a CBC, electrolytes, and creatinine.

Detailed Answer:
With an episode of syncope, a seizure should always be considered, but from your description, it didn't sound like a seizure at all. If anyone witnessed you shaking, that may make a seizure more likely, for which you would want to get an EEG. But especially since you felt strange prior to the episode, I think a seizure is very unlikely.

Losing control of your bowel and bladder can happen with syncope, so I would not be so concerned about that.

I do recommend getting an ECG (also known as EKG). Basic labs would probably be a good idea to make sure you don't have any electrolyte deficiencies, or signs of infection. A CBC, electrolytes, and creatinine would probably be sufficient.

Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D