I have a question for those in the medical field

[ArielRae]

I was wondering if someone may have an answer for me.

My DH had a tooth removed and I had to be there as his driver as they had to knock him out. When he was done they escorted me back and went over his medication and gave me instructions on his care. Well after a few minutes I started to get nausea and lite headed. I ended up getting really lite headed and was unable to walk. They gave me oxygen and smelling salts. After a few minutes I was fine. One of the nurses said it may have been the local and another said It could have been a sympathy faint. I have never fainted before but I do get lite headed when I go to hospitals sometime but I have to be a few floors up in the hospital to feel that way. I don't get bothered by the sight of blood. So does anyone have any ideas? It was really out of the blue. I was going over DH's care instructions and talking to the nurse about DS as they all saw him trying to walk around in the waiting room and then the nausea and lite headed hit. I would like to know what it could have been so I can avoid it in the future.

 

[Hannathy]

Do you get very anxious and worried when you or your family has to have procedures done?

It sounds to me like you were keyed up and worried about your DH but not showing it and when you went in and were getting instructions you released it was over and didn't have to hold it together anymore and got weak kneed. (body releasing all the built up tension)

Happens a lot to people, to a lot of people.


Now going to hospitals and feeling lite headed if you go up a few floors-well I'm sorry to say and trying to say this delicately but that is all in your head LOL, what floor you are on won't make a difference unless you are afraid of heights and that would be in all buildings not just hospitals. I would bet they make you nervous in general and it only hits you after you have been there a while, time it takes to go up a few floors. This is IMO.

 

[Chelley00]

I passed out after I saw DH after he had his wisdom teeth cut out. What we figured out was that I had forgotten to eat that morning! I was so busy trying to get him out the door and remember all the paperwork that I just skipped breakfast (and since DH wasn't able to eat it didn't jog my memory)

 

[Abbie]

I've had the same reaction twice and it was the odor of either the anesthetic or the antiseptic (usually betadine) they use. Once after my then-boyfriend had his wisdom teeth out, and then when DD had to get glass fished out of her ankle. Ugh, very embarrassing!!

 

[maxsmomamy]

Did you remember to eat this morning? It could be a combination of low blood sugar, anxiety and that lovely "white coat syndrome". I've taken care of an endless number of patients that have outrageous BP coming into the office, but if we wait a while the numbers almost always come down.
Hope you are feeling better and DH will be soon too!

 

[ArielRae]

Do you get very anxious and worried when you or your family has to have procedures done?.

No I never have been worried or anxious. I have even been in the ER and watched DH get his hand sewn back together after he sliced it open. He was covered in blood and I did not have a problem. Unless something chemically changed in my head after giving birth to DS I don't think it is anything like that.

I've had the same reaction twice and it was the odor of either the anesthetic or the antiseptic (usually betadine) they use. Once after my then-boyfriend had his wisdom teeth out, and then when DD had to get glass fished out of her ankle. Ugh, very embarrassing!!

I think this may have been what happened to me. I can't see how I can be going from having a nice and happy conversation about my son with the nurse and then suddenly have nausea and feel faint.

 

[PetersonFamily]

Could you be pregnant?

 

[arminnie]

I don't know if this helps or not, but I fainted in ICU 32 years ago, and it has never happened again.

I went in to see my uncle who had been in a car wreck. What touched me was seeing my aunt pat his hand and talk to him even though he was unconscious. I just crumpled to the floor. You gets lots of attention if you faint in ICU.

 

[Fire14]

I'm a nurse and I personally have had times when I walk into Hospitals or dentist office and start feeling light headed. I really do believe it is something in air (disinfectant or anesia gases)

 

[DawnCt1]

It sounded to me exactly like vaso vagal syncope (faint). The vagus nerve becomes over stimulated by stressors, the heart rate slows and down you go. That is usually quickly preceded by nausea, sweating, etc. What are the "stressors"? They are something different for everyone. I saw a young man faint on an airplane on approach. DS fainted when they drew his blood at the age of 12. A medical environment, concerns about a loved one, etc can all be stressors. When you feel that way, sit down or lie down quick. It will pass. During Victorian times, "ladies" would swoon when their "sensibilities" were offended. All the same.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I agree with Dawn it is often vasovagal, ie stimulation of the vagus nerve, which is part of the parasympathetic nervous system that "slows things down" (as opposed to the sympathetic which "quickens things", ie is responsible for us being able to "fight or flight").

What usually stimulates the vagus nerve is people "bearing down", and this level of bearing down can be different for different people and even different in individuals at different times, enough to illicit a vagal response. People who tend to pass out may be (even without realizing it) holding their breath or bearing down because they're nervous or seeing something that upsets them. Pain can cause it as well, such as with those that pass out during blood draws or procedures.

OP, I understand you would be nervous about why and how this can happen. Think about what was going on at the dentist (or in the hospital) and how you responded as a result of smelling the medical smells or seeing the medical sights, etc, and train yourself not to do it. You can practice at home.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1661644