Strange feeling in abdomen and feeling faint

Hey there. I couldn’t believe it when I saw your post. My mom has been reporting the same symptoms since she returned home from a 2 week hospital stay. She has a hiatal hernia and hypertension she treats with meds and diet. AShe is in a new blood pressure med. She also has neuropathy in hands and feet, as well as extremely low Vitamin D and anxiety. She’s returning to her gastroenterologist soon.

I have a friend who just had surgery to repair her hernia and she says she used to feel dizzy if she bent over. But not otherwise. My mom’s episodes seem to occur when she gets up, so it’s a mystery. I hope you get some responses.

Just as life itself can be a mystery!

Hi, @rjoestein - you talked in March about a strange temporary feeling in your abdomen and feeling a bit faint whenever you got up from sitting for awhile. You also mentioned a strange feeling going into your legs and momentarily feeling like you were going to fall down or faint. You also talked about a medical history with some high blood pressure regulated with pills and an inguinal hernia.

Tagging a few members who may have some thoughts for you on what may be happening @bettersleep68 @jenatsky @ch47 @donnatownsend @stoclady. @gardenlady1116 @tinamaria1 and @kaptainkat also may have some input on these symptoms.

rjoestein - how did your endoscopy go? Are you still experiencing the same symptoms?

@rjoestein, I have been having some issues myself lately with shortness of breath, profuse sweating, and other things. I was recently told of a condition called POTS, which can cause multiple symptoms when you go from a lying or sitting position to standing position. It is an Autonomic disorder that affects your Autonomic Nervous System.

One of the many symptoms associated with POTS is abdominal pain. Gastrointestinal disorders, such as Pancreatitis, EPI, and several other things can be an underlying condition of POTS.

I was diagnosed with EPI in 2023. I have fairly well maintained my condition since then, but about 3 months ago I began having episodes of being short of breath followed by sweating and being extremely hot and having pretty bad abdominal pains like I was bloated. I would lay down, which would help me to cool off, and then after a few hours I would find myself being able to either burp or pass gas and feel relatively better. I have noticed that my episodes are beginning to occur more frequently; now that I know about POTS and even Gastroparesis, I am going to get back with my doctor and try to get connected with some specialists for testing and treatment plans!

I hope I was able to shed some insight on what you're dealing with!

Yikes! Another nasty condition to work with…I am so sorry that you are going through this. After reading about POTS, the constant discomfort in numerous directions must be terrible.
As I was added to this conversation, will tell you about similar symptoms I had, but not diagnosed. I had inguinal hernia surgery, and I believe much of the abdominal pressure and discomfort was caused by it. Relieved. Also, not sure if this fits in, but have a severe hiatal hernia that was not repaired but doctor gave me a plan to stop pantoprazole over a period of months, and I don’t have any further gastric issues. God bless him!
I hope you find some comfort with your problems…

Hey @lisalucier . Long time since this response, but somehow the notification got sent to my SPAM folder. But now I know it's not spam! Anyway, they gave me both an endoscopy and colonoscopy. To be honest, I felt nothing. They put me under anesthesia for that time. I woke up about an hour and a half later rather groggy but no pain down there. They said I had four small polyps, which they removed. They came out non-cancerous. I didn't even feel a thing! Anyway, those feelings I mentioned in the original post happened off and on before and after the procedure. Now, it doesn't happen so often. It seems to happen after drinking coffee while sitting down. It might be just a coincidence, though. The feeling has since subsided. They said my inguinal hernia is something I might have to just live with, since it doesn't cause anything life-threatening. I could have a surgery, but unless it gets worse or something, I'll let it be. It also causes no pain. But thanks for asking!

@psnead That is interesting. I never heard of POTS. I wasn't diagnosed with anything at all, although it wasn't a thorough investigation. I could have this, or something similar. It could very well be an autonomic thing which affects my nervous system. I didn't think of that. I ride a bike almost everywhere I go, and have been for years. Now that I'm 50 years old, maybe the movement of my legs is catching up to me. Along with my inguinal hernia, it might correlate somehow.
Well, for now I don't feel any immense pain or suffering. I will have a more thorough check-up at the hospital one of these days. It's just so expensive! Regardless, health is quite important and as expensive it is now for just a thorough check-up (maybe MRI scan, etc.), it would be far cheaper than letting a disease go for too long and then end up needing surgery, medicine, etc.
Thanks for responding!

@ch47 How did the inguinal surgery go? I might have to do the same sometime. Does it take long to recover? Can you operate during the recovery process?
Before I had been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, I never knew there were different types. I just had the song by Weird Al Yankovic in my head: "Living with a Hernia." Sometimes, we need some humor to get us through it all!
I also saw a YouTube video of a guy testifying that you can "fix" a hernia naturally. I didn't get through all of it, but that would be great to not need surgery. Although I have no idea if that YouTube guy's legit or not.

The IH was so easy…and important. As your “innards” are poking in a hole through your tummy muscles, could be very very serious untreated. My doc scheduled me ASAP! Robotic, which is very cool to watch work online!!!
Couldn’t believe that doc only prescribed pain meds for three days, but she was right. Still have to be careful and heal, but only three tiny holes. No big cuts. I would talk to your doc about this.
Let me know what you find out/decide to do.

When you change your head elevation, your blood pressure changes. What it sounds like to me is your blood pressure is dropping suddenly when you stand up. This could be POTS or neurocardiogenic syncope, or other similar condition or different name. My testing was done by an electrophysiologist, the primary test being a tilt table test. If blood pressure meds have been changed to lower your BP, that could bring on changes in your BP. Calling your doctor immediately is important when symptoms suddenly or soon appear after a medication change.