1. < Aging Well

Momentary syncope

Posted by jslw13 @jslw13, Feb 19 1:48pm

I’m 76. In remission from lymphoma I’ve had since 2009. Lost my husband of 56 years on January 5 after him being in home hospice since August 2024. Luckily we were financially able to have a live in caregiver we both love to care for him. I had hurt my hip about 4 months ago so I had my right hip replaced on January 17th. I have kept on live in caregiver to help me with my recovery and have in home PT which makes recovering very easy.
I have an adult daughter who lives 15 minutes from me and is my “emotional support person”. I have also been doing therapy since last September (at the suggestion of my daughter) to help me navigate my husband’s decline, hospice & death.
Yesterday I had an appointment with my attorney to fill out forms for probate. I had everything prepared (and looking forward to meeting) and was just thinking I needed to get up and leave for my appointment when I SUDDENLY felt severe dizziness and vision turned black (like I was passing out) and immediately felt normal. First thought was I can’t drive my car and I needed to call attorney and postpone meeting. The entire incident lasted a second or two.
I have a history of AFIB (under control with medication) and monitor my EKG with a Kardia device so I used it and had normal sinus rhythm. Grabbed my husband’s blood pressure cuff and my BP was normal.
The 5 days prior to this I had self injected B-12 for 5 days because my oncologist had discovered my B-12 was “very low”. I had no side effects those 5 days. I did not seek medical advice about this syncope “spell”. I was not dehydrated or have any other symptoms (like headache, feeling unwell etc,

Question- anyone have similar “spell” and figured out what the cause was.
Thanks
Jan

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

seniormed | @seniormed | Feb 19 2:35pm

The symptoms are typical of orthostatic hypotension not uncommon for
being in our 70s. It may be a warning that you need to consult your primary
physician for some in office testing. Your home health aid could assist you
in checking your pressure after lying down quietly for 5 minutes. Then with
the cuff in place have them recheck your pressure standing with arm at heart
level resting on their shoulder at one minute and again at 3 minutes.
If systolic drops 20 or diastolic drops 10 that is suggestive.
Medications are most frequently the cause.
Be wary of increased fall risk. I’m revisiting my cardiologist next week
for this issue. I have poor heart rate response from autoimmune problems.

REPLY
1 reply
jslw13 | @jslw13 | Feb 19 3:22pm

Thanks for the concern. I’m aware of orthostatic hypotension because my husband a had it (severely) because of Parkinson’s. I had this “spell” sitting in my recliner and having breakfast. And today my PT person took my BP after sitting and then when standing. My systolic dropped less than 10 points & my diastolic stayed the same.

REPLY
gloaming | @gloaming | Feb 19 3:53pm

Have you been checked for an arrhythmia, like flutter or fibrillation? Even a tachycardia should keep your blood pressure somewhat near normal because it is a sinus rhythm, but the tachyarrhythmias can cause syncope, shortness of breath, etc. No mitral valve problems? Aortic valve checks out?

Another possibility is low sodium.

REPLY
jslw13 | @jslw13 | Feb 19 7:09pm

I was recently checked at my cardiologist. I had been in afib or aflutter and converted on my own. Only symptom was Tachycardia so that’s why I use the Kardia device daily. No shortness of breath. No known mitral valve or Aortic valve problems. If I have another episode I’ll definitely reach out to my PCP & cardiologist. I am being EXTREMELY careful of falling and know I probably would if it happened when I was standing.

REPLY
1 reply
rashida | @rashida | Feb 20 6:37am
In reply to @jslw13 "I was recently checked at my cardiologist. I had been in afib or aflutter and converted..." + (show)
@jslw13

I was recently checked at my cardiologist. I had been in afib or aflutter and converted on my own. Only symptom was Tachycardia so that’s why I use the Kardia device daily. No shortness of breath. No known mitral valve or Aortic valve problems. If I have another episode I’ll definitely reach out to my PCP & cardiologist. I am being EXTREMELY careful of falling and know I probably would if it happened when I was standing.

Jump to this post

@jslw13 on your next visit with your doctor, ask if self injecting B12 could have been the cause of that incident.

REPLY
betty41 | @betty41 | Feb 20 3:43pm
In reply to @seniormed "The symptoms are typical of orthostatic hypotension not uncommon for being in our 70s. It may..." + (show)
@seniormed

The symptoms are typical of orthostatic hypotension not uncommon for
being in our 70s. It may be a warning that you need to consult your primary
physician for some in office testing. Your home health aid could assist you
in checking your pressure after lying down quietly for 5 minutes. Then with
the cuff in place have them recheck your pressure standing with arm at heart
level resting on their shoulder at one minute and again at 3 minutes.
If systolic drops 20 or diastolic drops 10 that is suggestive.
Medications are most frequently the cause.
Be wary of increased fall risk. I’m revisiting my cardiologist next week
for this issue. I have poor heart rate response from autoimmune problems.

Jump to this post

I also have orthostatic hypotension. I take my BP 2x a day . One sitting and one standing. When mine is very low , I have no energy. I can drink a sugar free Dr Pepper that helps me. It could be the sodium that helps or caffeine.

REPLY
dianekbrown | @dianekbrown | Feb 21 6:58am

I seem to have vasoconstriction also which is called vasovagal nerve response. there r 2 nerves one either side of the neck which r respon̈sible in gastrointestinal responses such as having a bm or diarrhea. My episodes can lastseveral minutes
MY HR dropped to 35 bpm. I was even hospitalized for 1 1/2 days. They almost put in a pacemaker. Finally my pçp figured it out. She was always able2 connect the dots!! I miss her....she was required 2 take a medical retirement. Not HER idea. A lot of distress with that on BOTH her and my accts.

REPLY
larryg333 | @larryg333 | Feb 21 6:03pm

Hi jslw13.
Even though you're usually in sinus rhythm, you may have momentarily reverted to AF. Just another idea as to what could've happened in the episode described. Hope it was just a one-off, and that you don't experience another occurrence.
As you may be aware, often after a "successful" ablation, the AF returns after a period of time. And many have needed multiple "touch-up" procedures (subsequent ablations).
All the best.

/LarryG

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.