Vaso-Vagal Discussion

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Near fainting episodes

From: Dorothy Hawkins

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For several years I've had faintness while standing for long periods of time, but it has never been severe. This year I've had two episodes while sitting and eating where I felt I would faint. In both cases I was in public and I was determined not to cause a public scene, even though I felt I was dying (no pain, just as if my life was drifing away.) Since I didn't want to concern the people I was with I took an aspirin and monitored my breathing (I take yoga and began to breathe in a mindful, careful way) and within l5 minutes I was better. In one case we were in a small village in Italy and I didn't want to scare my husband to death--he did notice I wasn't able to talk and let me continue with the breathing. The other symptom I had was my stomach seemed to be "falling out"--no pain, no nausea, just the worst and most frightening sensation. I saw my cardiologist when we got home and he said my heart was fine, that it was vaso-vagal and if it happened again to sit down, or if sitting, to put my legs up. Neither he nor my internist had anything more to say about it, so I am so pleased to find your web site. I am 70, do Pilates, yoga, weights and fast walking with my dogs, and I never have a moment of this faintness then.It was so horrible that I am concerned that I'll have an event while driving on the freeway.


This web site is not a substitute for a thorough medical evaluation and diagnosis of your vaso-vagal type symptoms.  Medical treatment and diagnosis is the only acceptable initial response to these serious symptoms since they might present from any number of life threatening and treatable illnesses. It is for you and your physician to rule out more serious illnesses; Please don't use this online forum as an alternative to getting responsible medical attention and being under the care of a physician for the duration of any unknown, suspected or dangerous vaso-vagal syndrome symptoms.
Last changed: June 22, 2007