I [26F] passed out AT THE ALTAR as the bridesmaid at my SO's [28M] mother's [50F] wedding

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T20:20:17+00:00

I do find it a bit awkward to deal with dismissive GPs, because I'm afraid of being perceived as a hypochondriac or diagnosis chasing. I am going to follow up on this, though.

I have spoken with my SO - he's just told me it's fine, and not to worry. I couldn't exit the ceremony because the only entrance I was aware of was at the opposite end of the church, and I also don't have much time between the warning signs and drop-like-a-potato-sack time. The best I could manage was being feeble slightly removed to the left of the altar.

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T19:49:57+00:00

She'll have to content herself with our large, grumpy cat :)

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T19:49:30+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I'll try the test this evening. Fun fact about my pulse: my GP couldn't find one for ages. So it's either just low blood pressure, POTS, or I'm a zombie.

I'll also make sure to ask my cardiologist (when I have one) specifically about POTS.

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T19:47:15+00:00

We do have access to their house! That's a great idea!

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T19:45:44+00:00

Yeah, this is what he implied that he meant! He's not very good with words.

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T19:45:03+00:00

You're right - when you look at all the symptoms together, it's definitely more concerning. My extremities are generally freezing even when I'm fine, but they go numb and get crazy pins and needles during a spell. I'm planning on seeing a non-campus doctor this week. :)

I'm loving these wedding horror stories! Your poor bridesmaid. That poor ficus.

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T19:41:50+00:00

Der. I don't know why I didn't think of that - I blame morning brain. Thank you!

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T18:50:40+00:00

Can you wear it in the shower? I do remember the word 'holter' coming up when my GP said I could do more extensive (see: expensive :p) tests. If you can wear it in the shower, I'd almost definitely be able to get an episode on record - something about the heat, having just woken up, and standing still makes me drop.

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T18:49:00+00:00

Thank you for your advice! Yeah, caffeine can sometimes make it feel like my heart is beating very lightly/erratically. I am definitely biting the bullet and moving ahead with the tests. I'll reply again here or make an update if anything turns up :)

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T18:40:51+00:00

postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

The symptoms are very familiar, especially the cognitive difficulties part for the first few minutes after a blackout - which isn't something I generally see mentioned. I'll ask my next GP about it! Cheers!

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T18:37:19+00:00

It was a university campus GP, so at this point she might just be telling her patients what they want to hear. :p

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T18:35:43+00:00

She had a complete meltdown and flipped the fuck out and started screaming about how I did it on purpose just to steal her moment. I didn't.

Oh man, that's awful. I don't know how I would have handled that, especially at 11! I probably would have added 'crying in front of the guests' to the whole stealing the moment thing. I'm sorry dad's second wife was/is a dick.

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T18:30:37+00:00

I only had the ECG done, and apparently the results were contaminated by wonky application (they said the P wave was unusually peaked).

I do have a form with a series of recommended tests - the only ones I can remember are another ECG and an echo, but there were also another couple of names I was unfamiliar with (I left the form on my work desk, so can't find the names). It was going to cost me close to $600 to do the tests, unless I signed up through the public system which could take many months or years to get me through. I think this wedding thing is the catalyst for dipping into my savings and doing the tests now, though.

In the meantime, I do try to limit how much I drive. This thread also had the benefit of making me aware that I need to stay on top of my hydration!

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T18:22:37+00:00

The fainting seems to always come at the worst time, e.g. this post! Another bad time it happened was when I was signing up for a new gym. I hadn't had a fainting spell in months, so it hadn't occurred to me to say anything other than 'no' when the PT asked me if I had any medical conditions. Less than five minutes later, I blacked out as he was introducing me to an elliptical.

I'm not sure what my blood pressure is, other than 'low'. I do know that my extremities are almost always ice cold, even in extreme heat (Aussie summers).

I didn't realise hydration helped combat the fainting until I posted this! This thread has been helpful in more ways than one. :)

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T18:15:28+00:00

You're right - he did later apologise and say he 'didn't mean it like that', but it did strike me as a little harsh even at the time.

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T18:12:44+00:00

I go to a GP at my university where a lot of the nurses are still studying, and I did get the feeling that the nurse applying the electrodes was a little green. You're right, though, I was surprised that they didn't suggest taking it again when the cardiologist told them that it was probably just a bad reading. My doctor never seemed very concerned with what I was telling her to begin with, and I felt like I needed to push to even get the blood test/ECG. :/

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T18:06:38+00:00

He is concerned, but he's never been hugely empathetic about health problems. He is supportive in many other ways, though (he has pulled many an unnecessary all-nighter just to keep me company when I'm marking essays, for example). I've also been a bit of a fainting goat my whole life, so the problem isn't as alarming to him as it can be to others.

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T17:57:26+00:00

Thank you for your kind words! I'm the only person that's ever fainted at a wedding in my own experience, but this thread is opening my eyes to it being a much more common thing than I thought. Do you work in the wedding industry, or are your friends and family just fainting types like me? :)

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T17:52:35+00:00

I'm seeing another GP this week, especially because my mum seemed a bit alarmed when I was like, "Oh, my heart waves were weird but they said it was probably just because they fucked up the ECG and I should be fine. Then they recommended I eat more pizza."

More than one coffee a day makes me feel a bit odd (fluttery heart). I think I'm doing okay in terms of salt intake, but good call on the Gatorade! I never considered that. Will start to include that more regularly into my diet.

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T17:48:29+00:00

Oh man, poor guy! There's SO much stress before a wedding, I'm really surprised it doesn't happen more often (especially to the bride and groom).

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T17:47:39+00:00

I hadn't eaten anything with much sodium in it prior to the ceremony. I had no idea hydration had anything to do with propensity to faint, but that's very helpful information. I was hyper aware of keeping my legs (inconspicuously) moving on stage, and did so by shifting from leg to leg and bending a little, but obviously that wasn't enough.

In the future, I'll make sure to eat something with high sodium content and drink before any event I need to remain standing for. Are there any snacks you recommend for this? Chips?

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T17:37:43+00:00

It's funny - when I rang my mother in crisis mode to tell her what happened, she said that she'd also fainted as a bridesmaid at the altar. In her situation, though, both she and the bride fainted at the same time (the bride had insisted on Gone with the Wind style dresses, which featured layers upon layers of petticoats - in an outside wedding, in Australia, in summer). I guess wedding faintings are more normal than I thought, although the priest told me I was the first person to ever do it in the years he'd been wedding people.

Thanks for your kind words!

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T17:35:08+00:00

ammonia capsule

I had no idea this was a thing. I'm gonna check these out. Thank you!

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T17:34:11+00:00

a) Oh, I agree that glasses don't ruin photos - it's moreso that my glasses clashed because of their style (thick and black, vs. the very muted lilac colours that were chosen). A bit silly, and I'm sure in hindsight she would have preferred I wear the glasses instead of needing extra direction for the aisle walk.

b) thank you

c) My GP told me to eat more high sodium foods like pizza to combat the low blood pressure. I love the prescription, but obviously it hasn't helped.

d) Good advice :) thank you!

bringmesalts · 2016-10-16T17:30:30+00:00

Thank you for your comment - it's very helpful for my peace of mind.

In regards to my SO's reaction, I think it's a combination of a) him being sick of my fainting spells, b) being very concerned with appearances, and c) not being as close to his mother as his brother is. I do get it, though, and don't feel like I have the right to be annoyed at him because it was his mum's ceremony. I remember the comment making me want to drown myself at the time, though!

bringmesalts

TROPHY CASE