I sometimes faint when swallowing. Is this as serious as it sounds?

January 8, 2015 12:47 PM

For several years now (can't remember exactly how many), I have sometimes gotten dizzy or felt faint while swallowing a bite of food or a cold drink. It usually passes quickly and at most I just feel an intense need to lay my head down. I always thought that it might have something to do with eating too quickly or taking a bite that "went down the wrong way".

Yesterday, I was sitting at my computer and took a small bite of a brownie (something that I don't eat very often). As soon as I started to swallow, I began to pass out. It felt like what I expect dying to feel like. It seemed to happen in slow motion but it must have happened very quickly. The only thing that went through my mind was that I hoped I wasn't having some kind of stroke and what would happen if my toddler woke up from his nap. I woke up on the floor, feeling okay. I really thought it was strange and decided to Google it, expecting to learn a cool science fact about weird things our bodies do and why we sometimes feel dizzy when swallowing food. I was quite surprised to find out that it is called swallow syncope, it doesn't happen to everyone, and it is actually rare.

Of course, I am now scared to death from what I have read. I know that I need to see a doctor but I have no insurance although I could get insurance in April.

Is this really as rare and scary as the articles on Google make it sound? I had no idea it wasn't normal. I also get dizzy spells when I reach up for something, like on a high shelf. I have had many instances of dizzy spells or fainting since childhood and I don't know how much is normal.

Has anyone else experienced swallow syncope and how concerned was your doctor? I might be able to arrange a full checkup, including blood tests and an ekg outside my country for around $500 USD. Should I do this now or wait until I can get insurance in my home country in April? I'm very worried that if I go to a doctor now, I won't be able to get insurance. That is why this question is anonymous. I really need some advice.

In case it affects your answer: I am female, 40 years old, about 15-20 pound overweight, moderate smoker, and I do not drink alcohol or take any drugs (legal or otherwise).

Thanks.

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (15 answers total)

I don't know anything about how serious this is, but my mom gets fainting spells from eating rich foods. I would think a brownie might qualify as rich. If you're looking to avoid this until you see a doctor, you might avoid rich foods. Also, part of the reason my mom (and my whole family) tend to be fainters is that she/we have low blood pressure. If you do, too, then take care to avoid things that will lower your blood pressure, like getting dehyrdated.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 12:53 PM on January 8, 2015 [3 favorites]

Vagus nerve (Vasovagal) response.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_response

(One of the triggers is swallowing!)
posted by catkins at 1:09 PM on January 8, 2015 [14 favorites]

(previously, as a matter of fact)
posted by misterbrandt at 1:10 PM on January 8, 2015

IANAD, but I'm pretty sure that syncope is always a serious medical issue. You may not die/be seriously injured from the fainting itself, but you could be seriously injured by a fall. If you are ever the only adult looking after your toddler I'd be concerned for your child's safety in the event of a fall as well.

For $500, I would go to a doctor now, pre-existing conditions be damned.
posted by sparklemotion at 1:10 PM on January 8, 2015

I had no idea it wasn't normal.

Have you ever seen or do you know anyone else who passes out when eating? You should see a doctor asap, particularly if you are the only person watching your toddler (as sparklemotion mentioned).
posted by Bretley at 1:49 PM on January 8, 2015

If your home country is the US it won't affect your eligibility for insurance. If it's not the US, think of it this way: if you let it go and something worse happens, you'll have 2 problems instead of 1. You will still have that insurance issue in addition to the consequences of the worse thing that happened. I don't think you should wait.
posted by bleep at 1:54 PM on January 8, 2015

IANYD: it is serious - even if it is likely a vasovagal response (which is very common, just not very commonly triggered by swallowing). Imagine that you are swallowing something while standing at the top of a staircase, or driving your car, or standing on a paved surface. A temporary loss of consciousness in any of these situations could potentially cause you a serious head injury or death, or in the case of driving, you could kill someone else. So that's completely leaving aside the cause of the fainting and whether that might be something serious.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 2:15 PM on January 8, 2015 [7 favorites]

Randomly fainting is not normal or safe. You could seriously injure yourself or render yourself unable to take care of your child. You need medical attention.

Since you say "I had no idea it wasn't normal" I'll just give the anecdote that in my 30 years I have never actually fainted. I've come close a few times but there was a much stronger precursor than taking a bite of food.
posted by radioamy at 2:42 PM on January 8, 2015

Vasovagal response does cause this. At the same time, agree that you should get checked out.
posted by Miko at 3:35 PM on January 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

I've got that vasovagal syncope going on, and have done since I entered puberty.

I was diagnosed 20 years ago with a low-tech "tilt table test" but since it was observed throughout by a cardiologist, the labor makes it spendy. Treatment depends on how serious it is: I know folks who can only stand for seconds and use wheelchairs, but mostly it's learning triggers and avoiding them (cheap!)

Once I finally found out what was going on, it's been relatively easy to manage (super hydration, being smart about changing positions slowly). Even though I knew about it, however, it snuck up on me first thing one morning.

I passed out while brushing my teeth, and got a triple spiral ankle fracture (2 plates, 7 screws). Between the syncope and the shock it took two paramedics to get me to the emergency department.

It's remarkable how much damage you can do in a simple fall. Also around US$45,000, thank husband I had insurance.

Summary: surprises can be expensive; knowledge is power; see if you can find tilt-table-test resources where you are now (although you may in fact have something completely different). One place to start is folks interested in "dysautonomia": vasovagal syncope is probably the most benign case of autonomic dysfunction.
posted by Jesse the K at 4:02 PM on January 8, 2015 [4 favorites]

I randomly collapse and have a toddler. Google epileptic parenting, it's basically sensible precautions like keeping your phone nearby, not cooking or bathing when alone with the child, making sure that someone checks in regularly if you're home alone for a while etc.

You need to see a doctor soon. Don't downplay what happened to them either. Keep a trigger diary as well.
posted by viggorlijah at 4:52 PM on January 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

It's remarkable how much damage you can do in a simple fall.

This. I passed out in a relatively safe space (carpeted hallway) and ended up bleeding all over everything, needing stitches in two different places, and knocking a couple of teeth loose. I was lying unconscious while my little girl was playing in another room.

Keep yourself, your family, and the people around you safe, and get to a doctor.
posted by moira at 4:56 PM on January 8, 2015

I've had (currently in remission) POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) which is different, but sounds related to Vasovagal Syncope. One of the 'treatments' is salt and water loading, which helps by increasing your blood pressure. It's mentioned here as a 'lifestyle measure' for vasovagal syncope.

If you tend to have low blood pressure, this might be a quick option till you can see a doctor. It might not help much, but it's easy, accessible and even a little difference might help.

Personally, I took salt tablets (no way I could get enough sodium in through my diet), and could usually roughly gauge how much I needed by how much I craved salt, but I may just be weird. When my POTS was bad, I'd take several grams a day of sodium in addition to a fairly high salt diet, and still CRAVE salty foods. Currently (what I'm calling remission), I take no supplemental sodium and while I like salty foods, I don't feel like I need them.
posted by pennypiper at 5:50 PM on January 8, 2015

Maybe not a super idea to take a ton of sodium without consulting a doctor first. By 'maybe' I mean 'probably' and by 'probably' I mean don't do it.
posted by The Noble Goofy Elk at 8:10 PM on January 8, 2015

My wife gets something very like this (brought on by cold pop drunk out of cans). I've had an ambulance out for her before after she's passed out from drinking cold Coke. Doctor not at all concerned.
posted by bifter at 1:30 AM on January 9, 2015