Feeling Faint – What to do? Have already been to doctor!
February 4, 2023 7:30 PM Subscribe
YANMD. The doctor doesn’t think I have a problem, but I am concerned I could black out.
I’ve been sick with a bad cold since January 14th. My main symptoms were lung congestion, non-productive coughing worse at night, feeling like I was going to “black out,”(and passing out completely at one point), fatigue, and severe chills. I have had asthma and moderate COPD for years. It seemed like it was not getting any better and I was worried that I was going to end up with pneumonia or something serious related to my COPD.
I went to Urgent Care yesterday and was seen by a medical provider of some ilk, and an MD. I told them all of the above symptoms. They did a chest x-ray, and ekg, and both of them listened to my heart and lungs. I actually wrote out all of the above information and gave them the information on a piece of paper.
They came back into the exam room and the MD patted me on the shoulder, and said “It’s a cold. They can last a long time.” He then told me to come back in 4-6 weeks if I wasn’t better. I told him I had an appointment with my pulmonologist in 6 weeks. He then asked me why I would see a pulmonologist. I told him, again, that I have COPD. He then tells me that there is no evidence of COPD. That I don’t have COPD. He has seen my chest x-rays, and my vitals, listened to my lungs, and there is absolutely no evidence of COPD. I’m getting off track here. This is sort of a side drama that doesn’t relate to my question, but maybe it does. I don’t know.
So I came home, went to bed, and today I am feeling somewhat better. My cough is almost gone, which is great. I don’t feel much congestion in my chest. But I have a raging headache, like a sinus/tension headache combo, and I keep feeling like I’m going to blackout and hit the floor. I’m not dizzy. There is black at the edge of my vision, and it feels like the floor is going to drop out from below me.
I’ve tested myself for covid, with a negative result. Eight years ago, I had a pulmonary embolism.
So. Again, YANMD. I did the doctor thing. They did all the diagnostics. I am fine, I have a common cold. Do you have any recommendations for home remedies that have helped you when you might have felt the same way? Or any other suggestions?
I’ve been sick with a bad cold since January 14th. My main symptoms were lung congestion, non-productive coughing worse at night, feeling like I was going to “black out,”(and passing out completely at one point), fatigue, and severe chills. I have had asthma and moderate COPD for years. It seemed like it was not getting any better and I was worried that I was going to end up with pneumonia or something serious related to my COPD.
I went to Urgent Care yesterday and was seen by a medical provider of some ilk, and an MD. I told them all of the above symptoms. They did a chest x-ray, and ekg, and both of them listened to my heart and lungs. I actually wrote out all of the above information and gave them the information on a piece of paper.
They came back into the exam room and the MD patted me on the shoulder, and said “It’s a cold. They can last a long time.” He then told me to come back in 4-6 weeks if I wasn’t better. I told him I had an appointment with my pulmonologist in 6 weeks. He then asked me why I would see a pulmonologist. I told him, again, that I have COPD. He then tells me that there is no evidence of COPD. That I don’t have COPD. He has seen my chest x-rays, and my vitals, listened to my lungs, and there is absolutely no evidence of COPD. I’m getting off track here. This is sort of a side drama that doesn’t relate to my question, but maybe it does. I don’t know.
So I came home, went to bed, and today I am feeling somewhat better. My cough is almost gone, which is great. I don’t feel much congestion in my chest. But I have a raging headache, like a sinus/tension headache combo, and I keep feeling like I’m going to blackout and hit the floor. I’m not dizzy. There is black at the edge of my vision, and it feels like the floor is going to drop out from below me.
I’ve tested myself for covid, with a negative result. Eight years ago, I had a pulmonary embolism.
So. Again, YANMD. I did the doctor thing. They did all the diagnostics. I am fine, I have a common cold. Do you have any recommendations for home remedies that have helped you when you might have felt the same way? Or any other suggestions?
Do you have a fever? Easy to check.
Is your pulse ox normal? Ditto.
What about your blood pressure? Next time you're feeling woozy, take your bp right away.
posted by praemunire at 7:48 PM on February 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Is your pulse ox normal? Ditto.
What about your blood pressure? Next time you're feeling woozy, take your bp right away.
posted by praemunire at 7:48 PM on February 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Probably unlikely, but could you have developed POTS as a result of a Covid infection?
posted by heatherlogan at 7:53 PM on February 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by heatherlogan at 7:53 PM on February 4, 2023 [5 favorites]
Do you have a number you can call for an advice nurse through your insurance? I would call if you're not feeling better tomorrow. For what it's worth, I have felt lightheaded because of a cold, though, so it's possible that's the cause. Definitely make sure you're well hydrated. I hope you can keep resting and don't have to work.
posted by pinochiette at 8:05 PM on February 4, 2023
posted by pinochiette at 8:05 PM on February 4, 2023
I don't know how to determine whether there is a point at which this might merit an emergency room visit, but if it gets worse and you want to try going back to the urgent care, there's a good chance you will see someone different. or even the same person on a better day. urgent care treatment quality is extremely variable.
what I think happened is someone looked at the note you had written indicating your recent medical history, and said to themself or their medical assistant, "Oh, look, a note-writer. Health anxiety." then they came back in the room and did the shoulder-pat routine.
patients are always recommending to each other that we write down important information to read or show to doctors. it seems like a good idea, I don't know of a better idea. I have done it myself. but it is not uncommon for doctors to formulate a hypothesis in response to the fact of the piece of paper, not to the facts written down on the piece of paper. I don't say that you should stop doing it because, as I say, I don't know of a better way to organize important information that you don't want to forget. but there it is.
posted by queenofbithynia at 8:26 PM on February 4, 2023 [6 favorites]
what I think happened is someone looked at the note you had written indicating your recent medical history, and said to themself or their medical assistant, "Oh, look, a note-writer. Health anxiety." then they came back in the room and did the shoulder-pat routine.
patients are always recommending to each other that we write down important information to read or show to doctors. it seems like a good idea, I don't know of a better idea. I have done it myself. but it is not uncommon for doctors to formulate a hypothesis in response to the fact of the piece of paper, not to the facts written down on the piece of paper. I don't say that you should stop doing it because, as I say, I don't know of a better way to organize important information that you don't want to forget. but there it is.
posted by queenofbithynia at 8:26 PM on February 4, 2023 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Could you be dehydrated, or low on electrolytes?
Drink some water and have some electrolyte powder or some salt and see if that helps.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:03 PM on February 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
Drink some water and have some electrolyte powder or some salt and see if that helps.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 10:03 PM on February 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
I am not a doctor but to me the biggest clue to follow is your history of pulmonary embolism. Google tells me fainting is a sign of PE, and that a previous PE raises your risk of another one. I don’t know what you should do. But if this were me I’d go to the emergency room. See No Time to Wait about symptoms of PE.
(My bias: I’m prone to fainting and I hate it. It feels dangerous to me and causes me anxiety about dying even though the apparent cause in my case is no big deal.)
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 3:25 AM on February 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
(My bias: I’m prone to fainting and I hate it. It feels dangerous to me and causes me anxiety about dying even though the apparent cause in my case is no big deal.)
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 3:25 AM on February 5, 2023 [2 favorites]
Those sound exactly like my wife's "flu" symptoms. They lasted over a month. It started on Dec 22. Urgent care diagnosed her with the flu (even though the flu test was negative) on Dec 23. She saw her PCP on the 27th or 28th, and he agreed with the flu diagnosis. On her third trip to the doctor, somewhere around Jan 20 , IIRC, they finally decided maybe it was pneumonia and whooping cough, and gave her antibiotics. She started feeling better immediately.
posted by COD at 7:08 AM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by COD at 7:08 AM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Seconding the suggestion of migraine. Though I usually get simple migraines without aura, occasionally I get a visual migraine which can include weird areas on the periphery of your visual field that are black, or strange blurriness in random places, etc. Excedrin, plus a LOT of caffeine and sleeping for three or four hours *take the Excedrin and caffeine and go right to sleep in a dark quiet room* are the only things that help me other than prescription migraine drugs. Also a lot of hydration.
posted by mmf at 7:38 AM on February 5, 2023
posted by mmf at 7:38 AM on February 5, 2023
They did all the diagnostics
Did they do blood work? If not, it might be worth getting a routine CBC and metabolic panel. IANAD but if a physical exam hasn’t given a satisfactory explanation for symptoms, looking to see if your levels of various things are within normal ranges would tend to be the next diagnostic step.
posted by staggernation at 7:58 AM on February 5, 2023
Did they do blood work? If not, it might be worth getting a routine CBC and metabolic panel. IANAD but if a physical exam hasn’t given a satisfactory explanation for symptoms, looking to see if your levels of various things are within normal ranges would tend to be the next diagnostic step.
posted by staggernation at 7:58 AM on February 5, 2023
Best answer: The fact that you say that you have a headache and sinus congestion is pinging something HARD for me...
My father and I both have the same anatomical quirk where sinus congestion tinkers with our equilibrium. Dad actually went through several months getting "dizzy spells" and going to his doctor and finding nothing wrong, and the doctor finally noticed Dad had had a cold each time he'd been in and told him that's what it was. He got more active about using decongestant when he got a cold after that and he was fine. I also get sinus headaches often, and when I have a bad cold I also get similar vertigo that's kind of like a beer buzz (without the fun of actually having the beer). So when you said that you have a headache and that it feels like your congestion is more in your sinuses...that sounds like a stronger version of what I get.
I have had success taking two ibuprofen when I get sinus headaches; it calms the inflammation, and that shrinks the sinuses and eases up on the congestion. (The side effect is that the mucus that was trapped by the inflammation then all starts coming out and I blow my nose a whole hell of a lot, but that's part of the process.) Your situation sounds a little more intense, so there may be something to the migraine theory as well; but taking just two ibuprofen at the same time to see if it makes any impact could be an experiment to try. (Note that I usually take only just the two at the same time and then no more for the rest of the day.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:16 AM on February 5, 2023
My father and I both have the same anatomical quirk where sinus congestion tinkers with our equilibrium. Dad actually went through several months getting "dizzy spells" and going to his doctor and finding nothing wrong, and the doctor finally noticed Dad had had a cold each time he'd been in and told him that's what it was. He got more active about using decongestant when he got a cold after that and he was fine. I also get sinus headaches often, and when I have a bad cold I also get similar vertigo that's kind of like a beer buzz (without the fun of actually having the beer). So when you said that you have a headache and that it feels like your congestion is more in your sinuses...that sounds like a stronger version of what I get.
I have had success taking two ibuprofen when I get sinus headaches; it calms the inflammation, and that shrinks the sinuses and eases up on the congestion. (The side effect is that the mucus that was trapped by the inflammation then all starts coming out and I blow my nose a whole hell of a lot, but that's part of the process.) Your situation sounds a little more intense, so there may be something to the migraine theory as well; but taking just two ibuprofen at the same time to see if it makes any impact could be an experiment to try. (Note that I usually take only just the two at the same time and then no more for the rest of the day.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:16 AM on February 5, 2023
Best answer: I get dizzy/vertigo/feel I may pass out when I have backed up sinuses and eustachian tubes. The last cold I had was particularly bad. If I am dehydrated it is even worse. What works for me to get relief is extra water, mucinex, anti inflammatories, and Flonase. I had to use Flonase every day for a month after my last cold to keep myself from feeling dizzy. I did all of this with my doctor's awareness and advisement.
Honestly Flonase was the MOST helpful. Whatever you do, don't use Afrin. It dries you out and is addictive.
posted by pazazygeek at 11:15 AM on February 5, 2023
Honestly Flonase was the MOST helpful. Whatever you do, don't use Afrin. It dries you out and is addictive.
posted by pazazygeek at 11:15 AM on February 5, 2023
I have no guesses, just several random and unrelated thoughts to share. Was curious to know if your symptoms could be related to some variation of long Covid? Also wanted to mention to be sure to manage your hydration with electrolytes. That’s an easy win. You might want to begin keeping a daily symptom diary that also tracks what you’ve eaten, drunk, meds you’ve taken, exercise, etc., anything that could potentially lead you to noticing patterns. I think there are apps for this, potentially that also will alert you to patterns, but I really don’t know. Speaking of apps, though, if you’re drawn to tracking the barometric pressure, the WeatherX app allows you to set a notification with a certain metric, to alert you to when the pressure is expected to drop below a certain level. In this way, you might be able to see if your worst symptoms are tied to pressure changes. Also worth considering that maybe your original COPD diagnosis was incorrect (suggesting this only because I have no more information to go on).
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 12:12 PM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 12:12 PM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Nthing electrolytes. Im currently being evaluated for POTS, and drinking a lot of water with electrolyte tablets mixed in has helped my symptoms quite a bit.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:58 PM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by spinifex23 at 4:58 PM on February 5, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you all for your helpful insights. I'm feeling better now today after increased hydration, electrolytes, and sinus meds. Also, finally some sleep. Thank you all very much.
posted by furtheryet at 5:11 PM on February 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by furtheryet at 5:11 PM on February 5, 2023 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Do a Google search on “barometric pressure” plus your postal code or city and see if you can find some helpful site with a graph that shows how the pressure fluctuates. See if the drops correspond with your feeling faint. Maybe it will help?
posted by corey flood at 7:37 PM on February 4, 2023 [1 favorite]