Other Syncope, my old friend — tell me I’m not going to die

[RainbowSearchParty]

Okay, everything is okay. But I need reassurance.

I take two meds to manage my anxiety - a low dose beta blocker and the lowest dose of Ativan. Been on them for years with no adverse affects.

Back in the day I had a fainting problem. Over time and with careful attention I learned that I’m just a doofus with DID and I would forget to eat. Or accidentally go in crazy long exercise benders. Essentially, I couldn’t feel my body so I would just push myself to the extreme and then BAM, fall over. But I’ve worked so hard on regulating and the problem has disappeared. I eat regularly now. I’m exercising, but not in the crazy way I used to.

But today I think I miss calculated? Took my meds. But also ate lunch. And went on a run. And when I returned I thought I was okay until BAM oops fell over. Laid down for a while after, drank some water, had some fruit. And then felt mostly better so I had Greek yogurt with peanut butter and maple syrup for sugar and now I’m laying in bed, exhausted. My phone tells me I went 9 miles today when my average is more like 6. I think I’m okay. But I (part of me) is freaking out and can only concentrate on my heart beat and is scared to sleep because I might die. But I’m so tired.

I just need some reassurance here. I think everything is totally fine and I just need rest.

 

[Midnightmoon]

I'm sorry, that sounds scary.

a low dose beta blocker and the lowest dose of Ativan. Been on them for years with no adverse affects.

This jumped out in linking with your other thread about weight loss too, there might be a possibility that your BP is now naturally lower following the increased fitness so taking your usual med dose and then higher exercise activity has lead to the fainting. Would it be worth going to the docs and checking?

Essentially, I couldn’t feel my body so I would just push myself to the extreme and then BAM, fall over

God yes, this is me allll the time at the minute. I am a frequent fainter and yeah, half the time its because I very inconveniently forget I have a body that, you know, needs stuff to function

Loving that you can self care well with this, managing to rest, eat, check in with yourself(s), made me smile . How are you feeling now?

 

[Weemie]

Yeah, I'd make sure your doctor is on board with this exercise regimen because beta blockers artificially lower your heartrate. Exercising on them causes added stress, which might be why you aren't feeling right.

I had to go off them because of this, I couldn't handle that feeling. I was vomiting from exertion just to walk up the hill to my house. Another thing, the benzos are also acting as a depressant on your body, so your heart will work even harder to cope with that.

And if you have DID and amnesia issues you really should look at tapering off of the benzo. Long-term benzo usage negatively impacts the brain's memory and inhibition, they're really not good for you. Keep it on as a PRN, but it might be time to look at different maintenance meds.

I have a thread on here about one I recommend called Auvelity. Other good meds that are a tad unconventional: gabapentin, psilocybin (time-limited, sub 1g) and ketamine.

 

[No More]

Beta blockers slow your heart rate - which causes all sorts of funky shit if you start trying to do a decent amount of cardio. They absolutely will properly f*ck your body up if you keep trying to run on beta blockers.

If you want to run and be on beta blockers you really need to be seeing someone whose expertise is precisely this.

Also none of the food you ate after the run was good for recovery ‘runners’ food groups. Firstly you want to be looking at electrolytes at that distance, and secondly, carbs, carbs, carbs. And then a little bit of protein. Beta blockers aside, this alone will make you feel like crap. Especially if you didn’t fuel properly during the run?

 

[RainbowSearchParty]

How are you feeling now?

Okay, I'm feeling much better. Amazing what sleep can do! (Once I stopped having a panic attack and stopped googling "heart attack vs panic attack" which always means its panic, not a heart problem).

I'd make sure your doctor is on board with this exercise regimen because beta blockers artificially lower your heartrate.

I worked with my doctor closely to find something specifically that would allow me to exercise. To exercise I have to manage my anxiety so that I can emotionally deal with the increased heart rate and little ones don't freak out and cause the body to find a corner in an alley somewhere to curl up in and cry. And this is a combo I've been on for a very, very long time and this is just a once-off problem. I think the meds are okay.

you really should look at tapering off of the benzo.

I only use it PRN, and had many long conversations with my doctor about my usage, if it was okay, etc.

Also none of the food you ate after the run was good for recovery ‘runners’ food groups.

I was actually in the middle of getting stuff out to make pasta when this happened. And then I just couldn't handle the time and energy to cook it after passing out, so it was easy, no-cook stuff from the fridge instead. I usually do a much better job at making good food choices.

Edited to add: I think I just forgot to eat enough yesterday. And if I forgot to eat, there's a solid chance I forgot water existed, too. Less a sign that there is a problem with meds and maybe more of a sign that I need to continue my search for a therapist because I'm switching more than usual.

 

[Friday]

I was actually in the middle of getting stuff out to make pasta when this happened. And then I just couldn't handle the time and energy to cook it after passing out, so it was easy, no-cook stuff from the fridge instead. I usually do a much better job at making good food choices.

A Gatorade/Powerade/Pedialyte/rehydration-tablets will sort 80% of exercise induced imbalance. Even better, there are pre & post packs… ca++ heavy prepack & k+ heavy post. No thinking/work required with any of these beyond unscrewing a cap. A banana? Is the next best post-exercise recovery food. Potassium & sugar. ACTUAL foods, after these immediates? Are both recommended AND infinitely easier to accomplish.

Cannot more strongly second @No More ‘s entire post. there are pro athletes on beta blockers, but they have to work veeeeery closely with their docs. To avoid the whole death & seizure thing. It’s that level of serious/rigorous honesty.

 

[RainbowSearchParty]

@Friday - yes, agreed. But only helpful if they exist in your cupboards, which they didn't for me last night. (well, banana was in the freezer, but I felt so sick that I couldn't even manage to get it out and make it into a smoothie, which would have been a better choice. But brain and body couldn't think properly, oops).

 

[Friday]

@Friday - yes, agreed. But only helpful if they exist in your cupboards, which they didn't for me last night. (well, banana was in the freezer, but I felt so sick that I couldn't even manage to get it out and make it into a smoothie, which would have been a better choice. But brain and body couldn't think properly, oops).

That happens. One of those… next time? Do ABC, in advance.

 

[RainbowSearchParty]

Yes, better luck next time. And it's worth it to note that when I wrote 9 miles, I just meant my total run/walk distance for the day, which included a trip to the grocery store and a morning stroll to the park. "Running" is a slow jog, and never more than about a mile without stopping to walk. I'm definitley in no danger of being in a "pro-athelete" level of fitness.

On reflection, I really do think I just didn't eat enough yesterday, which could have caused the fainting with or without exercise.

 

[No More]

Cannot more strongly second @No More ‘s entire post. there are pro athletes on beta blockers, but they have to work veeeeery closely with their docs. To avoid the whole death & seizure thing. It’s that level of serious/rigorous honesty.

This - source: I work in sports, and also am seasoned ultra runner over 3fig distances.

This is not, doc says it’s okay kind of level, this is absolutely specialist level. The beta blockers will literally be forcing it down as your body is trying to bring it up. People I know that are on them taper before runs where they know they are going to be moving their heart rate above a certain number. They run in heart rate monitors, they regularly run in labs hooked up to see how their heart is coping. I really don’t want to sound like the village nasty here or make assumptions but this can really properly do a lot of damage to your body.

Good things to have around are electrolyte tabs you can just drop into water and gulp down, Gatorade/powerade or saltsticks. Absolutely take water/bars/gels/gummies with you when you run.
I always have a lil stash of easy carbs, bars, or as @Friday says, bananas have really good rations of nutrients in them for runners.

 

[Weemie]

This is not, doc says it’s okay kind of level, this is absolutely specialist level.

Yeah I agree here cuz if you're passing out? That's showing that there's a problem. Because just not eating enough over a like 24-48 hour period is not enough to cause that, humans can go for long periods without food. This happened because of the meds + exertion, until proven otherwise, IMO. It's just Occam's Razor.

And it's good you're only using the benzo PRN, but that was also very likely a contributing factor because benzos slow your HR even worse. You really want to make sure on this because you are passing out, which means whatever you and your doctor agreed on isn't working.