Comments on: Fun with Vasovagal Syncope!

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:36:53 +0000

I just experienced something similar. I have the vasovagal response to any kind of IV, and so I’m used to this sort of thing. Had numbing drops this morning and came very close to fainting. Always a bad experience of course, but I’m assuming I will be a poor candidate for LASIK as a result.

By: don woods

don woods — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 04:49:18 +0000

I have the exact same problem. Started at an eye exam when I was about 19 or so. Happens at the dentist, and doctor if I get a shot or blood drawn. If I lay flat I normally do ok. But its so bad I can even get the feeling at times in meetings at work, so not sure if that’s a panic attack that has come from the vaso-vagal or not. Either way, scary and I stay away from doctors and dentists because of it. That in itself is dangerous, as I don’t seek treatment now unless I absolutely must do to extreme pain.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:32:56 +0000

Really happy to see all these stories and posts. I took my boyfriend to get his eyes examined today and they put in the three drops and soon he started saying he felt lightheaded – instantly lost consciousness and started to lightly seizure. It almost happened a second time and all the doctors gathered around giving him water and some food, he seems okay now, but the incident really freaked us out. Its extremely comforting to know he will be okay.

By: Throw Away the Glasses – Heal Glaucoma Naturally | HG Reviews

Throw Away the Glasses – Heal Glaucoma Naturally | HG Reviews — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:44:09 +0000

[...] Websites Stuff and Things and Whatnot » Fun with Vasovagal Syncope! – Let's Blog Ability: January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month – According to the Glaucoma [...]

By: Jackie

Jackie — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:57:34 +0000

Thank you for this post! I’m the same way! I don’t dread giving blood, I don’t hate needles, I’m not grossed out by blood, I’m not squeamish! I just get light headed when any of those things happen to me! It’s ridiculous! Or at least I feel ridiculous. Especially when I tell people “no really, I’m not afraid of needles, I just get light headed and pass out,” because then they look at sideways and say “mmmm-hmmm” like they don’t believe me. Anyways, glad to know that there are other people out there with the same response… or should I say exaggerated “vasovagel syncope.” :-)

By: Kristin Guelli

Kristin Guelli — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:53:20 +0000

Thank you everyone for posting. Just yesterday experienced this with my 14-year old daughter at her eye appointment. She has been wearing contacts for about 3 years now. Has to have yearly check ups to get contact renewal. She reacted to the pressure test drops and had total episode including fainting and seizure which lasted about 30 seconds. This has happened a handful of times in the past but always associated with blood or IV insertion. She has never had any issues at the dentist but she’s also never had novocaine. She has never had an episode without a “trigger” of some kind. Very helpful information!

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:01:17 +0000

Had the same thing happen to me at the opthamologist today. Luckily I can really feel things coming on (start to feel really warm, sweaty, and nauseous) so I can find a place to lie down before anything really bad happens (although it takes me about 10 minutes to feel well enough to stand up again).

For me, it didn’t seem to hit until a few minutes after the drops were put in. And strangely, I have had the yellow glaucoma drops before with no problems. Before the glaucoma drops, I had ‘eye pressure’ drops and not sure if I’ve ever had those before.

I have the same delayed reaction when getting needles. I can have the shot and be halfway out of the doctor’s office before it hits me.

I also get the same symptoms reading about medical procedures, seeing blood, visiting people in the hospital, etc., but to a milder extent.

It was fascinating reading the blog owner’s original post as we seem to have had very similar experiences.

By: Traci

Traci — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:57:42 +0000

I’ve had the vasovagal response to the dilation drops before, but today was the first time I’d had that response to the numbing drops for the glaucoma test test (I’d had it done a year ago without any trouble). My optometrist wondered if maybe it was because I hadn’t eaten yet or something. Didn’t completely pass out, but had all the other stuff, including tingling in my hands/forearms for a while afterwards. Still feel week and shakey (for about an hour now). I don’t have this reaction to anything else, including needels.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 04:52:55 +0000

Like many others on here, this also just happened to me today at the eye doctors immediately after dilation drops. I did not pass out, but I got extremely queasy, sweaty, lightheaded, and nauseous. I certainly felt like I could have been on the brink of passing out, but I managed to keep it together.

This previously happened 2 appointments ago after receiving the numbing drops for the pressure glaucoma test.

I wonder–how do the rest of you feel about having your blood pressure measured? I get queasy, but I can handle it when done once. When I had to get my wisdom teeth pulled, though, they set this machine to take my blood pressure every 3 minutes or so. Each time it pumped up the cuff I felt more queasy until I came close to passing out.

By: Danny

Danny — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:05:11 +0000

Wow. Great to hear I’m not alone. The last time I went to the eye doctor, they tested for Glaucoma, just like with you. After they administered the drops however, my blood pressure dropped almost immediately to unsafe levels. They had to call an ambulance. Once I thought I was fine, I went to stand up and nearly passed out again. I have also passed out when having blood drawn. At first, I thought it was due to fear, but from an evolutionary perspective, that would make no sense. In moments of fear, passing out would lead almost always to death (at least historically). The weird thing is, it doesn’t always happen when I get blood drawn. Once I told the nurse that I might pass out because it tends to happen a lot. She said, “no you won’t as long as you keep breathing.” I ignored the comment she made, but turns out I was fine the whole day. However, don’t see why my blood pressure would drop…. Anyway, thanks for the post. The article was very comforting also.