Vasovagal response ie fainting after fill?

[deneicy 0]

Hi, All~

I just had my first adjustment (fill 3.5). ; )

My wonderful surgeon did itl. The procedure went fine, and I wasn't nervous at all. BUT...

A minute or so after I was finished, after the band-aid applied, I suddenly became extremely light-headed. It worsened over the minute, and I felt I'd faint any moment. The doctor got something for me to smell and places cold rags on my forehead and neck. I was sweating.

I recognized the experience--about 15 years ago, I had a "vasovagal" reaction during an ear wax extraction.

My surgeon said this is not uncommon, but I don't see any postings here about this happening at fills.

Have any of you experienced this? Any tips on what I might "do" next time? It felt truly autonomic, like I had no control over it. I felt absolutely no stress, worry, or concern. So :blush:I don't think the stimulus was emotional.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Deneicy:blush:

[deneicy 0]

I visited wrongdiagnosis.com and read about vasovagal attacks. they can be caused by events that stimulate the vagus nerve.

Vagus nerve: a mixed nerve that supplies the pharynx and larynx and lungs and heart and esophagus and stomach and most of the abdominal viscera.

Source: WordNet 2.1

And here's why I had that vasovagal attack 15 years ago when my doc tried to extract ear wax with the long needle. YIKeS:

" The vagus is a mixed nerve which contains somatic afferents (from skin in back of the ear and the external auditory meatus), visceral afferents (from the pharynx, larynx, thorax, and abdomen), parasympathetic efferents (to the thorax and abdomen), and efferents to striated muscle (of the larynx and pharynx).

Source: MeSH 2007

In my research, I saw that "fasting" can also cause fainting. Some members have described fainting symptoms might look into whether they are in a fasting state due to insufficient nutrition.

[Ready to Lose 0]

Hi, All~

I just had my first adjustment (fill 3.5). ; )

My wonderful surgeon did itl. The procedure went fine, and I wasn't nervous at all. BUT...

A minute or so after I was finished, after the band-aid applied, I suddenly became extremely light-headed. It worsened over the minute, and I felt I'd faint any moment. The doctor got something for me to smell and places cold rags on my forehead and neck. I was sweating.

I recognized the experience--about 15 years ago, I had a "vasovagal" reaction during an ear wax extraction.

My surgeon said this is not uncommon, but I don't see any postings here about this happening at fills.

Have any of you experienced this? Any tips on what I might "do" next time? It felt truly autonomic, like I had no control over it. I felt absolutely no stress, worry, or concern. So :blush:I don't think the stimulus was emotional.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Deneicy:blush:

I have the exact same experience EVERYTIME I have a fill.

As a matter of fact, if they don't get the needle in the port after a few minutes (searching for hole) I have to insist that they stop the procedure!!

I try to combat it by calmly picturing myself somewhere else, singing songs in my head, etc. etc. But like I said,....... if their in there too long it invetiablly happens.......I Cannot control it. It really is quite bothersome.:eek: Crazy as it sounds, it works a little better for me if my Shoes and socks are off!!!:cool2: I know now I sound crazy!!

Let me know if you find out anyway that helps you.

[shortgal 5]

I haven't fainted at a fill but I get that lightheaded feeling and I am very familiar with it because I have fainted often. It's just my body. I have fainted or nearly passed out on several flights, too. I have no fear of flying at all. Sometimes I faint if I've been sick but on the airplane I think it's the altitude or level of oxygen on the plane. It does not happen on every flight.

I admit that some of my past episodes have been induced by fear, like blood being drawn or seeing lots of blood.

I had some fear at the first fill, you know the unknown thing, but since then I am not afraid of the fill as I know what to expect. But when I sit up after the fill, I generally still have a light headed feeling.

I actually thought that maybe the paint color in the exam room was causing the dizziness becasue it's really like a bright lime green.

Now I know that it's probably the fill itself!

Glad you posted! I guess you're not alone.

Maybe we need a new thread... fainters unite! LOL!!!

[METALBAND 0]

Hi, All~

I just had my first adjustment (fill 3.5). ; )

My wonderful surgeon did itl. The procedure went fine, and I wasn't nervous at all. BUT...

A minute or so after I was finished, after the band-aid applied, I suddenly became extremely light-headed. It worsened over the minute, and I felt I'd faint any moment. The doctor got something for me to smell and places cold rags on my forehead and neck. I was sweating.

I recognized the experience--about 15 years ago, I had a "vasovagal" reaction during an ear wax extraction.

My surgeon said this is not uncommon, but I don't see any postings here about this happening at fills.

Have any of you experienced this? Any tips on what I might "do" next time? It felt truly autonomic, like I had no control over it. I felt absolutely no stress, worry, or concern. So :blush:I don't think the stimulus was emotional.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Deneicy:blush:

This happened to me on Thursday....my third fill. It never happened before. I am not afraid of needles or anything like that. It was very weird but that is exactly what my doc said it was!!!! Misery loves company so I am glad that I am not alone in this.

I get very light headed when I donate blood too. I tried to give platelets once and passed out.....not sure if it is the same thing.

Thanks for the info!

[BensonRN 0]

Totally there with you. Had my first fill yesterday. Same thing happened. It happens to me with iv and things like that too. I am just used to it and expect it now.

[crikkit 0]

I get my fills under flouro, so I'm standing up with the needle still in me when they do the x-ray in case they need to add more saline. My first two times I got very light headed and they had to get me to lay down a couple of times before they could finish. During my last fill I actually did pass out while standing in front of the x-ray drinking the barium. I spilled barium all over my first normal-people-size pants in years! And now we know ... barium does leave a stain. :drool:

I do fine when I have blood drawn, I guess because I'm sitting down. And I do fine with needles at the dentist. I really don't even feel afraid of needles. I'm very afraid of passing out though!

[kimmycrs 0]

I had a similar incident when I received my first fill last monday. I didn't actually faint but It's funny you posted this because I was telling my husband about it too.

I just got really liteheaded as I walked out to my car after the fill.

Interesting

[deneicy 0]

I tried to have an adjustment yesterday but ended up on a gurny in the recovery room. My blood pressure fell preciptiously and I think I fainted for a short time. I remember someone saying, "Open your eyes. Open your eyes."

I'm such a sissy....or

I just want the sweet little hummingbird cocktail they give us woosies....or

I need an ugly doctor. ~

Deneicy:scared2::thumbup::tt2:

[deneicy 0]

I tried to have an adjustment yesterday but ended up on a gurny in the recovery room. My blood pressure fell preciptiously and I think I fainted for a short time. I remember someone saying, "Open your eyes. Open your eyes."

I'm such a sissy....or

I just want the sweet little hummingbird cocktail they give us woosies....or

I need an ugly doctor. ~

Deneicy

[Sandy Beach 4]

I had my first fill yesterday. I stood on the (ledge or footrail) of the fluoroscope machine. They took a picture of my port and inserted the needle. The Dr. put in 2cc of saline solution then tipped the fluoroscope machine back to a table top mode with my feet above my head. When Dr. put me up right the blood rushed from my head, and I fainted dead away. I woke up on the flat table mode with smelling salts under my nose. I ended up with a 2.6cc fill. I have never fainted before. I hope it's not a new faze of old age. LOL.

[deneicy 0]

Looks like "it happens," which my doctor said. But it's odd that I didn't find an earlier posting about this possible response to the adjustment procedure. I only had a vasovagal once before this---about 15 years ago when my doctor tried to remove ear wax with a long needle device. She stimulated the vagus nerve somehow--which also is near the stomach. I never had any problems with needles and have always watched when I gave blood.

But I knew about VVs because my ex had them when he gave blood...had to lie down afterwards.

A technician told me these reactions happen most often AFTER the procedure. My first one occurred when I started to leave. I was told to always have someone chauffeur me to and fro in the future.

Might be a good idea for all of us, huh.

And a nurse told me the other day--in addition, to lie down in the future--to squeeze something with both hands during the procedure.

...and I asked for ugly doctors next time, since two have made me swoon now. hehe

Be well,

D

[deneicy 0]

Hi, here's my update: I attempted an adjustment about a month ago and passed out. It happens--not often--but for some of us, it happens. I am not afraid or nervous, but I suspect my port somehow stimulates the vagus nerve, causing this autonomic response. So... I laid down this time, and it went very smoothly. No light-headedness at all. And so mch time had passed, that my surgery healing was complete, I'd dropped 30+ pounds, and the band was predictably quite loose. I got 3 cc's on my second fill today. Cheers! and best wishes to anyone who reads this. Oh, they also said to squeeze something in your hands if you have this reaction to adjustments...and to have a chauffeur bring you to the doctor, just in case.

[jcolgrove 0]

I've had 2 fills now and got light headed during both of them. They occur after the fill and after I've drank some barium. We're within 30 seconds of finishing the procedure and I have to lie down. I get a rushing in my ears, vision becomes grainy, and I feel hot. After lying down for a couple of minutes I'm fine. I don't know why this is because mentally I'm not worried about the fills and they barely hurt at all! I think my mind just plays tricks with my body because it knows that the needle is a mile long! It's nice to hear that I'm not the only one that this happens to. My doc said that a lot of people either don't tell him that they are getting light headed or don't have enough time to warn him because they just pass out. At least I have some warning.

[AnnP 0]

Thank goodness I am not alone!! I passed out twice today at my first fill. I was sooo embarrassed, spilled Water all over myself and everything. Feeling better now. Not looking forward to next fill, lol.