Fainting!

[Mallo]

Hey everyone,

I'm brand new to this site as I have just started to relapse which now involves fainting... I moved to Australia two years ago from Chicago and have been in a fairly steady remission since living here until last month. Back in Chicago when I would relapse, it consisted of rapid weight loss, stomach pain, the runs, etc. but now it's all this plus fainting from dehydration. I'm wondering if it's the difference in climate that's causing the fainting, does anyone here from Australia also suffer from fainting/major fatigue?

Also, what are some good tips to maintain hydration while relapsing? I was helping my stepdad clean up his workshop out in the sun since it got hit badly by the Brisbane floods this week when I fainted from the heat and dehydration! I had gatorade with me and found it got me back up on my feet quickly but other preferences on drinks like powerade or vitamin water for a quick fix would be well appreciated! ( I find that too much water at one time can take a toll on my belly)

Thanks xo

 

[Guest]

hi Mallo, & welcome to the forum

yes - there is something much better suited to this type of dehydration problem than simply gatorade - you can buy rehydration sachets over the counter, there are various makes over here such as Dioralyte, Electrolade, plus some supermarkets make their own brands... they contain all the essential electrolytes that we lose when we have the runs, or lose fluids in other ways - and they are wonderful.

without these drinks, i would've had many more faints and hospital visits over the years.

i'd recommend that you take one every day you feel you've lost excess fluid, or if you've got severe diarrhea, you can take one every few hours.

i live in the UK, and we're not lucky enough to get the prolonged high temps that you get over there, but when it's our summer and it's really hot, i do take one every so often to keep those dehydration headaches away.

 

[littlemissh]

Another thing to think about is if you are anaemic which can occur as part of a relapse even without obvious blood in bm's. This can predispose you to fainting. Have you had your blood count checked recently?

 

[carrollco]

I was having fainting episodes while on the toliet. Between losing a lot of water and the extreme "pushing feeling" (I don't know the proper terminology for it), it dropped my blood pressure too low. Once the 'pushing feeling' stopped, so did the fainting.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mallo]

Thanks guys!! This helps a lot! I haven't had my blood count checked recently, I will go do that soon. I also have low blood pressure naturally, so it's always something extra to think about.

xo

 

[DustyKat]

Hi Mallo,

You've been given great advice. Definitely go and get your bloods checked including Iron Studies, Folate and B12.

Being on the coast the humidity can be a real killer, so even though the air temperature may not excessively high the humidity is, so easy to dehydrate just through sweating. Even for people without IBD it is a real energy sapper.

The equivalent type of product here that Ding is talking about is Gastrolyte, there would be others but that's the one I am most familiar with.

Good luck and keep us posted,
Dusty

 

[outlier]

Welcome.
I also have low blood pressure (and anemia), so I faint a lot. When ever I visit a tropical country I faint, so change in climate is a yes. Also time change I think mess with me and some how makes me more likely to faint. i know when i faint from low blood pressure or something else, because when i faint from low blood pressure, i hear what almost sounds like a whistling kettle and steam releasing. When i faint from anemia, meds or low blood sugar, i don't here this.
Good luck.

 

[vonfunk]

I've almost fainted when my anaemia is really bad. I've been picking up things to hep rehydrate from backpacking and camping supply stores.
I've been using a product called Nuun, they are tablets that you drop in water.

 

[ErikaHouston]

I have fainted on 2 of my 3 hemorrhages....but the blood was VERY noticeable. Definitely get your blood counts done. Good luck.