lrwalker Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I'm on Day 19 of my first Whole30. Earlier today, I had a bizarre reaction in my optometrist office-- I passed out cold, while sitting down. I have had similar events (maybe 3-4 times in my life, I'm 33), but all after extreme pain, usually after breaking a bone. My doctor has called them vasovagal responses-- where the blood leaves your brain and you pass out. My question is-- do you think that anything I'm eating (or not eating) could have triggered this? Thoughts on this? I recovered fairly quickly-- they insisted on shoving juice and crackers down me-- I took the juice, but there was no way in hell I was taking the wheat! I just have never had a vasovagal response not related to severe pain. I'd consult my GP, but she wasn't all that thrilled when I mentioned the Whole30 diet last week (eliminating entire food groups?!) Something to note: when at the GP, she did commend me on weight loss. I know we aren't supposed to weigh, but since she weighed me, and because of this event, I checked, and I am down 15lbs. I don't think this is overly staggering because I am overweight, but I just thought I'd mention it. Other than this event, I feel great and have been able to follow the whole30 to a "t". Other than the juice today, no known slip ups or sneaky ingredients have entered my diet the last 19 days. Thoughts? It's one thing to pass out from pain, but it's a whole other, unpredictable event to pass out randomly in the optometrist office (not to mention embarrassing!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Physibeth Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Wikepedia lists both hunger and dehydration as possible triggers so that begs the question...are you eating enough? Are you drinking enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFChris Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Have you been keeping sufficiently hydrated? Aim for drinking water of at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces daily. Maybe post your food log for the past 2-3 days to see if anyone has suggested tweaks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrwalker Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 I haven't been hungry (I try to follow the general meal guidelines in ISWF) and that seems to keep me satiated. As for water, I believe I intake enough. I carry around a Nalgene everyday, and try to keep track. I don't do caffeine, so that shouldn't be dehydrating me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Tom Denham Posted August 16, 2013 Moderators Share Posted August 16, 2013 Losing 15 pounds in 19 days might be okay for you, but it is enough to raise the question of whether you are eating enough. If you are under-fed, you could be more vulnerable to passing out. So, are you meeting the food template guidelines? Are you drinking enough water, as in half an ounce of water per pound of body weight per day? Are you getting enough salt? Sometimes it takes time before your hunger signals become reliable. Sometimes you need to eat before you feel hungry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrwalker Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share Posted August 16, 2013 I checked other users posts on fainting before posting my question, and so I should have posted a disclaimer: I DON'T think it's quantity of food, water or sodium related. Typically, I have been eating a palm sized piece of protien with several cups of veggies, and a serving (sometimes) of fruit, plus a serving or two of fat. I just put in my last 2 days' food intake into a calorie counter, and I was over 1500 calories. Not really sure how far over, as I use olive oil for dressing and cooking, and haven't been measuring since I started my Whole30. But 1500 calories is pretty good for me, at least pre-Whole30. I used to be a calorie counting fool, so I know the tricks of the trade. I've been seasoning my meats and veggies, often with a combo from Trader Joes that includes salt, or just salt itself, with a combo of other spices in dishes. Like I said with water-- I keep a pretty good eye on it; and I'm typically right on target. With my weight loss, I am possibly attributing it to cutting out wheat. My mom and sister did so out of their diets due to gluten sensitivities and both lost considerable amounts of weight immediately. I'm hoping my Whole30 will be revealing in this matter. My thought was: could it be a SPECIFIC food I'm missing (or over eating!) that maybe caused this? Salt is a good thought, but I think I'm ok. I have been eating a wide range of proteins: fish, chicken, beef, pork, eggs, turkey. I try to vary my veggie intake daily, but my favorite is probably broccoli, and peppers and onions. I put those in a lot of dishes. As far as fats, I've been using olive oil, olives, avocado, a little coconut, coconut oil and coconut milk, and very little nuts. I have an allergy to almonds (although not severe, and it seems to have gotten better during this time). I really have been trying to do this "by the book", as I want to see the most honest results for my body. I've scoured the forum posts for do's and dont's, and have garnered a lot of wisdom, but today's event stumped me. I thought maybe someone out there might have some insight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Tom Denham Posted August 16, 2013 Moderators Share Posted August 16, 2013 Ok, you are ruling out obvious possibilities. Good for you. It sounds like you have been doing your Whole30 well. Unfortunately, that leaves me without ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Just out of curiosity, how much of your veggie intake is of the starchy carb variety? How is your thyroid and adrenal health? I certainly don't want to second guess your doctor, but as someone who passes out more than the average bear (for a handful of reasons) I have found it very rare for the vasovagal response to come out of nowhere. It doesn't have to be pain, necessarily- a cough or a sneeze can do it (or straining to poop, but I'm pretty sure you weren't doing that in your optometrist's office). In my experience, when I faint for seemingly no reason, it often ends up being hormone related (or hypoglycemic, but it doesn't sound like that's an issue for you). Did it feel just like the other three or four times in your life when you've had vasovagal events? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrwalker Posted August 17, 2013 Author Share Posted August 17, 2013 I recently had a bout with sudden-onset chronic headaches. About a year and a half ago they came on (I had never had a single headache before this!) and have been extensively tested, poked, prodded, and even hospitalized. This is what ultimately prompted me to do a Whole30 (which is partly why I am SO particular about following it completely.). I am happy to report on day 5, my headaches disappeared, after a year and a half of doctors not being able to fully clear them up. That being said, I've had my thyroid tested, extensive blood tests ran, MRI's, etc etc. NOTHING has come up abnormal, except being overweight. No high blood pressure, not pre diabetic... Nothing. I do have seasonal allergies, and am on antihistimines, and I read somewhere that antihistimines can cause vasovagal response.However, I've taken them successfully for years. Not sure that it would just start randomly. I've also read that there is a vasovagal trigger point near your eye. He was in the middle of inserting contacts in my eye when it happened. Possibly this was the trigger? I'm not sure. As far as starchy foods-- I've been avoiding most of them, along with going overboard on coconut and nuts, only because of my weight issue (well, as the fact that I don't like sweet potatoes and most starchy veggies. ). So far, I feel great-- very happy with the disappearance of headaches, and obivously the weightloss. Even my seasonal and food (almonds) allergies have cleared slightly. That being said, I speculate it may have been a combination of random factors in the office, after doing more research (eye trigger point, antihistamines, stress, etc.) but I wanted to rule out any and all food triggers, or absence of food. I thought the least I could do is ask. All other episodes I have had, have been in response to pain: broken bone, sprained ankle, etc. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrwalker Posted August 17, 2013 Author Share Posted August 17, 2013 Oh... And I have experienced the vasovagal cough/strain blackout (or near blackout), but this was different. Those kind, I can keep from blacking out. This, there was no controlling it. I had about 2 seconds notice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 You're probably right that it was a magical combination of factors, but I'm with you on wishing you knew what it was so you could avoid it in the future. Like you, my vasovagal responses usually come with enough warning to mitigate damage (I get suddenly hot and dizzy and have time to get on the ground before I fall down), which is decidedly less scary than a sudden fainting spell. I'm sorry that happened to you and would love for you to know why so you could avoid the possibility of it happening while driving or something. If it doesn't happen again, it's likely related to the trigger point and other factors. But if it becomes a pattern, I think it's worth continuing to dig into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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