Has anyone else had a problem with fainting? I don't know if its caused by my TN but I had two fainting spells about a week ago and another one today. I'm getting really scared that something is really wrong with me.
I fainted once a few summers ago, it was weirdest feeling every. I wasn't even having a TN episode at the moment....So IDK if it's related or not.
I think you should make appt with doc, could be medicine related
Are you eating okay (since eating is a trigger for a lot of people)? Do you think you could be pushing yourself too hard? I agree with making an appointment, there are so many things that can cause fainting including things totally different to TN (with the worse being cardiac arrythmias or a heart attack). Please see your doctor!
Have they checked to see if you have glossopharyngeal neuralgia as well? That really does cause fainting. 9th cranial nerve has a connection to the heart. Better check it out.
Best wishes
Bellalarke
PixelKam, ever figure out what the fainting was about? I keep getting really dizzy and near-fainting (the world spinning and all). I'm curious as to what happened with you. Mine might be a tegretol side effect, as I'm new to it.
Hello - I have had Syncope (Fainting) in the past. What I have noticed is when I am taking Narcotics, and smoke *(pot) the mix can cause me to faint.
The Narco's are apt to cause Respiratory Suspension which can cause your body to try to get more oxygen to the brain - by making you lay down, hence fainting.
Are you taking Narco's? Have you noticed you get a warning - kind of dizzy and light headed before you go out?
Note: I have Geniculate Neuralgia and had MVD performed to cure it. The Glossophayngeal nerve was affected which caused me no end of grief during the recovery. I think Bellalarke is right - you should discuss this with your Neuro team.
Smash
I haven't had a diagnosis for the cause of my fainting. My Neuro and I are not on the same page at the moment (he thinks I have anxiety which I DON'T) so we haven't really made any progress on finding the cause of the problem. I do have a MRI tomorrow (without contrast and not thin slice) to see if I have a brain bleed (my mom thinks he wasn't comfortable giving contrast until he can rule that out because if I did have a bleed the contrast would cause problems, as a nurse she's had patients with similar issues). If that comes back negative then I assume my mom will request a thin slice MRI with Contrast so we can compare it to the MRI i had ten years ago to see if there are any changes in my brain. Maybe then I'll have some answers, I don't really know. My dad is really worried about me, he can tell something isn't right, and when my dad has a bad thing he's normally right. I guess I'm just hoping for a miracle right now.
I recently started Tegretol and this all was happening before then so I don't think its a side effect. (at least for me it might for you medications effect everyone differently)
LGHiker said:
PixelKam, ever figure out what the fainting was about? I keep getting really dizzy and near-fainting (the world spinning and all). I'm curious as to what happened with you. Mine might be a tegretol side effect, as I'm new to it.
I don't take Narcotics for the pain, I've only been prescribed Tegretol to try and control it. My warning is usually my eye snapping shut and I can't open it, then everything goes down fast (my hearing, sight, etc). I've never actually gone out fully because I've been able to get down to the floor and get the blood flowing back to my head fast enough.
smashagnome said:
Hello - I have had Syncope (Fainting) in the past. What I have noticed is when I am taking Narcotics, and smoke *(pot) the mix can cause me to faint.
The Narco's are apt to cause Respiratory Suspension which can cause your body to try to get more oxygen to the brain - by making you lay down, hence fainting.
Are you taking Narco's? Have you noticed you get a warning - kind of dizzy and light headed before you go out?
Note: I have Geniculate Neuralgia and had MVD performed to cure it. The Glossophayngeal nerve was affected which caused me no end of grief during the recovery. I think Bellalarke is right - you should discuss this with your Neuro team.
Smash
I am eating fine. Pushing myself could be part of it since college is really busy and theres a lot of work. At my last neuro appointment when the took my BP it was pretty high compared to my normal level and I often experience this odd feeling in my heart where it feels like it beats really hard once and then stops for a second then beats really hard again before racing really fast. I didn't get to tell my neuro this though because he started accusing me of anxiety (I don't have anxiety even slightly) so I'm planning on bringing it up to my mom again to see what she thinks because she is a nurse on a cardiac floor so she knows some things about the heart. Maybe my MRI will show the reading all of these odd things are happening. Thanks for the advice though :)
poisonivy said:
Are you eating okay (since eating is a trigger for a lot of people)? Do you think you could be pushing yourself too hard? I agree with making an appointment, there are so many things that can cause fainting including things totally different to TN (with the worse being cardiac arrythmias or a heart attack). Please see your doctor!
Uh, Pixelkam, I was an undergrad when I first got TN. I struggled through two semesters with horrific TN pain. I pushed through and made it, even doing very well. I feel ya! Now I'm a graduate student, but I've realized there is no reason not to slow down. Your health is what matters most. Take care of yourself first and foremost!
Do you know the reason you have TN? Have you been tested for MS? MS causes fainting and TN, not sure what your other symptoms are, but I am in the process of getting tests set up for MS. You might want to rule it out. 
Good luck, I feel your pain
Oh man, does tegretol cause fainting? I haven't fainted yet. I feel like I keep near-missing. Each time I get super nauseous too. The world gets all spinny and starry like. It is weirding me out!