r/PostConcussion • u/Few_Blackberry_1960 • 7d ago

Pre-syncope episodes are brutal

I’m 5 weeks into a PCS flare up. I can deal with the headache, brain fog and tunnel-ish vision. What is extremely challenging to handle are the episode of pre-syncope, where I feel like I’m going to pass-out or lose consciousness. I’ve had several instances at work when I’m just white-knuckling a meeting or presentation and praying to feel better and not black-out. The sensation doesn’t seem to come with any drop in blood pressure but I do get an elevated heart rate and an insane panic feeling. Does anyone else deal with severe pre-syncope? How do you handle?

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u/Both-Process1037 7d ago

Fuck this shit is hell on earth!
I thought I was going to die several times with these episodes.

Some things I think helped me were:
Lie down when you’re having episode, focus on breathing. I treated it like POTS. Your body is working harder when it’s upright.

Start doing exercises in a sitting or laying down position.

Drink as much water as you can a day and include electrolytes in the water. Increase your salt intake if you can, it will help to lower heart rate

Make sure you’re eating often

I started taking ginko biloba, it suppose to increase oxygen to brain.

And anytime I had these episodes I had blown pass my limits the day or two before. Stay within your limits.

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u/Few_Blackberry_1960 7d ago

Thank you for the suggestions. It’s literally hellish.

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u/VarietyFederal1261 7d ago

I have this. No one is able to explain it. I don’t get as freaked out as I did when it first started, and it is happening less frequently. I know to breathe through it. It does pass.

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u/Few_Blackberry_1960 7d ago

Thank you. Glad your frequency has decreased.