The Student Room Group

has this happened to anyone before

i had a blood pressure test this morning and for some reason i nearly passed out/fainted. i felt nauseous and i felt like i was blacking out in slow motion. my eyesight went all blurry and i saw pinky yellowy colours slowly going black. i didnt pass out though, i was seconds away from it.

it was only a blood pressure test. ive had it before im not frightened of it...well it doesnt hurt. all it does is squeeze your arm. and i feel pathetic.

im having an operation in 2 weeks and what the hell am i going to be like cos im terrified of needles.
I don't understand why you'd feel pathetic. The fact that you've had them before and had no problem simply means that this time there was another, unseen variable. So there must have been a reason why you nearly fainted, even if you and the nurse didn't see.
So there's no need to feel pathetic. As for the operation if you have a fear of needles surely they'll accommodate for that, maybe by giving you gas instead.
Reply 2
There's actually a "syndrome" related to having your blood pressure taken, known as "White Coat Syndrome", which basically means you have an aversion to doctors, or medical staff. Can stretch from giving you slightly raised blood pressure, to blacking out, like you say, which is caused by very elevated blood pressure. It's also known as White Coat Hypertension.

It could have happened because you're subconciously thinking about the operation, but it could have been made worse by not eating enough that day, or being stressed over other things.

Did the doctor say you had high blood pressure when you had it taken?
i think its jus overwhelming at the docs sometimes, ive had panicky moments where i think im goin into shock and passed out in the waiting room before at the thought of medical stuff like blood tests even if im not having one that day, i dont class myself as scared of the docs or needles really!
We're all allowed woosy moments, don't worry bout it sweetie give urself a break x jus make sure u get to sit down n take some deep breaths before u leave if it ever happens again.. trust me.. moving whilst fainting is much more painful when u come round lol
x_lucylastic_x
i think its jus overwhelming at the docs sometimes, ive had panicky moments where i think im goin into shock and passed out in the waiting room before at the thought of medical stuff like blood tests even if im not having one that day, i dont class myself as scared of the docs or needles really!
We're all allowed woosy moments, don't worry bout it sweetie give urself a break x jus make sure u get to sit down n take some deep breaths before u leave if it ever happens again.. trust me.. moving whilst fainting is much more painful when u come round lol


I totally agree ^^ Sometimes at the docs i feel tense and a little stressed before anything even happens. Also, those blood pressure machines are really really tight and make my chest tighten up for some reason, everytime i have one done. The doc tells me to relax and it's just a bit of panic. Tbh i think he's right, you just need to relax and keep talking to the doctor or nurse.