Fainting and some kind of seizure?

Kyle Martin67 MemberOP

28 messages
joined May 2013

#1 · Mar 9, 2015

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some help and maybe a bit of advice here.

So, basically, this involves my girlfriend. She went out this past Friday and had quite a few drinks. She didn't get home until about 8:00 AM on Saturday, slept until noon—so she only got about four hours of rest—and then we headed back out on Saturday evening to grab more drinks and hit some clubs. She seemed totally fine and was just as awake as I was all through Sunday afternoon.
But then, last night, something happened for the very first time in her life, and honestly, it really scared me.
We were lying in bed when she got a text message. She sat up to grab her phone from the nightstand, and suddenly, she just blacked out—she swayed and collapsed straight to the floor. She started shaking for what felt like maybe two seconds? I was by her side within a single second, shouting "Hey! Hey!" and trying to help her up. After those two seconds passed, she just came to.
She’s pretty shaken up because she’s never experienced anything like this before. She told me everything just went black, and all she can remember is hearing me calling out to her and then being pulled up from the floor.
One thing I should mention is that her last meal was on Saturday before we went out. After that, she was drinking all night, all morning, and most of the afternoon—probably until 2:00 PM—just constant drinking and dancing. So, I'm wondering: could this have happened because her immune system was completely wiped out, or is this a sign of an epileptic seizure or something similar?

Thanks in advance. Please, if you have any advice or similar experiences, let me know.

melloworca6 Regular

551 messages
joined May 2010

#2 · Mar 9, 2015

Get her to the ER. It might be nothing, but passing out and having some kind of seizure isn't something you just brush off.

Kyle Martin67 MemberOP

28 messages
joined May 2013

#3 · Mar 9, 2015

We didn't rush straight to the ER, but are you suggesting we should take her to see her pediatrician instead—or perhaps it would be better to head to a place like Mayo Clinic for a more thorough checkup?

melloworca6 Regular

551 messages
joined May 2010

#4 · Mar 9, 2015

Did this happen last night? If so, I’d be rushing her to the ER regardless. Even if you take her to her primary care doctor—assuming she actually has one—they’re just going to send her straight to the emergency room anyway. Honestly, when it comes to neurological issues, there’s no such thing as "wait and see" in my book. If someone in my family started acting like that, I’d be at the hospital immediately, even if it was a day later.

It’s better to let them run tests there and coordinate with her doctor than to try and handle it yourself and end up with a disaster on your hands.

Angela Wright Regular

731 messages
joined Feb 2007

#5 · Mar 9, 2015

Honestly, I think that was an epileptic seizure. Sleep deprivation and alcohol were probably the triggers. You really need to get her to Dr. Miller for a full workup—blood tests, EEGs, maybe even more specialized imaging if needed. It’s a shame you didn't head straight to the ER; they could have run all those tests immediately. Look, when someone has these kinds of abnormal loss-of-consciousness episodes accompanied by seizures, you don't go Googling symptoms or scrolling through online forums to figure out what happened—you go to the emergency room. I agree with melloworca6, just get to the ER right now. If they discharge her, then you can deal with the wait times at the local clinic, but if they admit her for observation immediately, even better. It'll save you from a diagnostic process that could drag on for weeks or even months.
Has she had episodes like this before, where she collapses and loses her memory of the event?

It is also absolutely critical that she gets a solid seven hours of uninterrupted sleep and stays away from alcohol, high-stress situations, or anything overstimulating—think movies with intense special effects or heavy video gaming—until you get some clarity on what actually happened. Here's the thing: if we are dealing with epilepsy, every single subsequent seizure causes additional damage to the brain. If it happens again right in front of you, make sure to place something between her teeth—like a belt, a folded cloth, or a wallet—so she doesn't accidentally bite through her tongue.

Kyle Martin67 MemberOP

28 messages
joined May 2013

#6 · Mar 9, 2015

This happened yesterday evening, I think... what should I have her checked for at the ER?
In my opinion, it might not be anything serious—she was drinking for three days straight and barely eating, so her immune system likely just took a hit and her body gave out. But you can never be too sure, right? Maybe it’s better to get her over to the Mayo Clinic for a neurological exam or something similar—I'm honestly not sure what the best next step is...

Sam Kim12 Active Member

156 messages
joined Apr 2018

#7 · Mar 9, 2015

Kyle Martin67 said:Hey everyone—I’m looking for some quick help and maybe a bit of advice here.

Basically, this involves my girlfriend. She went out this past Friday and really overdid it on the drinks. She finally rolled in around 8:00 AM on Saturday, slept until noon—so, barely four hours of shut-eye—and then we headed back out on Saturday night to grab more drinks and hit up some clubs. She seemed completely fine and alert, just like me, all through Saturday and most of Sunday.
But then, last night—yesterday evening—something happened for the very first time in her life, and honestly, I was terrified.
We were lying in bed when she got a text message; she sat up to grab her phone from the nightstand, and suddenly, she just... buckled. She collapsed to the floor and started shaking—it probably lasted about two seconds. I was by her side within a single second, shouting, "Hey! Hey! Hey!" while trying to pull her up from the floor. After that whole ordeal, which took maybe two seconds total, she snapped back to herself.
She’s shaken up because she’s never experienced anything like it—she said everything just went black, and all she can remember is hearing me yelling and then being lifted off the floor.
To provide some context: her last meal was Saturday before we went out, and after that, it was just constant drinking all through the night, all morning, and seemingly well into the afternoon—maybe until 2:00 PM. Was this just a result of her immune system crashing from the exhaustion, or is this a sign of an epileptic seizure or something similar?...

Thanks in advance—please, if anyone has any insight or personal experience, let me know.

Hmm... if she had just collapsed, you could chalk it up to a blood pressure issue, but that shaking part is what worries me. If that happened to me, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to head straight to the ER—and that's exactly what I’d recommend doing here, much like melloworca6 suggested.😉

Sam Kim12 Active Member

156 messages
joined Apr 2018

#8 · Mar 9, 2015

Kyle Martin67 said:It happened yesterday evening—I think—so I could take her to the ER...
Honestly, I don't think it’s anything major she hadn't eaten much and barely drank anything for three days—her immune system just tanked, and her body gave out—but you can never be certain, can you? Maybe it's better to just get her over to a specialist at the Mayo Clinic for a neurological consult or something similar... I'm not entirely sure what the protocol is...

Don't be so dismissive.😉
At an ER, they can run all sorts of tests, and in the best-case scenario, they'll admit her to the hospital where they can perform a full battery of neurological exams over the next few days—and if everything comes back clear on the neuro front, they might transfer her to another department altogether.

My aunt collapsed one day and ended up in the ER, then moved to neurology, only to end up being transferred to cardiology because, as it turned out, her neurological scans were perfectly fine.

The point is, you simply cannot afford to play games with this kind of thing.

melloworca6 Regular

551 messages
joined May 2010

#9 · Mar 9, 2015

Kyle Martin67 said:I think this happened yesterday evening. Maybe I should take her to the ER...
In my opinion, it’s nothing major. She was drinking for three days and barely eating, so her immune system crashed and her body just gave out. But you never know. Maybe it’s better to just drive her over to Medica for a neurology consult or whatever they have there... I don't know what the options are...

She collapsed, lost consciousness, and started seizing, and you're telling me that's "nothing major"?

Look, it hasn't even been 24 hours. Of course, you can take her to the ER (and I doubt they'd turn her away). If you want to pay out of pocket at Medica, go ahead, but why bother when the ER handles this for free under Medicare?

Do whatever you want, but get her to a doctor immediately. Any doctor. Anywhere.

melloworca6 Regular

551 messages
joined May 2010

#10 · Mar 9, 2015

Angela Wright said:I'm with melloworca6 on this one. Get to the ER right now. If they discharge you, then you go through the standard Medicare waitlist, but if they admit you for processing immediately, even better. You’ll bypass a queue that could easily drag on for weeks or even months.

People honestly don't realize how long the wait times are for certain tests and scans. Your options are basically pay out of pocket—and yeah, a CT scan isn't cheap—or spend months wandering hospital corridors waiting for your number to be called.

Good luck to anyone who hasn't dealt with the mess that is our healthcare system. You could practically die five times over before you finally get your turn for an appointment. 😢

Angela Wright Regular

731 messages
joined Feb 2007

#11 · Mar 9, 2015

Kyle Martin67 said:I think this happened yesterday evening; I wonder what they can actually check for her at the ER...

And what exactly do you think they can examine, her throat? She’ll probably just head over to a subreddit to ask instead. 🙄...🤦
Look, just get your act together and pedal straight to the emergency room. 🙂

steelwalker26 Active Member

58 messages
joined Jan 2019

#12 · Mar 9, 2015

Kyle Martin67 said:So they just kept drinking all night, through the morning, and even well into the afternoon—probably didn't stop until around 2 PM. Just relentless. He was there, and everything was just pure chaos. Was it just her immune system tanking? That’s my guess.

Kyle Martin67 said:...
Honestly, I don't see the big deal. Three days of drinking and barely eating anything? That’s a recipe for disaster right there. Your immune system takes a massive hit, your body just gives out. It's basic biology.

What exactly is this "zum zum" nonsense? Some kind of street drug? Are you actually trying to kill your girlfriend? Look, I’m putting this in writing so you can’t come crawling back later claiming, "Oh man, I HAD NO IDEA." This kind of recklessness? It’s a death sentence. Plain and simple.

The whole immunity thing. Let's talk about it. 🤦 What is wrong with you? How can you spout such absolute nonsense? Immunity protects against infectious diseases—how on earth could this possibly be an immunity issue? She caught the flu and collapsed into unconsciousness? I don't even have the words, for crying out loud. Whoever this girl's parents are, they are truly pathetic.

Angela Wright Regular

731 messages
joined Feb 2007

#13 · Mar 9, 2015

melloworca6 said:People don't even realize how much you have to wait for basic exams and scans. You either shell out serious cash at a private clinic—especially if you need something like a CT scan—or you spend months wandering around public hospitals just waiting for your turn.

Honestly, if you haven't experienced the absolute circus that is our healthcare system, you wouldn't understand. You could practically die five times over before they finally call you in for a diagnostic test. 😢

Exactly... I just went to a private clinic for an abdominal ultrasound and only waited two days, and they actually had the nerve to ask which appointment time worked best for me. My dad drove me because I was in too much pain to get behind the wheel, and halfway there, I noticed his mole had changed color and told him he needed to see his doctor immediately. While he was waiting for my appointment, he happened to notice a dermatologist's office right there, so he knocked. The doctor saw him instantly and took care of that mole plus two others... it cost him a cool $400 on the spot, but hey, it was done. If he’d tried to go through Medicare, he would’ve been sitting on a waiting list for months. Of course, it wasn't a life-threatening emergency, but then again, every "emergency" has an expiration date—you either stabilize or you drop dead. That's why people only get things handled quickly when they hit the ER.
Most people have absolutely no clue about anything regarding health or taking responsibility for their own bodies. Luckily, some still know enough to seek out professional advice... but most don't even know that much.

Kyle Martin67 MemberOP

28 messages
joined May 2013

#14 · Mar 9, 2015

Alright, thanks everyone for the advice—I think I’m going to head over to the ER and get this sorted out once and for all.😉
Once she gets home from work...

steelwalker26 Active Member

58 messages
joined Jan 2019

#15 · Mar 9, 2015

So, what exactly is ecstasy? Or do you even know, besides thinking it's just a blast? Here’s a winning combo: three days of heavy drinking, some weed to take the edge off, a hit of X to keep you up, and zero food... then suddenly there’s a girl passed out, twitching away. What could possibly be wrong with her? 😲

Lupus. Legionnaires'. Sarcoidosis? U3PM.

melloworca6 Regular

551 messages
joined May 2010

#16 · Mar 9, 2015

I honestly think Zum Zum is pure sex, but hey, maybe I'm wrong. 😬

Kyle Martin67, give us the lowdown—what actually happened and what did the doctors say? 🙂

steelwalker26 Active Member

58 messages
joined Jan 2019

#17 · Mar 9, 2015

Sure, because the cause-and-effect logic is flawless: sex -> immune system crash -> passing out with convulsions.

Bravo, pal. You’re practically knocking girls unconscious.

If this were my sister or my daughter, I’d beat you so badly you wouldn't be put back together in Chicago.

Angela Wright Regular

731 messages
joined Feb 2007

#18 · Mar 9, 2015

steelwalker26 said:Right, because there's clearly a direct causal chain here: sex -> immune system crash -> passing out with seizures.

Nice one, buddy. Way to go, making jokes while girls are literally losing consciousness.

If this were my sister or my daughter, I’d beat you senseless before you could even find a hospital.

Look, man, there's really no need for these kinds of emotional outbursts... and let's be real, she isn't some helpless child incapable of looking after herself, and since she's an adult, she can seek out her own help just like anyone else. Everyone is responsible for themselves. 🙄

melloworca6 Regular

551 messages
joined May 2010

#19 · Mar 9, 2015

steelwalker26 said:Right, because there's a clear cause-and-effect chain here: sex -> immune system crash -> passing out with convulsions.

Bravo, man. Real smooth, acting like girls just drop unconscious.

If this were my sister or my daughter, I’d hunt you down myself.

Seriously, there is zero reason to talk like this. A guy came here asking for advice, and he got it. What he and his girlfriend decide to actually do is their business.

Watch your tone on this forum. We have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior.

Kyle Martin67 MemberOP

28 messages
joined May 2013

#20 · Mar 9, 2015

Hey everyone. We just got back from the ER, so I figured I’d give you all an update on what went down... Basically, they gave us a very polite explanation of why they couldn't admit us and sent us straight home. A lovely young nurse was kind enough to explain what the issue was—apparently, we need a referral from a primary care physician first. So, all that talk from some of you about how I'm incapable of looking after myself? Yeah, that completely falls flat now. I already scheduled an appointment with my doctor at Medford today to get all the necessary tests done. Turns out, I actually *can* handle my own business. It seems like some of you have clearly never been young and enjoyed a weekend out once in a while... Maybe things got a little carried away, but there was a reason to celebrate, and frankly, I don't think you have any right to be so judgmental. My boyfriend was actually being really sweet and asking for advice—it's not like I'm shaking every single day, but he was understandably worried. Honestly, I probably would have been turned away at the ER tonight regardless. A huge, huge thanks for the "helpful" advice; as for those of you who find it so scandalous that a young person wants to go out and live their life—you'll have kids one day too, and I can only hope you don't try to keep them on a leash just so they turn out as uptight as you. And for the record, my parents and my brother are perfectly happy with me, so there's no need for the extreme overreactions. Oh, and yeah—my boyfriend is amazing in bed.
Best, girl

Fainting and some kind of seizure?

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