NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay, something very weird happened to me tonight. I went downtown to see the beautiful fireworks! Everything was great until I went to get in line to get back on the Metrolink (train thing that runs through downtown). I jumped this concrete barrier to get in the back of the line (otherwise I would have had to walk a long way to go around the stupid thing). Anyhow, in jumping it, I pulled a muscle. No problem, I thought, I would just walk it off.

Then, the most bizarre thing happened. All of the sudden, I got nauseous and started seeing black spots. Then, my head started pounding and I became very dizzy. I clutched the concrete barrier and slowly lost my vision. Everything was black. When I finally came to, I was covered in sweat and I didn't stop sweating for about 20 minutes. Finally, I got to normal; but I was left with a major headache and a weak feeling.

I don't have a clue what happened. I was not out in the sun today, it was only 76 downtown, and the only thing medically wrong with me is a bladder infection. The only other time I ever passed out was under extreme stress. I was reviewing for a midterm and I passed out on the bed (I just lost the closest person to me and my boyfriend was abusive). I was late to the midterm because I didn't wake up until five minutes after it started.

Anyhow, so tonight can be considered the second time I randomly passed out. However, this time I don't have any explanation as to why I passed out. My question is: have any of you ever passed out (not alcohol related) and what caused you to pass out (if you want to share)? I think it's weird to randomly pass out, but it might be more common than I think. Let me know!

damn... no I cant say I have - seen someone pass out though and it's a bit weird - you dont know what to do at first, but then something kicks in and you just take care of them as best you can really

Yes, I passed out once per year, in school, from age 7 to 16. Quite a tradition.. although I think one year in the middle there were no incidents.

Long story short, heart problem that I supposedly have outgrown, or should have by now. (I haven't been back to the cardiologist in 7 years, but he said I should have been fine by now.) However, I did have a stroke two years ago so I have my doubts. :(

Edit: OP, your symptoms match my old problems exactly, minus the pulled muscle. It should be nothing (not a doctor).

It could be anything, I think, though from the description, it sounds more like a panic attack than anything else I've ever heard of. Similar thing sometimes happens to a girl I know. It took her years to figure out it was panic attacks, and she still don't know what causes it.

I've fainted from exhaustion a couple of times, but that's not nearly as dramatic as what happened to you. I've pretty much dropped where I was standing & awokened a few moments later. Strange feeling, but nothing much to it, really. I guess if you were dehydrated to the point of death, you might experience something on the scale of what you did, but I'd think you'd know if you were that dehydrated.

Regardless of what happened, you should go see a doctor or something. It's pretty easy to hurt yourself when you faint. I once brained myself on a stove I was moving. Had to get stitches & such. Nearly ruined a tatoo in the process.

I once passed out for no reason at a Christian festival, when I came round there were all these guys standing over me praying, they were like "wow you fell over in the spirit, what was it like?!" I was like "ummm no.... I just passed out" I don't think they believed me :rolleyes:

Thanks, I will go to the doctor tomorrow.

I've had panic attacks before and I am certain this was not a panic attack. It's interesting you asked me if I was dehydrated because my doctor kept asking me that last Monday. I told her, "no, I've been drinking lots of water and just a little bit of tea and gatorade" and she asked again later. Maybe I'll try to keep more fluids in me.

Maybe my bladder infection is a staph infection and that has something to do with this. I've been very week for about two and a half weeks now and have a hard time getting my grad work done. I've made my one professor aware of my situation and I hope he's understanding.

I'm just in shock. I fought so hard to keep my sight and to stay with it, but I had no control. Call me a control freak, but I like to have control over when I lose consciousness, lol. Anyhow, my boyfriend was with me and he would have told me if I seriously hurt myself. I collapsed, but my head did not hit the concrete. I'm just in a complete state of shock this happened to me.

I did start passing out for no obvious reason when I was about 17 - it'd happen in school, I'd go out and then wake up with people trying to get me to wake up or on the floor, once they moved me into a wheelchair by the time I'd woken up and I remember thinking..wha? Wheeere'd that come from?

They did MRI scans on me, oh, and they tested me to see if I was epileptic or narcoleptic.

It stopped when I was about 18 - they think it was probably stress-induced and that my body's way of coping with stress is by automatically shutting off at random intervals and dropping straight into deep sleep.

Incidentally, if I don't get enough sleep for a long period of time, I start to hallucinate...

strange body

Thanks, I will go to the doctor tomorrow.

I've had panic attacks before and I am certain this was not a panic attack. It's interesting you asked me if I was dehydrated because my doctor kept asking me that last Monday. I told her, "no, I've been drinking lots of water and just a little bit of tea and gatorade" and she asked again later. Maybe I'll try to keep more fluids in me.
You might want to keep off tea and other caffeine drinks for a while as they dehydrate you I think.


I'm just in shock. I fought so hard to keep my sight and to stay with it, but I had no control. Call me a control freak, but I like to have control over when I lose consciousness, lol. Anyhow, my boyfriend was with me and he would have told me if I seriously hurt myself. I collapsed, but my head did not hit the concrete. I'm just in a complete state of shock this happened to me.
Understandable! Its a horrible sensation when you start to go down, especially if you know your falling too.

Thanks, I will go to the doctor tomorrow.

Good idea.. maybe you'll get to see your heart on the sonogram like I did... it looks furry. :p

I'm just in a complete state of shock this happened to me.

Sounds pretty bad, but hadn't you ever stood up too quickly and experienced some of those symptoms before? The black spots and white-out (I call it, as opposed to a black-out) are common (10-12 times a day when for me as a kid). It's the black-out I'd worry about.

It stopped when I was about 18 - they think it was probably stress-induced and that my body's way of coping with stress is by automatically shutting off at random intervals and dropping straight into deep sleep.

Incidentally, if I don't get enough sleep for a long period of time, I start to hallucinate...

strange body

You know, I also hallucinate when I don't get enough sleep for a long period of time. It's not fun.

When i get super stressed, my body shuts down and I sleep a lot. I wonder if I'm under so much stress (and ignoring it) that my body is shutting down.

Pepe Dominguez: I've gotten them before, but they are rare with me. A couple black spots and a small headache, but never sweating and being nauseous.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and answers!!! I'm concerned she may make me go to the hospital because of the infection or if I have a fever. I can't go! I have a midterm and an assignement due Thursday!

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and answers!!! I'm concerned she may make me go to the hospital because of the infection or if I have a fever. I can't go! I have a midterm and an assignement due Thursday!
Do you not have a tutor? Or your professor should understand if it may be serious enough to have tests at the hospital. At my Uni they either give you a predicted grade for the exam, or let you take it when the retakes are taken for free, if you have to miss one because of illness. Surely your health should come first?

I have a 99.8% right now in the class going into the midterm. The midterm is open universe, so you think they wouldn't mind letting me take it later. I sent him an e-mail explaining my situation and I am waiting for a reply. I am supposed to meet with him tomorrow, so we can talk about it then. I know my health should come first, but I get annoyed when things like this happen. If it's too serious, I may not have a choice.

You might want to keep off tea and other caffeine drinks for a while as they dehydrate you I think.More importantly, they increase bloodpressure, which you prolly want to avoid 'til you've had a chat with the Doc.Understandable! Its a horrible sensation when you start to go down, especially if you know your falling too.It's not that bad. First time I lost consciousness, it was because some nice guys were introducing my head to a couple of bats, and I'd be lying through my teeth if I said it didn't scare the shit out of me to loose consciousness right then.. That said, simply dropping on the spot isn't that terrible. It's actually sort of interesting - not that I've ever liked the feeling, but loosing consciousness is nothing to be afraid of. The only dangerous thing about it, is if you happen to hurt yourself when you collapse - and really, humans are fairly tough. Unless you fold up on a train track, you're unlikely to get seriously hurt.

Don't panic. No amount of fretting will make an ounce of difference, so just enjoy the ride if it happens again. And try not to do it near any stoves. Those things are vicious, trust me.

It's not that bad. First time I lost consciousness, it was because some nice guys were introducing my head to a couple of bats, and I'd be lying through my teeth if I said it didn't scare the shit out of me to loose consciousness right then.. That said, simply dropping on the spot isn't that terrible. It's actually sort of interesting - not that I've ever liked the feeling, but loosing consciousness is nothing to be afraid of. The only dangerous thing about it, is if you happen to hurt yourself when you collapse - and really, humans are fairly tough. Unless you fold up on a train track, you're unlikely to get seriously hurt.

Don't panic. No amount of fretting will make an ounce of difference, so just enjoy the ride if it happens again. And try not to do it near any stoves. Those things are vicious, trust me.
Well the worse time I passed out was when a guy kicked me between the legs. Plus I think I hit my head on a table corner too, I suppose it wasn't so bad as I didn't notice that pain quite so much... though bats being introduced to the head doesn't sound fun! Its not really the sensation of falling that is bad though, its actually quite comfortable and I remember it seemed I was falling quite slowly, for me its the fact I'm not in control, like Bodhis said. Also the fact one of my friends caught me, and before I lost conciousness completely I just remember thinking how embarrasing it was and I hoped I wasn't too heavy for her, I'm weird I know.

Also why were they so keen for these bats to become aquainted with your head?

I passed out once when receiving a flu injection.
I'm not scared of needles, but the nurse must have done something wrong when she was putting it in.

Another time, I nearly passed out from blood loss, but that's about it.

actually i have ... from heat stroke... i was in a pool - i was 10 - i nearly drowned.. apparently - i cant say i remember much

I almost did. I seem to have this allergy to the site of my own blood. Worst thing is. I was at work when I neally passed out.

I've had the same sort of thing happen to me. It was narrowed down to a few things - low blood pressure, anaemia, glandular fever, or a combination thereof.

Passed out? hmmm. Twice, but both were explainable. Once I was ill (the worst I've ever been. Went through a week of halucinations. That wasnt fun.

The other time was when I was kicked in the head, so I asume passing out is fine there. I've never played football with my brother since!

I just remember thinking how embarrasing it was and I hoped I wasn't too heavy for her, I'm weird I know.Hahah! Yea, you're weird alright :p Also why were they so keen for these bats to become aquainted with your head?Usual shit. A couple of drunk Nazis Sieg-Heiling all over the place. I told them to fuck off & die. They ran. I bought a couple of beers for me & a girl I was with. When we walked out the store, around 10 guys were waiting for us with bottles & a couple of bats. Shortest fight of my life. I think I managed to kick one guy before I went down.

Luckily a bunch of coppers were nearby & broke it up before we got beaten to death. I've never quite figured out why no one got arrested & how half a squad of coppers could be so close at hand, yet not notice 10 armed neo-Nazis waiting for someone infront of a store. Odd that.

Nothing much happened though, in case you're curious, just a few scrapes. The poor girl I was with got the fright of her life, but she wasn't seriously hurt.

.. But enough about me.

Okay, something very weird happened to me tonight. I went downtown to see the beautiful fireworks! Everything was great until I went to get in line to get back on the Metrolink (train thing that runs through downtown). I jumped this concrete barrier to get in the back of the line (otherwise I would have had to walk a long way to go around the stupid thing). Anyhow, in jumping it, I pulled a muscle. No problem, I thought, I would just walk it off.
Then, the most bizarre thing happened. All of the sudden, I got nauseous and started seeing black spots. Then, my head started pounding and I became very dizzy. I clutched the concrete barrier and slowly lost my vision. Everything was black. When I finally came to, I was covered in sweat and I didn't stop sweating for about 20 minutes. Finally, I got to normal; but I was left with a major headache and a weak feeling.


Hypoglycemia? Did you have enough to eat that day? If so (or maybe anyway) I'd seriously consider having a brain scan taken. A microtrauma from jumping that fence may forebode something more serious.

Quite a few times, actually. Recently I got knocked out with a frying pan. :p

So far, I haven't brained my damage. :)

I almost did. I seem to have this allergy to the site of my own blood. Worst thing is. I was at work when I neally passed out.
I would be so fucked if I was phobic of the sight of my own blood.

I would be so fucked if I was phobic of the sight of my own blood.Lemme guess.. You were born with your eyeballs facing the wrong way?

Lemme guess.. You were born with your eyeballs facing the wrong way?

YAY! :D

Hm, I've passed out a few times. I passed out once because this kid threw a brick off a tall rock cliff and it hit me in the back of the head, It split the back of my head open and I had to go to the hospital, they said if it was like a centimeter lower it would have killed me. Oh, I passed out another time because I was really sick at my grandparent's house. I got up to use the bathroom, and my mother walked in the room, and the next thing I knew I was laying on the floor and they had wet rags and stuff on me and I was like "What the hell?" I also passed out twice because I got too drunk, but thats a given.

Anyway, aside from that, my best friend (who's a girl), she "passes out" alot. We could never figure out why, and I would keep telling her she needed to go to the doctor, and she finally did. They found out she had epillepsey and she has these little mini-seziures, she doesn't shake or anything, it just looks like she passes out. She'll be walking along, and we donno what triggers it, but sometimes she'll just drop like a rock. I've learned to catch her over the years, but it can get rather dangerous. It scares me when she drives, I'm always afraid she'll have one and lose control of the car... and it doesn't help that she drives like a maniac (when she was 14 I let her drive my car and she ended up racing some guy on the freeway up to 120mph... I about shit my pants.) She says she doesn't really know it when she does it, like its like from one moment to the next. She'll be walking along oen moment, then she'll be on the ground. Last time she did it we were walking and I was a few feet away and couldn't catch her and she fell over and split her head open on a bucket and her mom and I had to take her to the hospital to get it stiched up, ha (she has a nice scar from it too, I tell her its sexy but she gets mad :p ). Anyway, they say its fine, like it wont cause any long term damage or anything (unless she has an accident or something and hits her head so hard it causes brain damage), but that she'll prolly have to deal with it the rest of her life.

Lemme guess.. You were born with your eyeballs facing the wrong way?
No, I am Inside Out Boy, from the old Nickelodeon claymation shorts.

Okay, something very weird happened to me tonight. I went downtown to see the beautiful fireworks! Everything was great until I went to get in line to get back on the Metrolink (train thing that runs through downtown). I jumped this concrete barrier to get in the back of the line (otherwise I would have had to walk a long way to go around the stupid thing). Anyhow, in jumping it, I pulled a muscle. No problem, I thought, I would just walk it off.

Then, the most bizarre thing happened. All of the sudden, I got nauseous and started seeing black spots. Then, my head started pounding and I became very dizzy. I clutched the concrete barrier and slowly lost my vision. Everything was black. When I finally came to, I was covered in sweat and I didn't stop sweating for about 20 minutes. Finally, I got to normal; but I was left with a major headache and a weak feeling.

I don't have a clue what happened. I was not out in the sun today, it was only 76 downtown, and the only thing medically wrong with me is a bladder infection. The only other time I ever passed out was under extreme stress. I was reviewing for a midterm and I passed out on the bed (I just lost the closest person to me and my boyfriend was abusive). I was late to the midterm because I didn't wake up until five minutes after it started.

Anyhow, so tonight can be considered the second time I randomly passed out. However, this time I don't have any explanation as to why I passed out. My question is: have any of you ever passed out (not alcohol related) and what caused you to pass out (if you want to share)? I think it's weird to randomly pass out, but it might be more common than I think. Let me know!


You pulled a muscle, did it hurt? People do passout thorugh pain, and even if you where not in a great deal of pain your bodies pain dealing mechanisims may have thought that a faint was the best course of action anyhow.

One time, I had been sick and hadn't been sleeping right for weeks. I was supposed to go to my mom's and drive her to the grocery store, but I had a couple of hours to kill so I sat in my chair and picked up a book to read. Next thing I knew, the book was on the floor and the phone was ringing. It was my mom, wondering why I was an hour late.

You pulled a muscle, did it hurt? People do passout thorugh pain, and even if you where not in a great deal of pain your bodies pain dealing mechanisims may have thought that a faint was the best course of action anyhow.

How can you not think that your in that much pain, but then pass out from too much pain? I mean, I can see it happening if she THOUGHT she was in a great deal of pain, like if it was excruciating pain, but a pulled muscle? Those hurt, but not that bad I wouldn't think. I've snapped my femur in half and crawled through my woods, my hard, back up into my house, and my mother told me sence she said not to climb that tree anymore she wasn't going to take me to the doctor (she did... 3 days later.) and I never passed out. I have a way about being able to ignore pain though, so maybe thats it. I just kinda tell my mind that its just pain, that its my bodys way of telling me that I'm injured, but that doesn't mean that it has to hurt, then it feels like a kinda far off pain, like I can still feel it, but disconnected from it. Thats how I can do cool stuff like stick needles all the way through the palm of my hand and out the other side I guess. I also do stupid stuff like put cigarettes out on my skin, and that doesn't hurt much either. I have a ring around my right arm all in scar tissue from where I did that.

One time, I had been sick and hadn't been sleeping right for weeks. I was supposed to go to my mom's and drive her to the grocery store, but I had a couple of hours to kill so I sat in my chair and picked up a book to read. Next thing I knew, the book was on the floor and the phone was ringing. It was my mom, wondering why I was an hour late.

Ha, I do that alot. I'm not sure that counts... thats just falling asleep. My dad used to wake me up in the morning and I would go to my door, get my cup of coffee, come back to my room, sit down in my chair, and then hear him pounding again what seemed like seconds later, only to realize that it was 2 hours later and I was late for school. Alot of times I wouldn't even remember getting up the first time is the weird thing.

No, I am Inside Out Boy, from the old Nickelodeon claymation shorts.You'll have to excuse my lack of TV culture, but I'm assuming that means your eyes do turn the wrong way.. Right?

Okay, something very weird happened to me tonight. I went downtown to see the beautiful fireworks! Everything was great until I went to get in line to get back on the Metrolink (train thing that runs through downtown). I jumped this concrete barrier to get in the back of the line (otherwise I would have had to walk a long way to go around the stupid thing). Anyhow, in jumping it, I pulled a muscle. No problem, I thought, I would just walk it off.

Then, the most bizarre thing happened. All of the sudden, I got nauseous and started seeing black spots. Then, my head started pounding and I became very dizzy. I clutched the concrete barrier and slowly lost my vision. Everything was black. When I finally came to, I was covered in sweat and I didn't stop sweating for about 20 minutes. Finally, I got to normal; but I was left with a major headache and a weak feeling.

I don't have a clue what happened. I was not out in the sun today, it was only 76 downtown, and the only thing medically wrong with me is a bladder infection. The only other time I ever passed out was under extreme stress. I was reviewing for a midterm and I passed out on the bed (I just lost the closest person to me and my boyfriend was abusive). I was late to the midterm because I didn't wake up until five minutes after it started.

Anyhow, so tonight can be considered the second time I randomly passed out. However, this time I don't have any explanation as to why I passed out. My question is: have any of you ever passed out (not alcohol related) and what caused you to pass out (if you want to share)? I think it's weird to randomly pass out, but it might be more common than I think. Let me know!


Oddly enough, it might have been the change in pressure when you straightened up. Certainly, go see your doc to see if anything is wrong.

The two times I blacked out was getting punched in the solar plexus in elementary school, and when some kids were stealing my brother's bike. I rode up on them and threw myself onto the jerk riding my brother's bike -- the handlebar caught me in the stomach, but apparently that was only a few seconds and by the time they got untangled from me, my brother got there to retrieve his bike and, er, discourage them from doing that again.

How can you not think that your in that much pain, but then pass out from too much pain? I mean, I can see it happening if she THOUGHT she was in a great deal of pain, like if it was excruciating pain, but a pulled muscle? Those hurt, but not that bad I wouldn't think. I've snapped my femur in half and crawled through my woods, my hard, back up into my house, and my mother told me sence she said not to climb that tree anymore she wasn't going to take me to the doctor (she did... 3 days later.) and I never passed out. I have a way about being able to ignore pain though, so maybe thats it. I just kinda tell my mind that its just pain, that its my bodys way of telling me that I'm injured, but that doesn't mean that it has to hurt, then it feels like a kinda far off pain, like I can still feel it, but disconnected from it. Thats how I can do cool stuff like stick needles all the way through the palm of my hand and out the other side I guess. I also do stupid stuff like put cigarettes out on my skin, and that doesn't hurt much either. I have a ring around my right arm all in scar tissue from where I did that.


No you just didn't read what I wrote did you? I have seen it many times normaly when people get tattoed. The pain is not that great, but you brain is fooled into beliving it is(how I don't know) and so goes aggghhhhhh and makes you faint. Any how it was just a suggestion.

Then, the most bizarre thing happened. All of the sudden, I got nauseous and started seeing black spots. Then, my head started pounding and I became very dizzy. I clutched the concrete barrier and slowly lost my vision. Everything was black. When I finally came to, I was covered in sweat and I didn't stop sweating for about 20 minutes. Finally, I got to normal; but I was left with a major headache and a weak feeling.
that sounds like what happens to me before a seizure, but in addition to "waking up" with a headache and a weak feeling I am also quite disoriented. Did they give you an EEG?

I passed out only once.

Hell of an orgasm. I just sorta fell over and had to sleep it off.

Ha, I do that alot. I'm not sure that counts... thats just falling asleep. My dad used to wake me up in the morning and I would go to my door, get my cup of coffee, come back to my room, sit down in my chair, and then hear him pounding again what seemed like seconds later, only to realize that it was 2 hours later and I was late for school. Alot of times I wouldn't even remember getting up the first time is the weird thing.

The thing is, I never fall asleep in the middle of the afternoon, and I don't normally fall asleep so quickly that I drop the book I'm reading on the floor. It was different from hitting the snooze alarm for an hour before I get out of bed (which I DO often do).

Thanks for all the new suggestions.

To answer questions: yes, it did hurt to pull a muscle, but it's not anything I haven't felt before; no, I did not eat a significant amount yesterday, I just had a couple of waffles around 4pm (it was 10:30-ish when I passed out); and, no, I haven't had any medical tests run yet.

I'm going to the doctor today. My professor also expects me to be at the mid-term, hospital or not. I'm going to leave very soon and go meet with him. Let him tell me to my face that I *have* to be there tomorrow, even if I go to the hospital tonight.

I've passed out a couple of times. The worst one (and also the first time it happened), I was in my first year at university and studying for a midterm. I went to the water fountain to get a drink, passed out at the foot of the stairs, and woke up a few minutes later when a friend found me and shook me a bit. I had been walking around with a bad migraine for about a week, but didn't know what it was because I'd never had migraines before. The day before I passed out, I had gone to the student health center, where they told me that I probably had a virus of some sort, threw some Tylenol at me, and told me to come back if I wasn't feeling better in a week or so. Well, after I passed out, my RA took me to the emergency room, where they kept me overnight, did a CT scan, and made me an appointment with a neurologist for later that week. I missed my midterm the next morning, but luckily my prof was very understanding and let me take it the following week.

I've passed out a couple of times. First time was in school when I was 14...exactly the same symptoms as you describe. I went to the doctor but he said I was fine. I wasn't dehydrated, I'd eaten plenty... no idea what the reason was.

The other times were when I was ill, collapsed in the bathroom, my room, and on the stairs. Scared the hell out of my mum :(

Only advice I can give is make sure you get checked out by a doctor.

You'll have to excuse my lack of TV culture, but I'm assuming that means your eyes do turn the wrong way.. Right?
No.

Update: I saw my prof and he said, "well, if we need to do anything about the midterm, let us know ASAP." He wanted an answer right there, but I told him I would see the doctor first.

I see the doc in an hour and a half. I don't know what she is going to say. I hope that they give me a different doc because the one I have isn't too bright. When I first got an infection, I told her to test to see if it was staph and told her what antibiotics have worked in the past. She came back with antibiotics that made me sick and said she wouldn't test for staph just quite yet. I then went in a second time and she gave me weak antibiotics and told me it wasn't yet time to test for staph. I'm a grad student! We need to get this taken care of NOW!!!! She doesn't seem to get that! I hope she gets on the ball tonight.

Okay, I have to try and get some work done before my appointment.

One thought, you were watching fireworks?

Is it by chance you may be epileptic? Hih frequency flashing lights can cause symptoms much like you described.

I have social anxiety disorder and panic attacks, so there are times that I won't remember what happened, but I won't pass out. It's just like a huge memory lapse.

The last time I actually passed out, however, was last summer. I was at the doctor's office getting a TB test because it was required of my new college, and I panicked, hyperventilated, and passed out. I came to because my dad started slapping me across the face.

Haha, and I'm a nursing student too XD. Eh, at least I'll be sympathetic to panicking patients :X.

The other day I was out bike riding with my friend and I suddenly felt dizzy, so we stoppd for water. I could hardly get off my bike and make it to the bench because I was so weak, and once I sat down I could barely breathe. Then everyhing went black- just like you described, and my neck ached. My ears also felt all plugged up--like when you take off in an airplane, and so I couldn't hear much. Fortunately some other bikers came along and recommended leaning forward with my head in my hands. As soon as I did this, my vision came back. I'm pretty sure it was dehydration-- me being a genious and not drinking water for the whole day...Yea- it had never happened to me before, and it's sure scary. You feel so vunerable and isolated when you suddenly can't see or hear.

Thanks for all the new suggestions.

To answer questions: yes, it did hurt to pull a muscle, but it's not anything I haven't felt before; no, I did not eat a significant amount yesterday, I just had a couple of waffles around 4pm (it was 10:30-ish when I passed out); and, no, I haven't had any medical tests run yet.

I'm going to the doctor today. My professor also expects me to be at the mid-term, hospital or not. I'm going to leave very soon and go meet with him. Let him tell me to my face that I *have* to be there tomorrow, even if I go to the hospital tonight.

Welcome.
Keep us posted.

I passed out once, after I got a second-degree burn all over the upper part of my right arm from boiling water. . . I went to the bathroom and was getting some cold water when I realized that I was not standing up properly, and was in fact falling sideways rapidly. Then I remember being on the floor with a bit of a bruise on my head in addition to the burn on my arm, and my mom standing over me looking a mite worried. Bad times. Luckily I was young, so it healed scarless.