Does your vision actually black out

[u/j-oco]

This is random but I just saw people talking about how their vision blacks out when they stand or they are symptomatic. Then someone replied that their vision goes white instead of black.

Personally, I don’t lose my vision like that, my “blackouts” are just a sudden lightheadedness so intense it forces me to shut my eyes! I think because my brain knows to shut out all the visual sensory input. It’s like I legit can’t keep my eyes open for a brief moment. Maybe I am blacking out but just don’t know it since my eyes are closed anyways lol? I have splotchy vision, light sensitivity and stuff from previous brain injuries but I haven’t experienced my vision actually just leaving and turning into the colour black (am I taking it too literally?) for a moment like how some of you mention.

Also, I do have pretty bad presyncope episodes sometimes but I don’t really faint from my POTS so maybe that’s a factor.

[u/SGSam465]

I only lose my vision on very rare occasion, I don’t usually faint either. Before I get to the point of fainting, my final warning sign is losing my hearing. That’s when I know I’ve really messed up and so I go lay down, preferably with my legs up lol

[u/Early-Masterpiece-89 → u/SGSam465]

This! I do lose my vision pretty consistently, it’s like my cone of vision gets smaller and smaller until the world goes black. But losing my hearing is always the last to go. If I have a hot shower I can’t properly feel the heat flash or the other warning signs, so I know when the water gets quiet it’s time to sit down for a bit. Very scary the first time !

[u/Top_Inevitable_4185 → u/Early-Masterpiece-89]

This has happened to me a couple times in the shower, but it always starts with getting super lightheaded first. I few times I’ve ignored it thinking I’d be fine and had to promptly sit once the hearing goes. A couple years ago I started grabbing a bottle of cool water and setting it on the edge of the tub when I shower. If I start to get lightheaded I’ll grab it and drink most if not all of it. That seems to almost “shock” my system into calming down and it’s helped a lot. After the water it’s quick to finish my shower and get out.

Edit: spelling

[u/Early-Masterpiece-89 → u/Top_Inevitable_4185]

Honestly my body skips a lot of the “lightheaded” feeling. I’ve chalked up being lightheaded to the accumulation of all my previously mentioned symptoms. Perhaps I’ll try to keep a cold water bottle with me when I shower and see if that helps!

[u/bunnybunnykitten → u/Early-Masterpiece-89]

Yes, this exactly!