Vagal Response 2 July 16, 2009
Posted by clintcarter in Life.trackback
Yesterday was weird. I went to lunch with a friend. He had had some medical problems recently so I was asking him about what had happened and how he was. As he was describing all the blood he lost and all the blood he had received I began to not feel so good.
Last thing I remember, I leaned forward on the table and asked him to stop talking about it. Next I was having a dream about doing something important and nothing was making sense. I opened my eyes to see my friend standing over me. At first I didn’t know what he was doing there. After a few moments I began to reorient myself and realize what had happened. The paramedics and Carey showed up at about the same time.
I had had my second vasovagal syncope episode. The first one happened 13 years ago in a movie theater on a date with Carey before we were married. Here’s a short definition:
“Vasovagal syncope occurs when your body reacts in an exaggerated way to such triggers as the sight of blood or extreme emotional distress. The trigger results in a sudden drop in your heart rate and blood pressure, which reduces blood flow to your brain and causes you to briefly lose consciousness.”
Seeing, talking, or thinking about blood, needles and/or medical procedures is a trigger for me. The only way to avoid an episode once it starts is to lie down. So if you ever see me lie down in a weird place, don’t think anything of it. I’ve had to do it on a couple of occasions like visiting a friend in the hospital and the birth of a couple of my children.
The good news is that I’m completely fine – except that I think I strained some muscles in my chest when I fell back. Hopefully it will be another 13 years or more before this happens again because it really scares the people that are with me.
Clint,
I faint at the sight of blood and needles. Is that the same thing?
That’s why, when there is an accident at church, you will find me in the opposite corner, looking in the other direction. I figure that’s God’s way of telling me to pray for the people involved, instead of helping them in a physical way.
I’m glad to hear how God is blessing your family in this church plant.
In Christ,
Julie
Wow. Vasovagal syncope. We used to just call it feeling squeamish and fainting.
Glad you’re up here with Crosstown. We’re praying for you!
O my word, Clint! Good to know this about you before I tell you some of my really gross stories!
So, it’s best not to share gross stories when you’re driving, too, huh? Have you ever seen “Platoon?”
I had an episode several years ago in the middle of the night. I had gotten up to use the restroom and when I went to get up I passed out. Fortunately I didn’t hit my head on the bathroom counter but did fall flat on my nose resulting in it being broken in two places. The worse thing was that Dennis was had just become the supervisor of their Domestic Violence Division at the PD. Can you imagine the ribbing he took over that?! He really hated it when they asked me in the E.R. if my husband had hit me. (Even though the urge was there, I was honest and told them what had happened)
I remember hearing the story about the first one 13 years ago. Wow, has it really been 13 years?!?! Glad to know you haven’t changed too much since then!
Gary September 28, 2009
I had my first episode this past Saturday. I was leaving the YMCA after a morning workout when I felt a sudden erge to use the restroom. I began to sweat a great deal and felt very light headed. I stopped my car twice before I pulled over the last time for fear of passing out and hurting someone. When I did finally pull over for the last time all I could think was that someone is going to find me passed out with soiled shorts. I was lucky that someone came before I did pass out. They took me to his nearby house where I used his restroom and called the squad. I recovered very quickly after I went to the restroom.