Vaso-Vagal Discussion

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Vagal-Kegel

From: karenmarieg@hotmail.com

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Two days after my husbands hip replacement surgery,following his first solid food meal, he appeared to have a seisure. He said he didn't feel well, his color paled, and as he put his head down on the table, I noticed his body going limp. I jumped up to hold him from falling to the floor. His head fell backwards, his eyes rolled up into his head, and his left hand shook. I called for the nurses and they feared the worst initially, a clot in the lung from the surgery. He was unconscious for about 60 seconds maximum. He was sweating profusely and his complextion was pale and yellow. After a precautionary EKG and chest X-ray, the Dr.diagnosed his condition as (what I thought he said)"Vagal-Kegel". He explained that the lack of bowel activity after the surgery, combined with the solid food he had eaten, has caused pressure,(on top from his full stomach and bottom from his full and inactive bowel) on the Vagas nerve; thus restricting bloodflow to his brain, long enough for him to faint. When the nurses laid him down on the bed, relieving the pressure off of his vagus nerve, he felt normal again.

Has anyone else had this happen to them following a major surgery?


This web site is not a substitute for a thorough medical evaluation and diagnosis of your vaso-vagal type symptoms.  Medical treatment and diagnosis is the only acceptable initial response to these serious symptoms since they might present from any number of life threatening and treatable illnesses. It is for you and your physician to rule out more serious illnesses; Please don't use this online forum as an alternative to getting responsible medical attention and being under the care of a physician for the duration of any unknown, suspected or dangerous vaso-vagal syndrome symptoms.
Last changed: June 22, 2007