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From: Vaso-vagal@urly-bird.com
Hi,
I just got back from the hospital after a very scary V-V attack. While searching the internet for more information, I found this web-forum.
I thought I would relate it here for others to read.
It started this morning, when I was sitting in my computer chair, and went for the _big_ yawn. I leaned way back in my chair, tensed up my back muscles good and tight and - YOW! I ripped or tore, or pulled a muscle on the right side of my chest, just below the rib-cage (near the diaphram)
I yelped, and my wife (who was in the room) asked what was wrong. I told her I had just pulled a muscle, and asked if she could help me back up. (the chair had tipped way back, and I could not lean forward myself because of the pain.)
As soon as she put me upright, I felt woozy, like I had stood up too fast, and passed out. I fell out of my chair onto the floor, and hit my head. (luckily, there was a piece of carpet pad on the floor - we are redoing the floor in this room)
According to my wife, while passed out, I had a small siezure, and my eyes were dialated. I quickly regained consciousness, and as I was getting back up (bad mistake) I laid with my head and chest in the chair, and my knees on the ground.
According to the doctor, this is what caused my second attack, because the seat of the chair was pushing into my abdomen, and I passed out and hit the floor again.
Upon return to consciousness the second time, I felt as if I was in a dream-like state and I thought I was on top of my wife in the middle of an incredible orgasm.
As my confusion cleared, I found myself face-down on the floor, and having a siezure which for all intents and purposes looked and felt like I was humping the floor. I had an erection and the motion of my seizure was rubbing my organ on the floor in a manner which was not unpleasant (until I realized that I was on the floor, and not on my wife)
At this point, I became aware of my wife calling 911 (bless her for not panicking) and although the pain was all wrong (lower right chest pain, refering up to the right shoulder) We were both convinced that it was a heart attack.
Blood work-up in the hospital confirmed the absence of heart-attack specific protein markers, and the doctor found no evidence of neurological deficit. So heart-attack and stroke were ruled out.
The best explanation that the doctor could give is that the sudden pain in my diaphram irritated my vagas nerve and then sitting up in the chair was essentially a "tilt test" which I failed miserably.
I am back home now, and waiting to make an appointment with a general surgeon to see if I need any repairs done to my diaphram.
One question I still have - am I more at risk for a second V-V attack now that I have had a first?
Or am I going to be fine, so long as I don't suffer any more pulled or torn muscles near my vagas nerve?
Thank you to previous posters for helping me realize that this is not life-threatening, and for giving me more information about what this is and how it has affected you.
Kevin