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From: Sweetpea
This is the first time I have ever researched VV. I ended up in the ER in May from my first black out from an episode. After an IV and being told I was just too dehydrated I still felt completely out of it and shaky, and went home to sleep 16 hours. I used to get episodes about 10 years ago and was told it was my IBS and I should calm down. That is such crap! These were not anxiety induced. This was my first episode in 10 years and it was bad - passed out for a minute a couple times. I generally have my IBS under control and maybe that is why I am okay for the most part and have been VV free for 10 years. Also I take Spironalactone for acne and it has a lot of potassium in it. In talking to my doctor and reviewing triggers I have found the following:
My stomach/IBS acting up is a trigger. Your Vaso nerve runs past your esophagus and your stomach and into your anus. Hence why vomiting and BMs cause it for some. First day of IBS symptoms triggered one in me. Also trying Metamucil triggered another one.
Dehydration and heat are a trigger. I had 2 out of my 5 episodes happen when I was biking in the intense heat of DC, and not properly hydrated. Laid down in grass and it went away.
Recent episode I drank some the night before which caused me to vomit and pass out. People said I was just a lush (I vomit and pass out much more than others when I drink), but the next morning after drinking coffee and taking Advil, I ate some and promptly had an episode 30 minutes later. I had been taking NSAIDs for my back and my doc says that mixed with drinking caused stomach inflammation which caused vomiting which caused more inflammation - I passed out cause I didn't lay down completely. I was riding in a car.
He said everybody has different degree of VV, but if you are like me, you may have the level of VV where you can control it with treating your body well - learn how to treat stomach issues (peppermint tea works well for me), get any IBS-like symptoms under control, hydrate and eat/drink potassium.
Good luck!