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From: Catherine
Date: 11/28/99
Time: 6:36:01 PM
Remote Name: 198.109.216.194
I was recently diagnosed with vaso-vagal syndrome. My first fainting spell occurred in church when I was 16 (I am now 49). I did not think much of the event for many years until quite recently. During the summer of 1997, I experienced a violent episode--diarrhea, vomiting, profuse perspiration, trembling, general weakness--while touring Egypt; the temperature was 125 degrees and I was obviously dehydrated. I was puzzled that, among a group of about 70, I was the only one who became so ill. On occasion, I feel faint when standing up too quickly from a kneeling position (e.g., while gardening or searching the lowest library shelves). On June 1, I underwent major surgery (intestinal) and felt wonderfully fine during the 5 or 6 days immediately following the procedure. Quite unexpectedly, however, one evening about a week after the procedure I was overcome with intense abdominal cramps. I tried taking a walk outdoors to work off the pain, but vomited--the first of 23 episodes in a 12-hour period. The abdominal pain did not subside, and I began to feel clammy and shaky. I was readmitted to the hospital for 5 days. Diagnosis: dehydration. In a seemingly unrelated set of circumstances, I underwent various tests (30-day Holter monitor, treadmill stress test, series of EKGs, and finally tilt-table test) for an irregular heartbeat. My normal blood pressure reading was 90/60. I now learn that I have the very condition that so many of you have described. I am not affected by the sight of blood except that I felt terribly weak while watching Braveheart. I take Pro-Amatine (5 mg bid). My doctor tells me that I am more likely than the average person to grow dehydrated and so must take measures to prevent the condition. He recommends that I take salt tablets--where do I find them???--and that I also drink sports beverages.
From: Blanche
I am a 41yr.old female smoker just diagnosed with veso vegal. I have had two episodes and prior to each of them I had a sudden feeling of exhaustion then I felt dizzy then my head started spinning the next thing I knew I was being picked up off the ground/concrete. This all happened in a three minute time frame. Does anybody else have prior warning signals or do they just pass out?
From: Lisa M.
Fear is not a factor for me, and it doesnt seem to be for most of the people posting. Although I must admit, I am somewhat trepidatious when I know I have to get a shot or some other invasive procedure nowadays, but that is because I know I might have the (somewhat embarrassing) reaction.
As a teen, I was ill with mono and hep and had plenty of blood drawn, blood gas, shots, etc. I have never had a fear of needles- it was only a few years ago, at around 28 yrs, that I started fainting during these things and also when I am sick. The "control your fear" idea may be helpful to some, but it is a dangerous assumption which keeps many people (esp. women) going to doctor after doctor who says "it's all in your head."