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From: Karenwest1@aol.com
Date: 10/21/00
Time: 10:16:41 AM
Remote Name: 152.163.207.46
I was dignosed with vaso-vagal response about ten years ago. I found that I knew when an attack was coming because of a sort of sensation of my heart beat fluttering and then I had a sensation in my neck on both sides (at the carotid arteries) that felt someone grabbed my neck. Suddenly I know I have to find a place to lay down and elevate my feet or I will be laying on the ground. I have fallen down steps and have injured my ankle. I have fallen down steps and recieved a concussion, so ignoring it and going on is not a good idea.It is not going away. I had the tilt table test and went totally out! Also a test with radio-active medication was done to determine my blood volume.This showed that I had low blood volume that they felt contributed to the problem. I often find now that if I am experiencing trouble with vaso-vagal response I need water! I need to be better hydrated. Pinch the skin on the back of your hand. If it seems to stick together for an instant before going back into place, you need water! I found that I have to avoid certain medications--codine seems to drop my blood pressure like a rock. I seem to have more problems after eating, and before my hysterectomy I definately had more problems when I was having my period. A few years after I discovered this problem I found that I had T-cell/large granular cell leukemia. This caused my vaso-vagal response to increase in frequency as did chemotherapy that I recieved for the leukemia. My leukemia is now in remission, but I continue to have problems with vaso-vagal response from time to time. I have a slanted foam pillow which we keep at home so I can lay down and put my feet up whenever I get that special feeling! My husband knows when I get a certain look and I start to look pale, he says, "Lay Down!" and he goes for the slanted pillow and a glass of water. This has only happened to me once when I was driving. At a stop light I had leaned forward to get something on the floor of the car. Wham! I pulled off the road and waited till it passed. It is very hard to get information on this problem. Thank you for your concern for those of us who have this very frustrating problem.