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From: Age 54/No Name Please
The symptom was a faint feeling occurring from low blood pressure upon standing from a seated position, although not actually passing out. I almost did not mention the occurrences but I had a doctor who was a good listener and we got to talking a bit. A tilt-table test was done to rule out cardiac reasons for the fainting. Since there was no heart-related problem, I was told to eat more salt. It has appeared to help. I was diagnosed a Type II diabetic the same day, through bloodwork of the second time with fasting previous to the blood being taken. Then an A1C blood test was ordered to further check out the diabetes situation since blood cells live about 3 months and then die, they can tell a lot by it. People with diabetes have told me it is their experience that blood sugar problems can cause fainting and to be careful. I also had two punctured ear drums of unknown reason. Although I was not given a reason for the fainting, since they did not know, I think it is from the diabetes, and that I am prone to dehydration from all the urinating. That to me is why the salt intake helps. If anyone reading this faints, a tilt-table test should be done to rule out heart realted problems. Salt can be detrimental to a cardiac problem, and being low on potassium in heart cases can make you faint for no apparent reason, too. One should never diagnose themselves. But if you have seen your doctor, and still do not know what to do, and your heart is good, DRINK WATER AND EAT SALTED FOOD! I have noticed that the printed information they gave me lists reasons of Vasel-Vegas from everything like fainting at the sight of blood to god knows what. I think there are different kinds of the vaso-vegal thing going. I think some are psychological phobias like seeing blood or an aversion to hospitals or something like anxiety, and then I think there are reasons of poor health and dehydration like me. I am not afraid of the sight of blood or anything like that. But I sure know when I do not feel good. If I had my way, everyone would be checked on a regular basis for diabetes through blood tests. I know I have had it a long time, but no one would listen to me. I did not have the classic symptoms other than being exhausted. If any doctor is reading this, please remember that when your patients see you, they feel better by just being there and trust you to find things wrong. They may say everything is fine, becuase of that, so you need to talk to them like people and make them feel comfortable. My mind was tired bcause I work hard and had high blood sugar so I could not remember I even had fainting spells. I am grateful to the young resident doctor who took the time for me and listened, unlike some doctors over the years with more experience who told me I was just getting older and wanted to send me to a shrink, because they decided I was a head case, when a simple fasting blood test for diabetes would have solved the problem of why I felt so damn tired all the time..I think a thyroid test should be standard, too. But I was lucky on that one. Trust me when I say, listening to someone and believing them would make being a good doctor an easier job for you. It has been my experience that the resident doctors fresh out of school are the only ones who ever took time to listen, and did not blame everything on weight, cigarettes, or age, or decide you are nuts. Yes, the topics came up as usual, but they listened and found what I already knew. When someone can't tell you anything except, "I just don't feel good, and I am so tired" for Heaven's sake, check the thyroid and the diabetes possibility, and Lymes Disease..AMEN!