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From: richard.a.diaz@intel.com
I am a 44 yr. old male. I have experienced this VV a total of 4 times. It is always preempted by nausea. I have no problem with needles, painful injuries, stress, (although there is plenty of stress in my life) foods, or many of the other things that bring on these fainting spells with other folks. I have been a fitness fanatic so my pulse has always been low. However I have had high BP since my early twenties. I have been on a low salt diet for as long as I can remember. I am 5'8" and weigh 170. I am not considered overweight since I do alot of weight training.
My first episode occured when I was 19, a Marine, and I had some kind of flu bug. I excused myself from a classroom, got to the restroom, assumed the position over the toilet and when I came to I was lying in a pool of puke. No injuries, no witnesses, just embarrassment when I came to and headed back to my barracks. Seven years later, I'm married and my wife is aware of my experience. So I have a stomach bug again---I kneel into the bathtub and sure enough I pass out while I'm puking. I wasn't out too long, my wife made fun of me, and end of that episode.
Seven years later--no stomach bug. I'm watching TV and I suddenly feel nauseated. I'm on my way to get some kind of meds to ease the nausea but there wasn't time. Directly to the bathtub and I violently wretch and eventually pass out. My wife said that I thrashed into the tub and became rigid and turned blue. I didn't come to until a couple of minutesbefore the paramedics showed up. When I came to I was totally disoriented. I did not understand why I was in this room with these people. My entire body ached for two days. I had visions while I was out. My wife didn't laugh anymore.
I went to ER and was sent home 2 hrs. later with a term that I had never heard. Vaso-vagal Syncope. Make an appointment with your DR.
After seeing my PCP and two heart specialists final diagnoses was Vaso-vagal sysncope. The only thing prescribed by the Cariologist was Toprol XL, a beta-blocker to supposedly counter the effects of the Norvasc, a calcium channel blocker, that I was already taking for my high BP.
A Holter-Monitor was attached to my body for 24 hrs. The only thing significant that they found was that my sleeping pulse-rate is 29/min.
So I just had my latest episode 2 days ago. Preceded by nausea that came from nowhere. I Passed out before I barfed, I barfed, became kinda stiff while still on my knees, turned blue, yelled at my son that wasn't there at the time, and finally came to yelling at my wife, "What happened???" Dragged to the ER again and sent home after 1 hr.
So what's gonna happen the next time and when or where will I be when this sudden nausea hits me. From reading these postings, I think I will for sure lie down. My wife fears, as do I, that I will NOT wake up the next time.
Comments Please.