You Found Me
I had my tilt-table test this morning. I don't know if I've explained this test very well, but here is the scoop. As you all know, I have episodes where I pass out. I pass out quite frequently. I pass out in the shower a lot, I pass out while running (sometimes), and I pass out when I get too hot. I'm dizzy nearly all the time. At first they thought it was a neuro problem and maybe I was having seizures. Last year they put me through a battery of neurological tests. Weren't those fun! Everything was fine. The neurologist told me to eat more salt, drink more water, drink less caffeine, and get plenty of rest. I did that all winter and was fine. This summer it all came back with a vengeance. I went back to the doctor and they did a new EKG on my heart and found that I had a strange arrhythmia that I didn't have last year. My doctor sent me to a cardiologist and on with the tests. Since this summer I've had an extensive EKG, a heart sonogram, a stress test, and now the tilt-table test. This test was to confirm whether or not the vasovagal syncope was the correct diagnosis for my symptoms. They hook me up with an IV and run pure saline initially. They put a myriad of stickers and cords running off my chest to monitor every aspect of my heart. They strapped me to the table (I felt like a crazy person in a mental hospital) and then they tilt the table to a 60 degree angle and make me hang/stand there for 30 minutes. I'm like nearly standing, but not really. It was strange. If after 30 minutes they can't detect any changes in my heart rate and blood pressure they start putting this drug in my IV instead of the saline that makes my heart rate speed up. I have that stuff flowing through my body for another 30 minutes while I'm hanging/standing there. That drug was intense. It made my heart rate go from a cozy 90 beats per minute to a whopping 150 beats per minute with me just hanging there. It wasn't until they stopped the heart medicine that I started getting sick. I just started getting dizzy and then I was like, "Um, I'm going to pass out." That's the last I remember. It was the strangest experience I've ever had. It felt like I was out for hours! I had the strangest dream. Ugh, it felt awful. I just remember waking up, sweat dripping off my body (in a very cold room), and Dr. Cherla's voice coming at me from far, far away when she was really right in my face. And the table was completely down. I don't remember that. So, needless to say, I had a positive tilt-table test. It is confirmed, I have a abnormal case of vasovagal syncope. Dr. Cherla is putting me on a beta blocker for my heart. I still have to be very careful and monitor my situations. No long showers, no standing for a long period of time, no sitting in one position for a long period of time. I guess with vasovagal syncope my blood does not flow normally when I get too hot or stay in one position, it flows and pools at my feet rather than going to my head. Strange, huh? Anyway, she said to eat as much salt as I can handle, drink lots of water, and I can keep running! I just have to always have water with me and to take some sort of salt replacement for my blood pressure always. Good thing I like Sharkies!
i have a recipe for homemade "sports" drink that includes table salt, fruit juices and sugar that you can take with you on your runs and whever you want to drink it...supposedly it's not as sugary as gatorade and powerade...if you're interested, let me know and i can send it to you. i just thought you might wanna try it since your doctor suggested more salt.
hope you're doing well and happy holidays!
Posted by: anastasia | December 23, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Hey I couldn't get to your site for awhile and I missed all these posts.
I'm glad they found out what the problem was but what a weird way to do it huh? I'm also very glad you get to keep running. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Posted by: Willie | December 26, 2008 at 07:38 AM