When I was 16 a neurologist diagnosed me with something I may forever be labeled with. For those of you who do not know what a neurologist is, it’s a brain/spine/nerves doctor. In order to figure out why I kept passing out and “twitching” they strapped me to a table. They had me lay down and strapped me down in multiple spots. I’m sure the sensation resembled that of a straight jacket. They placed a blood pressure cuff on my left arm and it inflated at two minute intervals. They told me once they stood me up using the table I had twenty minutes to produce results or they would inject a drug to stimulate my nervous system and cause me to pass out. They angled the table so that I was in a standing position. I talked to my mom and the nurse. We had pretty much given up until 18 minutes in. I stated, ” it’s starting.” I was experiencing tunnel vision, losing my sense of hearing, until I was no longer aware of anything but the sensation of my entire body shaking violently. Not fun. I came around to my nurse and mother leaning over me. I was laying flat on my back again. My mom was crying hysterically. They were calling me by name. I tried everything to tell them I was okay but couldn’t respond. Slowly I assured them with gestures that I was fine. After I returned to my normal baseline the neurologist stepped in. I was diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope accompanied by seizures. The doctors told me I may or may not grow out of it (I haven’t). To top it off I have something called hypotension, my blood pressure is too low. So they can’t medicate me without dropping my blood pressure to critical levels. And if they treat my low blood pressure I’ll have more seizures. A rock and a hard place. I manage pretty well though. It mostly happens during a change in postural position. If I go from sitting/laying to standing too quickly, especially if I’m hot, BOOM I’m on the floor. This is due to the fact that my nerve endings don’t send signals to the vessels in my legs to constrict when I stand so the blood rushes away from my brain, causing loss of consciousness. This is exacerbated during pregnancy due to increased pressure on the vagal nerve, amorous activities, airplanes, full bladder, etc. I experience everything from a short bout of tunnel vision to seizures depending on the situation. It really doesn’t put me in any danger because I have learned to manage it very well. And when I do fall down, I get right back up.
My boyfriend tells me this picture is me; I’m cute and I felled over a lotz.
Last night I fell into a laundry hamper. I came to, to my boyfriend laughing at me. What an ass?! 😂
The Mad Mind of Coraline 