One step forward, two steps back. My vasovagal nerve

Posted by artist01 @artist01, Jun 1, 2021

Hello to all my Connect friends.
I kinda' need a boost to my morale (again).
Yesterday at 5:00 a.m., as I was preparing breakfast, I began to feel very sweaty and faint. Headed for the bathroom with BM urgency and soon knew I was blacking out. I should have laid on the bathroom floor to avoid a fall but instead, in my blackout stupor, tried to get to my recliner some 15 steps away. I didn't make it. Total blackout, really hard fall, hit my head on my walker (bleeding) and hit the floor hard, with left shoulder, ribs, knee, and shin. Pressed my life alert once I came to, staff arrived, ambulance took me to hospital. Had at least a dozen x-rays of my left side and a CT head scan. Miracle - no broken bones. E.R.doc wanted to admit me, but I came home by 5:00 p.m. I'm feeling pretty despondent about the frequency of these colitis episodes, plus all my many other issues.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

@loribmt P.S. No, I don't wear compression stocking (yet) nor do I take that particular medication you mentioned. My GI today prescribed Buscoban and Pinaverium, but I think I already told you that. Hugs.

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@loribmt

@artist01 Oh no, Laurie. I’m so sorry to hear about this latest episode! This breaks my heart as you’re trying so hard get beyond all this colitis craziness. It’s totally understandable to feel down with these events being all so unpredictable and chaotic!
I’m happy nothing was physically broken but mentally, it sure takes a toll on the psyche. It’s so hard to go from being this strong, capable adult to feeling frail and uncertain. You have my sincerest empathy because I did have a period similar to this and truly, it took everything in me to keep up the positivity!

But I also know how resilient you are from all the conversations I’ve seen as a mentor my past 4 months in Connect. I marvel daily with your drive, the perseverance and determination for life and health. While I thoroughly enjoy engaging with everyone there are members who genuinely feel like close family members... Wishing you peace and love today, Laurie. Next time you feel yourself going over, don’t delay pushing that button!

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@loribmt. Hi Lori, and @jakedduck, @ess77, @sueinmn , and all you good folks. I'm in the hospital again. I was being assessed for something else in the E.R. and finally told the doctor and nurses, "I feel like I'm having a heart attack." And yes, after all sorts of tests, it was confirmed. How very discouraging! I'll post more later. Hugs to all of you dear people.
Laurie

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@artist01

@loribmt. Hi Lori, and @jakedduck, @ess77, @sueinmn , and all you good folks. I'm in the hospital again. I was being assessed for something else in the E.R. and finally told the doctor and nurses, "I feel like I'm having a heart attack." And yes, after all sorts of tests, it was confirmed. How very discouraging! I'll post more later. Hugs to all of you dear people.
Laurie

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Oh my, Laurie - the challenges just keep coming. I hope they can get things under control for you.
Hugs and good thoughts.
Sue

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@sueinmn

Oh my, Laurie - the challenges just keep coming. I hope they can get things under control for you.
Hugs and good thoughts.
Sue

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My goodness, Laurie. I am just now reading about your fall. And, your ED visit. And how, when, where you had this heart attack. I'm slowly catching up with your last few days.

Laurie, it does feel like you're on the bottom of the pile at times, eh? You're so wise to have that alert alarm. I think I have to get one now, very soon. I've had several falls that were tricky and it would have been smart to have some emergency alert system. You may have saved my life in the future, Laurie. Thanks in advance.

Rest well tonight. Rest, heal and feel the love from your Connect Buddies. It's time for your body to rest and for you to get strong again. Good thoughts coming your way filled with blessings...
elizabeth

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@artist1 I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles boy it doesn't t rain it pours at times Take it slower we aren't t as young as we use to be Glad your back home and nothing broken but sorry about your heart attack .I pray it wasn't to bad of one ,ones enough Rest and take care

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@ess77

My goodness, Laurie. I am just now reading about your fall. And, your ED visit. And how, when, where you had this heart attack. I'm slowly catching up with your last few days.

Laurie, it does feel like you're on the bottom of the pile at times, eh? You're so wise to have that alert alarm. I think I have to get one now, very soon. I've had several falls that were tricky and it would have been smart to have some emergency alert system. You may have saved my life in the future, Laurie. Thanks in advance.

Rest well tonight. Rest, heal and feel the love from your Connect Buddies. It's time for your body to rest and for you to get strong again. Good thoughts coming your way filled with blessings...
elizabeth

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@loribmt I'm so sorry to hear of your problems I just got out of the E R not to long ago And yes those alert systems are there for us in emergency I fell hurt my lower back thank goodness for my little device got the ambulance here right away Everyone at our age should have one A friend has a jitterbug phone that has an alert but what if you didn't have access to it I wear mine around my neck God Bless us all we are tough warriors to go through this on our Golden
Age huh

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@artist01 Sorry to hear someone else has the problem. As an adult, the problem became worst. I am afraid to throw up due to pressing my vagus nerve. It must be a problem passed on. As I grew up my father had the same problems with BM movements and passing out. I remember coming come from school and he would have passed and been to the ER. The first time, he broke off his two front teeth, and the next time he broke his nose, and on it goes. For me, I would wake up looking at the ceiling and trying to remember what happened. As my daughter got older she would stand behind me and hold my head and not let me pass out. Then in my fifties, I had gall bladder problems and would throw up bile some times for 12 hours straight and pass out three times. I no longer have a gall bladder so my problems are less but that does not keep me from passing out, when the bile backs up into my stomach, I still pass out till the bile is up and out. And it comes so suddenly without any warning. It can happen any time of day or night, whether we are home or just out for a drive to see how the crops around us are doing and how harvest is coming along. then it can strick you out of the blue and now what to do. I am never prepared.

I hope you find some better answers than I have. Just live with it, I am told. I will certainly add you to my thoughts and prayers and the number of episodes will become less. I hate to hear you were hurt both in body and spirit. Any time I can help by talking, please feel free to send me a message through Connect. That is what we are here for to give support. Stay healthy and hope for a speedy recovery. KLH

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@kilh

@artist01 Sorry to hear someone else has the problem. As an adult, the problem became worst. I am afraid to throw up due to pressing my vagus nerve. It must be a problem passed on. As I grew up my father had the same problems with BM movements and passing out. I remember coming come from school and he would have passed and been to the ER. The first time, he broke off his two front teeth, and the next time he broke his nose, and on it goes. For me, I would wake up looking at the ceiling and trying to remember what happened. As my daughter got older she would stand behind me and hold my head and not let me pass out. Then in my fifties, I had gall bladder problems and would throw up bile some times for 12 hours straight and pass out three times. I no longer have a gall bladder so my problems are less but that does not keep me from passing out, when the bile backs up into my stomach, I still pass out till the bile is up and out. And it comes so suddenly without any warning. It can happen any time of day or night, whether we are home or just out for a drive to see how the crops around us are doing and how harvest is coming along. then it can strick you out of the blue and now what to do. I am never prepared.

I hope you find some better answers than I have. Just live with it, I am told. I will certainly add you to my thoughts and prayers and the number of episodes will become less. I hate to hear you were hurt both in body and spirit. Any time I can help by talking, please feel free to send me a message through Connect. That is what we are here for to give support. Stay healthy and hope for a speedy recovery. KLH

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Hello @artist01 and @kilh I am so sorry to hear of your troubles. I had about 29 vasovagal attacks over a period of nine months before I was diagnosed with PMR and GCA, autoimmune disorders. My attacks were milder than yours. Usually, when I was eating lunch. I'd get a "squiggly" pain behind my navel, watery mouth, run to the bathroom and then have gagging attacks, most often dry heaves. I never fainted, but the attacks were draining. If the gagging lasted a long time, I'd be wiped out for the rest of the day. I'd lie flat on my back with my feet up to try and stop the attacks and do deep relaxation breathing. I found vagus nerve reset exercises on You Tube; also gargled, hummed, sang out loud and took cold showers (as tolerated) to keep the attacks at bay. I read books by Dr. Stephen Porges, "The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory - The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe" and Dr. Navaz Habib, "Activate Your Vagus Nerve." The attacks stopped about nine months ago and haven't returned. My autoimmune disorders are being managed with Prednisone. Interestingly, my brother told me he gets gagging attacks so maybe there is a genetic component. There must be doctors who specialize in disorders of the vagus nerve - neurologists, maybe?. Dr. Porges is a psychologist and Dr. Habib is in functional medicine. If I find anything of note, I will post it. My thoughts are with you both.

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@ess77

My goodness, Laurie. I am just now reading about your fall. And, your ED visit. And how, when, where you had this heart attack. I'm slowly catching up with your last few days.

Laurie, it does feel like you're on the bottom of the pile at times, eh? You're so wise to have that alert alarm. I think I have to get one now, very soon. I've had several falls that were tricky and it would have been smart to have some emergency alert system. You may have saved my life in the future, Laurie. Thanks in advance.

Rest well tonight. Rest, heal and feel the love from your Connect Buddies. It's time for your body to rest and for you to get strong again. Good thoughts coming your way filled with blessings...
elizabeth

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@ess77 Thanks so much for your support, Elizabeth. I truly appreciate it.
I'm texting this message to egg you on about getting a life alert/alarm! Have you got it yet? Pleeeze, go out and get it NOW!!
You've already had several falls, and we don't know which one might be disastrous if we're all alone - which you are! There, I feel better now. Lol.
Please do it, Elizabeth.
Hugs, Laurie

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@kilh

@artist01 Sorry to hear someone else has the problem. As an adult, the problem became worst. I am afraid to throw up due to pressing my vagus nerve. It must be a problem passed on. As I grew up my father had the same problems with BM movements and passing out. I remember coming come from school and he would have passed and been to the ER. The first time, he broke off his two front teeth, and the next time he broke his nose, and on it goes. For me, I would wake up looking at the ceiling and trying to remember what happened. As my daughter got older she would stand behind me and hold my head and not let me pass out. Then in my fifties, I had gall bladder problems and would throw up bile some times for 12 hours straight and pass out three times. I no longer have a gall bladder so my problems are less but that does not keep me from passing out, when the bile backs up into my stomach, I still pass out till the bile is up and out. And it comes so suddenly without any warning. It can happen any time of day or night, whether we are home or just out for a drive to see how the crops around us are doing and how harvest is coming along. then it can strick you out of the blue and now what to do. I am never prepared.

I hope you find some better answers than I have. Just live with it, I am told. I will certainly add you to my thoughts and prayers and the number of episodes will become less. I hate to hear you were hurt both in body and spirit. Any time I can help by talking, please feel free to send me a message through Connect. That is what we are here for to give support. Stay healthy and hope for a speedy recovery. KLH

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@kilh Oh, KLH, it's so good to hear from you and find that I'm not the only weirdo on the block! Nobody here has ever heard of passing out during bathroom events. I was living at an Assisted Living facility for the past five years and some of the staff were pretty understanding, and ALWAYS shipped me off by ambulance to hospital. Was sent to a Long Term Care facility on Dec.22, and nobody here "gets it". They've never even heard of it. In 3 weeks, I've had 4 events, by myself, no medic alert, no help. I've requested a breakfast tray in my room in the mornings because that's usually my prime danger time.
I really believe they all think I'm a lazy malingerer. I'm sure not. I'm always up by 5:00 every morning. It's so difficult to describe the problem to people.
Your Dad's problem sounds exactly like mine, and yours is so factually similar too. (I hope I don't come across as a Whiner!) Lol.
Good wishes for you in your brave battle. Hugs, Laurie

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