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One step forward, two steps back. My vasovagal nerve
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: Jan 15, 2022 | Replies (31)Comment receiving replies
@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
Replies to "@artist01 Sorry to hear someone else has the problem. As an adult, the problem became worst...."
@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
Could it be cyclic vomiting syndrome?
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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.