I'm a fainter. It's undignified but have a strong vasovagal response. It tends to kick in suddenly and without much encouragement on my part.
My first episode occurred at the age of 23. I was coaching a church basketball game and Gina Poulsen made a beautiful lay-up. I jumped to my feet and screamed something intelligible, I'm sure. Then I felt it coming on. I sat down, turned to one of my players, told her I was passing out, and put my head between my knees because that's what I've always been told to do. For the record, that's an asinine thing to do.
I fainted. I hit my head on the hardwood and got myself a concussion which exacerbated the episode since I was already surrounded by highly emotionally charged teenage girls. I was OUT. The paramedics were called, the game came to a stand still where the girls, in tears and hysterics (both teams - teenage girls, remember?) united to pray for the coach who was clearly in the throes of death.
Meanwhile, my sister was on the team and not in hysterics. She was highly embarrassed and was rolling her eyes. My mother, who was also coaching, watched as her favorite daughter passed out cold. The ambulance arrived, I was loaded in, regained consciousness in the ambulance just enough to recognize the paramedic and throw up all over him and my shirt which had to be removed. I had to spend the night in the hospital doing stupid tests that determined that I fainted and got a concussion.
It was an extremely mortifying experience.
The next episode occurred a year later when I was invited to go waterskiing with a bunch of guys. Already knowing I was the best waterskier and feeling way to cocky, I refused the second ski. I severely underestimated the crap-factor of the ski and the boat. The boot was of poor quality and my foot kept slipping around. I used all my energy reserves to stand up to ski. The world went black and I let go of the rope. Face down in the water for about 15 seconds. By the time the boat came around, I was conscious and feeling incredibly nauseous. HOWEVER, I toughed it out because I was with three guys and I could never admit weakness. Noooo! I spent the next two and half hours trying really hard to not feed the fish (read: throw up).
By this time I basically had the drill down. I felt the episode coming on and I needed to get right down on the ground. It rarely occurred but when it did, I would dive for the linoleum, grass, carpet, asphalt, whatever was beneath my feet. Since then, I've only truly gone unconscious one time. So stupid that it's not worth mentioning.
My diagnosis actually came with my last pap smear, embarrassing as it sounds. My doctor took a biopsy of my cervix and helped me sit up. I suddenly got very sick to my stomach and wondered if I was going to faint. The nurse noticed my pallor and pushed me back down while the doctor joked about my vasovagal response. Not feeling the love but at least I knew what I had.
Today I proudly picked some beautiful produce for my masterpiece salad. It was going to be like a party in the mouth. As I busily sliced up a pepper I felt resistance and pain. I'd just cut my finger with a dull knife. Blood gushed and I started with the tunnel vision and nauseous feeling. Mr. Taylor was close by so he only looked slightly amused as I dove for the hardwood. After carefully examining my wound, he announced I needed stitches. I refused. One vasovagal response in a 24 hour period time is enough. I will check it tomorrow.
My first episode occurred at the age of 23. I was coaching a church basketball game and Gina Poulsen made a beautiful lay-up. I jumped to my feet and screamed something intelligible, I'm sure. Then I felt it coming on. I sat down, turned to one of my players, told her I was passing out, and put my head between my knees because that's what I've always been told to do. For the record, that's an asinine thing to do.
I fainted. I hit my head on the hardwood and got myself a concussion which exacerbated the episode since I was already surrounded by highly emotionally charged teenage girls. I was OUT. The paramedics were called, the game came to a stand still where the girls, in tears and hysterics (both teams - teenage girls, remember?) united to pray for the coach who was clearly in the throes of death.
Meanwhile, my sister was on the team and not in hysterics. She was highly embarrassed and was rolling her eyes. My mother, who was also coaching, watched as her favorite daughter passed out cold. The ambulance arrived, I was loaded in, regained consciousness in the ambulance just enough to recognize the paramedic and throw up all over him and my shirt which had to be removed. I had to spend the night in the hospital doing stupid tests that determined that I fainted and got a concussion.
It was an extremely mortifying experience.
The next episode occurred a year later when I was invited to go waterskiing with a bunch of guys. Already knowing I was the best waterskier and feeling way to cocky, I refused the second ski. I severely underestimated the crap-factor of the ski and the boat. The boot was of poor quality and my foot kept slipping around. I used all my energy reserves to stand up to ski. The world went black and I let go of the rope. Face down in the water for about 15 seconds. By the time the boat came around, I was conscious and feeling incredibly nauseous. HOWEVER, I toughed it out because I was with three guys and I could never admit weakness. Noooo! I spent the next two and half hours trying really hard to not feed the fish (read: throw up).
By this time I basically had the drill down. I felt the episode coming on and I needed to get right down on the ground. It rarely occurred but when it did, I would dive for the linoleum, grass, carpet, asphalt, whatever was beneath my feet. Since then, I've only truly gone unconscious one time. So stupid that it's not worth mentioning.
My diagnosis actually came with my last pap smear, embarrassing as it sounds. My doctor took a biopsy of my cervix and helped me sit up. I suddenly got very sick to my stomach and wondered if I was going to faint. The nurse noticed my pallor and pushed me back down while the doctor joked about my vasovagal response. Not feeling the love but at least I knew what I had.
Today I proudly picked some beautiful produce for my masterpiece salad. It was going to be like a party in the mouth. As I busily sliced up a pepper I felt resistance and pain. I'd just cut my finger with a dull knife. Blood gushed and I started with the tunnel vision and nauseous feeling. Mr. Taylor was close by so he only looked slightly amused as I dove for the hardwood. After carefully examining my wound, he announced I needed stitches. I refused. One vasovagal response in a 24 hour period time is enough. I will check it tomorrow.
Hey Nancy! I thought of you tonight when our little guy fell and tore his frenulum right at betime. Not too much blood, but many tears.
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to update us on the need for stitches. I love that you figured out so quickly that hitting the ground on purpose is better than a fall. I don't think I would've thought of that. I generally only pass out with blood draws, so I've always been already seated, thankfully!
Update us on stiches or no! Good luck!
Ooooh darlin', no fun!
ReplyDeleteMy mother had this same response as does my great friend DiAnna. Freaks me out because I am NOT a fainter. When my dad died and we were packing up his clothes, we found those little ammonia vials in every single jacket pocket. He had dozens of them. Do I need to say here that he was a lifetime Scouter who personified the slogan, "Be Prepared?" Maybe I could find some of those for Mr. Taylor.
ReplyDeleteAs a sister in Vasovagal Response, I too hit the deck really fast when I feel it coming on...Luckily I passed it to my daughter who had her first one walking around ASU with her future husband (not that he know this is his fate.)
ReplyDeleteWe have to stick together (on the floor)
The first time this happened to me, I was in a Dr's office. The nurse told me I needed to have my heart checked and "worst case scenario a pacemaker put in". Nice, right? Fortunately my dad's a Dr and told me that nurse was looney otherwise I would have thought I was banned from ever using my heart again :P
ReplyDeleteOh poor you, yikes I can't even imagine...but boy did I get a visual of all the hyper emotional teenage girls with the first episode, your writing is very good even if your vasag..whatever..response isn't!
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't need stitches today, take care!
I am my mother's favorite daughter too! So nice to be in this club isn't it? ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd that is a horrible thing to be prone too! After my whole fainting incident in the doctor's office, I conclude that I NEVER want that to happen again!
I feel your pain. I, too, have been known to pass out over stupid things, like when my sister put hot rollers in my hair when I was nine. Hope your finger is ok.
ReplyDeleteYou really shouldn't be typing with that raw stump. Super bad for the keyboard.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I'm not the only one who has vasovagal responses. I too have learned when it is coming on and immediately lay down.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly as I remember it! And I believe that I am the favorite daughter.
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