ramakentesh Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Well things had been going swimmingly for me until early last week when i got a strange headspin. Unusual. It was more like a room-spinning near faint than my usual POTS lightheadedness. It went away.Previously I had spent the last year being quite well with fairly minimal POTs symptoms other than three or four days.Then today it just came on again at 9.30am at work, got worse and worse until I was fidgetting constantly, pouring with sweat, totally out of it and barely conscious. I tried to go to the bathroom to recover but it just kept going. I spent a lot of time in the bathroom - polyuria went totally out of control - anything I drank was through me in less than an hour with little benefit. i was shaking, I was covered in sweat and dripping from my clothes, my eyes looked weird, and I was totally and utterly out of it.people are work were looking at me strangely, I assume thinking I was drunk or something. then at 3 i just seriously nearly fainted and with all that I had left energy-wise I got up and rushed out of the room, took a lift down to the bottom and then fainted three steps down the walk way.When I came to I felt TOTALLY out of it and sick. I looked at my reflection and my eyes looked all empty and lifeless. People all just stood there at my feet saking if I was ok and I had to say 'no im definately not' and they got me up and moved me into the sick bay. they then had to ring my incredulous boss who i think thought i was trying to do a runner before xmas holidays. I had work due today and i blew it with that stuff.My wife came and got me and still vague as all **** she drove me home.My head still feels really weird - like the vessels are all dilated and the blood just rushes out of them or something. Like they cant hold the blood. Sounds crazy and I dont know how it really fits with what Ive read about POTS.I hope this isnt another longterm relapse - time will tell I guess. Id better dust off the med cabinet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abnel Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Oh no Rama, sorry to hear that. I gathered you'd been doing pretty well for a while there. It is so frustrating and can be such a cruel turn of fate when all is going well and then, bang, POTS rears it's ugly head again in the middle of what feels like a pretty stable life...and especially cruel when you've done nothing to bring it on.Very frightening... I know you've had this illness for a long time, longer than many of us on this Forum. I hope it's just an aberration and you go back to being your normal you again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted December 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 So do I!!Rang my doc - wasnt overly helpful. Just told me that its part of POTS life. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoGiuliana Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 What a terrible experience, especially to come so completely out of the blue like it did. Hope you recover as quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 sorry this happened to you rama, i hope you'll be back at your base real soon!take care,corina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E246 Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Sorry to hear this - as you have been well so there is no reason to think it won't pass quickly. Maybe you have picked up a virus and you are reacting to that.I always find you such a strength on this forum.Get better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue1234 Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Sorry you're having such a bad time! I hope it is a temporary fluke for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lieze Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Something similar happened to me Saturday when I ran into get my meat at the meat store.I walked in got to the meat counter and all I can remember is my face getting really warm and it felt like I suddenly was going to go out.Things got weird.Thank goodness it passed.The thing I noticed is I was exposed to some type of virus at my sons Christmas program.I had gone off and sat to the side and people followed well a woman right beside me coughed.I held my breath and thought get up and walk away don't breathe in those germs.I should have instead I sat there paralyzed holding my breath and then finally had to take a breath.I should have pretended to get up and go to the bathroom or something it was at the end and then just went a different direction.So it's been several days and my fever just showed yesterday.But it seems like leading up to that I've been more symptomatic with weakness and chest pain.That blip at the meat store happened so fast out or the blue.I had done two errands previously with no problem and rested in between.I've just had the feeling I'm not up to par.I'm really sorry that happened.I hope it was just a random thing and you start feeling much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopeSprings Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Weird for this to happen out of the blue. Can you think of anything that might have triggered it? Hope it's temporary - I know how depressing a setback can be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lieze Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 I wonder too if when you got that symptomatic if you could have left and laid down.I know you are trying to keep your job and we all marvel at your ability but if you could have laid down if it wouldn't have escalated the way it did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzysillyak Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Sorry to hear this ram,Hopefully, it will turn out to be a bad memory for you. Fwiw. I feel like you described if I get a coldor stomach virus. This symptom goes away once the other symptoms kick in.Tc .. D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 So sorry, for you. We never know what the next day or moment will bring with this illness. Every time I think I have something figured out - something happens to make me question everything I thought I knew. HANG IN THERE!!! I agree with the others - you are an inspiration to many of us and we value your input. Hope you feel better soon.Issie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybug Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 I really hope this is just an anomaly for you and that the good days are back in a flash! I hate how unpredictable this illness is. Keeping you in my good thoughts!Katie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janiedelite Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 So sorry to hear of your suddenly worse issues! Has your AS been flaring much lately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tachy Phlegming Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 There was nothing at all different about food or meds or med procedures right before the flare -- or an obvious change in weather or heating or cooling of where you were? Had you been off most meds for a while lately?Hope you are able to feel better very soon ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted December 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Thanks for the kind words. Im glad I can talk to people on this website about these kinds of things because my wife cares but probably doesnt really understand in many ways. My mum just gets stressed and my doctors arent overly helpful. My specialist basically tried three meds and then gave up and my GP read something about exercise and now thinks that any signs of POTS means lack of exercise (in a person that runs 5kms three times a week).I got pretty dehydrated on the saturday as we had to burn off some old wood and it was the last legal day to do that before the fire season (I live semi rural). The only other thing is that I stopped eating red meat and chicken on Aug 14 - but ive been feeling better rather than worse from that. But maybe its tipped me into anemia because having AS I am prone to anemia from longterm illness or what ever its called.the thing is that it didnt feel like the normal POTS - it felt kinda different. But that might just be because it was so much worse than the usual lightheadedness.I havent been on any meds for POTS since Jan of this year. But that is because most havent been overly helpful for me. Some chinese herbs made me feel less wired but at the moment it feels like the wired feeling is that is keeping blood to my brain LOL.Its funny with all the research and discussing the illness I wonder whether that is me just trying to tell myself I am in control when days like yesterday demonstrate otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliegee Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 I'm so sorry, Rama, my friend. This might sound weird, but have you considered trying an antihistamine, like benadryl? Polyuria & excessive vasodialation are consistent with an "allergic" reaction. I put allergic in quotes as I am NEVER allergic to the things I react to HOW you react to the benadryl might be telling. Better days ahead-Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lieze Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 I feel really self concsious saying I know what you mean so much but that thing that happened to me at the meat store felt very very different too!I was really shocked I mean it was intense and immediate not the slow build up of presyncope that I used to feel and then it went just as quickly as it came and so I was like what was that?It made me wonder if it was some kind of surge or panic or what?I still don't know what it was it just felt lethal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted December 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 I had a mild analphylaxis in october to something in chinese food. Swollen lip, sweaty, etc. So could well be. Is benadryl behind the counter? Do I need a script for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janiedelite Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 You should be able to get benadryl/diphenhydramine over the counter. It usually comes in 25mg pills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted December 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Thanks if im up to it this afternoon Ill go and try. Im off to the GP now to get tested for anemia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipper Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 So sorry you are feeling bad. Hopefully this will be over soon. Your input is always interesting and you have taught me a lot. Thank you and feel better soon, Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted December 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Well the taxi to the GPs didnt arrive so I had to walk 3 kms up a hill to the train station and then caught that to the doctors. I nearly passed out there again numerous times covered in sweat and fidgeting constantly to stop fainting. the woman at the GPs gave me a curious look but didnt say anything. By the time the young doc was ready I basically ran into his room and jumped on his bed.He actually knew a bit about POTS. my standing BP was measured and found to be 110 which is very unusual for me as I usuall have orthostatic hypertension when -as the doc said - I felt a lot better generally. Today I felt totally out of it again and was close to fainting even after talking to the doc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lieze Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 This is really peculiar.I'm hoping you figure it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Did you eat allot of chocolate or drink coffee, tea etc...Could there be some sort of blood sugar issues going on? Did you have aspartame - chew allot of sugar free gum. Possibly, just the dehydration is what got you. It does sound like it could have been a allergic reaction. So maybe the Benadryl might help - but for me that makes my tachy worse. I can use Claritin or Tagament without having any bad reactions. The benadryl makes me really jumpy too. My husband who was/is really healthy had a long work day outside and got too hot and didn't drink enough. He got really sick, it lasted for weeks. He finally went to the doctor and they checked his electrolytes and they were all out of balance. He had gotten dehydrated and over drank just water. That imbalanced the ratio's of the minerals and because of that we thought he'd come down with Valley Fever. He could not hardly function. It was the imbalance in the electrolytes. He had an I.V. and was told to sip something like a Gatorade - but not guzzle it and drink water in between. That way it has time for the salts and potassium to go into the cells and you get the benefit of it. But, if you just drink it down - you won't get the benefit. They said to mostly drink water - but add in the electrolytes. Just a thought.Issie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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