Tony

I get flashing lights sometimes but the only time I can see them is if I close my eyes and put my hands over them too (to make it completely dark). Then sometimes I'll see a slow pulsing strobe light... I think in both eyes. It's not very bright which is why I must not notice it otherwise.

UPDATE Thanks to everyone for your kind words and advice. I'm getting copies of all my test results together and will keep my own file as suggested. It definately helps knowing that I'm not alone and there is a place I can go. I saw my Cardiologist last week to discuss the results of the TTT. He diagnosed me with Neurocardiogenic Syncope as expected. I inquired about what my heart rate was doing and whether he had heard of POTS. He said he knew about POTS and that it was a possibility but he wasn't ready to diagnose me with that as of yet. He seemed to think there were a number of things that could cause my heart rate to do what it was doing at the time. I would have asked some follow up questions but to be honest I was exhausted. He told me to drink plenty of water and salt my food. He also prescribed me a Beta Blocker. I've started taking 12.5 MG of Metoprolol Succinate. After a week of that I'm supposed to increase my dose to 25 MG. Then after 14-21 days I'm to call him back and let him know how I'm doing. He made sure that I knew that this wasn't the only treatment to be tried and that this was just the first thing we'd try. He also recounted a story of him successfully treating another NS patient who was a bedridden college student. She is now leading a relatively normal life (not running any marathons or anything but attending class and doing normal things). That gives me hope but we'll just have to see. I'm mostly happy that he is at least aware of these conditions and have treated people for them. I've been on the pill for 3 days (today is day 4) and the jury is still out. I had been fighting a viral infection (congested Sinuses and Bronchitus irritation) for 3 weeks prior to taking the pill. On day 2 of the pill I actually ran a fever (which I never used to do). It hit 101. The next morning I felt much better and the infection was gone. I don't want to get my hopes up but it was almost like my body finally started to get a break from whatever was causing the POTS stuff and could focus on the infection. My heart rate has started to act a lot less erratic too. When I stand I get a reading in the mid 90's instead of 120+. I still feel tired and weak but I've lost a lot of muscle mass over the last month and that will take time to build back up. I don't know if blood pooling is an issue for me as of yet. I don't notice anything when I stand (no coloration changes, swelling, etc.) so I'm hoping that it isn't a major underlying cause of what is troubling me but I suppose only time will tell. Each day has its highs and lows. This morning was bad but I struggled through it and after lunch I started feeling better. If I walk for any more than 50 yds or so I start to feel light headed too. I'm just tired and weak. I suspect this will be the norm for at least a while. I'm going to see my Endo tomorrow for the first time. Hopefully the Cortisol blood test and 24 hr urine catch results that my Internist ordered will be in by then. By the way, I delivered 7 liters of urine in 24 hours. That was a crazy amount. I do feel that was not a representative day for me though and was more of me unloading some retained water from the prior 2 days but regardless, wow that's a lot. I'm looking forward to what my Endo's thoughts are although I'm guessing me being on the Beta Blocker will limit what testing can be done. Thanks for letting me share my experiences. I'm hoping that things will start to get better but am taking it day by day, hour by hour. God Bless Tony Nothing cool happened unfortunately. Everything went dark and then I came back as if I had been in a dream state. So I'm sorry to say that I did not see Elvis. So Cal. Good area to be doctor wise... there's one on every corner it seems.

Sorry for the long post. I've read quite a bit on this forum already and it's really helped me to begin to get my head around this thing. It all began on 12/4/08. Around lunch time I began to feel a pulsating minor pain in my head... very specific location. I didn't think much of it though and walked out of my office to my car. I began to drive home (still feeling the annoying head pain) when about half way home I suddenly began to feel woozy... precursor symptoms to passing out. I quickly pulled over and put the car in park at which time I blacked out. I'd estimate that I was out for 5 minutes or so but I was alone so no way to know for sure. When I came to I was clamy and my heart was racing. I didn't feel good at all. When I got home my wife said I looked very pale. Off to the ER I went. They did an MRI/MRA, blood work, EKG. All came back normal. They handed me a piece of paper discussing "Tension Headaches", referred me to a Neurologist and sent me on my way. Over the next month I pretty much stayed at home on the couch or in my bed. I'd get what I'd call dizzy spells at least once a day. I had tingling/numbness sensations on the top of my head and warming sensations on both my arms. It was a rough time. I went to a Neurologist who did a physical examination and had an EEG done. Everything came back normal and she diagnosed me with Migraine headaches. She said she couldn't do anything else for me and pretty much said that the underlying cause was anxiety (isn't that familiar). I am by no means an anxious person by nature. I went to see another Neurologist because the first one was clearly not very good. He said that maybe this was Orthostatic Hypotension. He referred me to a Cardiologist to get a tilt table test done. The Cardiologist pretty much immediately suspected Neurocardiogenic Syncope and ordered an echo, halter monitor and a TTT. By now the tingling/numbness and warming sensations have stopped. Now I just feel a touch of nausea, lack of appetite, brain fog and just not feeling all there. Echo and Halter were supposedly clean although I'm sure when I look at the detailed report that will change (I'm sure there were tachy moments in there that were glossed over) I took the TTT and failed in a spectacular fashion. My heart rate while laying down was around 85. When they put me upright my hear rate jumped to around 125-130 and stayed pretty consist for the 4 minutes that I was conscious. Yep, I blacked out and no they never had to give me any drugs. When I came too the doctor that was monitoring me said that NS was basically confirmed and let me know that my heart had actually stopped beating for 9 seconds. Yep, I was dead for 9 seconds. So yes I'm quite scared at the moment and am not sure where this will all take me. Based on the information on this site though it sure seems like I've got NS/POTS at a minimum. I'm going to meet my Cardiologist tomorrow to discuss the results and I'm interested to hear what he has to say about what my heart rate was doing. I've also finally found a good Internist that seems to take a genuine interest in my case. She's already thinking about hormonal causes and is referring me to a good Endo in addition to doing some blood tests of her own and a 24 hr urine catch. So that is me. I'm in my mid thirties with a wife and 4 year old at home worried to death. We know our lives are going to change but we don't know how bad it's going to get. I've recently gone back to work. I do this by having my wife drive me, drinking plenty of water with salt in it and taking it very slow. Thank you for letting me tell my story. If anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it. God bless Tony