Fainting and Pain

Its been a few months since I have had an episode and am feeling better in general. This week, however, I was out after a snowy day headed toward a Greek restaurant in Montclair, NJ and slipped on some ice in a parking lot.

It was one of those falls where you go up in the air and fall flat on your back. It looks funny in the movies but I was in excruciating pain. My husband helped me up and glutton that I am I wanted to still go eat. I walked a few steps when I started to feel light headed and said I felt faint. Sure enough I blacked out.

My husband said I was unconscious for about 2 minutes. A woman walking by called an ambulance. A young man from the YMCA across the street came over as well as some very nice policemen. I didn't want an ambulance as I knew how expensive those are even with good medical insurance.( one charged $2200 to drive 3 blocks from my gym to a hospital after fainting).

The policemen helped me into my car. It was so slippery that they said they had slipped too.
When I got home I lied down for a while on the couch and when I went upstairs to the bathroom I again felt nauseated and dizzy and had to lie on the bathroom floor to stop myself from passing out again.

I guess what I'm getting at is pain seems to trigger passing out as some of your comments suggested.

I'm still sore but I'm up and around. I take Advil when I tighten up and use some ice packs when th pain is bad.

Wishing you all a healthy, happy new year.

Beth

Medical test

Good morning,

Yesterday I had a new medical test called an MRA. It tests the blood flow in the brain. It was in a closed MRI machine and I was a little nervous about it but it lasted only 8 minutes. The technician told me that the doctor would have the results by today. That's a first. It usually takes a week before I know anything. Hmm, is that good or bad ?

Tomorrow I have an eye exam. It's a good thing I'm retired or I wouldn't have time for all these appointments.

Wish me luck.

Beth

Fainting Goat-FYI

Fainting goat

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A young fainting goat in the midst of a myotonic "fainting" spell.

A fainting goat is a breed of domestic goat whose muscles freeze for roughly 10 seconds when the goat is startled. Though painless, this generally results in the animal collapsing on its side. The characteristic is caused by a hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenita. When startled, younger goats will stiffen and fall over. Older goats learn to spread their legs or lean against something when startled, and often they continue to run about in an awkward, stiff-legged shuffle.

Slightly smaller than standard breeds of goat, fainting goats are generally 43 to 64 centimeters (17 to 25 in) tall and can weigh anywhere from 27 to 75 kilograms (50 to 165 lb). They have large, prominent eyes in high sockets, and exist in as many colors as standard breeds do. Hair can be short or long, with certain individuals producing a great deal of cashmere during colder months. There appears to be no angora strain of the fainting goat. Common coat colors are black and white, however, most possible coat colors are found in this breed. Their life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.^[1]

The origin of the fainting goat is peculiar. The goats appear to have arrived in Marshall County, Tennessee in the early 1800s, courtesy of a reclusive farm worker named Jon Tinsley who was most likely from Nova Scotia. Before he left the area, he sold his goats — three does and a buck — to Dr. H.H. Mayberry, who bred them.

Fainting goats have many other names, including Tennessee (Meat) Goats, Nervous Goats, Stiff-leg Goats, Wooden-leg Goats, and Tennessee Scare Goats. They are smaller and somewhat easier to care for and maintain than larger meat goat breeds, which makes the fainting goat desirable for smaller farms. They are also raised as pet or show animals as they can be friendly, intelligent, easy to keep, and amusing.

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Feeling Better

I really have been feeling a lot better and hope my illness is going away. I never got any answers from doctors or medical tests explaining my episodes of near passing out. For those of you who haven't read my past postings, I was sick almost everyday for about nine months feeling ill and collapsing. Everything triggered my attacks-heat, exercise, stress, even going to the bathroom.

The last test I took was an MRI which showed no abnormalities. I just was approved by my insurance company for an MRA to test the blood flow in my brain. I also have an appointment with an eye doctor this week.

Before last year I was really healthy, going to the gym, hiking and leading a really active lifestyle. This year has been a struggle, feeling weak, scared of my episodes and discouraging all around.

Now I feel pretty good. I have periods of the day where I feel odd, my neck tingles, my eyes feel a little blurry and sometimes my stomach starts this pumping that usually would have made me collapse but now seems to end if I rest.

I am going back to the gym and leading a normal life now.

I have been hearing from some readers who have fainted since they were children and it seems to actually run in some families. They are not alone. I read an article about fainting goats. Who knew?

Beth

Feeling Better

For the past 2 months I have not had an episode. I also feel less tired and am able to function almost normally. I say almost because if I do too much I still feel a little ill.

Today I am in upstate New York in my vacation house all by myself, something I would not have done a few months ago. I was a little frightened as there were thunderstorms and flash floods in the area. I even got an automated call from emergency services warning residents of flooding.

When I woke up this morning I stayed in bed hoping I wouldn't get an episode from all the stress. So far so good.

Neurological Disorder

Hi,

I was hoping to put my episodes behind me as the medicine Keppra seemed to make the symptoms go away. But I went to the gym last week and again went into a near fainting experience. My husband was with me and by massaging my feet and back I start reviving. Before he begins the massage,
I feel this strange feeling coming on for about 5 minutes. I get a strange taste in my mouth, tingling in my legs and arms, and I see a round light. Then I can't move for about 5 or10 minutes and get a really bad headache. I am tired for the rest of the day. Luckily I get advanced warning before the attacks so I don't fall down and get hurt.

I am getting a 24 hour EEG in 2 weeks and wonder if they'll find I have some horrible neurological disease. It's really frightening. Right now I feel fatigued and am trying not to exert myself too much

If anyone reads this an has similar symptoms please write.

Thanks,
Beth

Partial Simple Seizures

I have been taking the anti-seizure drug Keppra for 1 week and have not had any episodes. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Beth

Seizure Disorder

Well, I am still not well but there is some hope. I went to the neurologist for an EEG and there was some "suspicious" activity. The doctor suggested a 24 hour EEG to see if he would discover anything further. In the meantime I am on an anti-seizure drug Keppra.

I have done more research and think my symptoms are indicative of partial simple seizures.
I even read about a disorder called abodominal epilepsy that might just be it. Whoever thought I would hope I have epilepsy? But at least there is medication that controls it and people would not think it is just psychosymatic.