Christine’s Story
The summer of 2004 was supposed to be a time for me to celebrate. I had a great job that I loved and I was getting married in September of that year.
I felt like I had everything and was so happy, until one day my life completely changed forever. In July 04 I woke up one day and started on my daily routines. I was going down some stairs, and that's the last thing I remember. I had fainted and when I woke up I had my mom by my side with the most panicked look I have ever seen. The look she had on her face I will never forget. I remember being in an ambulance, strapped down and my neck restrained by a plastic brace. Everything was spinning and I felt so sick. I was rushed into the ER and was asked a slew of questions which I could not answer. Finally the Doctors told me I had fainted and suffered a concussion. I went home later that day and assumed that the faint was due to stress from work and the wedding.
Over the next few days I continued to faint with no warning signs. I was getting injured all the time. I finally told my parents that I needed to see my regular physician. I explained to her what was happening and she said it was just stress and I should see a psychiatrist. I was so mad because I could sense that it was not just stress and I wanted her to take me more seriously. I saw a neurologist who ran some of his own tests and realized that this is out of his field. So then I went to see a cardiologist and I was diagnosed as having VVS/Vaso Vagel Syncope . . . the problem was that he wasn’t sure what was causing it. I went through a slew of tests like the tilt table test, wearing holter monitors, having EKG’s, EEG’s . . . The tilt table test showed that when I fainted my heart rate did decrease a little and so would my blood pressure . . . but he still wasn’t sure why this would cause me to faint, since these were not extreme drops.
At this point I was getting very depressed and scared that there might be no help for me. I was wondering if it was "all in my head." My life seemed to be doomed, not being able to drive, not being able to work and to be injured almost all the time. At this point I was fainting almost four times a week. I have suffered so many concussions and broken bones, that now I never go to the hospital because I know the treatment for each injury.
Finally my Cardiologist sent me to see an EP in Ohio who has been my saving grace! He diagnosed me with a condition called Postural Othostatic Tachycardia.
I am taking medication to help raise my blood pressure and I also have a Biotronik Cylos Pacemaker. I am still fainting, but I know one day I will get better. It helps to know that I am finally on the right track.
I am so thankful to the people at Stars for making Syncope known to the public and to help those who are suffering.
One thing I learned from my experience in dealing with Syncope is to NEVER give up!
Fight for your health, and make sure you feel confident in your Doctor.
Christine
Warwick, Rhode Island