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If you read my blog " Desperately seeking Heather" you will remember that I have been suffering from bouts of the " almost faints". I have to admit that they are not as bad as they were three weeks ago, but are still somewhat of a problem, especially if I need to stand and talk to someone for any length of time.
I think I've explained before that people with Cowden's can have a myriad of symptoms. Anything and everything is tested. It is a stressful condition and one that keeps you on your toes constantly. Which brings me of course to an article in my local paper and a story to tell.
Fainting and almost fainting need to be investigated so despite my inner voice warning me to not go there, I put " fainting causes" into the Google search engine and was instantly overwhelmed by a number of possibilities. Here we go again!
Article number 1 revealed the following:
In many cases, the cause of a fainting spell is unclear, but fainting can be triggered by a number of factors, including: fear,emotional trauma, severe pain, a sudden drop in blood pressure, low sugar due to DIABETES or from going too long without eating, hyperventilation (rapid, shallow breathing), dehydration.
"Oh my God I have diabetes!"
There is diabetes on both sides of my family so THIS WAS IT!
My worst fears had come through. I was diabetic.
But wait there's more! Yes it gets worse. Wanting confirmation of my self diagnosis, I checked another website and found this gem:
It can also be a symptom of a serious heart condition that needs to be be carefully diagnosed with cardiac tests.
Inner voice - ( Stop it!)
Me - ignores inner voice.
Do you think I stopped there? You're right...no!!! Apparently (according to a third article), I could have a stroke coming or narcolepsy or Parkinson's.
This is worse than I thought!
Suddenly the pins and needles I had two weeks ago made sense. Not only did I have diabetes and heart disease, a stroke was obviously imminent and possibly Parkinson's. I didn't think I had narcolepsy basically because I had no idea what it was at the time.
( Lucky I didn't check because narcolepsy is extreme sleepiness and had I known that at the time I would have had that too.)
On returning to my home town I went to see Dr Heather. She listened carefully as I told her I was diabetic and had heart disease. She picked up my blood results from Perth, perused them and said:
"You're not diabetic".
"Are you sure?"
"Yes".
Phew!!!
She listened to my heart and looked a bit confused. " You seem to have funny heart beats though. We will have to test that!
World caves in.
My second worst fears are about to become a reality.
My ticker is giving out on me!
Off I went for my test, to find out that my heart was in perfect condition. A little bit of a leak was causing the odd sound.
" You are a bit leaky".
" I don't want to be leaky."
" Everyone is a bit leaky".
So, $295 later I am still no closer to an answer. I am also very frazzled because I ( an intelligent, well educated woman) chose to go first to Dr Google rather than leave it for the real doctors to work out. I am starting to think that this is all about low blood pressure, but why would I have low blood pressure???
Thanks to you, my coworkers think i'm crazy. Loved your humor ... thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. I enjoyed writing it too.
DeleteOooooooh boy! Do I understand this post LOUD AND CLEAR. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who does this!
ReplyDeletetrying so hard to break this habit Heather...its so hard!!!
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