Cope

Several months ago, after many doctor's visits, exams, and one second opinion, I resigned myself to having a little something called neurocardiogenic syncope. What the hell is that? Well:

"Neurocardiogenic syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness associated with a drop in arterial blood pressure, quickly followed by a slowed heart rate (Grubb & McMann, 2001, p. 133)."

In other words, I faint, a lot. Like a hell of a lot. Which as you can imagine, blows - a lot.
So what's to be done about this little problem? Surely there's a cure, right? Right? Wrong.

Sure, there are medicines that help regulate my blood pressure, and one that helps me retain water, and thus, sodium (every girl's dream!). But none of these pills in themselves is a cure. Some day, I may be bad enough to get a pace maker, andthat may very well regulate my blood flow, but until that day, I will continue with my pills.

Besides the pills I have made some lifestyle changes suggested by my various doctors. I have started drinkingmore water, tried to cut back on my use of caffeine (which has only been mildly successful), and started to walk everyday just a little bit (we're not talking fist pumping, mall-walking here, just slow strolls). I'd have to say though that my favorite lifestyle change has been adding more salt to my diet. Yes, I was actually told that I should add moresalt to my diet. For anyone that knows me, this is a laughable idea. Seriously, the only way I could add more saltto my diet is if I added table salt to my Cheetos. But I digress...

All in all, despite the new medicine, and the lifestyle changes. There are still days that I can barely get outof bed. I bob and weave drunkenly, like a new born baby calf. I've fallen and smacked my hips, head, face, knees,you name it. On those days I cope by walk/crawling from chair to chair. I make more jokes on those days. Especially when I come to with a concerned friend, coworker, or parent hovering over me.

So here I am. In all my knock-kneed glory. Faint-y and full of self-deprecating metaphors, this is a place whereI can be productive while still in my pajamas, tucked safely into bed. I hope that by sharing my ups and downs, I can find a voice, and maybe even a few kindred spirits dealing withthe same, or similar issues.