New way of life

I've been meaning to blog about this for over a week now, just to get it out there, face the facts so to speak. I just haven't done it. I've thought about it how I really just want to write about this whole thing, but I'm to tired to do it. And then we had the fourth and M's big achievement, so now finally I'm writing about me!

For a few months now I've been getting really drained and at points feeling really dizzy and fainty. Thankfully I haven't fainted, but just feel like I am. Three months ago hubby and I were leaving Petsmart with M and I went to throw something away, turned and started walking. As I took a step I knew I was going to fall off the curb(you know when your foot hits the edge and for that split second you know you're going to fall so your body goes into brace mode) well after that split second(before the bracing mode) I blacked out and "woke up" on the ground. I bruised my hand and knee. Nothing to bad, didn't even think much of it except it was really weird. Til the next day at work I had the same thing I blacked out just walking to a register and was just really fainty and drained. Hubby called his mom to see what she thought. She figured I was just dehydrated and needed to drink more. That's what I did. About two weeks later I was still feeling fainting and drained at work or even sometimes during the day at home. I went to the dr to see what he said, he came up with the same thing drink more, but had blood work done just to make sure. Everything came back normal. Then about a month ago, it started getting really bad, to the point I get so drained from just doing dishes I would need a 3hr nap. After a two days of that I went to the dr's again, this time, my heart rate was avg 95. Blood presser and everything else was normal. Next was a cardiologist. I managed to get an appointment the same day, had an ultrasound on my heart done, and had to wear like a little EKG machine for 24hrs. All that came back normal. Next step was a tilt table test. Simple test you lay on a table for about 20-30mins, then they tilt the table up so it's like you are standing, but you are strapped to this table/bed, you do that for about 45mins or so till they get some results. I managed to faint in 3mins~positive results!

What does all this mean you ask!? I have something called Neurocardiogenic syncope. Here is a good article on it if you want to read it the first 2 paragraphs don't apply. Basically(this is how the nurse explained it) my brain and heart are not communicating correctly. When I stand up the blood "pools" in my legs cuz my brain is telling my heart to slow down not speed up. I'm now on a medication that ups my blood pressure to help keep me from fainting or feeling faint. The kicker about the meds I can't lay down when I'm on them so I have to take my last pill by 6pm. I also need to try not to be out in the heat for long, or stand for long periods. Have more salt in my diet, and still drink more. I've been on the medication for a week now and I'm doing better, I still feel faint, but now I just need to sit for a few mins and I feel fine, where before I would be out for a few hrs. Hopefully someday I can get off the meds, but right now I'm just making sure I don't overdo anything since I now know I can faint if I push it and that will make me really feel drained, besides what that would do to the kids. I'm just happy to have answers that don't involve surgery.