Blackouts After Overdose

[DharmaGirl]

Yes, your heart could be having long pauses causing you to black out. A monitor would be great and show if its your heart or not. Are you taking care of yourself otherwise?

 

[mytai]

@DharmaGirl, I'm trying to. I try to remember to eat enough, and drink enough fluids, but I'm struggling. I've been very slow and forgetful since the overdose. So forgetful that I will stop mid sentence and not remember what I'm saying, even after being reminded, and not sure where I was trying to go with the thought.

I let the doctor know about all that, other than the forgetfulness for eating and drinking. I do go to all my therapy appointments though, and tomorrow I will go for my bloodwork.

 

[DharmaGirl]

I was pretty groggy for a while after my OD's. The 2nd one I called my T after I took a lot of meds and passed out waited for the answering service to get him. The police had to triangulate my cell phone to find me. I woke up 3 days later in the regular hospital and then I spent 7 days in what I lovingly call "the loony bin". It makes psychiatrists laugh nervously when I say it. It took over a month to start feeling human again.

I'm glad you are getting bloodwork done. That will help find out the problem. Keep us all posted.

 

[mytai]

Well I went in a day early to get my results because I've been feeling worse. Unfortunately the doctor I saw last weekend isn't in until tomorrow. So I got some ancient guy who kept raising his hand to shush me - which made me want to punch him out, but I restrained myself. He told me that my only problem is, that I need to drink 2 litres of gatorade/powerade a day, and eat bigger portion sizes. Are you @#$%ing kidding me. What kind of quack is he?

He said that my blood pressure being 80/40 was "normal" for a girl my age, I'm 23, not super tall, but that's not "normal" for me. My norm is closer to 112/70. Sure some people have naturally low blood pressure, but it doesn't cause them to black out or pass out. It's a problem when I'm turning my head and almost passing out. I told him that the other doctor wanted to have me wear a heart monitor for a day or two to see what was going on with the spikes and drops in my blood pressure and heart rate. He reluctantly referred me to a cardiologist that may get around to me in a month or so.

This guy was an absolute idiot. I hate going in to see doctors, but I don't trust a guy who thinks it is normal to black out and pass out, and it will all be fixed by drinking gatorade and eating more. By the way, I'm not under weight despite being small, I'm just on the lower end of my "acceptable" weight range. I'm actually going to go back again tomorrow to see the doctor I saw the first time and explain what has changed, and my visit today. I don't trust today's doctor. I don't feel right, I feel worse, not the same, not better, worse. I went in earlier because that's what I was told to do if things got worse.

 

[scout86]

Good for you for going back tomorrow! As far as I know, 80/40 isn't "normal" for anyone who's trying to walk around. I'd tend to think of it more as the "normal" BP of someone who's not doing well. Maybe they screwed up and that's not really what it is. Better luck with the "real Dr" tomorrow! BTW, if your BP really IS 80/40, no wonder you don't feel well. Take it easy tonight!

 

[mytai]

@scout86, when he was taking it I had been feeling like I was on the verge of passing out for 20 minutes. I was trying to tell him that but he kept interrupting me. Also it's not normal for me to get nosebleeds 4 to 5 times a day on and off, despite the weather changes (had my nose cauterized several times), or to bleed from other places... I couldn't even tell him that because he had already written me off and ignored what I said to him.

 

[joeylittle]

That doctor was an ass.

I would just like to contribute the only thing I can: vasovagal syncope, the medical term for when your blood pressure drops too fast and you faint. I have it. What you are dealing with sounds absolutely horrid; and no way is 80/40 "normal". I'm not sure what country you are in, but can you get a cheapo BP monitor from the drugstore? I know money is money, but it might be good to have. And do drink the water. I keep it on me and basically drink constantly. It helped my low BP a lot.

 

[mytai]

@joeylittle, tried the cheap BP monitors and they aren't accurate, so I ended up returning it. The more accurate ones are upwards of $60. I do drink lots of water already because it helps keep the kidney stones at bay. Which I tried to tell the other doctor, that I already currently drink a lot of water.

 

[cherryblossom]

Also it's not normal for me to get nosebleeds 4 to 5 times a day on and off

How unusual to have nose bleeds. Unless there is trauma to the nose, they would normally occur due to high blood pressure!! I really hope you get answers soon to all the issues going on. Take care.

 

[mytai]

@cherryblossom, I do get spikes sporadically throughout the day. The nosebleeds start when my chest hurts. I go back to try and talk to the first doctor after work today.

 

[The Albatross]

@joeylittle, tried the cheap BP monitors and they aren't accurate, so I ended up returning it..

Those electronic BP machines, both wrist cuffs and brachial artery cuffs are calibrated (like gym equipment that senses heart rate are) for like a 150 pound and something like a 50 year old male (I used to know it but can't recall right now the age they calibrate for). Outside of normal range, no they don't read accurately and placement and position are paramount.

Though yes Mytai, that BP is outside of normal range and should be addressed.

Nose bleeds I have them periodically as a response to very dry indoor air or as a result of my allergies and celiac's. There are multiple conditions for nosebleeds.

 

[mytai]

Went back to the doctor today. This one listened to what had changed since the last time I saw him. He confirmed that it is NOT normal for my blood pressure to be that low, especially if I'm blacking out and fainting. Yesterday I fainted and hit my head off of the corner of my glass coffee table... that left a mark.

He said I should hear from the cardiologist about the heart monitor test in the next day or two. Then I'm being sent for a full cardio work up within the next month. He said that my liver has bounced back though. He is just really worried about the heart stuff.