prolifeproliberty: [Image: A teal striped background with an illustration of a brain and spinal cord

prolifeproliberty:[Image: A teal striped background with an illustration of a brain and spinal cord. Over the image is text that reads: “Vasovagal Syncope is a dysautonomic condition (a problem with the autonomic nervous system) where the vagus nerve is easily triggered, causing lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting, among other symptoms.” /end image description]I had my first VVS episode when I was six years old, but I wasn’t diagnosed until college and wasn’t given treatment options until I was 22. VVS is not a well-known condition, and it can only be diagnosed by ruling out every other possible cause, so it took a lot for me to convince a doctor to diagnose me, and even more for another doctor to offer actual treatment.Since it’s not well known and plenty of people don’t get diagnosed until they know what to ask their doctor about, I thought I’d give you some of the basics.  IMPORTANT NOTE: Don’t just self-diagnose. Symptoms of VVS can also be symptoms of much more severe conditions that require different treatments. If you think you have VVS, talk to your doctor and tell them how your symptoms are impacting your life. Ask for a diagnosis & treatment options.Some common triggers for VVS (bold are mine):Overheating/dehydrationSight of blood Getting blood drawn* (or other blood loss)Dramatic blood sugar changes (not eating enough, eating a lot all at once)Standing for long periods of timeStress/anxietyPainAlcohol/drugsHyperventilationReduced oxygen intake/excess carbon dioxide (such as in a poorly ventilated room, or when the face is covered)Coughing forcefully, turning the neck too far, wearing a tight collarUrinatingChanging position (standing up quickly, etc)Symptoms of VVS (bold are mine):Blacking out or faintingFeeling lightheadedFalling for no apparent reasonDizzinessDrowsiness or grogginessWeakness or feeling unsteadyChanges in vision (seeing spots, tunnel vision)Headaches*Ruling out everything else to diagnose VVS includes a lot of blood tests, so THAT was fun…Treatment (bold are mine): Mild cases: Avoid triggersModerate cases: Avoid triggers, Increasing sodium intake, foot exercises, compression stockingsSevere cases: All of the above + medications such as blood pressure meds or serotonin inhibitors Rare cases: All of the above + a pacemakerAccommodations for people with VVS:**Believe the person with VVS when they say they’re not feeling good!**Adequate access to water and shade (and preferably A/C) on hot daysAllow the person with VVS to take breaks as needed (without anyone making a fuss, preferably)Allow the person with VVS to have a snack as neededAllow the person with VVS to sit down when needed (in a chair - getting up off the floor too quickly may cause another episode)If drawing blood, allow the person to lie down while blood is drawn and let them get up at their own pace (don’t rush them!)If a uniform requires a collar, allow them to loosen the collar (undo the top button, etc)Face masks/coverings: allow “mask breaks” when needed (or better, don’t require them to wear a mask)If someone is having a VVS episode:Ask them what they need and LISTEN to them. They are not overreacting. They know their body and what they need.If out in the heat, get the person to shade and air conditioning if possible.If they pass out or are having difficulty communicating, help them lie down and elevate their feet so the person’s feet are higher than their heart (pillows under the feet work well).Get them cold water and, if available, a salty snack (pretzels or crackers work great!)Passing out/blackouts shouldn’t last more than a minute or two. If the person is unresponsive past that, check for a pulse and breathing and get emergency medical help if you can’t get a pulse or their breathing is very shallow and they aren’t waking up. Some rare heart conditions can be mistaken for VVS, so the person might actually be experiencing something much more serious!– – –In addition to the triggers & symptoms above, people with VVS can have “premonitory symptoms” - basically, we can feel an episode coming on before it happens. These usually include lightheadedness, nausea, and dizziness. I would describe it as feeling “hollow.” Some days I wake up feeling those symptoms and I just go “well, today’s a vasovagal day,” and I take extra care not to overdo anything. With my increased sodium intake and avoiding triggers when I can, my VVS is mostly under control, but it’s still there. For instance, I can now work in my local community garden on hot days, but I have to make sure I had enough sodium the previous few days (at least 2300 mg per day for me, everyone’s level is different) and I have to take frequent water breaks in the shade. But even when I do everything right, and episode can still happen. I’m better now at recognizing my premonitory symptoms and avoiding a full-on fainting spell, but doing so often means missing out on fun activities or not being able to give my best at work. Click here for more info about VVS and other dysautonomic conditions. -- source link

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