The Perfect Storm

The ER doctor referred me to a heart specialist and today was the day. I went to see Dr Dhansay, a friendly, personable, way too young to be a specialist fellow who had me go over the whole day that the problem happened. He then did an ultrasound of my heart, took my pulse, blood oxygen level, blood pressure while I was laying down and blood pressure again when I stood up.

We sat down and he asked if there was heart disease in my family and I told him both my father and brother had died from heart problems, both in their 80's. He said my heart was in "good shape, very good shape in fact"!

He said I had experienced the "perfect storm" of triggers for someone susceptible to Vasovagal Syncope. Hot day, sun, dark clothes, empty stomach, low blood pressure (normal for me), a little dehydrated and a little bit of alcohol. The blood left my brain causing me to go pale, sweat, have confusion talking, slur my words and experience over-sensitivity to light. When I sat down, that was good, but standing up was bad. The blood left my head and down I went. When I lay on the ground the blood went back to my brain and I started to feel better.

He said it was good that I had warning both times it happened (Saturday and 12 years ago in Toronto) and that the worst kind of black-outs occur with no warning. If it happens again I should lay back with my legs elevated and have someone bring me a glass of salt water to raise my BP. He said heart doctors usually tell patients to reduce or cut out salt but my case different. He said I might even want to carry salt tablets in my picnic basket just in case.

He is scheduling me for a full heart ultrasound although he already knows what the result is going to be. I told him I had an appointment for a 24 hour heart monitor and he said it was really not necessary but to go ahead with it, it will not hurt. He said he could give me a stress test (treadmill) if I really wanted but seeing I had no chest pain it was not called for. I told him "No thanks, I had one last time and it just about killed me"! He said to be sure to eat, specially before drinking and that because I had sufficient warning signs and time to react he was not going to restrict my driving (!!!) Shit, I never thought of that, he could have taken away my driver's licence!

So, there you have it! I am officially "fine". No restrictions, no prescriptions and I am still driving. Life is Good!