Physical Complications

I have struggled with a physical complication called vaigal syncope with autonomic neuropothy sense I was 15 years of age. This condition occurs in the vagal nerve function and causes all kinds of havoc on your body. Vagal syncopy happens when the vagal nerve does not send the messages from the brain to the heart and visa versa.  This problem causes dizziness and fainting, upon standing to quickly, in most people.The fainting is causes by a sudden drop in blood pressure because the communication between the brain and the heart did not happen as fast as it should have. In my situation the doctors tell me I have one of the worst cases they have ever seen, to the point it causes my circulation to slow down effecting my other body systems.  A normal blood pressure for a healthy adult is around 120/80 and a pulse of 60 to 80. My blood pressure on a good day runs 80/50 and my pulse stays between 45 and 60.  I have been in the hospital for weeks at a time trying to figure out what was going on. It took my doctors 20 years and many trips to the St.Louis research hospital to figure me out. In the mean time I went through my sophomore year of high school with a roller walker to keep my balance and spend 3 months in and out of the hospitals and doctors office running tests and drawing blood. When I turned twenty I got to start wearing 80 pound, thigh high, compression stalking year around.  I was blessed with two beautiful daughters before my doctors told me I was going to loose my leg if I had another child.  I have lived through years of pain in my legs due to the poor circulation and neropothyand 8 surguries on differant organs of my body due to lack of blood flow. My feet are cold and blue and often have no feeling.  I have had three vascular surgeries on my right leg. In 2001 after my third surgery I was forced to quit my job and go through extensive rehabilitation so I could keep my leg.  It took me four years to get myself fit enough to stand on my leg for long enough to hold down a full time job.  In 2001 I was flat on my back with legs elevated most of the day.  Rehabilitation started with 10 minutes a day on a recumbent bike because my circulation was so pour I could not do anything with impact or anything with my legs straight below my heart because my heart didn't receive the signal that my brain needed blood. All of my blood would pool in my feet and I would loose oxygen levels to my brain.  I slowly rehabilitated from a bike to an elliptical to body weight exercise, to weight lifting and 3 miles on the tread mill.  They tell me that weight lifting and my stubborn nature saved my leg.  They told me that the weight training would be worth it if I could push through the pain.  I did it every day.  The building of muscle around the vein wall helps support the blood flow just like the compression stalkings do.  It is amazing what the body can do,  I got to keep my leg but still struggled with the symptoms.  I went back to work in 2005 with a full release from my doctors only to find myself back in the hospitals two years later with stroke symptoms.  My days were filled with headaches, blurred vision, slurred speech, slow thought processes, memory lose and no feeling, cold, blue hands and feet.  I struggled with these spells for 3 more years filled with ambulance rides and electric paddles shocking me back to life as the flew me away in the helicopter.  The doctors did every test imaginable and finally after 20 years of struggle a new doctor form the neurology department at the St. Louis research hospital diagnosed me after an angiogram of my heart and brain.  He told me I was going to be fine. He prescribed a little 20 mg pill every 4 hours while I was awake to help my nervous system talk to my circulatory system and get the blood I need from my aching feet to my starving brain.  I have been taking the little miracle pill for six months now with no episodes of fainting or lethargy of any kind.  I am so thankful for the little pill and the awesome doctor that knew what to do. I take my pills, eat healthy, and exercise regularly to keep my body and mind in good health. The doctor, the medication and my diligence has allowed me to excel in my work, to have fun with my family, to go back to school, and to learn jiu jitsu as part of my fitness routine,