MikeyMike
2-11-12 - I Passed out
Feb 20, 2012
I passed out twice early this morning and ended up in the Hospital after a Black Tie affair for an organization I’m involved with. Let me start off by telling you what I ate for the day.
The Black Tie event was yesterday night it was the end of a three day meeting at a Hotel in Maryland.
Breakfast: Muscle Milk Protein Drink, Bran Mini Muffin, Danon Vanilla Yogurt (added Pineapples & Blue Berries)
Lunch: 3oz Salmon, Spinach, chocolate gelato (ate ¾ of it).
Snack: Chobanni Greek Yogurt (Peach)
Dinner: Surf and Turf (little Lobster and Steak), Spinach
80 ounces of water
I didn’t count up all the protein but I believe I made my goal with ease. I should also mention that I did work out early in the morning. Ran a 15 minute mile on the treadmill and lifted some weights.
After dinner and the awards ceremony they had some desert. I admit I over did it on the chocolate and had about 6oz of dark/milk chocolate (11:00 pm).
There was an after gala party in the hotel lounge. Had a blast. I did have a drink Vodka and Pineapple juice. I had the drink about midnight. Felt buzzed and decided that one was enough. The buzz whore off after about a ½ hour.
I left the party around 1:30 am. When I went down to the hotel lobby to go back to my room as the lounge was on the 18th Floor (dedicated elevator). I noticed that one of my friends was in a wheel chair. She was complaining that she could no longer feel her legs and a severe headache. I decided to wait with her and comfort her until the ambulance arrived. Waited there about ten minutes. The ambulance finally arrived.
As the ambulance arrived I started to feel light headed and faint. Since there were other people and friends there to attend to my friend in the wheelchair. I decided to step into the background and lean up against the wall. I figured I was having a hyperglycemic reaction to the chocolate that I ate earlier. This has happened to me a few times before when I introduced a large amount of sugar into my system. In the past I would just sit down and the sensation would past.
The next thing I knew I was on the floor (on my butt) and people where buzzing around me asking me if I was ok. I asked what happened and they said I passed out. I asked if I hit my head as I didn’t remember passing out. I was told no, you slid rapidly down against the wall. (thank god I leaned up against the wall). The paramedics took my blood pressure and it was 74/50. Traditionally I have high blood pressure controlled with meds. I explained to the paramedics that it maybe a hyperglycemic reaction. They pricked my finger and tested my blood sugar it was 115. They asked me If I wanted to go to the hospital I refused and said I would be ok. I just needed to sit a bit to get my bearings and sip some water. I told them to take care of my friend and get her to the hospital. The ambulance left I must have sat for about 15 minutes.
I told my friends that I was ready to get up and go to my room. They told me to take it easy and they helped me to rise slowly. The next thing I knew I was being placed in the wheel chair. I passed out again. My friends called for another ambulance and told me that I had no choice I should go to the hospital.
I noticed that I broke out into a cold sweat as my shirt was soaked. I remembered those times that I felt like this before I also broke out into a cold sweat then. I actually felt back to normal. The Paramedics took my blood pressure and it was normal 120/80. The Paramedics said that since this was the second call that I had no choice I had to go to the hospital. My friends agreed.
I really felt better at this point. I was able to get up and walk to the ambulance as well as climb into it on my own. They had me lie down on the stretcher in the ambulance and they strapped me in. A friend of mine came with me and off we went to Fort Washington hospital.
When we got to the hospital They asked me a ton of questions. I told them I had Gastric Sleeve Surgery almost two years ago. As well as Plastic Surgery 11 weeks ago. The doctor asked me about my eating and drinking habits for the day. I told him and mentioned I thought it was a hyperglycemic reaction. He said he doubts it as I had several balanced meals throughout the day. He said I wasn’t dehydrated and that one drink of alcohol shouldn’t have caused me to passout. He told me that he wanted to do blood work, Cat Scan of the Head and Chest as well as a chest x-ray. He said if the tests come back negative that his recommendation would be for me to be admitted into the hospital and have a Echo and stress test. He said that I may have to be transferred to another hospital depending if they had beds. I was surprised as the only other person that was in the ER was my friend who they were about to transfer to another hospital as this hospital had no trauma unit.
They did all the tests and they all came back normal. The doctor wanted to admit me but I refused. I wasn’t impressed with the care of the hospital it looked like a dump and I really did feel fine. I went to the bathroom and walked there and back with no issue. I left the hospital against medical advice they made copies of all my records and I promised to follow up with my doctor. On Monday I will call my Primary as well as my bariatric doctor. Based on what they say I may also make an appointment with my cardiologist that cleared me for the sleeve.
I got back to my hotel room around 5:00am this morning and slept until 9:00. I got up took a shower went down to the hotel lobby for breakfast. Met up with a friend and he walked me to the Jos A. Bank store (two blocks from the hotel) to return the Tux I rented. I was able to move around pretty well today and felt good.
Hopefully my doctor can give me more answers. But truly at this point I feel back to normal. I really believed it was a hyperglycemic reaction. But I plan to follow-up to see if I can determine the cause.
It turns out that my friend that loss feeling in her legs. Had an aneurysm. She had surgery to take care of it and the doctor said he was happy with her progress. She’s going to have a long recovery. All of her family came to support her.
Update the Monday After:
I had a visit with my primary as well as spoke with the doctor who assisted during my sleeve procedure.
Both came to the same conclusion Vasovagal Response http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasovagal_response
I spoke to my primary first (he is a Gastroenterologist) I explained all that happened. He didn't think it was a hypoglycemic reaction due to the fact that I had well balanced meals and the blood test the paramedics read was close to normal. He said it could have been a compound of issues: Dehydration compounded by alcohol, Standing too long in the club, the stressful situation with my friend.
He took my vitals and said I wasn't in danger of kicking the bucket but suggested that I have a echo and stress test to rule out circulatory problems.
I spoke with my bariatric doctor shortly after wards. I didn't tell him about the conversation with my primary when we first started talking. He said this had nothing to do with the sleeve and that it sounds more like a VasoVagal issue. He told me to follow up with my primary. That's when I told him what my primary said. He agreed with my primary diagnosis and said the root cause may be difficult to determine. He also suggested seeing a cardiologist.
Update afer Seeing Cardiologist (2/20/12):
I had the Echo and the stress test this morning. Cardiologist said that the stress test was normal nothing to be concerned about. He did say something interesting about the echo.
He noted that it does show some changes from my previous echo consistent with someone who was morbidly obese and lost a significant amount of weight. He said the Heart muscle is still a little bit thicken and enlarged in the chambers. He said it does take quite some time for that to reduce and eventually it will. He did go on to say that my heart is good and strong and doing well.
None of the doctors thought it was a Hypoglycemic reaction.
Hopefully it's past me now.
