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Fun Day at the Neurologist

Interesting day actually...

I also had a visit with a nutritionist before that to get my BMR (amount of calories you burn a day) tested...more on that in another post. I'm still in shock that it seems like I can no longer eat anything if I want to lose weight.

Anyway, today I had autonomic testing in the med center. There are only 30-40 similar labs in the nation, so I'm "lucky" to be close to one. Right now, I have a few crop circle looking things left on my arm and leg and a small burn on my leg from the first test. This one was where they hooked "capsules" up to a few places on my arm and leg and infused medicine through my skin that made my sweat glands go to town, and then they measured something...who knows what. All I know is it was five minutes of constant "ant bite feeling" on those 3-4 places. That was fun.

The next few tests were just kind of whatever - lots of blood pressure and heart rate evaluation. The next-to-last test, though, I apparently failed!

Who would have thought being tilted on a table to 70 degrees (almost standing) would cause so many issues? I found out after approximately 7.5 minutes! The dr. kept asking me if I was feeling lightheaded and I said no, then just said I was starting to feel hungry (hadn't eaten in 13 hours, after all). Then I continued to feel hungrier and hungrier and less and less impressed with the whole tilt table thing. Then it hit - the tunnel vision, nausea, and lightheadness. Apparently this is what they were looking for! However though, apparently most people stay tilted for over 10 minutes and some labs have their patients tilted for as much as 30-45 minutes. Not me - I made it 7.5 whopping minutes.

So it seems I have orthostatic hypotension, but that doesn't really mean anything yet. It is more of a symptom or condition than an answer to all my questions. The full results of everything today won't be ready for another three weeks, and then my cardiologist and neurologist will get together and try to figure out what the hell is wrong with me. The neurologist did say the testing today was "good" and would probably yield some useful information. He felt this may all be a virus of some sort, but did not really elaborate. He also said he is surprised I'm still exercising and that he wouldn't necessarily want me to, but said he wouldn't tell me what to do one way or the other without more information, and that he trusts my cardiologist to keep a good tap on me. Good to know...NOT! I reassured him in saying that I'm not like your typical male, and that if anything feels out of whack, I immediately slow down and take it easy. After all, I'm the queen of "walking is so underrated."

The last test was some fun shock thingy but I survived. Don't I sound lucky to have this great lab here in Houston?
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Comments

greyhound said…
You make the third one of my friends who has heart rate issues potentially connected to a virus.

In talking with your physicians, be sure and tell them in detail both about your mono episode(s) and about the super hot IMAZ. I know of another case were somebody got super over-extended in the heat and knocked their autonomic responses out of kilter.
February 4, 2009 at 8:08 AM
Cass said…
I'm glad that your doctors seem to be getting somewhere with you. I have heard a few tales of the tilt table; however, fortunately, I've never had to do one. If you don't mind, I'd like to know more about your meeting with the nutritionist and your RMR testing. I've had mine tested twice and it yielded similar results each time. Its been about three years and I'm thinking that I might need to do it again.
February 4, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Benson said…
Wow, that sounds like some pretty neato testing stuff. I hope you get things figured out and get back to super health soon.
Be well.
February 4, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Angy said…
Good luck with everything Kathleen!! I hope you get an answer soon!
February 5, 2009 at 11:17 AM
CoachLiz said…
Zoinks! That sounds as wacky as my testing I had on Monday at the Nutritionist office that told me crazy things like I am intuitive but my sixth sense has not been working well lately and it is irritating me. How the hell did that machine know that???

I also found out that I am allergic to casien in dairy products so no more moo-juice and milk products for me.

If they tell me I am allergic to meat, I'm only left eating veggies, rice, and beans. I feel your pain girl.
February 6, 2009 at 7:56 AM
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