Submitted by Denise (not verified) on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 9:49pm.
My 44 year old fiance has been having these episodes for the past 4-5 years. They usually start with an abdominal cramp, then nausea, vomiting, a strange upward heat radiating up his torso, flushing, sweating and a severe, prolonged drop in heart rate. The difference between his episodes and others is that his never progress to fainting.
In the beginning, he would be taken to the ER and immediately taken back for what appeared to be a heart attack. Each time, bloodwork would be drawn, and IV fluids and anti-emetics would be administered. Unfortunately, nothing would ease these terrible symptoms, and his heart rate would be in the 40's for several hours. The only thing that pull him out of it would be an IV narcotic that would basically "knock him out". As in fainting, once he woke up, his heart rate (and thus, his symptoms) would have reset itself.
Two years ago, after a hospitalization and battery of tests, he was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and placed on a drug called dicyclamine. He was also given a drug called Nulev to use in the event he started having cramps. His internist also gives him 10 tablets of dilaudid to keep on hand in the event he gets a full-blown episode. One tablet puts him to sleep and then the low heart rate and symptoms resolve. It's more or less a last resort, but it works.
Has anyone else had this type of episodes, and if so, how were they dealt with medically?
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vasovagal response
My 44 year old fiance has been having these episodes for the past 4-5 years. They usually start with an abdominal cramp, then nausea, vomiting, a strange upward heat radiating up his torso, flushing, sweating and a severe, prolonged drop in heart rate. The difference between his episodes and others is that his never progress to fainting.
In the beginning, he would be taken to the ER and immediately taken back for what appeared to be a heart attack. Each time, bloodwork would be drawn, and IV fluids and anti-emetics would be administered. Unfortunately, nothing would ease these terrible symptoms, and his heart rate would be in the 40's for several hours. The only thing that pull him out of it would be an IV narcotic that would basically "knock him out". As in fainting, once he woke up, his heart rate (and thus, his symptoms) would have reset itself.
Two years ago, after a hospitalization and battery of tests, he was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and placed on a drug called dicyclamine. He was also given a drug called Nulev to use in the event he started having cramps. His internist also gives him 10 tablets of dilaudid to keep on hand in the event he gets a full-blown episode. One tablet puts him to sleep and then the low heart rate and symptoms resolve. It's more or less a last resort, but it works.
Has anyone else had this type of episodes, and if so, how were they dealt with medically?