Adventures in Falling: Introduction

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Introduction

Welcome! This blog is about my life with constant fainting, also known as Neurocardiogenic Syncope, and New Daily Persistent Headache. I write a good deal and though this would be a good venue for some of my thoughts. Don't worry, it is not all about pain and this blog is completely painless.

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What is New Daily Persistent Headache?

I got my first migraine at the age of 12, but they did not become chronic until age 17. New Daily Persistent Headache occurs when a headache develops spontaneously and is unremitting. The main characteristics of NDPH include the following:

- The Headache is daily from the moment of onset. In fact, many people with NDPH can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when the headache hit.

-Contrary to popular belief, there are two froms of NDPH- a self limited forn which lasts for a few months and goes away without treatment. There is also a refractory form of NDPH. This form is extremely difficult to treat as it does not respond well to the normal migraine medications.

Criteria for diagnosis include the following:

-daily pain must be present for more than two months.

-Unlike normal migraines, which are often one sided, NDPH is typically bilateral- meaning that pain is felt in the whole head.

-Nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and lightheadness are also present.

It is extremely refractory to treatment.

Note- all the above information comes from the folliwng link;

http://www.mhni.com/faqs_ndph.aspx#symptoms

Other information about NDPH can be found in the links section.

What is Neurocardiogenic Syncope?

I have Neurocardiogenic Syncope, a form of dysautonomia. This began about 3 years ago after a bad bout with the flu. I recovered from the flu, but began to faint constantly- at first, only a few times a week, then once or twice a day, and finally multiple times a day- anywhere from 1-12 times on a given day,
NeuroCardiogenic Syncope occurs due to a "disconnect" in the brain. In a normal individual, blood pressure rises upon standing. In patients with Neurocardiogenic Syncope, the heart does not get the message to raise the blood pressure when needed, as a result, the heart rate increases and blood pressure drops. In order to protect the brain, you faint in order to re-establish blood flow to the brain. The symptoms resolve quickly. There is not a great deal known about this disease, but advances are being made all the time. again, I have seen numerous doctors- cardiologists, neurologists etc. The one thing that has helped most has been C-PAP at night.

Helpful Links are listed in the blog section.

Adventures in Falling

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Introduction

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What is New Daily Persistent Headache?

What is Neurocardiogenic Syncope?

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