Da Vapors
05/13/04 01:29 PM
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AstroChick
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 1023
Loc: Chicago, IL, USA
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I actually had a doctor once diagnose me with the vapors! Sounds silly, but he told me how to cure my spells of weakness that I would get in the spring and summer (4 days in bed every 5 weeks or so - sheesh).
His explanation was that some people just need to take it easy and be sure to get plenty of salt when it gets hot. In Victorian times, people called it the vapors, and one just sat and relaxed as best one could until they passed. It's related to, but not caused by, low blood pressure. He also recommended to avoid stressful jobs, too much exercise, etc. - basically said that acting like a Type A superwoman would make me feel worse, which is too true!
Of course, I couldn't really talk about this diagnosis with anyone 10 years ago, but I started eating salty stuff whenever I started feeling woozy....and it cured the problem. I also don't push myself to be some sort of superachiever: no OT at work, no heroic exercise schedule, plenty of time for reading and relaxing, no kids or dogs. 
I still feel weaker than normal when it gets hot (not to mention the IBS stuff kicking it up then), but drinking Gatorade and eating pickles and baked BBQ potato chips keeps me from swooning on the couch too much.
--AC (also in the "so pale she glows in the dark" club!)
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