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Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
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Subject: Severe Autonomic Dysfunction 1. I suffer severe autonomic dysfunction due to a severe head and neck injury from a skiing accident in 1990. I function pretty good except if I do any exceretion or am stressed. I have hypotension - my normal BP is 90/60 and a pulse rate between 30-50. I suffer pre-syncope & synocope whenever my parasympathic nervous system kicks in to counter a sympathic stimulus. 2. This condition has been confirmed by tilt-table, EMG's, EKG's, PET scans, MRI's. I've been a test subject for some research projects at the IU Hospital. 3. I know I'm very fortunate to be a spinal cord injury survior. I recently had a bout with a stomach flu - vomiting and diareah triggered an autonomic attack. I called 911 after I came to, the paramedic's transported me to the hospital. The paramedic's couldn't start an IV because my vascular system is affected. I couldn't get anyone to understand what was happenning to me. At the ER, some blood work was ordered - but I was just left hooked up to monitors. Finally, a couple of hours later after the blood work came back, I was given an IV, antibodics, anti-nausau and pain medication. I couldn't expalin that my vital signs were off the chart for me. The BP 150/90 and a pulse of 85-95 might be in a normal range for someone else but not me - my body felt like it was being ravaged by a storm with my head being blasted by the surf and the waves. 4. My main question is how can I explain to Emergency Personnel what an autonomic attack is? I don't want to fight this battle again in the future. I'm followed every 3-6 months by an electro-cardiogolist and a general practioneer, so this would only come up in an emergency situation. 5. I'm interested in any research being conducted in the area of autonomc dysfunction. Thanks | |
