Please help!!!

[shenney]

I am a 38 yo female.  I have mvp and low blood pressure.  Just an hour ago, I had happen what has been happening for almost two years sinc eI have moved to Colorado from D.C.  If I sleep with my head tilted slightly, or bent from being propped up..I usually jolt out of bed with my heart not beating right, feeling like it is not pumping blood to my extremities, my left side of my brain feels numb, I can lose my vision in my left eye ( has happened once) my left eye has increasing pressure behind it.  I feel like I need to pound my self in the chest to get my heart to pump.  I have tried everything wondering what it could be from lying in different positions- only to find if I raise my arms above my head, they go numb.. if I lay on my side I can't breath- I feel like I am not getting enough air...If I have just walked up the stairs and laid down in bed, my legs feel like BRICKS and feel like they arent' getting any blood.  I am scared to go to sleep. I am sooo tired.I have done most everything tha tI can to decrease these symptoms.  I see an ayurvedic doctor who is also western md...I have increased my calcium, on adreanl support herbs, eat a high fat, high cholesterol diet (my blood work came back normal for cholesterol even a bit low after beign on this diet for one year)
I am frightened that something is going on and no one is catching it.
I am scared to go to sleep for fear of not waking up now...so I stay awake as much as I can after an episode...the episode usually happens about 15 mins after I fall asleep.
This is very deblilitating...also since we have move dout here...apparently I am climate sensitive ( I am a highly sensitive person and coudl quite possilby hear a molecule move in my body!!! :)  When we get high winds and extreme dry, I get dizzy, I lack energy, my symptoms get dramatically worse. I have put in an ionizer to increase my negative ions (natural crystal one)  I can't even work in teh garden without feeling like I am goign to fall on my face every time I get up.....It used to be so bad here me just moving my head from looking down at my cereal bowl to midline would make me experience veritgo.
I just am at my wits end...I can't continue to live on 3 hours of sleep everynight.  I am very much into alternative health, have done stress reduction, everything you name it...
Please help

[shenney]

Thanks so much for your comments.  My indian doctor has me on a high celtic sea salt diet.   (it has more minerals so if you are to increase your salt might as well get some good minerals in the process)
I did have a sleep study..however, I didn't have an episode while i was there.  So it recorded nothing.  It was actually a flop...we have to pay 1400 dollars for a doctor who never got back to us!  Just had the secretary say I have to go see a sleep psychologist- after reading 1000 pages of data!  So right now I am on lots of meat, lots of good fat, lots of salt, yoga (although haven't done it yet) sesame massages, mediatation, gardening, yard work, walking, adrenal support tabs, herbs to calm nervous system, iron pills(altough I am not taking them) , negative ion lamps, low sugar (althought that is HARD for me..I am a whole food junkie- although I eat foods without chemicals..I like the sweets!)  So that is the plan from my ayuverdic doctor.  
Do you think the seizures would have shown up on teh sleep study. The indian doctor said that my nervous system just won't shut down hence the jumping up can't breath etc.  between sleep transitions...and with the low blood pressure etc..then it is just intensified as I bolt out of bed.  It is frightening..I don't know. .

[Momto3]

Many years ago, my family doctor told me to avoid "small private planes" and "climbing mountains" because of the altitudes and my heart.  I was very young at the time and didn't really quesiton him since I had NO intention of doing either of those things. I do have MVP and MR.

I have also heard where people can become very ill from altitude sickness.  Stay hydrated and talk with your doctor about how to get a better night's sleep.  

Have you had any traditional cardiac testing?

[jkfrench]

Hi~
I read this on another blog about someone describing the same symptoms as you did.  The doctors (after many tests) said he was waking up during a sleep transition.  He was also waking up 15 or 20 minutes prior to falling asleep.  He was having siezure like activity along with the numbness, feeling like you can't breathe etc.
I too, wake up gasping sometimes and feeling as though I can't breath right.  When it happens (not that often) it is always 10 to 15 minutes after I fall asleep.  It would make sense that it is during a transition time.
That along with your low blood pressure and high altitude level would probably make sense too.  Has the doctor ever put one of those oxygen moniters on your finger to measure your oxygen level during the night?  They are very easy to wear.
My neighbor wore one because she was always so tired during the day that they suspected sleep apnea.  (wasn't the case, but the moniter helped  determine that).  Dolfnlvr is also correct in that you need to eat salt!  Also, drink gaterade.
Good luck
Frenchie

[dolfnlvr]

The low blood pressure combined with the low oxygen levels and high altitude really strike me as things that would be connected to these issues.  I'm not saying that they are the cause, or that there is a cure related to them, but they are likely involved.  Has your doctor suggested salt tablets to increase your blood volume/blood pressure at all?

I'm shooting in the dark.  I am not a doctor, and I cannot prescribe a treatment.  You need to continue to see professionals who can help you work through your symptoms.  However, you may want to ask if there is any way to increase your blood pressure in an attempt to counteract some of your problems.

Be well.

[shenney]

yes I had a complete work up a bit ago.  They were supposed to take blood when we first moved here but I felt like if they did it would leave me with nothing in my body.  I used to be a vegetarian (about 10 years ago) but the Indian Doc. has me on a meat diet (I shop at whole food and bless the animals for dying for me!)  I haven't had a lot of meat though lately.  
My iron was fine..I do have iron pills but haven't taken them as of yet.  
In fact my blood work according to the the "regular docs" was fine...except a bit of dehydration.  Which I have to get better at.  
I finally went to sleep on the floor last night next to my dogs...at around 2 and got up at 5:45...Crazy.  
Any other suggestions would be helpful.I know that my indian doc said it would take a lot for me to function out here- they go by constitutions vatta pitta and kapha...I am a vatta which means air...well lack of oxygen, high altitude, winds and dryness are all things we are supposed to stay away from.  
I alwasy feel much better in the morning...sleep deprived but mentally better ...well I am debating on whether or not to take a walk...any exercise I do makes me very dizzy.  I feel like jsut going for a full body scan and having the person tell me what the hell is wrong with me...

[dolfnlvr]

Have you had a blood test done to measure your iron levels?  Are you anemic?  Colorado has a high altitude (depending on where you are located) and if you have a low iron count then the combination of less oxygen in the atmosphere AND less oxygen able to be carried in your blood could result in a form of altitude sickness.  People who are prone to altitude sickness can experience symptoms similar to yours.

Have you been to a doctor for a full check up?  Has he/she ruled this out?  

Good luck to you.