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Lights out

While at the doctor today, after getting a flu vaccination and lab work done, my son suffered what his medical team called a "vasovagal attack." He stopped talking and slumped over. All color drained from his face. He began moaning and shaking and breathing funny.

His reaction has been described as a "reflex of the involuntary nervous system that causes the heart to slow down (bradycardia) and that, at the same time, affects the nerves to the blood vessels in the legs permitting those vessels to dilate (widen). As a result the heart puts out less blood, the blood pressure drops, and what blood is circulating tends to go into the legs rather than to the head; the brain is deprived of oxygen."

So what's the cure for this attack, you ask?

Hugs. Time. Elmo stickers. A red popsicle.

Vasovagal reaction is a fancy way of saying my kid fainted.

Comments

Glad Mr. Henry is okay, that he just fainted. Whew!
Anonymous said…
Wow.... you had my heart jumping out of my throat there for a second! I'm glad he's okay!

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