Day 56; Bye, bye pills

I got some amazing news on Saturday.

Well, first, let me give you the back story. So when I was 9 years old, I passed out one day for no good reason. Just clonked out. For about seven years after that, I found myself getting dizzy and lightheaded frequently. Also, I would have random episodes of cold sweats and loss of vision and hearing. Finally, when it got really bad, my mom took me to a cardiologist who put me through a number of tests. In the end, he diagnosed me with Vasovagal Syncope which is the most common form of fainting. Also, I was told that I had  about 8,000 extra heart beats and about 1,500 couplets which are when you have two premature ventricular contractions in a row. Which happens but maybe not 1,500 extra times...

A vasovagal syncope episode is a brief loss of consciousness due to a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. Typically, no treatment is necessary unless the episodes happen so often that it affects your quality of life. Which is what was happening to me. So I was prescribed some blood pressure medicine and sent on my way.

It's been five years. 

I lost a little weight since then, started eating a little healthier, and sleeping a little better. About a year ago, if I forgot to take my blood pressure medicine for just a day, my body became a mess. I would get weak and become unable to stand or walk for long periods of time. There even came a point where I questioned whether or not I would be able to ever be a mother because it was so bad. I prayed really, really hard for years. I was scared.

Well, about 5 months ago I went a day without taking my medicine. I had forgotten, and when I realized it at the end of the day, I also realized I had been just fine all day. So I went a few more days without taking it. Fine. And then a couple of weeks. Fine. Those weeks turned into a couple of months which turned into 4 months. And I was fine! Felt just as strong and healthy as ever.

I took the news to my cardiologist who decided it was time to do the tests over again while I was off my medicine. He called me back Saturday with the results. I had completely overcome and outgrown vasovagal syncope. Not only that, but what was once 8,000 extra heart beats was now 300 and decreasing. And what was once 1,500 couplets was now about 65 or lower. All of my levels like blood pressure and cholesterol were healthy and it was if I had never had a heart condition.

The doctor said he wasn't sure what happened or how it happened, and he assured me that it doesn't happen very often. But I was taken off the medicine and was told to keep up the good work.

So I said goodbye to my pills...

And I nearly cried from the feeling of this weight being lifted off my shoulders.

And I gave thanks to God for this miracle that I had been praying for for so long.

And I was free.