Out Cold

The other day Shar and I were talking about all the times I've passed out. I decided that I would then try to number them to really see how many times I have passed out. I have not been keeping count. I have had a lot of close calls, but I have learned what to do if it's getting close. Eat food as soon as possible, stay still (don't use energy), keep cool (temp. wise).....Of course there were those times and these are them:

Dry Heave: I was in middle school (Jr. High) and it was probably a Saturday. I did not eat breakfast. I think the reason was there was no good cereal to choose from. How dumb is that...Well, I got dressed and went outside to play. I rode my bike around, climbed a tree, and then came back inside. Our family friend Brannon was over talking with my mom, and my older sisters at the kitchen table. I sat down and then started to feel really exhausted and weak. I remember putting my head down on my arms on the table and trying to complain to my mom. After a while I got her attention. I probably looked like a drunken sailor. She grabbed me and took me over to the kitchen sink and then lifted my shirt up in the back. She put cold water on my back and I kind of started to gag a bit but there was nothing to throw up so that was short lived, thank goodness. That's all I remember about that but I'm sure I ate shortly after.

Pass out #1: I was a Sophomore in HS, and mom and I were planning to go to Overton for something. I remember I was wearing a red 49ers t-shirt and a pair of black cords. I was planning on eating this morning but I decided to get all ready first. Dumb. I remember I was showered, dressed, and all ready. I hair sprayed my bangs and that's when I started to feel it. I knew I should have eaten sooner then. I ran to the kitchen cupboard where the cereal bowls were. It was the fastest breakfast I could have eaten. I grabbed a bowl and turned around. Meanwhile my mom was asking me what was wrong. I probably just sputtered out "I need to eat something" I don't even know if it was coherent. My mom and Kira were there though in the kitchen. The last thing I remember was grabbing a cereal bowl and turning to face my mom who was inches away from me. Passing out just feels like a really deep sleep. It's nice while your out, but waking up is awful. Mom said I was out for only about 30 seconds. It felt to me like I'd been out for hours. I had to "remember" where I was and what happened when I woke up. Mom said she tried to catch me but I had a crick in my neck and that's the first thing I felt. I had a bun in my hair. I felt so sick when I woke up and the LAST thing I wanted to do was eat but mom made me eat a piece of toast, plain. Later, we still went to Overton but it took me the better part of the day to get back to normal. It was a total of 2 hours from the time I woke up til the time I was out, 9-11, I remember that.

Pass out #2: I was getting ready to start my senior year. It was senior picture day at the HS for the yearbook. We were in the Overton house. Kira was living at home getting ready to go on her mission. September 11th was probably only a month away from happening. Connie was already serving in Russia. Kira and I were the only ones home. I ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast (we ate a lot of cereal growing up) and was waiting for Kira to get out of the shower so I could get ready for my pictures. She had shut the door (like always) and it was a sauna in the bathroom when she got out. When we crossed paths she told me that I needed to pick the zit on my face because it was picture day. She was going to do my make up for me...Well, she picked the zit and I'm sure it hurt like the dickens. We were both in the tiny hot bathroom though. I was like dying of heat, sweating and everything. So at that point I was like "I need to get out of here" and so I stepped outside into the hall. I could feel it coming on. Finally I was being cooled off but it was too late. I slumped down against the wall in my towel and told Kira to go get me a glass of cold water. By the time she got back I was out. I woke up to her calling my name and trying to hand me the water. Later she drove me to the school and even though I have braces, I thought my picture turned out good.

Pass Out #3: I was just pregnant with Marcelus and it was the appt. where you fill out paperwork and give blood. Sharrid was there with me because he had to drive me. Later when we moved to the valley, my mom took me in to my appts. Anyway, when they took blood I swear they took 9 viles but come to find out I think it was 7. Still, to me it was unnecessary. They had to bring out the sniffers for the first time in office history. I told Shar I never really was gone but he claims I was out. I had to go lay down in a room on one of those bed things you get your pap done on. They gave me one of those nasty orange drinks to get some sugar in me til Shar came back with food. They also put an ice pack on my forehead. The ice pack really helped. Later in my pregnancy, Shar and I were at the Las Vegas Temple doing a session. Most of you have heard this story. Those who haven't, all you need to know is I did not make it through the session and at the worst possible time, I had to be taken out by a matron. Some other sister pulled my name through. I imagine both of us will be thanked for doing that sisters endowment. That's pretty unique. This is the one time I have gone to the Temple and not gone to the Celestial room. When they pulled me out, I went to the bathroom for cold water, then I found out another sister would take it from there. So I went to get dressed and then Shar and I went to the cafeteria. (I was still holding out for food)

Pass Out #4: I had just delivered Marcelus and had been transported to my recovery room. Since I had Marce at 5 in the morning it was still sometime in the morning when I needed to go to the bathroom for the first time. My right leg was still numb from the epidural and I needed help anyway, so a nurse was at my right side holding onto me and walking me to the bathroom. While in there I sat down, went to the bathroom and then I don't remember what happened. When I woke up, again I was kind of wondering what happened. It takes you a little while to figure out that you passed out. At this point there was a nurse on each of my sides holding my arms so I was still sitting up on the toilet. They were a little flustered but I was so used to passing out by this point. They got me taken care of and told me they'd teach me the "system" next time. They wanted me back in bed pronto.

Pass out #5: I'm pretty sure this is the next one. I can't remember if there are any between #4 and #5, I don't think so. So the next time I passed out is funny because it was just after delivering Phoenix. The first time attempting to go to the bathroom. Sound familiar? Yeah, the nurse was like "Why didn't you tell me you've done this before?" I told her I forgot I passed out with Marce in the same situation. Anyway, it was sooner after I'd delivered him that they wanted me to try to go to the bathroom so they wheeled me over to the toilet. I got on the toilet and then started to loose it immediately after trying and failing to pee. She asked if I was alright and I said No. I knew I was not going make it. She had sniffers and was telling me to stay with her. She was kind of frantic...like the other nurses before. What's the big deal. I have done this so many times before. Wow, those sniffers were powerful! Anyway, it was only after I had passed out that I remembered last delivery this happened. When I woke up it seemed everybody there, 2 nurses, Shar and Connie were trying to make me "sleep walk" to the bed. She told me I would pee on my own later in my recovery room but that she was going to put a catheter in me til then. The catheter was great! I didn't even feel it go in or out. Not too long after I was back in bed though, my body started to freak out. I got very cold and started to shake violently. I was SO cold. My teeth were chattering and I was all the sudden really really tired. They got heated blankets and put them everywhere around me and around my head and face. They also gave me oxygen through a mask they put on my face. It took a while to warm up but eventually I did. I didn't get to bed that night til after midnight and I was so tired. Luckily Phoenix was a decent sleeper because they didn't even ask me if I wanted him in the nursery or not.

That's the last time I passed out. I seem to do it every couple years. I know I would have passed out while pregnant with Phoenix during that stupid 3 hour glucose test if I hadn't barfed it all up first! Ugg

Well, til next time, happy passing out!