interesting Friday

I had one of my stupid fainting episodes again- this is getting so annoying! It's all related to having to adjust my blood pressure medication because of going on Avastin again. I was volunteering at my 10 yr old daughter's school Friday for "Pioneer Day". I was working at the candle making station with another mom volunteer. All was fine and going well until approx 11 a.m., when I started to get incredibly thirsty and dizzy. I went and got water, sat outside in the fresh air awhile, but I kept getting dizzy and broke out into a cold sweat. I knew what was coming, then. Same thing that happened to me a while back in Wal Mart, when I passed out in line and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. I was fine shortly thereafter then and was fine again shortly thereafter Friday too. It really is embarrassing though & I did convince the EMT's that were called to the school not to take me to the hospital, that I'd be okay & that I'd get someone to drive me home. My EKG and blood sugar were normal- it was just my blood pressure that dropped too low- I think it was 90/60 when they took it, which was about 20 min after I fainted.
After my last incident, my blood pressure has gotten regulated & had been good until a couple of weeks ago when I went back on Avastin. The week after going back on it, the blood pressure started creeping up again, so my Atenolol was upped. I guess I'm just super sensitive to medication changes, cause it apparently dropped the blood pressure too low too quickly. I think I should just stay home following the week anytime my bp meds are adjusted! I've always had issues with fainting- even before cancer. The first time I fainted was at school when I was 12 & I ended up having my appendix out a few weeks later, so was probably related to my body system being messed up. A few years ago, I would faint every couple of months for almost a couple of years. The doctors could never figure out why and my blood pressure was normal back then.
It is kind of scary, though, because both times it's happened to me recently, there had been no warning at all- I felt perfectly fine and normal that morning.

Consequently, I will not be driving kids on the Sea World field trip for my daughter's class this Friday. I'm still going to go- I'll just be riding in the car of another mom I know. I guess I'm grateful that my issues aren't as serious as some people's here, but it is kind of unnerving- I'm worried about the "what if" if it ever happens while I'm driving. We have several windy narrow roads nearby that have nowhere to pull over. I'm a busy mom and there's no way I could give up driving, though- I'm far too independent.
I'll just work on regulating the blood pressure & not commiting to anything "iffy" for a week or so after meds are changed.

Here's to having a good week!

Lisa