Syncope in the Hydro Pool, Caused a Small Panic!

So there I was, after putting down 2 weeks of being ill and fainting all over the place, I had canceled hydro and physio a number of times due to the flare up, there was just no way I could physically do it.

I was finally feeling better, no faint in about a week and I was sitting on the transfer chair in my swimsuit, waiting to be lowered into the water.

“Hang on”, said the physio.

The assistant stopped turning the crank and the chair stopped dead, my feet hanging off the end, just above the water. I was suspended like a prisoner as she took a look.

“You’re looking pale, how are you feeling now, are you sure you are able for this today?”

I reassured her that I felt well, which I did, at the time… but that I could not guarantee that I wouldn’t faint, as that is the nature of the illness!
She looked at me skeptically and gave in.

“Alright then”, she gestured for me to be lowered in and down I went.

I felt the warm liquid envelop my skin like I was being evenly coated in wet cellophane. Regular pool temperatures reside at about 28ºC while this and all other Hydrotherapy pools stay at about 35ºC  which feels… lovely, actually 😀

Warmth and Pots don’t usually go well together, this had never bothered me before now.

The physio kept a skeptical eye on me as she gave me some exercises to do and went over to help another patient in the pool.

Leg raises, looking around, warm pool, sunlight pouring in the windows… No warning…

Darkness… a sound of water in my ears… muffled, panicked voices, bubbles, water in my eyes, ears, mouth, I cant breath… Darkness…

I cant remember anything only those snippets until I woke up suddenly, some time later  with pretty severe pains in my chest and ribs. I woke but my eyes were still closed, I could hear a siren going off. Urgent voices, someone counting… that pain in my chest again…

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …

Chest compressions, well that explains that!! I must have made some sort of movement or noise, though I couldn’t talk at that point, the physio scooped up my head and asked me to open my eyes.

BLINDED!!! oh gawd, just white light for a few moments then I could see… everyone!!!!
where there was only the Physio and her assistant before, now there were a tonne of people standing and kneeling around me!!

A few nurses, a couple of surgeons (no seriously, he was the only head doctor on call that day so he and his assistant came down from surgery in full get up!!)
A couple of porters, a load of physios that I had never seen before, and some lady in a suit asking a load of questions and rushing around filling out paperwork!!

I had to be kept on the ground for a while to keep an eye on me and to try and wait for my BP to rise again, apparently I frightened the crap out of them!! When I was out, the physio couldn’t find a pulse so decided to start chest compressions on me after they got me out of the water… I was nursing those ribs for a good 5 days after it but how can I complain? She did her job and did it well with what happened!

Anyhow, making a long story slightly longer… That is the end of Hydrotherapy for me for the moment as they don’t want me back until the syncope is under control. I am peeved to be honest, I found it very good, but I understand why I cant take the risk so Ill be sticking with dry physio for now!!

Not much going on at the moment other than, still waiting on the Motorised chair, no idea when that is coming. I am due a load of different hospital appointments but no sign of them yet, I have to be called for painkilling injections in my sacroiliac joint and hip, again, no idea when they are coming and other than that I am just tipping away trying to keep myself busy.

So, How are you folks doing, any news for me??