Well, most of you probably know about my problems with passing out. This has been chronicled to death in the past, even making its way into a post. We knew about my vagus nerve... what we didn't know is about the GC's vagus nerve and how each of them would hold up during delivery. I thought I would be okay, but no one believed me.....
Hopefully you have read the last post, detailing the KP's birthday. But a little episode was saved from the day for this very special post. Yes, ladies and gentleman, the vagus nerve was kicking in full force on this day.
The episode went down during the all important epidural procedure. Yes, one of the two moments I had been dreading the weeks prior to the event (from a syncope standpoint). The anesth MD came in and went over all the details about procedure ad nauseum. I tried to figure out a way to politely say we were doctor's too... but I couldn't figure one. I then considered just pulling my badge out and dangling it in his face, but thankfully I didn't.
So now comes the time to proceed. Oh boy! The MD has the GC sit up, legs hanging over the bed. Uh oh... where am I supposed to go? I was staring at the GC's backside, getting a little nervous. That was where the action (blood and CS fluid) was going to be. Hmmm.... "Daddy, you're going to go to the front and hold mommy up." Whew!!! That I could do. I prance over to the front and grab the GC's shoulders. Then the MD has her bend forward as much as she can , to open up the space. Here we go! I can't watch. I hang my head and close my eyes. But I cleverly position myself so as to give the appearance of whispering into the GC's ears. But then I actually do talk to the GC, so maybe it wasn't all for show.
So the procedure starts. "Needle in. This is the worst part. Your BP might drop a bit." Uh huh. I gulp and start to get twingy. Nervous actually. It's not like this happens every day. But I have to be strong for the ... "I'm feeling lightheaded. I think I'm going to pass out." What!?!? Did that come out of my mouth!?!? I do a split-second full body assessment: head-check, arms-check, legs-check... all systems go. Not me... its the GC!!! Oh God oh god; I hadn't anticipated this one. All the different iterations that were rehearsed in my mind of this moment didn't include this. "Really, babe. Hang in there." "I don't think I can." Hey MD, you think you can hurry this thing up!?!?! I mean secure the hell out of this thing, because if she drops and looses it, we're screwed! He starts moving faster now... "almost there." Just then I feel the full wait of the GC on my shoulders. "Dude you don't got it. Time to move!!!" "Almost.... there!!! Put her down!!!" In almost a synchronous ballet, we both turn her straight on the bed, throw her down, and lift up her legs. It must have been a sight when the reinforcements came in!!! Fluids wide open... the GC perks back up. "Did you get it?" "Yes dear.... we got it!" "When am I going to not feel the contractions?" Good, she's back!
Whew! That MD definitely earned his fee for that one. 10 minutes later she was like a million bucks.... contractions wizzing by, blazing up the tocometer..... oooohhhh that was a big one, I think... she sleeps through. Anything for the GC, definitely worth the trouble. She had another spell much much later in the evening, after all the dehydration, blood loss, and exhaustion. But she's a trooper.
So there it is. Seems the amazingly tough GC is susceptible to the same problems as the Editor. Although for entirely different reasons! Hers is understandable, mine is .... um.... well....er....
Now the question becomes, what vagus nerve does Kemper have?
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