Introduction and Medical Question

[christinaval]

Hi, I'm a newbie and excited to be a part of a 'new tribe'.    I have an important medical question but have not idea where to go on this website OR outside resources to answer my question.  I'll take ANY advice on how to find the best resource.  Links to other sites, places to post question internal to this site.  Heres my question: 

I'm currently having near-blackout episodes directly linked to constrictive clothing. Specifically, I wear what amounts to a girdle with sew-in hip padding (Great product called Classic Curves).  It's snug NOT tourniquet tight.  I get a headache & a feeling like I'm not getting oxygen to my brain. It's more than a little scary thinking I'm about to pass out. The issue has developed over the past 1.5 years or so. All history un-remarkable except high bp and I'm on low dose beta blocker.  Checked my bp during events and its within normal range.  Obviously haven't worn the pads lately except for brief times just to reconfirm its an ongoing issue.  Help!! - Christina

[Laurie]

  Hi  Christina,

  I'm Laurie. We do have information in our Wiki and Links sections above but those are not likely to help you with this particular problem. There are several things that could be responsible for your "almost" blackouts besides low blood pressure. (I have to watch for that too) We are not the ones you need to be consulting Dear, you need to bring this up with your doctor. It is as you say a medical question and only your doctor should be advising you on it. So go see your doctor.
I see that you are new here. So please let me say, Welcome To Susan's Place! Come on in and take a good look around. We are pleased to have you join us and look forward to sharing our stories with you and hope you will share yours with us. We sure would like to get to know you better.  Perhaps I can even get you to tell us a little bit more about yourself. I'll add some links and information below that can help you get more out of our site. Please take time to become familiar with them especially the RED one as we are always getting questions that are answered there.

Hugs, 
Laurie
Global Moderator
Laurie@susans.org

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[V M]

Hi Christina 

Welcome to Susan's Place    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

Hugs

V M

[Dena]

Welcome to Susan's Place. You should discuss this with your doctor however it sounds like an ailment that was common in the 19th century. Women of the time commonly wore tight corsets causing them to be faint or pass out. It was so common that women carried smelling salts so they could be revived. At the start of the 20th century, fashions moved in the flapper direction and tight garments were no longer the rule.

If your garments aren't that tight, the other possibility is your blood pressure fluctuates. You might want to buy a home uint and for the first month or two measure your blood pressure 2 or 3 times a day. Keep a record of when you checked and what the readings were so you can show this to your doctor if needed.

[christinaval]

Thanks.  I'm hoping I'm replying to everyone that commented as opposed to just one commenter.  First, thank you for the quick replies!  No need to respond since you already have but here's where I was coming from.

I should have been more specific and my apologies for not communicating better.  I wasn't so much looking for medical advice as I was looking for a blog/forum topical area on this site that talked about such issues, OR the name of any informational resource such as a website that may field these transgender related medical issues.  As I mentioned, I tried 'www.askadoctor.com but they took my money and never responded (a whole other situation...).   

I do have a primary care physician but honestly this subject is a bit embarrassing for me to bring up.  Soooo, I thought I'd start with a trans-friently doctor who might offer some general insight.  If after consulting with a trans-friendly doctor, and its was found there may be some underlying sinister health issue, I would then be more courageous and talk with my primary.  I'm a wussy, what can I say.  - Christina

[Kendra]

Hello Christina, welcome to Susan's!

I can understand your hesitation to bring this up with your primary doctor.  For years I had postponed the most basic inquiries, didn't take time to plan my future in detail, much less bring it up to others.  About 20 years ago my doctor stopped what he was doing, got serious and asked: how much alcohol do you drink on average?  I was startled by his question because we hadn't discussed that.  In hindsight, he could probably smell it in my skin pores - I was consuming far more alcohol than my body could handle, I quit drinking a few years later (2003).  But when he asked that question I was very embarrassed - I said yeah every couple days but not too much.  My answer was not accurate and it could have killed me.

Your situation is (hopefully) different, but I brought up an example from my past to help explain my answer.  The medical field in most countries operate under strict privacy laws to encourage open communications between patient and doctor.  Your doctor needs accurate information to provide an accurate answer.  As a professional they should be objective and work within their area of expertise.  If your doctor taps into their knowledge to come up with a good solution, or can't find and answer and provides a referral, what do you have to lose?  I cannot imagine your doctor freaking out - they see a lot in their line of work.  If they start asking questions about lifestyle beyond objective medical requirements, or lecturing you - difficult to imagine - at that point I'd find a different doctor.  I bet you'll be fine.  Here's your chance to find out.

All the best,

Kendra