A Spell

I had a little spell yesterday. I grabbed a Starbucks caramel apple spice while grocery shopping, and out of nowhere, I started feeling faint. By the time I made it to the car, I was sweating bullets and looking downright peaked.

Ever heard “spell” used this way? To Mamaw and Papaw, a “spell” was any sudden, unexplained illness—whether it was just a bit of gas or something more serious.

I always think of it as that lightheaded, dizzy feeling. I remember Papaw Cochran having one when I was little; he passed out cold, and Mamaw called 911, telling the operator he’d had a “dizzy spell.” Papaw Cochran was in his 90s by then, and they figured his blood pressure had just dropped too low.

Thankfully, mine wasn’t that severe. The feeling passed in about an hour without me fainting, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out what triggered it. This is the second time it’s happened this week, which is unusual for me. The only thing I can think of is that it might be related to my IST.

My Apple Watch ECG came back normal, but since IST can cause fainting, I think it’s wise to check in with my cardiologist—just to be safe.

With everything exciting happening in my life right now, I really need to get this dizziness under control and make sure I’m healthy. Life has too much to offer to let a few spells get in the way!