Prostration and Low Blood Pressure

[33ad]

I don't know if any of you have ever suffered from low blood pressure. But I've had this problem most of my life. If I've been squatting down, and suddenly get up, I go dizzy.
Now with prostrations, last nignt I nearly blacked out 3 times. It's scarry.
I just prayed to my Patron for strength. Fortunatly I didn't loose consiencessness. I would have felt so embarressed.

Once at home I blacked out and hit my head on the wall. I came around sitting against the wall looking at the bed, and Seraphima cradling me and calling me. She got quite a fright of course.

Maybe I should talk to Father about this, but I don't want to look like a whimp. What shoul I do?

Kolya

[Matrona]

I have that too, sometimes. I noticed my dizzy spells decreased significantly after I started taking a drug called Depakote. It helps keep the circulation in my head on an even keel. You might want to see a neurologist.

[Monica, child of God]

Don't worry about looking like a wimp. I'd say talk to your priest. The point of prostrations is to intensify prayer. How can you pray when you're worried about passing out?

Be well,
Monica

[33ad]

I've spoken to my home physician and he said it was not serious enough to put me on medication. But I will talk to my priest.
Perhaps a solution is to stay on my knees until all the prostrations are done, then only get up slowly.
Thanks for your advice.

Kolya

[Monica, child of God]

I've spoken to my home physician and he said it was not serious enough to put me on medication. But I will talk to my priest.
Perhaps a solution is to stay on my knees until all the prostrations are done, then only get up slowly.
Thanks for your advice.

Kolya



Sounds good. Prayers going up for you.

Monica

[MariaRegina]

I've spoken to my home physician and he said it was not serious enough to put me on medication. But I will talk to my priest.
Perhaps a solution is to stay on my knees until all the prostrations are done, then only get up slowly.
Thanks for your advice.

Kolya



That is exactly what I do. I kneel down for the first prostration, prostrate and then rise up slowly to a kneeling position, then make another prostration, and rise up slowly again and then down again for the third time. It's safer and I've also noticed other senior citizens doing the same.

Once I got up quickly, tripped on my skirt and almost fell flat on my face. I figured it was safer and more graceful to just stay kneeling as those do who remain in the pews. Most people will come out of the pews as I do when it comes time to make a prostration.

Hope this helps.

Elizabeth

[Khaleas]

Kolya!
I used to have the same problem but it's gotten better. Mainly because of good diet - but the diet part doesn't help much at this time of the year ;) . But believe me, acid reflux and prostrations don't go well together.
My good friend at the church just found out she has a mildly slipped disc. Doctor said she can't stand much and she talked to Father about it afterwards. He said no one should injure themselves during service and your medical issues should go well ahead of anything (they want to keep you around, you know). Definitely talk to your Father about it. I know you've been keeping a strict raw week and I guess didn't eat much yesterday... you might want to add a little bit of food just to keep your bloodpressure level. I think you passing out would cause more of a ruckus at the service than you not doing prostrations. I'm eating more small meals instead of a few bigger ones to keep migraines and acid reflux under control. If I get a migraine I would probably miss at least one day of church, probably two... so it would make no sense in trying to do so.

Hopefully your bump isn't too bad! Give Seraphima a big hug, it must have been scary!

[33ad]

Kolya!
I know you've been keeping a strict raw week and I guess didn't eat much yesterday... you might want to add a little bit of food just to keep your bloodpressure level. I think you passing out would cause more of a ruckus at the service than you not doing prostrations. !

You're right. I had no food yesterday, and so my blood sugar was down too.


I'm eating more small meals instead of a few bigger ones to keep migraines and acid reflux under control. If I get a migraine I would probably miss at least one day of church, probably two... so it would make no sense in trying to do so.
Hopefully your bump isn't too bad! Give Seraphima a big hug, it must have been scary!

Seraphima gets very bad migranes too which keep her off work. Fortunatly the Epilim she's taking now keeps most of them at bay.
I'll give her a hug for you.;)

Let us know how "Nokialand" is:D

Thanks everyone for your prayers and advice.

Kolya

[rhyddid_rose]

To Life Immortal

Ag man, are you OK? I'm glad you went to the doctor; you're a lekker oke and I dont want anything to happen with you. :)

I will be praying for you and you take care of yourself, you hear?
:groupray:
No more scaring the wife!


Peace and Long Life
~*~ бабочка ~*~

[33ad]

Ek's alright, ek se.

Thanks babochka, and I love you too!:hug:

I'll give that to Seraphima, OK?

In IC XC

Kolya

[Rilian]

Kolya, some people in my parish just do Metanoias. One lady who I know has a bad back just bows slightly.

[The Virginian]

I've spoken to my home physician and he said it was not serious enough to put me on medication. But I will talk to my priest.
Perhaps a solution is to stay on my knees until all the prostrations are done, then only get up slowly.
Thanks for your advice.

Kolya



When I served as Reader in a Byzantint Rite service, once during Orthros the Deacon and I were prostrating ourselves, rising and attempting to chant our respective parts. The first time we were alright, but afterwards it was easy to tell we were winded. Whereupon Fr. instructed us that if we're taking part in the service, i.e., chanting, we're not to prostrate ourselves. The time of worship is therefore not ruined for those present.
You have done the prudent thing, consulting with your physician, and intend to do so with your priest. While redeemption concerns the whole man, it's the condition and position of your heart during worship, that God's concerned about.


"...Shall I give the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul. He has shown thee O man what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."

[Matrona]

Even as a choir member I always rise completely after each prostration. I get a little woozy after several, but no one seems to mind that I have to catch my breath. I don't know what the Parish Council was smoking when they put in our tile floor, though! :P :eek:

Considering how many people I know who have bad joints and still try to prostrate, it just felt like I would be wimping out if I didn't do full prostrations with my good joints.

[Mary of Bethany]

I'm in the choir, and we just do bows during the Canon, then we do the full prostrations during the Prayer of St. Ephraim and the prayer to all the Saints ( :blush: I don't know what it's called) at the end.

I have a question though - tonight we are having the Liturgy of the PreSanctified, and I don't think I've ever been to this before. Are we expected to fast from all food today before partaking tonight? Thanks for your answers.

Mary

[Wiffey]

I have too much hardware in my back to be able to prostrate. Luckily this is not a big deal because at my church (GOA) we have pews and don't normally do prostrations. I'd venture that it is better to make a small, reverent bow than to go for the gusto and end up unconscious...good luck!

[Mary of Bethany]

Can anyone answer my question 2 posts up - about fasting? Thanks!

[Fotina]

Can anyone answer my question 2 posts up - about fasting? Thanks!

I was told for evening liturgy, fast from noon, but I've also heard 3 pm.

Fotina

[Monica, child of God]

I have a question though - tonight we are having the Liturgy of the PreSanctified, and I don't think I've ever been to this before. Are we expected to fast from all food today before partaking tonight? Thanks for your answers.


I have heard that one should take a light meal in the early morning then fast from food till Liturgy.

The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served on Wednesday and Friday evenings...It comes in the evening after a day of spiritual preparation and total abstinence. The faithful who are unable to make the effort of total fasting because of weakness or work, however, normally eat a light lenten meal in the early morning.

Of course ask your priest or sponsor or someone in your parish who might know what discipline you should follow.

Blessings!

[ufonium2]

RE: choir members and prostrations

At least according to the Russian typicon, the choir isn't even supposed to cross themselves or bow when they are censed, if it could interfere with their singing/reading. In my parish, though, the choir does pretty much everything the congregation is supposed to do, because Fr. feels that some of the newer members often look to the choir and Readers to see what they're supposed to be doing (he has a point.)

[Matrona]

I prostrate and cross myself even if it does interfere somewhat with reading/singing. It's important to me, and in the liturgy, when Father says aloud "Oh God be gracious to me, a sinner, and have mercy on me" three times, he is often prostrating and I can barely hear him even though he is speaking in a loud voice.

[ExOrienteLux]

I've learned to be very, very careful when prostrating in a cassock. My fellow altar servers and I prostrate at the Epiclesis like Father does, as well as during Presanctified. Last Wednesday, I just about fell over when I tried to stand up too fast, because one my my feet was standing on the hem of the cassock! Thank God I didn't fall over, because I think Father needed the censer immediately after I stood up!

That wasn't the first time it's happened, either. That's what really makes me ticked.

[Abiel]

Getting up slowly is the answer to low blood pressure dizziness. I hit the deck quite frequently if I am not careful. Getting out of bed is a two stage operation. The crazy thing is, I sometimes forget, and it is only as the dizzies come on that I think '...should have got up slowly...'!

[Mary of Bethany]

Thanks for those who answered my fasting question. :thumbsup:

Yesterday morning, Father explained that we should fast from noon on for the Pre-Sanctified Wednesday evening, so now I know!

Mary

[Matrona]

I've learned to be very, very careful when prostrating in a cassock. My fellow altar servers and I prostrate at the Epiclesis like Father does, as well as during Presanctified. Last Wednesday, I just about fell over when I tried to stand up too fast, because one my my feet was standing on the hem of the cassock! Thank God I didn't fall over, because I think Father needed the censer immediately after I stood up!

That wasn't the first time it's happened, either. That's what really makes me ticked.

I've learned to go barefoot if I expect a lot of prostrations. I nearly ripped my skirt on Forgiveness Sunday--the hem of my skirt got between my heel and the heel of my shoe (high heeled sandal), and I about died trying to get up. All you ladies know what I'm talking about... :eek: