You know what they say

...never faint in a phone booth, or in my case, in the bathroom on an airplane. I was actually not dreading my red-eye back to nyc because I was in the first-class cabin, and was ready to for a few hours of good sleep as I had only gotten five hours the night before.

After a doze, light snack and movie, I went to the bathroom, and while washing my hands, suddenly felt nauseous - and remembered thinking how strange that I suddenly felt nauseous. Then I blacked out and crumpled to the floor.

Not sure how much time passed, probably only a few seconds, I was conscious of being barely conscious, and struggling to keep conscious. I remember feeling scared, because I couldn't make myself move, and I couldn't figure out where I was or what I was doing. Finally, I realized I was sitting on the floor in an airplane bathroom, pulled myself up to the sink, and pushed open the door.

I mumbled to the stewardess, "..fainting...need sugar...orange juice..." The stewardess jumped up and got orange juice in a flash. Luckily, there was a doctor on the plane (someone else in the back of the plane had fainted earlier!) and they brought him over.

I felt nauseous, had blurred vision, and experienced sweating, heart palpatations, shortness of breathe and a ghostly complexion (so I am told). He asked me a few questions, nodding calmly, and finally said, "You have low blood pressure and have experienced an episode, probably because you've been dehydrated, sitting too long and got up too quickly."

Apparently the 'cure' is to lie down with legs propped up - good to know. I eventually regained color and felt calmer, but started shivering and still felt nauseous. (too much damn orange juice)

Not only did I not get to enjoy my comfy first-class seat, I spent the better portion of the flight lying down on the floor of the steward area, with legs propped up.

I threw up twice in the plane, and once on the car ride home. Ughs. I hadn't really slept at all on the flight, and by the time I got home, was completely DEPLETED - in every sense of the word. Brushing my teeth and sleep never felt so good.

The only thing I've eaten in the last two days since then is bread with nutella, bread with hummus, kashi crunch cereal with soy milk, and a soy patty. And, I slept twelve hours last night.

Lessons learned - eat more salty foods, do foot exercises and remember to drink v-8 (salt) & water on flights. Oye.