Dizziness

We were in the cafeteria having lunch. My friend Sonia sat opposite me. She looked really pale that day.

"Sonia are you unwell?" I was worried so I asked her.

"I am feeling little tired today. Little drowsy too. Is it so obvious on my face?" Sonia asked. I nodded.

After lunch we got back to work. I was checking on her every now and then. I was really worried about her because definitely she looked really unwell. I told the colleagues who sat nearby to keep a close eye on her.

Around 4 I went to Sonia's desk to ask her if she wanted a cup of coffee. I saw that Sonia had closed her eyes tightly. Her hands were on her desk. I wanted to make sure that she was okay. I placed my hand on her shoulder. She quickly grabbed my hand in her hands. Her hands were cold. Too cold almost like she had been holding ice. I knew something was wrong.

"Sonia what happened?" I asked gently.

Sonia had still kept her eyes closed. Her hands were still cold. Sweat broke on her forehead. She was trying hard to speak but she was unable to speak coherently.

"Can't see.. Darkness," she blurted out.

Looking at her condition I felt that she was feeling dizzy. I immediately took the bottle of water and told her, "open your mouth. I am going to give you a sip of water".

She followed my instructions and opened her mouth. I gave her little water. She was able to swallow it. She opened her mouth again which indicated me that she was thirsty. I gave her water again.

"Dark. Scared, don't go," she said. Even now she was not able to form complete sentences. She had still held my hand tightly.

"I am right here. I am not going anywhere. Don't worry," I said while trying to warm up her hands. By this time some other colleagues had gathered to her desk. One colleague was fanning a notebook so that she would feel better.

An idea struck. I thought I should give her a bite of chocolate. I felt that it would help her if she had an episode of hypotension.

I screamed, "does anybody have a chocolate? Anything sweet? Please bring it here. We have a medical emergency".

2 or 3 colleagues ran to the place where I was standing. They had brought chocolates. I took a piece of chocolate and looked at Sonia.

"I am going to give you a piece of chocolate. Please take a bite," I instructed Sonia.

As per my instruction she took a bite of the chocolate. I once again gave her sip of water.

"Thanks," she said. It told me that she was getting better. Her grip on my hand had been loosening. Within a couple of minutes, Sonia slowly opened her eyes and looked at me.

"Feeling better?" I asked her. She nodded.

"Please stay for few more minutes," she requested.

I told her that I would stay with her and after sometime we should visit the office doctor. Within next 20 minutes Sonia had started feeling better and her dizziness was completely gone. Sonia thanked all of us for helping her and supporting her. I was just relieved that Sonia had been feeling better. It was a relief to see my friend speaking and behaving like herself again. I was glad that it was an episode of hypotension and not something serious.

In the corporate life sometimes we face such medical emergencies. Indeed these are the times when it is always better to stay calm instead of panicing.