TITLE: <<<TITLE Fainting TITLE

TEXTMARKDOWN: <<<TEXTMARKDOWN A couple of days ago, I might have caught influenza A, though I can only call it a possibility, because I didn't get checked and tried to tough it out on my own. The colleagues around me—those to the left, behind, and in front—were diagnosed with influenza A, and their symptoms were basically the same as mine, except for the person on the right.

Coughing felt as if my lungs were going to explode; the back pain was similar to what I felt during COVID, making it hard to sleep; at night I sweated, soaking through cotton shirts, pants, and blankets. On days like that, I went to work sick for two days without taking leave, thinking I could endure it.

This afternoon at 1:30 PM I started work. Not even ten minutes later, around 1:40, I suddenly felt nauseated. I had no trash bag; the nearby trash can was hollowed out, so I couldn't vomit there—how presumptuous would that be? I wanted to run to the edge of the bathroom to vomit, but I couldn't reach the toilet; it felt like it would erupt, so I hurried to a freight elevator lobby, clutching a trash can and retching.

Within less than five seconds, the world suddenly dimmed; my eyes, though conscious, could not see anything. A sun-like red light appeared, gradually turning into void black, then stars flashed in my eyes, red and purple dots interwoven inside. The world spun; I couldn't stand and collapsed beside the trash can. I was conscious, knowing I was doomed, collapsing, trying to summon my "sixth sense," but everything collapsed... I couldn't hear, see, smell, move my mouth, or speak; only my brain remained awake, fully aware that it was the end.

In that moment I felt truly doomed; unknown fear filled my mind, but I remained very lucid and wanted to save myself. I couldn't just sit here and wait to die—this place only has coworkers after work, and there were four hours until then, not knowing how many times I might die by then. My sole thought was to crawl outward, and I crawled to the break room, still unable to see anything... I wished someone would find me... but unfortunately there wasn't.

I leaned against the wall, with my face pressed to it; I could crawl with my hands and feet, but I still couldn't see. The burning heat inside my eyes made me fear I might go blind at 21. I suddenly thought of Helen Keller, who became blind at eighteen months. I immediately picked up my phone, instinctively turned on its flashlight, pressed it against my eyes, and yet my eyes did not sense any light... That moment I was truly terrified.

I am a person who is very sensitive to light; if there is even a little light when I sleep, I can notice it, so I often cover myself with other clothes to block out the light. Later I slowly stood up, crawled to my workstation, lay down and rested for five minutes; I couldn't say a word, nor could I call for help. After five minutes I gradually recovered and hurried to Li Hui Li Hospital...

To cut to the chase, they did CT scans of the brain, heart, and chest, an ECG, and drew several more vials of blood; there was no major issue. The ER doctor was very responsible, and they consulted with a professor of cardiac surgery, asking many questions, and said it wasn't a big deal, but next time if this happens again you must squat, not stand... protecting the brain is the most important.

He mentioned a term called x suo phenomenon; forgive me, I can't recall the name of the phenomenon, but he said it's normal. He also found it very hard to explain the cause, but told me that it's normal to be this way. Still, take care of your health; health is a blessing! (I'm now feverishly looking up whether there is a medical phenomenon called 'suo' that resembles my fainting; I'm very curious... what exactly is the mechanism behind it...) TEXT_MARKDOWN