"Lightheaded" dizzies...scared myself BIG TIME!

Hey all.... Had not one single problem with my WLS 46 weeks ago; I'm down to 235 form 404 and my meds for hypertension are now 25% of what they were and my pcp says they'll most likely disappear in the next few months. I feel fine, so very good that I'm smiling all the time! That said, when I was like 12 to 20 weeks out, I did have what's called "positional lightheadedness" -- which Dx most thankfully explained was when I bent over to get something outta the fridge on the bottom shelf and then straightened up quickly, I got dizzy as the blood just wasn't getting up to my brain quick enuff. I learned from that, and only ever suffered like 3  or 4 of these moments. Avoided that task and never had it again! Today, however, I got up as per normal, and went right to the shower. I was just getting wet -- and all of a sudden HUGE big lightheadedness, standing up straight! I had to brace myself against the shower wall, and it would NOT pass....it continued for more than a minute and I had to get outta the shower and sit down on the toilet to bend over to send blood back to my brain -- which stopped the whole thing. I then slowly sat up and no more lightheadedness, but I honestly was scared, so I said the hell with the early morning meeting, went back to bed for an hour or so and then got up. Took another shower and that big scare did not come back, tho to be honest, I have felt slighthly out of sorts all day. Not really lightheaded.. but just a touch "off center!" My walking is the same. My diet is the same. Wait..yesterday, I did find some new toasted corn nuts supposedly with tons of Sea salt, and I slowly chomped down like 2 cups of same. I know...I know....that's my only bad habit still. So I guess what I mean is I got a real LOT of salt yesterday....incl of course my normal protein, veggies etc. Could it be the salt? What else can cause "non-positional lightheadedness?" Help here guys....I really was a bit scared this am! Jim

I think if it was a 1 time thing...you can let it pass..anything can cause dizziness...from being just slightly dehydrated, to your blood pressure meds being off...or even your blood sugar levels being a bit off.....but if it happens again, you need to go to your doctor.  A lot of times as preops..we blamed our health on our weight....which sometimes the conditions were weight related..and sometimes not.  As post ops....we tend to blame everything on our WLS...and sometimes it's WLS related, and sometimes it's not. Scott

Jim, Could be any number of things. Blood pressure, blood sugar, etc… The only one that sticks out in my mind- Vitamin B12 or Folate Deficiency? You’re getting your B-12 either in an injection or sub-lingual? Taking any Folate (folic acid) supplement? Deficiencies of either of those can cause "dizzy spells." Hollar at your doc and have him do a blood work up. Hope it’s something as simple as just being a little dehydrated. Best Wishes- Dx

Hey Guys,

Sort of related to Jim's Question...

I'm not getting sublingual or injectable B-12, but chewing vitamins that are loaded. Is that enough? Figure that they are going under my tongue and everywhere else.

Dave

Dave, Nope. You may "just" be getting enough B-12 in that way. The reason that RNY-post-ops need sublingual or injections is That in order to be absorbed, it has to bind with intrinsic factor In the gastric juices. Intrinsic Factor. (that’s the actual name) By the time the B-12 in your vitamins, mixes with the stomach acids down at the "Y," they don’t have enough time to bond before they get to "Their Exit Ramp" (the receptor sites in the illeum. Checkout- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrinsic_factor B-12 deficiency is one of the more common longer term post-op complications, And it's a really bad one! The reason that a B-12 deficiency must be avoided "prior" to any symptoms, Is that the nerve damage/pernicious anemia is irreversible once the damage is done. Get some sub-lingual B-12, or get a prescription for injection. The injection of Cyanocobalamin works out for me to be much cheaper. And, it’s harder to "forget" that I have or haven’t taken it. Best Wishes- Dx

Hi Dx,

Just squirted a sublingual B-12 gel under the tongue.

Thanks,

Dave

JV, I'm with the other guys. Could be the blood pressure meds, anemia, or several other things. Sounds like a good time for a tune up / oil change.., run your blood tests, etc... Congrats on your success! JP

Could be the all-nighters, booze and women. Could be the Grecin formula,..you out it on your head,  don't drink it!!!! Or it could be other stuff as already mentioned,..I jus thate to be redundat and am feeling a bit punchy. Seriously, I occassionally have these slight episodes where I pll to the left like I'm losing my balance and they get my attention but are in-frequent and are ususlaly momentary.  It they lasted longer, I'd do what you did,...go to bed and try again.  I have mornings went I don't feel well and laying down for an hour or so usually takes care of them.  At 11 months, I just went off the last of the 4 BP meds I took before WLS.  I wonder if part of it is the withdrawal effect of coming off the BP meds or the fact I'm not on them and an occassional heart or BP related situation is occurring. BUt Hey,  I'm a guy and the bone isn't sticking out and until it gets worse,...I'm doing better overall and lets go run or cut some grass,  Arg Arg Arg!!! Hope you get it figured out.  Best of luck to you and don't be afraid the see a doctor or get a second opinion if you don't like the first one.  The whole being obses and WLS journey has really taught me to listen to my body more and if what they are telling me doesn't feel right, I don't hestiate as they diagnoisis is a best educated guess, I got real tired of being told, its just gass or acid reflux.... I'm shutting up now,...sorry for the rambling. but maybe cut back on the weed smoking or something,...OK?? 

I was and still have a similar thing going on - only when I stand up afte sitting or lying down - doc ran all my labs and they came up negative for any anemia, b-12 problems etc...Did a ton of research and seemed to have narrowed it down to something called "Orthostatic Hypotension" - in laymens term Ortho =body, Static = movement, Hypotension = Low blood pressure - basically the blood pressure drops suddenly when I stand up, I get lightheaded and unbalanced for a few seconds until the pressure evens out then I'm fine....I have found the better hydrated I am, and the closer I come to eating enough, the less frequent it occurs...Try googling the term to find out more about it....Hope this helps out!

This happens to me too..

Thanks for all the information guys!

I have an appointment on the 20th with the doc and I plan on bringing it up to him but it was great reading through the posts..

This forum ROCKS!

 

Thanks Dudes.