Dizziness, tunnel vision, fainting.... WLS?

Fellow OH'ers I need your opinon/advice..... I'm 6 months and 19 days post op, doing great!! I have lost 98lbs since surgery, and from my highest weight ever, I have lost 110lbs.  Beginning mid-november (4 months out) I began to have dizzy spells, and what appeared to be tunnel vision. I've informed my surgeon, and his staff as well as my own PCP. The symptoms are not associated with BP or lack of eating, or lack of vitamins. I get in my required protein, water and supplements everyday. My PCP saw me in November and did an EKG, and extensive labs, which everything came back normal.  I saw my surgeon, and his staff on January 8. They both said that the symptoms that I was describing sound as if it were associated with LOW blood glucose levels.  Did not sound too concerned.  In fact the dizzy spells, lightheadness and tunnel vision (when I saw tunnel vision, it's where it goes within seconds of my walking from normal to real fuzzy, and black) had gotten better.  I have these spells every now and then, not too often. However, today I had gotten up and started to walk from the couch to the other room and it happened, and this time and it's the FIRST EVER time I actually feel to the ground and for about 30-45 seconds I fainted/blacked out. I am not really sure. As anyone had experience with this after WLS? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! After, fainting/blacking out this morning, I am concerned. The doctor's office is closed today, but first thing in the morning I will be calling!! Thanks, Everyday Lurker, and frequent poster, Jessica

This happened to me at 3 weeks out. It was over the weekend and my husband forced me to go to the Emergency Room. I am so glad he did. In my case they found that my potassium was dangerously low. I know they said your levels are normal but are they checking your potassium? I don't know what else it could be but this is why it happened to me.  Your surgeon's doesn't have a answering service? If they do I would call and have the doctor-on-call, call you back.

I have not had anything like that post wls.. But I have visual migraines and that sounds like how I feel with those.. On top of your symptoms I see like a keleidiscope?? sp? effect.. It makes me wicked sick feeling if I do not catch it in time...

Hi, I'm 8 months out and I get this all the time, although I've never actually fainted.  My doctor was totally not concerned.  He said it was a sudden drop in blood pressure that happens with a change of position, such as you described when getting up from the couch.  That is when it always happens to me.  I get from my couch in the family room in the basement, and by the time I've gone the few feet to the stairwell, I have the lightheadedness and tunnel vision and I have to grab the wall or the handrail for the stairs or whatever to keep from falling. I stand there for a few minutes trying not to black out and then it will pass.  This isn't a blood pressure problem per se.  My BP is totally normal now, although tends to the low end.  It is something that happens with blood flow when you change physical position.  And yeah, my dr. said it has to do with the weight loss.  Not so much the surgery.  He said when my body gets more adjusted to it's current weight, it should decrease or stop.  Still wouldn't hurt to check the potassium someone else suggested if that's not been done.  I know my SIL had VBGB and she passed out once and it was a low potassium problem.  Hope that helps some!  You're definitely not alone in this.  Scary. Kim

Kimberly, Thank you so much for responding. It's good to know that I am not the only person going through this. This is the first time, I have every fainted. Usually, I do as you said... I grab something and stand there for a minute or so. I'm going to check with my PCP in the morning to see if he would order labs to check my potassium just in case. Jessica

Thanks also for posting this, Kimberly. I've been experiencing this a lot lately, usually when I get up from lying down on the couch to standing up. I have learned to first sit up for a few minutes instead of going from lying down to standing up to allow my body to adjust. If not, there's always the back of the couch to hold on to till it passes!

That's interesting to note that it's caused by our bodies not being adjusted to our current weight. I guess the heart or circulation is still overcompensating in some way. I hope it does go away.

I should note also that I've had episodes of low blood sugar, the few times I have exercised super hard and not eaten for hours prior - and it feels quite different. In those episodes I feel much shakier, a little nauseous, and it doesn't go away until I eat or drink something. I don't know how else to describe it other than the first type is solely seems to affect my head whereas the low blood sugar feels like it's affecting my whole body.

Did it decrease or stop?  I am 2 1/2 yrs out and still this exact thing. 

This sounds like RHG. Reactive Hypoglycemia. Did you have white carbs or even good carbs about an hour to two hours before you had the dizzy spells? I bet you did. Bread, pasta, rice even sometimes potatoes...All those white carbs do it to me.  I have to stay away from those things completely and go with really good carbs if any at all. I got the book "Hypoglycemia for Dummies." and it explained alot of it to me.

Missus Little: I don't eat bread, pasta or potatoes. I actually had just ate breakfast about 30 minutes prior, which was one egg beater and two turkey sausage. Thanks for the input. Jessica

According to what I've read, sausage might do it too. Some sausage is high in carbs but I don't eat sausage of any kind because the fat content (even in turkey sausage) is just too high for me. But the key is when it happened in relation to when you ate. If your blood sugar drops like that (really low) after you've eaten, you might want to check to see if it's something that makes your blood sugar soar just before it dumps down. That's what your doctor will test and that test is grueling. I hate that one. They have to keep emergency personnel local for me to even attempt it.