Anyone have dizziness issues?

Jaffe
on 6/3/12 10:07 pm - PA
VSG on 03/19/12
Orthostatic hypotension. If you are on the low end normally, then quickly standing or hot shower and bath will lower it more.

  HT:  5' 7"    HW:  249   ConsultW:  238   SW:  218   Preop Loss:  20
  M1:12  2:11  3:7  4:7  5:8  6:8  7:7  8:3  9:0  10:3  11:3  12:4  13:0  14:4  15:
       

Mom4Jazz
on 6/3/12 10:10 pm
Orthostatic Hypotension

Happens to me when I get up from reclining or sitting with my feet up/legs crossed.

Your heart got used to your previous weight and probably higher blood pressure and the muscles thickened. Now, with your lower blood pressure, it's not compensating quickly enough when you stand up or suddenly get warmer and isn't changing pressure quickly enough to get blood pumping to your brain.

Good news - it's not serious. Just get up slowly and be aware in the shower.

Highest weight: 335 lbs, BMI 50.9
Pre-op weight: 319 lbs, BMI 48.5
Current range: 140-144, BMI 21.3 - 22

175+ lbs lost, maintaining since February 2012

rhearob
on 6/3/12 10:11 pm - TN
 I can't cite a source, but I recall reading before my surgery that WLS patients often experience positional hypotension during and after weight loss.  I was having a lot of troubles at about the 3 month mark - that's when my PCP took me off my BP meds.

I still have some issues occasionally, especially if I have been sitting for a while and start moving quickly.  My resting BP is usually around 115/70 - so not too much higher than yours.  I was going to mention it to my PCP at my semi-annual visit in August.  There are meds for it, but in my case I doubt it would be worth it.  In jyour case since you are actually passing out it may be a consideration.

_____________________________________________________________________
 160 lbs lost. Surgeons Goal Reached in 33 weeks.  My Goal in 37 Weeks.

VSG: 11/2/2011; LBL+Thigh Lift+BL: 10/3/2012; Brach+Mastopexy:  7/22/2013

scalewarfare11
on 6/3/12 10:22 pm
VSG on 08/22/11 with
I actually did a blog post about this exact same topic last week (I think??)  Like you (ACBBrown) I workout a lot, typically medium to high intensity 60-120 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week.  I also naturally have lower blood pressure, even 110 pounds ago, my blood pressure ran on the low side. 

I talked to my PA at the surgeons office about the dizzy spells and she started asking me about my workout routine and how much I was eating.  She was shocked at how far off their plan I had gotten (I was trying my damndest to stick to the 800 calories or less and
Blog: http://adauntingtaleofscalewarfare.com
Surgery Date:
8/22/2011
with Dr. Moazzez of Blue Point Surgical Group
    
fran67
on 6/3/12 10:26 pm - NJ
VSG on 03/08/12
I had a dizzy spell last night for the 1st time so I'm so glad to see this post this morning that I'm not alone.

   
  4' 11" HW 218 SW 214 Original Goal of 125 in 8.5 mos Lowest Weight 119 CW 133 Trying to get back in the 122-128 range 

    

Sherri B.
on 6/3/12 10:31 pm
I haven't had any dizzy or passing out spells since pre-op, but then it was related to low-blood sugar. This was generally because I hadn't eaten anything or enough (trying to diet). The last spell I had was the night before surgery at the hotel. I had been on a doctor ordered sugar free clear liquid diet for 7 days at that point (I lost 25 pounds in those 7 days) and I got so weak and could feel myself fading away. I laid down and my mom got me some apple juice and then I was fine.
I haven't had anything like that after surgery though and I was on clear liquids for a week after surgery, too.

      
USAF Wife
on 6/3/12 10:41 pm
I was diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension at 8 months post-op. Treatment was more fluids, more sodium (I admittedly had cut salt intake way down to stop water weight bounce on the scale), wiggling my legs before getting up out of a reclined, lying down or even sitting position. I, now, have chronic low BP, even in pregnancy my BP runs 90/50. I've had cardiac evals, eKgs and all sorts of diagnostics performed to rule out other contributing factors since I was a phen fen queen back in the day.

They tested me by taking my BP lying down, then sitting up quickly, resting in the sitting position for 10 minutes or so, and then having me stand up quickly. There were major drops between the numbers from each positional change. More than 10 points for either number was the "magic" number. My BP was never high nor low pre-op, always 120/60-65.

I have very few episodes, but they came back with a vengeance during my last pregnancy, and lately my BP has been running in the 85/50 range. My OB wants me to be a bit more active, and now I have to drink 120ounces of fluids per day. Like I'm not running to the potty enough as it is lugging around Nugget who is fond of kicking my bladder, now I've got to get in 30-40 more ounces of water!

It's scary as hell for me since I'm home around 8-9 hours alone with Tot. I really have to be mindful before jumping out of the recliner or out of bed these days.
Band to VSG revision: June 3, 2009
SW 270lbs GW 150lbs CW Losing Pregancy Weight Maintenance goal W 125-130lbs


acbbrown
on 6/3/12 11:25 pm - Granada Hills, CA
 Thanks for this - I actually did cut out a good amount of sodium from my diet in the last 4-6 weeks, so maybe there is some correlation there. 

The first thought that popped in my head was some Wendy's fries drenched in salt :-p  Maybe i'll start eating some beef jerky again and get a xanax for the anxiety this is causing me!!


www.sexyskinnybitch.wordpress.com - my journey to sexy skinny bitch status

11/16/12 - Got my Body by Sauceda - arms, Bl/BA, LBL, thigh lift. 


HW 420/ SW 335 /CW 200    85 lbs lost pre-op / 135 post op
  
~~~~Alison~~~~~

 

USAF Wife
on 6/3/12 11:39 pm
On June 4, 2012 at 6:25 AM Pacific Time, acbbrown wrote:
 Thanks for this - I actually did cut out a good amount of sodium from my diet in the last 4-6 weeks, so maybe there is some correlation there. 

The first thought that popped in my head was some Wendy's fries drenched in salt :-p  Maybe i'll start eating some beef jerky again and get a xanax for the anxiety this is causing me!!


I had been having the episodes for about a week or so. I finally broke down and went to my PCM after a trip to WalMart. I had bent over at the waist to get something from the bottom shelf, and from behind me I had a grumbly, rough voice go "ummm hmmm" (like this yummy growly noise), I popped up and started staggering, and grabbing for the cart (not a good idea since it has wheels) grabbing the shelves and this wiry, old man who was missing 3/4 of teeth and had a Jack Daniels stench said "it's too early to be drinking" had me in his arms around my waist. I called my PCM from the parking lot HA.
Band to VSG revision: June 3, 2009
SW 270lbs GW 150lbs CW Losing Pregancy Weight Maintenance goal W 125-130lbs


EliseG
on 6/3/12 11:41 pm - MA
You've already gotten great advice, just wanted to chime in with my experience. I haven't had this happen post-op, but there was a period of time in high school where I really wasn't eating much. I would pass out in the shower almost every single time, got some pretty awful bumps and bruises but never went to the doctor for it. Finally what ended up helping me was having some type of caloric intake before taking the shower. I don't know if it even medically makes sense, but maybe a protein shake before the shower? I hope it gets resolved soon!

    

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