I thought I'd add one more post to this long list of medical posts that seem to be appearing recently.
About a year ago, I started having dizzy spells. Like when you stand up too fast, but worse- I would black out, lose feeling in my arms and legs, pass out, that sort of thing. And it wasn't just when I stood up too quickly, I could be sitting, standing, walking, it didn't really matter. THe doctor monitored my heart rate for a full day with one of those little machines that you wear on your chest(and BOY was that thing painful to take off). He though my heart might be skipping, but nope- everything checked out normal. In other words, he had no idea what was wrong.
The spells stopped for a while, but they're back now, in full force. Today I reached out my arm to get a glass of the counter, and my arm went limp and I couldn't see anything. A few seconds, the feeling passed, all was well with the world.
I'm sick of bugging my parents about this. My family doctor doesn't know what's wrong, and we don't have the money to go see a specialist or go to the hospital. ANy ideas?
And before you ask, I haven't had headaches or any other kind of problem.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I frequently have the same symptoms when my blood sugar drops to fast or gets too low.
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
They tested that, too, and it's normal. They said there's nothing wrong with my blood, heartrate, anything having to do with that. They even tested for diabetes, and nope, I'm healthy, except that I keep passing out. Ugh.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I think Boon was talking about it getting too low temporarily -- as in when it's been too long since you have eaten. I know sometimes it's hard for me to be sure to eat properly some days.
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
Trust me, I eat. A lot. Too much, and I've been trying to cut back. Maybe that's it... could caffeine withdrawal do it? I haven't had coffee or pop in a while...
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
But do you eat real food -- fruit, veggies, protein -- or junk and soda? The latter will make your blood sugar rise and dip many times a day. Which can cause exactly the symptoms you describe, I believe.
As can dieting, especially drastic dieting.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
The worst bout of it I ever had was one time in my teens when I had, like, nothing but sugar for breakfast. Orange juice, donuts, etc. Then, a couple of hours later, crash! Out like a light.
Went to the hospital and everything, doc said I was fine, blood sugar a tad low but okay, everything...but not to EVER eat that much sugar without some protein ever again.
I'm not diabetic...I just have to be more careful than some to make sure I eat protein with sugars.
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
I eat real food. My favorite foods are apples and green beans. I've been cutting back on the junk, trying to lose weight. I used to drink a pop every day, now I don't even buy it anymore. Same with M&Ms. Mostly I've just stopped eating that stuff, except on occasion when it's a special treat, like after I found out I made Honor Band, I treated myself to half a bag of M&Ms.
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
Oh, and I don't think I could live without ingesting Chicken and beef.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
How much water are you drinking? If you were used to getting your liquids from soda (a bad idea in any case), I hope you are replacing that with water (or juice, or milk). Dehydration can also cause some of those symptoms.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I have nothing useful to add, except commisseration. I didn't much like the sticky pads for the Holter monitor either. I had my roommate yank them off for me. I still have marks, and it's been a month.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Yep, I've been through that, too. I had low blood pressure and it always got worse when I had my period. Unfortunately, when I was a teenager, that was about 80% of the time. Is there any correlation with your period?
Another comment on the halter monitor - and yes, I've had that done, as well - the results will depend on the equipment being used. If the equipment has 15-second averaging, then it won't notice spikes or dips that happen to fall between the 15 seconds that were tested. Halter monitors with 2 second averaging catch a lot more. (When I wore the halter monitor for 24 hours, it didn't catch my apneic events, for example, despite the fact that, while asleep, I stop breathing for anywhere up to 4 minutes 23 seconds, and my heart rate jumps from 40 to 160 or higher.) That test is not foolproof by any stretch.
Your doctor may not know what kind of equipment the testing company used, so he may not be aware of possible problems with the test results. If you can find out, I would suggest that you do so.
On the other hand, it's also possible that there are regulations in place in whichever state you live in regarding this type of equipment that doesn't exist where I lived (British Columbia), so for all I know, this isn't a concern. Either way, though, I would find out.
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
My doctor gave me the testing equipment himself. Eaquae Legit, forgive me if this is inappropriate, but those thing are a bit mroe painful if you're female, if you know what I mean. *grimace*
I've been trying to drink a lot more juice and water- my grandparents live in Florida, and every Christmas they send us a big crate of oranges that we juice. Storebought stuff has NOTHING on fresh squeezed Florida orange juice *licks lips*
I'm not sure if it has anything to do with my period; I never really noticed it. It could get worse when I have it, but I know there have been quite a few times that I passed out that had nothing to do with bodily cycles.
I'm stumped.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I can't really make suggestions without knowing more or seeing your labs etc, but I often order "tilt table" testing on people with frequent fainting such as you describe. It tests for neurocardiogenic syncope, and it is more common in young women. Or repeat Holter, during symptomatic times. Or an event monitor, worn for up to a month, if the fainting can't be caught on the Holter.
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
What IS neurocardiogenic syncope?
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Is there any correlation with your period?