Question about fainting

almostmadeit · March 25, 2011

I am 14 months past my sleeve surgery and have lost 75 lbs and am still losing. My overall weight loss has been slow and steady so I haven't really worried about any negative health effects from losing too fast. Recently, however, I have had a few fainting episodes when I wake up in the morning. My doctor has diagnosed me with syncope and found my blood pressure is dropping significantly from a lying to standing position. She isn't sure if this might have something to do with my weight loss and I am now going to a cardiologist. Has anyone else ever had anything like this? Could it possibly be related to the amount of weight I have lost? I'm trying not to be concerned but it is a bit troubling. Passing out on the kitchen floor is never a fun thing to do.

Tiffykins · March 25, 2011

I was diagnosed with positional orthostatic hypotension last February, and have the same identical symptoms. Increasing fluids, and activity levels help tremendously along with ensuring that my sodium intake is around 2000mg per day. I had cut sodium to below 1500mg per day because I wanted to avoid Water retention, and well I never realized that we need sodium. It's essential for our bodies to function properly.

I still have episodes, but they are manageable, and resolved with increased fluids. My doctors (PCM and surgeon) both explained due to the weight loss our blood pressure receptors have a difficult time adjusting. There is nothing wrong with my heart and it is manageable, but if I drop my sodium and Fluid intake, I have episodes.

Wiggling your legs, bending your knees several times, to get the blood flowing before jumping out of bed really helps. If I sit in my recliner too long in the reclined position and "hop" up super fast, I nearly pass out, and had it's very unsettling. It just takes some practice to get slower, not bend at the waist and pop up super fast, but I've dealt with it for over a year now, and I can go weeks to months without an episode then BAM I'll have several in one day. They are way worse in the morning than throughout the day.