Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

I ended up in the emergency room today after my lightheadedness and vision loss (vision going black) rapidly progressed after the past 3 weeks. It's a little fuzzy when I sit, but when I stand, I get very, very dizzy and my vision goes dark and I get some confusion. After a ton of tests (labs, ekg, chest xray, urine, orthostatic BP tilt test) ,and a consult with my bariatric surgeon, I was told I had orthostatic hypotension. The surgeon's office said that some people develop this after rapid weight loss and I can try adding salt to my food to raise my BP.

Does this get better? Has anyone experienced this? No one told me this was a possible effect of the surgery. I've already had an ulcer, hernia, and gallbladder removal and now this. It's pretty scary because I have to hold onto the wall and stuff sometimes when I walk, and I am afraid I may get dizzy while driving. I just had some heavily salted mashed cauliflower but still feel off.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would think it may get better when your weight loss stabilizes. Maybe try adding a sugar free Gatorade daily.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would think it may get better when your weight loss stabilizes. Maybe try adding a sugar free Gatorade daily.
I drink one daily. My electrolytes are fine. Even my sodium was in the normal range, although on the low end.

I am scared this is permanent. I had NO health problems before surgery and now I've had so many. I think I officially regret this choice. I start with my trainer next week and I am nervous I will be very dizzy doing intense exercise. I also haven't lost any weight in 7 weeks now, despite the high ketone levels and the surgeon can't figure out why. I hate this.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Unfortunately some people do have issues have surgery, it is why they make us sign the informed consent form.

Hopefully yours resolve with time so you do not regret your decision, but it seems too early to tell.

Maybe some of these problems will resolve and then you’ll feel better.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

One of the possible side effects of rapid weight loss after undergoing weight loss surgery is orthostatic hypotension or orthostatic intolerance. These terms describe a significant drop in blood pressure upon standing from a seated or reclined position. Drip in blood pressure causes a decrease in blood flow to the brain. There are several studies discussing this after RNY gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. However, this can also be an issue post Duodenal Switch. The process is still not completely understood but can be due to several factors. Rapid weight loss, sympathetic nervous system dysfunction, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, thyroid issues, cardiac issues, post prandial hypotension (blood pressure lowering after meals due to blood flow shifting to the gut) or medications are all suspected as possible cause for orthostatic hypotension.

Source: https://www.dssurgery.com/orthostatic-hypotensionintolerance/

Prior to weight loss surgery I had high blood pressure and I was taking 2 types of prescription meds for that condition. A few weeks after surgery, this condition went into remission and I stopped the medication. If you are in a similar situation, perhaps a readjustment or elimination of your prescription may be in order.

Also meeting your daily Fluid requirement is very important and if your body gets dehydrated, it can cause this problem.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yep, I had this. Adding salt to my food helped.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

One of the possible side effects of rapid weight loss after undergoing weight loss surgery is orthostatic hypotension or orthostatic intolerance. These terms describe a significant drop in blood pressure upon standing from a seated or reclined position. Drip in blood pressure causes a decrease in blood flow to the brain. There are several studies discussing this after RNY gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. However, this can also be an issue post Duodenal Switch. The process is still not completely understood but can be due to several factors. Rapid weight loss, sympathetic nervous system dysfunction, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, thyroid issues, cardiac issues, post prandial hypotension (blood pressure lowering after meals due to blood flow shifting to the gut) or medications are all suspected as possible cause for orthostatic hypotension.
Source: https://www.dssurgery.com/orthostatic-hypotensionintolerance/
Prior to weight loss surgery I had high blood pressure and I was taking 2 types of prescription meds for that condition. A few weeks after surgery, this condition went into remission and I stopped the medication. If you are in a similar situation, perhaps a readjustment or elimination of your prescription may be in order.
Also meeting your daily Fluid requirement is very important and if your body gets dehydrated, it can cause this problem.
I did not have hypertension and was on no medications for any comorbidities. I've always had great BP. I feel like I drink a ton during the day now. My electrolytes were normal, which is weird. I'm going to add salt to food now and see what happens... I REALLY hope this goes away because I just started yoga again, which I've been waiting to do for so long, and I feel very dizzy.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Unfortunately some people do have issues have surgery, it is why they make us sign the informed consent form.
Hopefully yours resolve with time so you do not regret your decision, but it seems too early to tell.
Maybe some of these problems will resolve and then you’ll feel better.
I am trying to stay positive... I just feel very beat down over the last 4 months for little "reward". I feel much less healthy than I did before. Sure, I'm a pants size down but whatever. I've missed over a month from work due to complications, and as soon as one resolves something new happens. It's just so discouraging. You never hear about the bad things that happen to people, only the positive things.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This is a thing for me at the moment too. I measured my BP (sitting) and it was 108/61. Pre-surgery my readings were in between 120-130/80-90.

I just think my body needs to get used to being at a lower pressure, but in the meantime imma get up from chairs a little more slowly.

Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The orthostatic hypotension is not unusual with rapid weight loss, and is one of several ramifications of your body still trying to function at your old weight when there is substantially less of you at hand - we often feel cold for the same reason, that the body is still trying to cool what is no longer there. These things do improve over time, though it may be a year or two. In the meantime, as the docs and others suggest, more salt, lots of fluids (non-alcoholic), and also exercise is also a common prescription to "keep things pumping"

On the exercise front - this should improve things, but let your trainer know that you have this problem so they can watch for it. Also, another side effect of the rapid loss is that your heartrate will likely be lower, at rest and in activity, so if the trainer is pushing to achieve some specific heartrate to indicate some level of exertion, (often it is 80+% of a theoretical maximum rate) their measurement scale may be skewed and they may push you harder than they should. When I was 2-3 months out, I noticed that exercise (brisk walking short of a jog) that used to get my heart into that 80% zone (140-150 for me at the time) would barely get me over 100; even today, years later, my resting pulse is low, often 50 or below, and doctors/nurses unfamiliar with me will question it (yes, it's normal) though my BP is normal to a touch high.

So, the exercise should be OK, but let them know and don't let them push you too hard - your cardiac system may have excess capacity, but you may be evertaxed elsewhere.

Your ketone levels have little to do with whether or not you are losing weight. They are in indication that you are burning fat. but that can be ingested fat as well as stored fat. If you want to burn your stored fat, you need a good caloric deficit, and it matters little what style of diet is used to accomplish that - low fat, low carb, Keto, paleo, Atkins, whole 30 or whatever it may be. I used a relatively high carbohydrate diet (by Atkins/keto standards - 100ish g/day) and lost quite rapidly - because of the fairly high caloric deficit; ketones were there in the blood tests because I was burning my fat stores, but those readings weren't a goal.

The high fat/low carb type diets a la keto and paleo are popular these days, but the high calorie levels that often accompany them can sometimes make weightloss difficult. Clinically, high fat/low carbohydrate diets are often prescribed to avoid or minimize weight loss after a non-WLS gastrectomy, so if you are trying to use such a diet for weight loss, you have to keep a close eye on calorie levels.

Being four months out, you should still be fairly restricted in you eating volume so that you should still be losing at a reasonable pace, but if you are ingesting too many calories by "eating around" your wLS - drinking calories or very high calorie foods - then you can see low or no loss at this point.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites



The orthostatic hypotension is not unusual with rapid weight loss,... .


Such an informative and helpful post!

Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have had issues with this myself. I had pretty low blood pressure even before surgery, but it is really low now. Adding a bit of salt has helped, but I just have to be aware of when I stand up. Sometimes if I feel the dizziness come on, I will bend over for a second and that seems to resolve it. I have had it so badly a few times that all I saw was black and my legs began to give out. That hasn’t happened in a while, but it was still scary.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Had this after Baby#2, went to answer front door because my pastor had come for a visit, nearly swooned into his arms.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This is a thing for me at the moment too. I measured my BP (sitting) and it was 108/61. Pre-surgery my readings were in between 120-130/80-90.

I just think my body needs to get used to being at a lower pressure, but in the meantime imma get up from chairs a little more slowly.

Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app


Yeah my normal BP has always been in the low 100s over the low 70s. Now it's in the 80s over the 40s. My braaaiiinn.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Bashbee91

      Hey guys new to the process looking forward to this new life. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Bugg

      Hi everyone! I’m brand new here. I just went through all my pre-op requirements per my insurance company and now everything has been submitted and I’m just waiting for final approval and my surgery date. I’ve been doing research, watching YouTube videos, TikTok’s, ect.. trying to prepare my mind and what to expect so I’ll be ready for the surgery. I was so sure and so set and so ready and excited. However, now that I’ve done everything & it’s almost here, I am sooooooo scared! I know why I want it bc I’ve tried everything and I just don’t feel like I can lose weight by myself. I’m tired of being overweight my entire life. I’m miserable, but I keep psyching myself out afraid of GERD bc I know how that can be and I don’t want to have to get a bypass after already gaining the courage to even get VSG. I’m scared of complications like I’mgoing to regret doing it and be depressed that I didn’t just be more disciplined and try again to lose the weight on my own even sitting here typing this knowing in my mind i just can’t and don’t possess the discipline. I’m also afraid I won’t be able to handle the restrictions of the sleeve. What do I eat? I don’t know how to eat healthy really and don’t enjoy healthy food. I don’t know how to do this! I feel so defeated!Someone tell me they felt anything similar to this or am I not ready? I thought I was. I am so tired of being sick and tired and so tired of myself and so tired of being stuck and stuck in this body and somebody different on the outside from what I feel inside. I just want to ball up and cry.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • buildabetteranna

      over 20 lbs down since4 the pre surgery diet and surgery on the 14th
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        Yay!! Congrats. I know how good that feels. 🤩

    • Jenopolis

      Had a sleeve in 2017, lost over 100 pounds. Had a DS surgery this year (2025) for more sustainable weight loss. 🤞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • buildabetteranna

      The 14th was my day. I am home and recovery is going pretty smooth. They even let me walk out of the hospital. Picture of me in recovery curtesy of my boyfriend lol. 

      · 3 replies
      1. DaisyChainOz

        Glad it went well!! Wishing you a speedy recovery and wonderful success!! 🤗

      2. buildabetteranna

        Thank you ❤️

      3. Selina333

        Neat you have a pic of this day! I was sooo happy to get my surgery. It was well worth it! And I'm not even near my goal. I had surgery Dec. 2!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×