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

Having an issue that's very bothersome...



Recommended Posts

A bit concerned. I sent a message to my PCP and haven't heard anything back yet.

I've been having some major issues with dizziness, to the point of nearly blacking out for the past 2 weeks or so. I had blood work done on Thursday and my Iron, B12, and A1c were all checked and the results came back that all are normal. Not low normal but right smack in the middle normal. My bp was 105/63 (I average between 104/60 - 108/68). Glucose was 97 and A1c was 5.0. My b12 was 717. My iron was 53. So very normal.

Does anyone else have this issue? What could this be, and how can I fix it? I make sure not to get up too fast, I get 7-9 hours of sleep per night. But this seems to happen when I get up from either laying or sitting or when I stand for too long. My blood work came in today, so I'm hoping to hear back from my doctor tomorrow since I didn't today.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Orthostatic hypotension or postural low blood pressure. Your blood pressure drops on standing or sitting up because your blood pressure is low it takes longer for the blood to get back up to your head on changing position. Hence the dizziness & narrowing of your vision (if you get that too). I get it all the time. I can even get it if I stretch up to get something from a high shelf like at damn supermarkets.

Keep hydrated, which you would be, get up slowly & then wait 10-20 seconds before moving. Some say pumping their legs or rotating their ankles before standing helps but it doesn’t for me. I was on a med for low blood pressure for a while but it didn’t help. I just live with it. Do try to grab for a table, chair, wall or even person if it happens just to ground me for those few seconds until everything stabilises. Sometimes I’ll bend over (head at waist level) so the blood gets back to my head faster.

I always had a tendency for this (low blood pressure runs in the family) so the only surprise was the frequency of it since my weight loss.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted (edited)

i used to get that in the early days/months of wls. it got better as time went on.

my doc called it orthostatic hypertension and is apparently a common condition during rapid weight loss and even just after a surgery (wls or not). but my blood pressure readings were always on the low side...not normal like yours.

are u eating less than normal? i do recall u just had a recent surgery...did it start after that?

p.s. at the time my doc said to add more salt to my diet...which was fine by me cuz i love salt 🤷🏻‍♀️

Edited by ms.sss

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted (edited)

I had this issue about a year out from surgery and had a complete workup because it could be due to many things - orthostatic hypertension, inner ear imbalance, low blood sugar, even a UTI. In my case, everything from my workup came back completely normal, so they were baffled. But a couple weeks later, I was at a retirement party and ate a piece of cake. A whole piece - not just my usual one or two forkfuls. About an hour or two later - dizzy. Very dizzy. I told my PCP. She suspected reactive hypoglycemia, sometimes known as "late dumping". She said to try eating something about every three hours - a Protein. Or if a carb, then pair it with a protein. I haven't had that issue in a long time, so in my case, that was likely the culprit. It's just that my glucose level might have been normal when I was there for the workup; thus, they didn't catch it.

In your case, it could be one of those other things mentioned, too (orthostatic hypertension is pretty common - although that tends to hit pretty early out from surgery - although that could definitely be the culprit, too..)

P.S. I just re-read your post. Since it seems to be happening when you're standing, sitting, etc - then it sounds like it might be orthostatic hypertension in your case. Hopefully you'll get some answers soon!

Edited by catwoman7

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Orthostatic hypotension or postural low blood pressure. Your blood pressure drops on standing or sitting up because your blood pressure is low it takes longer for the blood to get back up to your head on changing position. Hence the dizziness & narrowing of your vision (if you get that too). I get it all the time. I can even get it if I stretch up to get something from a high shelf like at damn supermarkets.

Keep hydrated, which you would be, get up slowly & then wait 10-20 seconds before moving. Some say pumping their legs or rotating their ankles before standing helps but it doesn’t for me. I was on a med for low blood pressure for a while but it didn’t help. I just live with it. Do try to grab for a table, chair, wall or even person if it happens just to ground me for those few seconds until everything stabilises. Sometimes I’ll bend over (head at waist level) so the blood gets back to my head faster.

I always had a tendency for this (low blood pressure runs in the family) so the only surprise was the frequency of it since my weight loss.

This is exactly what happens to me. Thank you!!! I use to be on meds because my bp was high. So this is completely new to me, and frankly, it freaks me out. High bp runs in my family, so of course when I asked some of my relatives about it, they had no idea what I was talking about. They all kept saying "check your blood sugar" but those numbers were literally perfect. Thank you so much for this. I feel like this fits me to a tee.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, ms.sss said:

i used to get that in the early days/months of wls. it got better as time went on.

my doc called it orthostatic hypertension and is apparently a common condition during rapid weight loss and even just after a surgery (wls or not). but my blood pressure readings were always on the low side...not normal like yours.

are u eating less than normal? i do recall u just had a recent surgery...did it start after that?

p.s. at the time my doc said to add more salt to my diet...which was fine by me cuz i love salt 🤷🏻‍♀️

I had a total abdominal hysterectomy 5 weeks ago, but I was never put on a special diet so I just ate what I wanted. I still eat 3 meals and 1-2 Snacks per day, like always. But the Orthostatic hypotension sounds exactly right.

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

    • rinabobina

      I would like to know what questions you wish you had asked prior to your duodenal switch surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • cryoder22

      Day 1 of pre-op liquid diet (3 weeks) and I'm having a hard time already. I feel hungry and just want to eat. I got the protein and supplements recommend by my program and having a hard time getting 1 down. My doctor / nutritionist has me on the following:
      1 protein shake (bariatric advantage chocolate) with 8 oz of fat free milk 1 snack = 1 unjury protein shake (root beer) 1 protein shake (bariatric advantage orange cream) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein bar 1 protein shake (bariatric advantace orange cream or chocolate) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein soup (chicken) 3 servings of sugar free jello and popsicles throughout the day. 64 oz of water (I have flavor packets). Hot tea and coffee with splenda has been approved as well. Does anyone recommend anything for the next 3 weeks?
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        All I can tell you is that for me, it got easier after the first week. The hunger pains got less intense and I kind of got used to it and gave up torturing myself by thinking about food. But if you can, get anything tempting out of the house and avoid being around people who are eating. I sent my kids to my parents' house for two weeks so I wouldn't have to prepare meals I couldn't eat. After surgery, the hunger was totally gone.

    • buildabetteranna

      I have my final approval from my insurance, only thing holding up things is one last x-ray needed, which I have scheduled for the fourth of next month, which is my birthday.

      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BetterLeah

      Woohoo! I have 7 more days till surgery, So far I am already down a total of 20lbs since I started this journey. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done! I'm 9 days away from surgery! Keep us updated!

    • Ladiva04

      Hello,
      I had my surgery on the 25th of June of this year. Starting off at 117 kilos.😒
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Congrats on the surgery!

  • 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

    ×