[tweetybyrd2009]

I have been getting dizzy alot lately and wonder if I am possibly getting dehydrated or something. Anyone else have a problem like this?

[DocSanae]

Dehydration can be the cause, but what about anemia? How are you VB12 levels, your hemoglobin levels, your ferritin and serum iron levels? Since your dizziness seems to be frequent, you should consult either your surgeon or your PCP about it.

[tweetybyrd2009]

Thanks Doc. I called my usrgeons office and they are having me get labs done. They also told me to increase my water and get some salt in my diet. It sounds weird to have a doc tell you to increase salt intake but I will do as they say. Thanks again for the support.

[DocSanae]

You do need to keep your salt in balance. Since the average meal usually includes more than enough salt, you are told to cut the salt down, but with ppl like you, WLSers, your food balance and intake has been drastically changed, so it's quite possible that you may even lack salt. Good thing you're getting lab work soon. Thyroid issues, too, could cause dizziness. On the other hand, not to scare you, but there's always the possibility that it's unrelated to WLS, like part of the menopause symptoms, and others, but the first thing is to get the blood lab work done, then go from there if nothing turns up.
Hope you feel better soon.

[fr1endly2]

SOUNDS perfect to get your labs checked out and gone over.

FROM what i hear ( and yes i experience it too), its a total mystery
for some of us that get the dizziness. I was also checked out and my blood work is fine it can be so many things. I know the dizziness i get
is when i stand up to fast. I just deal with it and medically there has
been no reason for it...I do, however, add a few more healthy carbs in my
eating when i get it and find it helps some.

GOOD luck and keep us posted
cause we have a joke at my support
meetings that this is the mystery dizzies
and there is no explanation on it.

[DocSanae]

Fr1endly2, if the dizziness you get is when you suddenly stand up, or sit up after having lain for a while, or even with any sudden change in body position, for the matter, and there's nothing wrong with your labs, blood pressure, everthing, then it's probably due to orthostatic hypotension (otherwise known as postural hypotentsion). You can get this even with normal blood pressure, because it the dizziness comes from a sudden drop in blood pressure with the change of positions. In Japanese, the lay term for this "brain anemia."

There is a simple test that can be done to see if this is a cause. After having lain on a bed (exam table) for 10 minutes, your blood pressure is taken in that position. Then you are told to stand up, and raise the cuffed arm to heart level, and the blood pressure monitored for 10-15 minutes. The blood pressure meter has to be at the same level as the cuff for the measurement to be accurate and the diagnosis is made with a drop in pressure of 20 or more.

In your case, and in the cases of other losers as well, if nothing else has turned up, it probably is from the sudden weight loss, and the change in your abdominal pressure--you no longer have a lot of weight that exerts a lot of pressure on your organs, so the pressure from the outside that kept the blood vessels from spreading to their full capacity allowing more blood to flow through is gone, and the blood vessels, mainly the aorta and the vein that goes into the liver, has to adjust to this new conditon. This can be temporary, or you may have to deal with it the rest of your life, because your body can't quite align there, and also, the ppl suffering from this phenomenon increases beyond middle age. In any case, the way to prevent this, is to stand/sit up slowly.

Sorry this has gotten long, and I hope you can understand my long-winded explanation!
Whew!

[tweetybyrd2009]

Thanks Friendly2 but mine is not only when I stand but I can be walking and have it hit me at any time. I have gotten so dizzy I just fall down and even hit the bathtub with my head and got a nice goose egg. I get the kind from standing too fast too but this is different. I will get the labs and see what happens from there.

[fr1endly2]

OH goodness Terri definitely more then im getting.

PLZ keep us updated on this. SO hard being many
things can trigger dizziness


DOCSANAE! thanks for the information on this many in
my support group experience your reply is going to be
printed up and shared!
thanks bunches and bunches for the information
and it does make sence

[FemmeMode]

Doc...thanks for all the great info...
I'm getting a little of what Lisa discribed too...
I had a bunch of test last week at my week one check-up...everything is normal...but started feeling the dizziness around 3 or 4 days post op.

Now...when I stand...and moving around a bunch...kinda weird. My surgeon says it's normal after surgery...so I'm assuming that it will go away. But now after reading Lisa and Terri...I'll keep a watch on it!

Thanks...

[tweetybyrd2009]

I finally got my results from bloodwork back and everything is fine there so I am off to my regular doc tomorrow to see what else could be causing this dizziness cause it is still with me all the time.