Dizzy spells

Hi guys,

Hope you're all having a nice weekend.

I'm doing great, down 72.8 Lbs at 11.5 weeks out. I'm walking, riding my bike, and swimming. Everything is good except I get dizzy spells sometimes.

I'm usually OK if I walk or bike on even ground, and swimming is fine. But if I walk up stairs, or try to walk or bike up even a slight incline, I get so dizzy.

The first time it happened I assumed I just hadn't had enough calories for bike riding that day, but it happens even when I've had all of my protiein/water for the day. I'm not dehydrated, I get all of my water in. I get all of my protein in. I stay under 50 carbs per day; usually under 35 carbs per day. Not sure what is causing this. One day it was so bad I had to get off my bike and sit on the ground with my head down until it passed.

I wonder if swimming is fine because I'm basically lying down while swimming, lol?

Has anyone had this happen, and if so, how can I fix it? I see my doctor on May 5th so I'll ask him about it then.

Thanks,

Kathy

Are you taking medication for blood pressure? You may have to have the dose adjusted. Low blood pressure is fairly common after WLS. My doctor told me to up my sodium intake and that seemed to do the trick for my dizzy spells. Since we start eating healthy foods, and we eat so little after surgery. we end up deficient in sodium. Salt everything. Start eating pickles or drinking a little pickle juice ( it helps with leg cramps too).

Also remember that 64 ounces of fluid is the minimum required amount daily. I drink 120 ounces to feel good. You may need to up the fluids. Everyone's "normal" for fluids is different. You may think you are not dehydrated but your body may need more to function well.

Don't mistake dizziness for "lack of calories". Your body is storing plenty of fat to burn for energy. You don't have to work about adding calories for energy until you are under weight... and most of us never get to "under weight" status.

Your heart is a pump. The more you weigh, the harder it has to pump to get blood to your head. It is going against gravity. The blood goes down to your feet and then gets pumped back up.

With weight loss the pump does not have to work so hard and gets a bit lazy. When you climb stairs or go up an incline it needs more pressure to get the blood to your head. You get dizzy because it your brain is not getting enough blood pumped to it. They call it light-headed.

This all adjusts after a few months. It was bad for me at about four months out from surgery, then corrected itself. So the doctor. If you are on blood pressure medicine that may need to be adjusted.

Rocky and White Dove hit the nail on the head. Low blood pressure is common in the first year after surgery. The term is orthostatic hypotension, and it can be tested easily. Take your BP lying down, sittig up, then standing. Each one minute apart. If your BP drops each time, it's orthstatic hypotension.

I passed out a couple of times from it, but only because I was stupid about it. Otherwise, it isn't dangerous. Drink, drink, drink. More salt and electrolytes. Get up slowly.

Thank you so much, everyone. I do take a water pill, not for blood pressure, but for water retention. I don't take it every day, but maybe it needs to be adjusted. I'll ask my doctor about it.

It is an awful feeling; it's like when I was little and used to spin around, and then stop suddenly and watch the world keep spinning. I actually stagger around sometimes, lol.

I'll try to up my fluids to see if it will help. I do salt my eggs and meat, even though I shouldn't because of water retention. I love pickles and haven't tried them yet. I'll see how I do with one tomorrow.

Thanks again.

Kathy

Agree with the others. I have low blood pressure. I drink 3 litres of water a day, so my pcp told me to up my salt.

Hi Kathy.....

I had my surgery 17 years ago. I lost over 135 pounds. In the past few years, I have been getting dizzy and lightheaded. It has been determined that I have neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. My bp plummets and my pulse goes way up. The cardiologist checked out my heart and that is fine. Three doctors think it has to do with my vagus nerve that was possibly altered during surgery. The vagus nerve can not be repaired. The most frustrating thing is that my episodes are inconsistent and sporadic. I have not been able to determine what causes the episodes. It is something I have learned to live with.

Susan

had it bad at first. was the worst doing yoga when i came from a down position fast. doesn't happen much now though.

After my bypass and so much weight loss (nearly 200lbs), I suffer from chronic low blood pressure which results in frequent dizzy spells. I'd suggest having your blood pressure checked and making sure you stay hydrated (which I'm still terrible at!).