Rini
Just a little dizziness...
Apr 07, 2024
It started with just a little dizziness. The year was 2014 just a few years after my RNY. I would be out somewhere walking or working. I could be at home. I could be exercising. I would be hit with a wave of dizziness and vertigo that I had never felt before. It would happen in the morning, middle of the day, in the evening, or even during the night. I spoke with my Mom and since I have a history of low blood pressure she encouraged me to be careful getting up from sitting to standing and also to drink more water. The dizziness didn't occur all of the time and sometimes I could go days without experiencing it. I thought that drinking more water was helping.
At my next PCP appointment, I mentioned the dizziness and thought that it could be due to the stress that I was currently under as well. PCP stated to continue drinking water, rest when I could, and make certain that I was eating. My bariatric surgeon had retired and the practice dissolved not long after I had lost the majority of my weight. I relied on my PCP after this.
I started keeping a journal to see what differences there might be to see if there was anything else I could do to be proactive. I started to notice that dizziness occurred sometimes after a meal or a snack. Sometimes it wouldn't. Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and felt like I couldn't move from the dizziness. I kept thinking it was related to anxiety as I was back in college to continue my education.
The dizziness started to occur more frequently and sometimes I would be driving and would need to pull off on the side of the road. Along with the dizziness started a color change. Suddenly everything would turn blue/white like a camera flash. I couldn't see things. My ears would feel like they were plugged up and the sound was muffled. My heart would race at an extraordinary pace and my hands started to shake. I even had a cardiac monitor for 24 hours to see if it was heart related.
As the symptoms began to worsen I would contact my PCP, have appointments, have my blood pressure checked, and have blood work done. Nothing showed up that would explain what I was feeling. I had eye checks. I had hearing checks. Everything came back normal.
I put up with this until an experience happened that changed everything in the spring of 2015. I was onsite for my schooling when suddenly it hit me so quickly. I heard someone scream and went to help. Only to find I couldn't move as I was on the ground. I had passed out. Someone found me and screamed for help which is what I heard as I was awaking. 911 was called and during the evaluation, they checked my blood sugar. It was 23 at the time of the check. I don't know how long I was on the ground. I was taken to the ER and evaluated. Bloodwork was taken and other checks. I had a slight concussion, but all the bloodwork came back to normal. The hospital encouraged follow-up with my PCP after falling as well.
My PCP did an A1C and it was within normal range at that time. She said that I should be fine. Encouraged me to eat and drink plenty of water.
It started with just a little dizziness, but now I know better. Looking back I was surprised I didn't pass out before I did. I felt close at times while exercising, driving, or in the grocery store. While I am thankful for the weight loss dealing with postprandial hypoglycemia and other complications has been a journey!