HELP! Fainting spells. I could lose my band!

Here are my thoughts... worth everything you paid for them ($0)!!!

The obvious things (you may have already tried) are to start drinking more to see if it helps, and sit up slowly and stand up slowly to try to prevent dizziness.  Make sure you eat enough.  If you exercise, be moderate.  If you have spots in your vision or your vision blacks out upon standing up, you may have low blood pressure (I've had this and heavy exercise made it lower too). 

Keep talking to your doctors until you know what's up!  If the band doesn't work for you after all is said and done it would be very unfortunate, but your health comes first.

I was banded 10/10/07. Since then I have had a few dizzy spells. My doctor finally found out I was having a reaction to some of the medicines I was on, so after a few tries we came up with a better solution.  But I also have a prescription for meclizine which helps with my balance problems when I feel a spell coming on.

Don't have the band removed until you have looked at everything.

I don't know if this has anything to do with your situation,, but there is a RNY lady on the California board . . . who was passing out . . . went to the doctor and he was going to do a revision . . . but it turns out she was NOT taking her vitamins (which can have severe consequences) or drinking enough water . . . are you getting your vitamins in?  And water is a MUST . . . not an option either!

Best of luck and keep us posted!

Chris

I agree! It could very well be meniere's disease..I had this back in my early 30's..It's an inner ear imbalance of the fluids. Go see an ENT..

Im kinda freaked right about now.  I have NEVER had dizzy spells, and 2 times in the last week I got dizzy, once so bad i thought i was going to pass out.  Thank god I was in the car and my hubby was driving, the other I was standing in the kitchen and grabbed the wall. 

I dont understand what removing the band would do to help this.  If nothing else, what about a slight unfill if you are too tight........  Im no Doc, but i dont think i would want to take it out completly, just UNFILL!!!  and see waht happens.

I guess im going to pay closer attention to myself and my fluids, just in case thats the prob.  Please keep me posted to what you find out.

Drinking caffine and only 8 oz of water, sounds like a deadly combination to me.

It's hard to tell exactly what kind of dizzy spells you're having from your note, but please go to a good ENT or neurologist to make sure you don't have something like an inner ear problem.  That can cause sudden, unexpected dizziness severe dizziness that ordinary docs are clueless about.  You can find a qualified professional here:  http://www.vestibular.org/

I had an attack of BPPV (Google it) around Xmas, and if I hadn't had one 15 years ago, I would have been totally freaked out.

I would see an endocrinologist and explain your symptoms and have your autonomic nervous system checked. A lot of autoimmune disorders can result from the trauma of surgery. I have POTS and deal with severe dizziness and nausea.  Up your water intake, try and make it a habit. I truly hope you feel better soon.

I really hope they don't decide to take your band out - that would be a bummer.

I am experiencing light-headedness when I stand up - usually happens several times a day.  I am religious about taking my vitamins and I drink 8-10 glasses of water per day.  I average 1200 calories per day and exercise at least 6 times a week (45 minutes on the elliptical and 30 minute brisk walk outside).  

I have a regular appt with my surgeon in a couple of weeks and will talk to him about it.  I am currently on Atenolol for migraine prevention (it is a beta blocker that is commonly used for high blood pressure) and my prescription has not been modified since I started losing weight (56 lbs so far).  I have never had an issue with my blood pressure and am wondering if now that I have lost weight that maybe the Atenolol is making my blood pressure go a little too low causing the dizziness.   Depending upon what my surgeon says, I might be seeing my PCP to see if we need to change this.

Keep us updated on how you are doing.  I hope things work out for you!

- B

Unless you have an infection with the band or it's too tight to get anything down, I can't see how taking the band out would fix this problem.  It's more likely the change in your diet, weight, and your nerves for the new job & being banded are the contributors.  I agree with the other posters that your medications should be reevaluated.  I only lost 30 #'s so far, but I'm already off my 2 diabetes Rx's and very close to eliminating my blood pressure medicine.  If you are so stressed about your new job that you can't even drink the necessary amount of water, you may just be having a panic attack on top of the physical changes caused by the band.  I would investigate carefully before jumping to the radical move of another surgery.  Calm down, be logical, and good luck!