What does suffering from "dizzy spells" actually mean?

[FinnyStory]

Is it that feeling when you stand up too quickly and go a bit woozy or is it more than that?

I've been getting it a lot. Every time I stand up I have to hold onto something momentarily while it passes, whether I stood up quickly or not.

I've always ad blood pressure at the low end of the scale but not low enough that anyone's been concerned. I also have a very low resting heart rate (about 34) but when I've mentioned it to GP he seemed to think I was ridiculous to think it was even worth a mention.

However, the dizziness is getting worse and actually becoming quite inconvenient!

Just one of those things or back to the GP?

Sorry, I should have said I'm 50 and very fit, which I realise is relevant to the HR but it's still unusually low.

Er no. Vertigo is not a slight woozy feeling. It’s being unable to stand up and vomiting if you try. It’s being unable to open your eyes because the world is spinning. It can last days. It means surrendering your driving license. It can end your career. What you are describing sounds mite like low blood pressure

I didn't ask about vertigo?

You asked about dizzy spells. I too associate dizzy spells with vertigo.

I have dizzy spells where I faint but only for 5 seconds so come to just as I am hitting the floor iyswim.? As opposed to when I've fainted and woken up 15 mins later whichbis more blacking out. Also have had low pressure my whole life so am VERY prone to this.

Could be iron? I’ve just had a course of iron tablets as was very low and often even when sitting it would feel like the rug had been pulled from under my feet or like I was on a fair ride.

Maybe check your BP again? Are you on any other medications? Get your ears checked too.

Some medications may have side effects that can cause dizzy spells. Or it may be an internal ear problem.

Can you describe the sensation? Is the room spinning or when you stand is it fuzzy?

I've only ever fainted once in my life, imeadiately after giving birth, having lost a lot of blood. The sensation is like that was just before everything went black. Like the room's spinning

I had this and I actually fell over in the shower after bending over to wash my feet. The whole room was spinning!
It turned out I had an ear infection.

Dizzy spells means different things to different people - as you have discovered on this thread

The first thing your GP would do is find out what your dizzy spells mean to you and take it from there as there are many many different causes of dizzy spells.

What you are describing is definitely worth discussing with your GP.

Have you had your BP checked in sitting/lying then again immediately on standing? There is a condition called postural hypotension which means your BP drops by a certain amount when going from lying or sitting to standing. Can cause feelings of being light headed or dizzy and in severe cases causes you to pass out.

It is simple to check and if appropriate can be treated with medication (depending on cause). Might be worth asking your GP or practice nurse to check for you.

Dizzy person here.
I have had vertigo which is very different to fainting type dizziness. With vertigo your head spins even when you are sitting down. It can be viral or it can be ear related.
I have also always suffered from dizziness on standing up quickly, in fact it runs in our family. DC will leap up and keel over. Probably a combination of being tall and lowish blood pressure. I don't faint often now but used to in my teens.
I have also had episodes of general dizziness which seem to come on after an infection and can trigger SVT (rapid heart rate).

Your HR sounds extremely low but if your GP isn't concerned I would rule that out. It does sound to me much more BP related than ears. I reckon back to the GP.

I've experienced headaches and dizzy spells, starting in December last year. The headaches were daily and constant, annoying like a light hangover but paracetamol and ibuprofen were having no effect. The dizziness would come on like the room was spinning - sometimes when I was just sitting down, other times when moving. A very strong sensation, like the whole world was shifting, made me feel nauseous and panicky.

I'm late 30's and overweight after my second baby but blood pressure fine, nothing abnormal on the blood tests and no history of headaches or dizziness previously. Diagnosed initially with sinus infection and given antibiotics. Made no difference; after 3 more visits (as it was affecting work and home life) I was prescribed Amitriptyline 10mg, with a possible stress headache diagnosis. I've also been ensuring that I take daily vitamins with extra vitamin D and had a private course of Osteopathy.

After about 4 weeks of treatment both the headaches and dizziness were hardly there apart from a hormonal headache once a month, and the odd eye strain headache caused by WFH.

No idea what actually caused or fixed it but so glad to be free of it! It was dreadful. Hope you get it sorted.