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Original poster

Constantly lightheaded - experienced, diagnosis?

43 replies

Anonymousxo · 23/10/2021 16:49

Hi everyone, I'm just looking for some advice and maybe if anyone's been through this and what the outcome was - I have had near fainting spells and palpitations for a few months now and it's very debilitating to say the least, it scares me when I leave the house I worry I'm going to faint, I was initially referred to the balance clinic with an upcoming appointment very soon however doctors are 90% this has nothing to do with my ear and potentially could be my heart, so I have been referred for a 24 hour ecg with a very long waiting list :/
I bought a Fitbit recently and my resting heart rate is very low reaching 45bpm and my walking heart rate is extremely high going to 150/160.
I don't think I have pots as when I stand up my heart rate does not increase more than 30bpm the most it has increased by is 25 and that only happened once out of the 5/6 times I tried it, I really thought it could have been pots but it's very clearly not so now I'm back to stage 1 with 'what's wrong with me?' It's such a miserable thing to have and I'm just looking for any experiences or anyone who has experienced this? I'm 26 years old for reference.

OP posts:

Original poster

Anonymousxo · 24/10/2021 08:04

@Justilou1

I definitely think a cardiology appointment is a good idea. It might be orthostatic hypotension. (Fairly benign but annoying condition, but can signal other underlying issues) or it could be something else.

They told me if the ecg comes back normal then they will refer me for further investigation, don't know why they don't just put me on the waiting list now as I will basically be referred either way, it saves me waiting so long but it is what it is

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Original poster

Anonymousxo · 24/10/2021 08:04

@WLAH

What vit d levels like? I had very similar symptoms when mine were extremely low

I think my vitamin D is fine, I did have Vit D deficiency last year but since then it's been pretty stable in the normal range

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Ancientmale · 24/10/2021 08:13

Sodium levels? A few years back I finished up in A&E and put on a 24 hour saline drip because of that. On another occasion GP advised drinking only about 1.5 litres of water a day, not the 2.5 I was advised to drink to help my water works (as they're so delicately called!). Advised a handful of crisps a day - didn't fancy that so now grind up salted peanuts and sprinkle on my homemade muesli.

Couldhavebeenme3 · 24/10/2021 08:24

I have very low BP that always goes up when I'm in A&E, what was yours? Caused me countless problems when I was younger, particularly on standing and I passed out about 10 times.

And what was your TSH? I've recently started medication as mine went up to 14.9, last blood test was 10.9 so heading in the right direction, but still lots of palpitations.

Original poster

Anonymousxo · 24/10/2021 08:28

@Ancientmale

I never thought my salt intake would be an issue, I am a fan of fried chips and salt so I have that now and again and I'm a crisp lover too, I think I could probably drink more water than I do but I've never felt dehydrated or had any signs of such I don't think anyway.

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Original poster

Anonymousxo · 24/10/2021 08:29

@Couldhavebeenme3

I have very low BP that always goes up when I'm in A&E, what was yours? Caused me countless problems when I was younger, particularly on standing and I passed out about 10 times.

And what was your TSH? I've recently started medication as mine went up to 14.9, last blood test was 10.9 so heading in the right direction, but still lots of palpitations.

I'm not sure they didn't tell me they were just going through my results and mentioned it quickly then went on to the other part of my results, they never told me the numbers but my tsh level was 2 over the normal range, so not particularly high at all but slightly raised

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Couldhavebeenme3 · 24/10/2021 08:34

See if you can find out the numbers, even slightly elevated levels can make you feel lousy.

Justilou1 · 24/10/2021 08:36

@Anonymousxo - I have known that I have orthostatic hypotension for years. (I feel wobbly when I stand up, and have been known to pass out on hot days. My heart starts to climb instead of slow down and sometimes feels like like it’s going to beat itself right out of my chest when I lie down at night to go to sleep. Not relaxing.) I live in Aus… Hot happens a lot, and while I’ve never handled it well, it’s much worse now.) Two years ago, I dislocated my thumb and as a result, I was also diagnosed with a medical condition that has postural tachycardia (POTS) as a symptom. I had to see a cardiologist a couple of months ago, and had the fun stress test and tilt table experience. I should add that although I am almost 50, I’m not overweight, I’m fit and look after myself. I am very careful with my diet, etc. I assumed that the cardiologist would confirm what I already knew (Very low BP and POTS.) and I would walk out of there feeling smug. They discovered that the right side of my heart is significantly enlarged, two of the three leaflets that stop the blood flowing backward through my aortic valve when my heart beats are fused and leaking, so I will need a valve replacement in the next year or so. Pleased we found out this way, because I am in danger of an aortic aneurism otherwise.

Upsky · 24/10/2021 11:43

I had this about 4 years ago. It eventually turned out to be a form of SVT, a heart rhythym problem. Started off as constant dizziness /light headed, almost but not quite fainting. Then palpitations.
I had an ecg followed by a stress test. I take calcium channel blockers which keep it under control unless I am ill. (Covid set it off temporarily).

I have always had dizziness on standing up (my mother had it, as do DC - it seems like it runs in the family). This was different.

Original poster

Anonymousxo · 24/10/2021 14:46

@Upsky

I had this about 4 years ago. It eventually turned out to be a form of SVT, a heart rhythym problem. Started off as constant dizziness /light headed, almost but not quite fainting. Then palpitations. I had an ecg followed by a stress test. I take calcium channel blockers which keep it under control unless I am ill. (Covid set it off temporarily).

I have always had dizziness on standing up (my mother had it, as do DC - it seems like it runs in the family). This was different.

Sounds very similar, mine started after a viral infection which put me in hospital, it wasn't covid I was tested multiple times but it turned into a nasty chest infection - it started on the last day of my anti biotics and hasn't gone since :/

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Upsky · 24/10/2021 16:21

My worst attacks have always been when I have a virus of some kind.

Original poster

Anonymousxo · 24/10/2021 16:23

@Upsky

My worst attacks have always been when I have a virus of some kind.

I get this every single day without fail, I can't stand for long else I will faint, it's horrible. I had this virus a few months ago now and since then I have not had a normal day

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crapatthis1 · 26/10/2021 17:29

I get this. It only ever started last year when I experienced major stress and I started getting heart palpitations.
But now it can happen when I'm chilling, relaxed and not remotely triggered. Once I had it pretty much all day and legs were numb and tingly and when I got up from lying down and bent down to pick the cat up I felt really light headed so I rang 111 and they advised I go to hospital. I did, all checks came through fine but doctor said that this was only a snapshot of what they can see.
I've since spoken to my GP and they want to take blood tests and possibly 24 hour ECG.
They said could be caused by a number of reasons like anaemia or thyroid.

Original poster

Anonymousxo · 26/10/2021 17:42

@crapatthis1

I get this. It only ever started last year when I experienced major stress and I started getting heart palpitations. But now it can happen when I'm chilling, relaxed and not remotely triggered. Once I had it pretty much all day and legs were numb and tingly and when I got up from lying down and bent down to pick the cat up I felt really light headed so I rang 111 and they advised I go to hospital. I did, all checks came through fine but doctor said that this was only a snapshot of what they can see. I've since spoken to my GP and they want to take blood tests and possibly 24 hour ECG. They said could be caused by a number of reasons like anaemia or thyroid.

I've had bloods and all have been normal except a slightly raised tsh level but this apparantly wouldn't be causing my symptoms. I personally think it's something so simple like a blood pressure issue but because doctors aren't seeing people right now as they should be it isn't diagnosed, I feel so faint and get a head rush feeling every single day without fail it's miserable

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WLAH · 27/10/2021 07:33

Where you checked for Addison disease?

Original poster

Anonymousxo · 27/10/2021 07:45

@WLAH

Where you checked for Addison disease?

No??? I'm not sure what that is but if it was would it be every single day without fail for the last 3 months? I haven't had a break with this :/

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dizzydizzydizzy · 27/10/2021 12:51

I haven't read all the posts but have any of
The doctors mentioned PPPD? It's surprisingly common and surprisingly little known about amount doctors- my GP had never heard of it. Also anxiety. Could you be anxious?

Original poster

Anonymousxo · 27/10/2021 13:49

@dizzydizzydizzy

I haven't read all the posts but have any of The doctors mentioned PPPD? It's surprisingly common and surprisingly little known about amount doctors- my GP had never heard of it. Also anxiety. Could you be anxious?

Anxiety wouldn't cause this 24/7 even when I am out for walks or at work I get it and it's every single day without fail...funnily enough I don't get it when I'm laid down. I also suffer from palpitations and I'm being investigated for heart related issues atm (my heart rate was raised when it was last checked both times so they think it's a big possibility) I have heard of pppd but I hope it's not because what I am experiencing is very debilitating and I would at least want treatment so it would go away :(

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