I’m having dizzy moments - can anyone help me to understand why?

[Mustardfan]

I had my first ‘dizzy’ moment about 20 years ago, it lasted 1/2 second. It’s hard to describe, but it was a bit like the feeling in your stomach of when you drive over a hill, only in my head, and lasting for a micro second. I may have had about 3 moments like that over the course of a year, 20 years ago. I can’t remember when I started having more. For the last month or so I’ve been having around 30-50 a day, and they last longer, and kind of run into each other. I don’t generally feel unbalanced when they happen. I am often sitting still, not moving at all, I could be reading. Or I could be walking around. It also now happens when I’m lying down in bed about to go to sleep.

I was diagnosed last year with mild bronchiectasis, I don’t think the dizziness is related to this. When my chest was bad last year before I was diagnosed, I wasn’t having dizzy spells. My lung function is fine and my sats are 99. I’m on HRT patches (everol conti). I don’t think it’s menopause related. I’m in my mid fifties.

I had an ECG last week, all fine except I have a low heart rate, the ECG recorded it as 50, this is normal for me, though I wonder why?

I had blood tests for thyroid, vitamin D, ferritin, electrolytes. All ok.

Has anyone got any suggestions what it could be? I‘m wondering if it could be heart related. I’m fairly fit, I go to the gym most days for a light workout. I went on a walking holiday earlier this year, and was able to do a 3 hour mountainous walk, though I am very breathless doing this. I am breathless walking up a flight of stairs. I weigh 62kg, I’m not overweight. My appetite is normal. I sleep for about 7 hours most nights. I often feel sleepy after lunch and sometimes nap if I’m not at work, or will fall asleep in the car if it’s a long journey.

Thanks in advance for anyone’s thoughts.

Was the feeling constant or did it come and go? And can I ask, did your GP order the tests that for you diagnosed with a tumor? Sorry to hear that you had a brain tumour. I’ve wondered about that for me, but dismissed it as I thought people usually had headaches.

No, I’ve never had a migraine. That sounds tough what happens to you.

Just a thought. It's only very occasional with me, maybe once every couple of years now. I get the headaches more frequently, but not the dizzyness.

We have bradycardia that runs in the family (slow heart rate) and it causes low blood pressure, which causes dizzy spells - quite a few of us are fainters when standing up too fast or standing too long!! Might be something to check?

Yeah positional vertigo or as my mum calls it, “old ladies’ dizziness”. Charming eh?!

@Mustardfan it was intermittent at first but gradually got worse. Laying still in bed was one of my worse positions. My gp referred me to ent as my balance was also affected. This was after being back and forth over a year or so. From there I was referred for an MRI and then to neurology.

OP I'll update you once I've been to the Falls Clinic. I've just moved house so apologies for the delay in reply. I do feel much better at the moment though. I'm still a bit unsure if I stand on one leg, ie to put shoes on, I need to lean on a wall, but the eyeball movement that felt so tender and was making me feel sickly seems to have relieved itself now. I was given Migraine meds to try by a different GP to my usual one about 6 weeks ago but they made no difference so I guess that's now ruled out.

I’d check your pulse rate and make sure you’re not having frequent erratic beats which could show as a slower pulse?

Your pulse being so low rings alarm bells to me. Has anyone ever commented on it?

Could it be POTS ?

If you think it might be look up Dr Gupta, York Cardiology, POTS. There is a lot of information there.

It took years for me to get a diagnosis through the NHS but was eventually discovered at the Falls Clinic.

I had a recent ECG and this was normal.

I’ve got an update on my dizziness: I didn’t think it was related to my lung condition. However two weeks ago I submitted a sputum sample. I bring up sputum everyday and I’d noticed a change in colour. I wasn’t conscious of feeling unwell with a chest infection. I was prescribed antibiotics, and after 5 days of these, my dizziness has virtually gone. Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts on this thread. I hope my experience could help other people. It’s possible to have an infection that is having a big impact on you, without having a raised temperature. I’d also like to spread the word about my lung condition - bronchiectasis. It makes it hard for your body to clear mucous from your lungs, so you have to clear them yourself, daily with exercise. If you don’t do it, the condition gets worse and you get frequent chest infections. I had it for years before being diagnosed.

My pulse used to be lower, around 42. A GP said it was nothing to be concerned about.

I would ask to see a different GP. That is very low IMO

Unless you are an althete it is not normal

I don’t know how I would find out that there’s a problem? My recent ECG was normal. I had an echocardiogram about 11 years ago. That was fine. My dad also has a slow pulse. He’s a fairly healthy man in his 80’s now. Is there anything in particular that you know of that could cause this low heart rate, that would need attention? Thanks.

Firstly I am on Beta Blockers (lowish dose) for Atrial Fibrillation, I just checked my apple watch for heart rate over the last month and it ranged from 35 -120 daily. Just now it is 46pbm and I feel absolutely fine. I don't check it regularly as it would frighten me lol. Docs are not one bit concerned as long as the heart rate increases on activity which it does. I walk around 5km most days and am never breathless or have any other issues like that.

I can get dizzy but very rarely, it only happens if I have to lie back on the GP table for examination. He's used to that, and as long as I'm taking it slowly it's ok. I have stemetil tablets to take in case the dizzyness becomes severe, but I've never had to take them!

I would get it checked by a different GP. Just in case.

Sorry I meant to respond to your previous post. It is very low, just get in checked by someone else just incase would be my advice. Will also relieve ay aniexty. Wish you all the best.

Sorry I meant to respond to your previous post. It is very low, just get in checked by someone else just incase would be my advice. Will also relieve ay aniexty. Wish you all the best.

Could you be anaemic? You mentioned being breathless going up stairs.

is it your ears?
vertigo?

My DH has a RHR of 40. Absolutely normal for him, at 59 he does Ironman comps though, so very fit.

oh sorry i missed your update