Permanantley light-headed

[lovesaruby]

Currently 22+4. Passed out at a wedding a couple of weeks ago but put it down to standing around and not eating. Since thursday Ive been feeling dizzy and light-headed like Im going to faint again and nothing eleviates it. Rang midwife who wasnt that bothered and told me to go in Monday for bloods. Dh not happy with that as I had a mini-stroke 5 yrs ago and he likes a worry so we trotted off to see my accomodating gp who done bp, urine and blood sugar all of which are normal. Is the only thing left now causing this my iron levels? This is just not right, I feel drunk, have a 5 and a 3 yr old to occupy and daren't get in the car and go even to the shop The nurse who did my finger prick said it could just be hormone levels causing it and I may have to live with it!? Anyone else had anything remotely like this?

yes me - when i was expecting DS I almost passed out in a jewellers shop, was with a friend who sat me down, and ran off to get me a mars bar - which helped. After that I made sure that I always carried water and some food with me just incase.

I have this feeling a lot, and passed out a couple of times with dd2. With me though it was low bp, and I just have to be prepared that if I feel spacey, I try to find somewhere to sit, and will eat and drink something. I find it much worse if I go from one temperature to another, especially hot baths and if I stand up too fast.

I also had low iron levels with dd2, and this time (I'm 28 weeks pg with dc3) I have taken Spatone withorange juice every day, in the hope of not having to take iron tablets.

Good luck with your tests.

I had the light-headed feeling when pg with DS1 and had very very low blood pressure but also my iron levels were borderline. I'd suggest seeing if they can check your iron levels. Sorry you're feeling like this. It's no fun, especially with other children to look after.

Thank you for the responses - iron levels are what they are checking when they do bloods on Monday. As its not low bp or low blood sugar, eating and drinking doesnt make it any better. Im worried that if its not iron levels Im going to be stuck like this walking around like Ive drank several large glasses of wine not daring to do anything incase I land in a heap on the floor!

Could the ongoing woozy feeling be labyrinthitis? Have you had a cold or ear infection recently. I often have inner ear problems following a cold and it makes me feel drunk too. Was the faint a one off?

Do you know what MadameCheese - my dh said the same thing earlier. I have only actually fainted the once and have had a blocked ear for several weeks - been meaning to get it syringed. Its actually okay now and Im not in any pain in my ear but perhaps thats the answer. If my bloods are clear and Im stil feeling like Im on a boat then Ill go back to the dr and suggest it. Thank you all!

I past out in Sainsburys at about 9 weeks (ironically in the alohol aisle!). The GP then said it was all my hormones sorting themselves out. I'm now 35+5 and get on/off dizzy spells which he now blames on the weight of baby pressing on veins, reducing blood flow to my head. Nice . I do find lying on my left side with my legs propped up and a (generous) helping of choccy biccies seems to help, but it can take a good 1/2 hr to feel normal again. I totally sympathise

Also you could quite easily have normal bp when you're sitting in the surgery having it taken, but then have sudden 'rushes' of low blood pressure that could make you pass out.

I had labyrinthitis recently and would have described this exactly as the feeling you get when you've been on a boat. Also struggled to concentrate and everything aroudn me felt unreal - it was horrible!

I also have low bp and this makes me light headed at times, but it's more a feeling like you're goint to faint. I've been advised to keep hydrated, which is good advice in pregnancy anyway.

You're not anxious or stressed are you? Over-breathing (which is associated with anxiety) can make you feel light-headed.

Feeling a little better this morning - instead of it being a constant feeling I seem to be having little bursts of it this morning and Dearprudence, it is like when you disembark from a boat - yesterday the kitchen seemed to be swaying all around me. It seems to be worse if Im concentrating too - I can feel it now sitting at the laptop. Im in the habit of drinking 2 litres of water a day (pg or not) so I know its not a hydration issue and Im not stressed (or not anymore than usual!) infact its annoying as Ive been feeling so well up until now. Not alot else I can do until they get my blood results back. Those of you who've had it, did they prescribe you anything for the labyrinthitis or has the infection ran its course and cleared up?

Glad you're feeling a little better . Yes, just like being on board a boat, feeling the floor on the move constantly! There are drugs that can help with vertigo which are predominantly used for sickness, I doubt they can be taken during pregnancy though.

This might not be quite relevant , but whilst I was at my 28 week antenatal appointment I was feeling dizzy so i lay down for midwife to take my bloods. She left me lying on the couch to go and get the phlebotomist as I have useless veins, and as I was lying down i was just feeling worse and worse and closer to fainting. I tried to pull my self out and passed out. Midwife had a big panic as she seems the worrying type, and sent me to delivery suite to be monitored as there was no space on the antenatal suite.

Everything was fine and it was due to low blood pressure and borderline iron levels. They also suggested the extra bloodflow in pregnancy often causes dizziness and fainting in pregnancy and just basically told me to be carefull.

Anyway after waffling on, the point I was trying to make is that lying on your back can supposedly make you dizzy/light headed and faint. This is because in this position the baby can press on major blood vessels restricting the flow of blood to your head. Which is why it's always best to lie on one side or at lest try and tilt yourself slightly.

Hope you are feeling better and get this sorted out as it's miserable being told to put up and shut up!