Acute lightheadedness...

Posted ,

Today I had an appointment and for the 1st time I had such acute lightheadedness when getting out of the car I had to brace myself against the nearest wall as I thought I was going to faint! I've had the same experience before when getting up to fast, but it always passed very quickly. Today it lasted a good 60-70sec. which seemed like an eternity! It was pretty frightening. Now, I've been home for 45m. and am still feeling shakey and a bit lightheaded still, not like before, but still!

Has anyone else experienced such extreme lightheadedness? I emphasize that as it's not dizziness! Thx.

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  • Posted

    I know exactly how you feel! I have had several experiences where I thought I was going to pass out! It’s really frightening and doesn’t give much notice!

    I put it down to the steroids but I’m not sure!

    It can take a good ten minutes to feel ok again. I must say I feel like I’m on a boat or in an aeroplane most of the time! I asked the doctor to check my ears but they were fine!

    • Posted

      Thx Anne for responding to my post. It's now several hours later and I'm still feeling kinda "weird". Since I hadn't eaten much today, (I had blood work done in late afternoon), I thought maybe that was the culprit. I've now had a light meal and am still not feeling quite right.

      I probably should have also said that my legs felt like noodles, like they could barely hold me up! Not sure what's going on. Since I seem to be having soooo many side effects from pred. I guess for the time being, I'll just chalk it up to that!....lol..only thing other than that would be I've been too involved with USA political scene today..VERY Stressful!!smile

    • Posted

      "USA political scene today..VERY Stressful"...

      What the matter Lynda, don't you like comedy? Apparently the whole world loved stand-up comedy in UN biggrin.  Or is it something else that is bothering you?

    • Posted

      A GIGANTIC yes to that something else!! Ughhh, so difficult to watch the news now-a-days! And Soooo embarrassing! That being said....I probably should zip it right now!smile
  • Posted

    It could be something called postural hypotension,  since you say it happens when you stand up from sitting. You doctor will check your BP when sitting and then immediately after standing. The obvious answer if that is what it is will be to stand up much more slowly - and that is what most doctors say!

    If it happens at other times it could be due to an arrythmia, your heart beating irregularly. Often it will beat very fast for a while and then slow down a lot - and if the gap between beats is too long you may have a similar feeling. I have atrial fibrillation and occasionally have such episodes. Most doctors tend to blame pred - but it isn't always. My a/f is due to the autoimmune part of PMR, I had had episodes of palpitations before, "your age" said the doctor, so it wasn't pred but I didn't recognise it then until after a/f was diagnosed and treated. 

    • Posted

      Thx Eileen, that was good info. I normally do have a rather fast heart rate (100-120) but thus far that's never seemed to be a problem. I have noticed lately tho that my heart's been doing a funny thing, hard to explain but, it every hour or so seems to almost skip a beat or two and then sorta lands with a thud. I know that sounds strange, but like I said, it's hard to explain. It's not painful, just kinda annoying and slightly worrisome.

      Anyway, again, thanks for the info.

    • Posted

      Possibly what most people cause palpitations and much what I feel at times. That's a high heart rate anyway - so maybe you need a monitor at some point to be more sure what is causing it.

    • Posted

      Lynda,

      are you taking any supplements or herbs? Other prescribed medications/ alcohol? Everything we put into our bodies can turn on us. 

      If you live in the US you can check with a pharmacist. I find they are more up to date than some physicians. Not every disturbance is pred but other drugs can interact with it.

      Pred interferes with the absorption of Vit D. I am taking higher doses for reactive airway disease. Our blood level target is 70-80ng/ml( ~200nm/l); after taking D3 for several months around 9,000iu my blood level was only 50ng/ml. I was taking 9-10 mg pred.

    • Posted

      I would guess that it has to do with limited lung functionality due to diaphragm muscle/nerve damage, if I remember from other posts from Lynda. If not enough oxygen then HR goes up.
    • Posted

      Yes, I assumed that too - but whatever the cause, it still contributes to these sort of problems - OH has only one lung and had a high heart rate, pulmonary hypertension and atrial fibrillation, All common in people with a single lung. And some form of management is a good thing to reduce the risk of long term heart failure.
    • Posted

      I awoke a few minutes ago and much to my delight, I had responses from 2 people whom most frequently put a smile on my face....you and Mary!smile First let me say I'm "blown away" by the fact that you remember about my paralyzed diaphragm/lung situation!! I truly thought info like that got lost in the shuffle of pmr. Thank you.

      This all gets so complicated when you have other issues unrelated to pmr. Complicated, worrisome, and just a Royal pain in the tusch!smile

      Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm about to get REALLY stressed out as I switch on my tv and watch the kavanaugh/supreme ct. hearing! Ughhh...Good times!smile sad

    • Posted

      Lynda, can I suggest that you do not watch the news if it has an adverse effects on you!! Why put yourself through all that stress?! 'He' is hardly worth watching and you definitely don't need it!! I don't lobe on yior country Abby i can't even read anything about him and he boils nut blood!! The funny thing that happens with your heart sounds like an etopic beat, it's not a missed beat but usually two beats very close together and that gives this thunk, which can be a bit shocking! I'd say don't worry about it, it could be a thing of nothing but obviously if it keeps happening then get it investigated. Also you might have got such a fright from the lightheadedness that you could have had a rush of adrenalin, which can at times keep coursing around your body some time and result in you feeling funny after an episode, hopefully by now its all calmed down as I hope you have after watching the Supreme court hearing lol😉

    • Posted

      Corrections: I don't live in your country and I can't even read anything about him and he boils my blood!!🤪

    • Posted

      What people don't realize is that there is really not much difference between two parties. They are both owned by different segment of oligarchy. As republicans moved further to the right, dems moved in the empty space to the right of the center. Trump is testing the system to the braking point and I would be surprised if he finishes his term.

      In a mean time it was fun to watch him step out of his usual bubble  and talk to the rest of the world in UN and get appropriate reaction. Just consider this as one of reality shows on TV with reality star in charge. Entertainment is on while embezzlement is going on in the background.

    • Posted

      Lol...

      Yes indeedy, I DID watch the hearing today.....ALL 9 1/2hrs!! Even rescheduled an appointment in order to due so! sad It is almost 4hrs after viewing this 'circus', and I'm still on anger overload! Arggg...Did however acquire a new hero today, Dr. Christine B. Ford! Remember that name, so brave!

      And yes I know I've got to take a break for a few days from the political scene....it's just I Still can't believe this guy's our 'leader' for AT LEAST 2+yrs longer! 😭😭😭

      I can't really judge my health today, I'm too exhausted!

      Thx 4 the information re my irregular heartbeat. Gonna keep an eye on it over the next few days as it's still continues to be acting up.

    • Posted

      Lol...yeah it Was kinda fun watching him get laughed AT and not with! Of course as usual he managed to turn it around and say it was intended as a joke ro get laughs😱.

      Today was a DISASTER and a nightmare rolled into one!

    • Posted

      Spent yesterday with a friend as we had a Remy Marten cognac each and watched Kavanagh. It was rather like a whodunnit as we picked out all the inconsistencies. An enjoyable day! 
    • Posted

      Hi lynda62707

      Don't get embroilled in negative things. You must get involved in activities that are happy and relaxing. Watching all that stuff will make you anxious and low. It's all going to be there whether you watch it or not, and you will hear about it all along the way anyway. Watch funny and happy tv, things that calm you and make you smile. Get into a happy, relaxing place in your day to day life. Preds will make you anxious and low so try and counteract these negative feelings with happy and relaxing things. Relax with a good book nothing sad or horrid. Join friends and have a laugh and a joke. I can tell by your posts you are a bit of a joker 😂....All those negative things will add to the yukkie side effects of preds especially anxiety and stress. No more disastrous days watching things you have no control over and can't do anything about!..Here's to you lynda keep being jolly and your happy jovial self...😁😂🤗

    • Posted

      I agree, Mary.  I used to be quite active in civic matters - the sort of person who wrote to councillors, turned up at meetings, sometimes spoke, networked with my small circle.  One evening two or three months after starting pred I was made aware of a new issue which upset me, I could literally feel myself starting to burn up.  What I did was take an extra mg for a day, then after that, and ever since, I have consciously picked my battles very carefully, avoiding anything I cannot change.  It's self-protection.  Now if there was something life-threatening, or something really important which I felt my speaking up could really help enlighten the decision-makers, I would do so, and I have.  But no more bashing my head against brick walls.  That only hurts ourselves and makes no difference.

      And, yes, I turn off the politicians whose statements will only enrage me.

    • Posted

      Huh???? Have NO idea what you are talking about!!

    • Posted

      That's interesting as I was investigated by Cardiology and have an ectopic heart beat and fast heart rate but nothing untoward. At the moment I am sitting resting because my heart has gone all fluttery and I am on day 3 of reducing to 2.5 mgs by the DSNS method. I don't think my body is ready but I'll be back on 3 tomorrow so it'll be interesting to see if that changes. I find that the fluttery heart is the first sign that it is not enough. I was like that before I was diagnosed. I also realise that instead of resting I have been very busy but I feel so well otherwise. I am sorry for putting this on Lynda's posting but I am not receiving any emails from this forum so I am not sure if the fault lies at my end or if it has been quiet.

       

    • Posted

      No, not been quiet - get onto the forum and use the notifications list at the top right corner of the page.
    • Posted

      Hi Anhaga

      I also realised about 4-6 months on pred that i could not take on anything that was stressful or made me anxious, simply because my body had changed regarding handling anything that caused me anxiety, due to my adrenals being out of action, which afford us the 'fight or flight' ability under normal circumstances. So i made a conscious decision not to get embroilled in troublesome upsetting things when there was nothing i could do personally that would change things, even though i wanted to get involved and help in some way i knew it would not help my situation with pred. It is no good adding to your low, depressed state of mind that is one of the awful side effects of pred. It's like having a broken leg then jumping off a cliff !

      I hope your life is a lot more happier now Anhaga, with no more headbashing that gets us nowhere in the long run when dealing with PMR and preds....👍🤗

    • Posted

      Lynda is busy right now watching the new movie - 40 year old virgin that likes to drink beer, really likes to drink beer. Have you seen that movie? It was on last week, Thursday biggrin
    • Posted

      OMG gene....you are the perfect example of why women have ALWAYS been hesitant to come forward. I am enraged by your comment, tho sadly not surprised!
    • Posted

      You Truly give me Hope! Thank you Nick.....lol, that would make a great movie! Maybe Matt is available!!
    • Posted

      You are the perfect example of why innocent people are in jail.
    • Posted

      Yeah, I saw that. If you don't believe him why do you believe her? I don't believe half of what anyone says. I don't believe anything Ford said. That woman needs to investigated more than Kavanaugh. I guess you believe the other two women also. I am not a Democrat or Republican. I look, and listen, then make up my on mind. I thought I found a good place to discuss PMR. Not so. I guess your right that movie was on last Thursday, and Lynda is still looking at it. While you're looking at it pay attention. I have personally seen what false accusations can do to a person.

    • Posted

      Who is the person who is starting new threads on Politics and Religion and complaining you don’t want such discussions? Why are you going on and on about it then? This is supposed to be a discussion board that helps people to discuss in a friendly manner. 

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