dizzy spell

[farmgirl]

Hello everyone!

Just had a question for you. This week I had a really bad dizzy spell. The room was just spinning. It came on all of a sudden. I had to hang onto things, so that I would not fall down. Then, I broke out into a horrible sweat. I was just drenched.

I went to the emergency room and they checked me out. The only thing they could find out was that I had a low potassium. He said that I had experienced "vertigo" and he had no reason for why it happened.

Has anyone else experienced this? I had a carbomedic mitral valve put in almost two years ago.

Thanks for listening. Diane

 

[JimL]

I had an experience like that, but it was only a few weeks after surgery. I had quite clearly overexerted myself, and could barely sit in a chair while the room was spinning around me and I was trying hard not to pass out entirely. I rested a few hours, and was fine, and tried not to overexert so much. But this may have absolutely nothing to do with what you experienced....

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Diane..

Looked at your profile. Have them check your Lanoxin (Digoxin) level. This should be done every six months if your on that med. If you have too much in your system it can be an issue.

 

[farmgirl]

Thank you Jim and Gina for your responses.

Jim, I was at work when this happened and I was probably overexerting. It was a very busy day and I was constantly doing something. We had just returned recently from vacation too, so I suppose I was tired out.

Gina, I know my cardiologist is concerned as I had a low potassium about six months ago. Not as low as this one. He said at the time he did not like to see that with the lanoxin.

I spoke to my family doctor this week too and updated him. He did not think it was the potassium that caused it. But, he said to let him know when the next one happened. I do not want to do that again. He said he would run some more tests and put a holter monitor on then. I hope this doesn't happen again.

I thought at the time I was having a stroke. I was really relieved when I started feeling better.

Thank you again for listening. Diane

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Funny you should mention that Dianne!

I had a similar experience a couple of months ago and went to the ER after throwing up my dinner. I thought it was food poisoning but the ER doc suggested getting a work up from an ENT doc.

Sure enough, dizzyness and profuse sweating can occur if the Inner Ear gets unbalanced. This can be caused by several different types of imbalances including fluid levels, and probably electrolyte levels as well.

I was told to restrict alcohol, caffeine, salt, sugar, and to go on a mild diuretic regularly (as opposed to Lasix as needed which had been my protocol).

My ENT Doc gave me SEVERAL handouts on Dizzyness, Balance, Meniere's syndrome, and Diet. It sounds like you may want to visit an ENT. I learned a LOT about the interaction of the Inner Ear, Outer Ear / Hearing, and EYES. Interesting stuff...

BEWARE of the Hot and Cold Air blown into your ear test! That one can cause your world to spin out of control and everything comes up (at least it did for me)

'AL'

 

[farmgirl]

Thanks Al for the information. That is really interesting.

My mother-in-law has had trouble with inner ear problems and said she was so dizzy. I never realized that she meant DIZZY!

Thank you for the warning about the hot/cold air test. It is good to know about that.

I had Lasix added to my regime, along with Maxzide, a few months ago, so maybe I had some fluid issues that caused it too. I did not realize the inner ear was sensitive to those kinds of things.

Thanks again. Have a great weekend. Diane

 

[Marguerite53]

Hi Diane,

I read Al's response with curiosity. As a young adult I had a long bout with an inner ear infection. I was pretty sick and very dizzy for well over a year. I didn't think my world would ever get right again. Every time I leaned over, wham, the world would spin. It was with me so long that I truly learned to adapt. As you are muddling throught this for an answer, two things pop into mind. Drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated. If you start to sway and think you're going to fall over, think of the olympic gymnasts when they land off of on an apparatus. They always bend their knees to regain their balance. If you do that, bend your knees just abit, you can catch yourself and stabilize. Of course, hanging onto a table or chair helps too!!

Just a thought. Hope it all gets figured out for you and that it isn't anything serious.

Marguerite

 

[Abbanabba]

I've had similar symptoms from not having eaten (..especially when I've been busy and have forgotten or haven't had time..) and I feel immediately better as soon as I eat something.

From the other responses you've had, it could be just about anything though, so if it happens again, be sure to note what you've been doing/eating or how you've been feeling in general prior to the event.

All the best
Anna : )

 

[farmgirl]

Thank you Marguerite and Anna,

You offered some very helpful advice. So far, no reoccurance of the dizziness, so things are going well. I am sure that different factors all came together. Sounds like it is not too serious, for that I am grateful.

Thanks for your replies. Have a nice day. Diane

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Dianne,

Did your doctor also prescribe a potassium supplement (usually 20 mEq) with your Lasix? Lasix will cause you to expell potassium with your urine and can lead to an electrolyte imbalance or deficiency if you don't get enough supplemental potassium to replace it.

There are also some "potassium sparing" diuretics. My ENT recommended "LOZOL" which I need to look into and clear with my cardiologist / coumadin clinic just to be on the safe side.

'AL'

 

[farmgirl]

Hi Al,

I was taking 10meq of potassium twice a day. They increased it now to 20 meq twice a day. I am going to have my potassium checked again later this week.

The ER doctor didn't really think that was the problem, but I can't help but think it didn't help. My cardiologist was concerned earlier when it was low. He said "that bothers me when you are on lanoxin". I have been with my cardiologist many years and trust him. You know, maybe I should just give him a call and let him know after all. Can't hurt, right?

Thanks for the reply. Diane