Dizzy Spells

[jimrh]

I had been suffering brief dizzy spells for several months. They were brief (3 to 5 seconds) but felt like I was fainting. Talked to several docs suggesting that beta blockers or ace inhibitors or ARB's might be causing dizziness.

No progress determining the cause. No help to reduce dosages of BP meds.

Eventually, I got potassium-depletion via diarrhea, and that evening was having lots of dizzy spells. When I collapsed at 9:30, we decided it was time for emergency hospitalization. Seems that the dizzy spells were being caused by my heart missing several beats in a row. They gave me a pacemaker that night (first a temp, then a permanent after the coumadin wore off). Now I feel a lot better.

Moral: don't ignore dizzy spells. I nearly died.

 

[Karlynn]

I'm glad you were able to find the cause without something catastrophic happening and that there was a good solution. Best wishes!

 

[Mary]

I had been suffering brief dizzy spells for several months. They were brief (3 to 5 seconds) but felt like I was fainting. Talked to several docs suggesting that beta blockers or ace inhibitors or ARB's might be causing dizziness.

No progress determining the cause. No help to reduce dosages of BP meds.

Eventually, I got potassium-depletion via diarrhea, and that evening was having lots of dizzy spells. When I collapsed at 9:30, we decided it was time for emergency hospitalization. Seems that the dizzy spells were being caused by my heart missing several beats in a row. They gave me a pacemaker that night (first a temp, then a permanent after the coumadin wore off). Now I feel a lot better.

Moral: don't ignore dizzy spells. I nearly died.

Jim,
I was having many dizzy spells before undergoing replacement. Mine were caused by the flecks of calcification originating from my aortic valve.