Fainting spells

[Sean L]

I have a question for you who have gone through this before. After getting up from sitting and walking two steps I have been having fainting spells. I have never fainted but if feels like I will but I never do. This doesn't happen all the time but maybe about 2-3 times per day. I mentioned this to my cardiologist and he said to drink more fluid.

The thing is that I have been drinking a lot of fluids. Is this just a process of healing from AVR. I also have a pacemaker in me so I know my heart is at least beating 60 times per minute.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Sean L

 

[aussigal]

Could be your Blood pressure meds need adjusting...or you need to adjust to them....try to remember to get up slowly and see if that helps. I get the same dizzy feeling if I jump up out of a chair after I have been still for awhile.

 

[Freddie]

My first guess would be BP meds if your on any.

I too experienced fainting spells while on PB pills and was soon taken off them - one has to decrease the dosage slowly so your body can adjust.

 

[Bina]

Post op I was on BP meds, often felt faint, dizzy, etc. Several months later I was able to lower my daily dose somewhat and feel much better. I'm still careful though, and get up or lie down slowly. I have a BP monitor at home ($70) and that is a huge help.

 

[Dina]

If your only symptom is dizziness(?) then I agree with what has been
said. And this is common if you are taking BP meds. They call this
orthostatic hypotension , since low blood pressure occurs when you
stand up or change positions too fast.
Wishing You Well, D

 

[Smiley2000]

I have the same problem. My BP was 87/55 today. I see "white spots" in front of me and I feel very dizzy (face warm, ears ringing) when I get up from a sitting position.

Have you had your iron levels checked? after any surgery it is common to become aneamic and that would make you feel faint.

 

[sknydave]

Yep. I have this from the metoprolol + my heart rate is normally low without it. My heart rate drops so low when I'm in a relaxed position it will happen often if I get up quickly.

 

[briansmom]

More than likely it is your meds, but please also have your pacemaker interrogated. My son was having dizzy spells right after surgery and pacemaker and we realized that his pacemaker was not working correctly. His T or P waves are very big and it was reading those as a heart beat and only pacing him on every other beat. We went to the hospital and they reprogrammed his pacemaker and then he was fine.

 

[TomD]

Dizzyness

Dizzyness

I am now 13+ weeks since AVR and I also get dizzy spells when I do things like leaning over to tie my shoe or get up qickly from the couch. My blood pressure is typically 125/70 so I am not sure it's low blood pressure. I am on Diltiazm for heart rate and suspect that may be a factor. I see my cardio guy in about 4 weeks and hope to go off all meds and then see what happens.
Will report back then

 

[Magic8Ball]

yep, bp meds (i refer to mine as beta blockers).

I can't remember what i was taking immediately post op but i had this all the time. When i spoke to my cardio I got changed over to 'Bicor' which didn't give me the same problem.

Kinda concerned your cardio just told you to drink more.

My cardio said (i paraphrase) "these med's cross the blood/brain barrier and affect people in different ways"

Different types of beta blockers should be tried to find you one that doesn't react and cause you dizzyness.

I was initialy on 2.5mg a day and am now on 1.25mg a day....i went to 1.25mg every other day but had racy heart beats so am back to 1.25mg a day.

Thing is, you could be on these meds for a long time (me 18 months going) so its important to get one that doesn't affect you with the dizzy spells.

Good luck.

 

[hensylee]

call your dr and report it. my brother had the same and there is a name for it (but I forget what it is - someone else will drop in and tell us). It wasn't his bp med because he wasn't on any. His dr said that when he stood his blood could not process to the brain quickly enough and he'd nearly pass out.

bp meds certainly can do it. My dr mistakenly rxed a new one for me but it was a double dose and I nearly passed out a couple of times. Not funny at all. Disturbing when you are outside and nearly fall down.

 

[ken36]

Could be your Blood pressure meds need adjusting...or you need to adjust to them....try to remember to get up slowly and see if that helps. I get the same dizzy feeling if I jump up out of a chair after I have been still for awhile.

X2

Happens every day. Slow down. Don't get too hungry. What do I know?

 

[Sean L]

Thanks for the information. I don't take blood pressure meds.

 

[Cooker]

I have this from time to time.....in fact it happened Tuesday night.....I was sitting in the barber chair and started to see stars....didn't last long......then again could have been the stylist trimming my hair