Dizziness

[Southmead]

Hello fellow sufferers,

Just wondering if anyone else has encountered this. I'm experiencing giddiness upon standing up, and the bouts of fatigue seem to be lasting longer. II've never had the giddiness before, my heart and lungs have all been checked out, and everything was normal.

This is new one for me..

Thank You

[Merryfield]

Standing up too fast? Need to drink more water? Low BP? Salt deficit? Vertigo? There’s help for some of these. Does dizziness abate quickly? If not, sounds like it’s doc time again. Fatigue seems to be a norm. About 2 pm, I am shot. By 4 pm, I am shaky. Need 1-2-hour nap nearly every afternoon. Good luck on dealing with dizziness. Are we having fun yet?

[Southmead in reply to Merryfield]

The "fun" never stops does it

[SnazzyD]

What dose are you on now? If it happens just at those times it sounds like a postural drop in blood pressure. Low cortisol is known for making blood pressure drop and it sounds like it doing that when you stand up. As Merryfield suggests you could also have a low salt (sodium) level which is another effect of low cortisol. Fluid intake is really important too. You need to see the doctor so perhaps check again and no a blood test for electrolytes for starters.

[Southmead in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you, I'm currently no 5 mg of Pred, staying on that trying to nod the adrenals into doing some work. It's odd as all the BP signs, etc are all good. As you say it would appear to have something to do with adrenals..

[PMRpro Ambassador]

This relates to the dose of pred you are at. You have been asking about adrenal questions, you know your adrenal function is poor. That often has an effect on the blood pressure and if it is low, changing position suddenly can add to that. It also causes fatigue - and the lower you get with pred, the worse the fatigue usually becomes.

Your BP may be varying over the day - have you got a BP cuff? Check it yourself a few times a day and also sitting and standing if you can, get someone to help you. Keep your fluid intake up and rest should also help.

Postural hypotension, as it is called, has a range of underlying causes and while poor adrenal function is one possibility for you, it is also a penalty of aging. This is a good leaflet:

cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/steadi-b...

[Southmead in reply to PMRpro]

Thank You Very Much!!

[Lafontainepam1 in reply to PMRpro]

After having PMR for over 12 years and dropping to 5 for the last year it’s still difficult to have much energy anymore, 74 in September so aging has so many surprises!🤦‍♀️

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lafontainepam1]

Tell me about it!!!! Only been this low once before in 14 years. I could walk further then though - but that was 6 or 7 years ago I think!

[Lafontainepam1 in reply to PMRpro]

PMR is cruel! People think we look normal and can do as they can, work outside for hours, clean your house, mop the flours, vacuum! With nerve damage in my right foot, I cannot walk like I use to, I so miss walking like a normal person, sooo very much! I know their are people way worse, but it certainly is giving me a hard time😎

[Southmead in reply to Lafontainepam1]

I understand exactly, people say to me, "you look well" Whereas I'm quietly feeling like death, perhaps one day and I live i hope that I can regain some normalcy..

[Lafontainepam1 in reply to Southmead]

I pray we all do💕

[Southmead in reply to Lafontainepam1]

Unfortunately for the most part, not good surprises..

[Southmead in reply to Lafontainepam1]

Unfortunately for the most part, not good surprises..