Light headedness

[Cooper27]

I'm having one of those "when to see the doctor" moments.

I keep feeling light headed every time I stand up. It's been happening for 3.5 weeks, I think it started when we had a really hot few days, but has persisted now the weather is cooler again.

How long do you need to feel like this before it's worth seeing the doctor?

I've checked my own blood pressure (112/65), my calorie intake is alright (1400-1600 ish), water intake around 2-2.4L a day.

[Emyloulou]

Can you take your blood pressure when you stand up as well? In a healthy person it should go up but sometimes it drops and this could make you feel lightheaded.

Either way if it’s been going on for over 3 weeks I’d make an appointment. Being anemic also makes me feel like this x

[Cooper27 in reply to Emyloulou]

I think it would be hard to time it just right for when I stand up?

I'll see if I can sort an appointment with the doc. I doubt it's anemia, my iron levels have always been up at the top. I do wonder if there are other deficiencies that can cause it though...

[bantam12]

Proper way to check for orthostatic hypotension is lie down for 3 minutes then take your BP, immediately after stand up for 2-5 minutes and take it again, a drop of 20 mm in systolic and 10mm in diastolic indicates OH.

I have it but my symptoms increase after about 10 mins of standing up.

[Cooper27 in reply to bantam12]

Thanks for this! We have a decent quality cuff at home, so I've tried this. My systolic dropped 15, so it's not too bad, but I don't know what a normal drop is to compare.

I'll try it again tonight, and go to the doctor if it's still going on later this week.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

See from your other posts you recently started LCHF diet.....if too low carb...that might be a problem

[Cooper27 in reply to SlowDragon]

I dunno, the light headedness started before I cut back on carbs, by about a week. I maybe shouldn't have started a diet change feeling this way, but it wasn't the trigger that started the light headedness, or I'd have made the connection. I've not really had any withdrawal symptoms from the switch, but I was moderate carb before, so it's not been a huge change for me...

[HLAB35]

Just a couple of ideas for you to explore...

Lightheadedness can be a symptom of low Magnesium. In fact the NHS has now acknowledged that certain medications like PPIs can deplete Magnesium within three months of taking them and lightheadedness is listed as a symptom. If you add some Celtic Sea Salt to water it will help restore electrolytes, but you may need a supplement as well (best to look up other symptoms of low Mag as well to check it could be that before supplementing) . Adrenals rely on electrolytes, so you may be feeling very tired as well?

You mention that your iron levels are 'always good'. If that is top of the range good and on a low meat diet, you may be a super absorber of iron. Paradoxically this can manifest itself with similar symptoms to low iron if iron gets above range. Haemochromatosis is more likely if you have another autoimmune illness and in women tends to only appear during early menopause. Lightheadedness is a symptom.

[Cooper27 in reply to HLAB35]

My iron levels are near the top of the range, but not over (they were for a bit, but not anymore), so I don't think it's that.

I take magnesium supplements (I forget to take them daily, but take them a few times a week). I'll try getting better at taking them, but I don't think I should be all that low. I'll mention it to my GP though.

[HLAB35 in reply to Cooper27]

Magnesium and Vit D work together, so a good idea to supplement together as well. High protein diets also use up a bit more Magnesium according to Magnesium expert Dr Carolyn Dean - her book is definitely worth a read.

[Cooper27 in reply to HLAB35]

Thanks! I'll look into that.

I take vitamin D too, so that should be OK - I'm only on a maintenance dose (3000 IU a week) at the moment

[HLAB35 in reply to Cooper27]

drcarolyndeanlive.com/2019/...

The above explains the necessity for supplementing Magnesium while taking Vitamin D.

These are Magnesium deficiency symptoms.

wellnessmama.com/54128/magn...

I doubt your GP will be much help with a Magnesium Deficiency though.. it's not in their training. Serum Magnesium tests are pretty useless unless you're seriously ill after having just had a heart attack and if you wait for serum levels to be low it'll be like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted. This is why.. 99% of Magnesium is in cells - not the bloodstream and cellular Magnesium will replenish serum levels at the expense of bones and muscles to prevent heart attacks.

“A serum test for magnesium is actually worse

than ineffective, because a test result that

is within normal limits lends a false sense

of security about the status of the mineral

in the body. It also explains why doctors

don’t recognize magnesium deficiency; they

assume serum magnesium levels are an accurate

measure of all the magnesium in the body.”

Dr. Carolyn Dean from ’The Magnesium Miracle'

easy-immune-health.com/magn...

[Hidden]

hi there, I went to docs with dizziness/lightheadedness recently. To be honest thyroid issues weren't even on my radar but decent GP checked everything and my TSH was 11, so has upped the thyroxine. A few weeks later it's just starting to feel better. Have you had your levels checked recently? X

[Cooper27 in reply to Hidden]

I think I last checked them myself in November, so maybe they've changed since then. I'll see if the doctor wants to test them for me this time

[Stourie in reply to Cooper27]

Remember to leave 24 hours between your last dose of levo and your blood test. An early appointment having only water before the test. Jo xx

[Cooper27 in reply to Stourie]

Thanks, I'll be sure to get an early appt!