I have been having dizzy/lightheaded spells on and off for some months. My doctor, on video calls and over the phone has diagnosed, sinus infection, vertigo and recently low iron which is now ok but not the dizzy spells. On Easter Sunday, surrounded by my family I had the worst one yet which culminated in me passing out completely.
My daughter called an ambulance. We waited 3 hours to be told one wouldn’t come and to make our way to A&E but there was an 8+ hour wait. Also if I was to be admitted it would be on a covid ward as that was only one with free beds. We declined.
Tuesday my daughter made a face to face appointment for me with my doctor at 4.20pm. My doctor rang me at 3 and said I could go then if I was able. When I got to the surgery I was only one there. Doctor took BP and various other exams and couldn’t tell me why I had passed out other than possible heart problem. He said he would arrange 24 hour heart monitor to be fitted and a CT scan but had no idea when they would take place. I am living in fear of it happening again and am still experiencing the lightheadedness. I feel totally abandoned, frightened that something will happen to me before I get treatment and living in constant fear of passing out.
I’ve had two sudden drops in BP which caused a blackout. One when I had flu, the other as I was in hospital visiting and the room suddenly felt uncomfortably warm, on this occasion the nurse nearby took my BP, that’s how I know I have a sudden drop in BP during these events. Obviously there are many causes which they need investigating.
Do you know how to take your own pulse? It's very useful to take it regularly for a while to get to know what your normal heart rate is. You mentioned being on beta blockers which lower it, but it still should be above 50 bpm.
I self diagnosed AF (atrial fibrillation) after seeing TV ad from heart foundation. Felt a bit odd one evening and took my pulse. It felt very strange - jumpy and impossible to count. Since I was used to taking it, I knew it wasn't right, but it went back to normal after a few hours. Subsequently diagnosed with paroxysmal AF. This type is intermittent, so often difficult to diagnose, unless it happens while at docs or hosp.
But knowing own normal heart rhythm may help to rule out heart as cause of dizzyness
I have recently found phoning 111 very helpful & reassuring. They send a report to your Dr immediately. After all the questions from 111, I was told to phone my Dr straight away, saying I’d been told to do this from 111. Dr phoned me within 15 mins. I basically felt too ill to leave the house- won’t go into details here.
Saw Dr face to face one week later- had done a lot of Google research so went armed with facts & then quizzed Dr about treatment. Also found out they still do home visits if really necessary!
Thankfully I’m back to feeling well again & know what to do if it happens again
irishheart.ie/campaigns/feelthepulse/
This is very useful viewing for anyone, even without any current symptoms.
Also found out they still do home visits if really necessary!
Yes, they do. I had one. It's worth people knowing that. Of course, you really do have to be too ill to leave the house or unable to get to the surgery for a good reason, but they will come out, if necessary.
The doctor who visited me was very gracious about it.
bobbydog24 - I think the person who suggested you check your pulse regularly has made a good suggestion.
As someone else has said, this frightening incident does not necessarily mean there is a serious cause, but checking your pulse - and your fluid intake - will all help to determine what's going on. Dehydration can cause palpitations, because your blood thickens and the heart has to work harder to pump it around, even if it's only mild dehydration, which can cause you to feel weak and nauseous.
yes, OP, remember you can always ring 111 if you are not sure, or feeling a bit wobbly.
we have found them to be v good round here.
a housebound neighbour has a poor service from GP; once a district nurse suggested ringing 111, which turned out to be a good idea.
we have had some very caring and thorough docs visit, also rapid response nurses when necessary.
one of the ooh docs advised pt not to take a partic antibx, as it could affect her chest. this was just before the pandemic and v useful advice.
pt has multiple morbidities and highly vulnerable.
OP do you have your nearby DD on speed dial or voice activated call, and keep mobile on yr person.
Diabetes can cause low or high blood sugar and dehydration, all of which can cause people to feel dizzy or lightheaded. A simple blood test will confirm or dismiss this. Might be worth asking your surgery to check this out as a possible reason bobbydog24?
Have you heard of POTS OP? It very often goes undiagnosed and has similar symptoms to yours
Farmor15 may I ask what tests were done to diagnose paroxysmal AF?
I am type 2 diabetic but it is well controlled and was considered and dismissed by GP at my appointment. I am awaiting a 24hour heart monitor and a scan.
I just want to know what is causing the lightheadedness which I experience most days and the odd palpitation episode, though I suspect this is because I am stressed about the position I’m in.
nadateturbe - when I went to GP after suspecting AF, he suggested buying a small device that works with app on phone to monitor own heart.
AliveCor EKG g.co/kgs/Q9Ri7w
I bought from Amazon £100 or so, but well worth it. Next time I suspected I was in AF, I used it, and was able to email results to GP. He then referred me to cardiologist, where I had more tests, and was prescribed medication, blood thinner and beta blocker.
I've continued to have episodes, but each time they only last a few hours. It's unlikely a 24 h ECG would pick up as weeks can elapse between episodes.
Up to now I've never gone to hosp during AF, the cardiologist seemed to be happy to use the AliveCor results to diagnose
I've attached screenshots of what appears on my phone when I use AliveCor. When sent by email to doc, the full 30 sec recording is sent. It's extremely easy to use and if it saves multiple trips to GP or hosp it's worth the investment
Kind and helpful though everyone's ( well, almost everyone's) comments are, suggesting possible causes for the dizziness and fainting, the main point surely is that the OP has not been treated appropriately. No ambulance, no A&E, little or no help from GP, this is the problem surely, and it can, and will happen to all of us as the NHS slowly crumbles in front of our eyes. Quite frankly, it frightens me, as I get older and may need to use the NHS. The drama and stress of trying to do something as simple as get a GP appointment is just the start of it.
Austerity has come back to bite us all, health staffing problems were being raised years ago. It’s very sad what is happening to the NHS. No one to blame except past government ideology.
Thank you Farmor15. That is very helpful, much appreciated.
We all need to complain loudly and give another political party a chance. This government doesn't care.3
I too worry, but have a little security with Benenden If I could afford I would have private insurance.
Perhaps we should all just go to A&E more often, and they would have to address the issue.
Midgey excuse my political ignorance "past government ideology "?
it depends what you mean by "dizzy".
Vertigo is the room seeming to move up and down or round and round.
Faintness is when you feel weak so you may fall down or actually fall down from weakness.
Whichever is causing your discomfort falls are dangerous and there are certain precautions you can take.
When you stand up after lying down or sitting, stay standing beside bed or chair for a minute until your blood pressure is equal to the standing posture.
Fainting may also be caused by panic as someone else suggested. Sit down and try to calm yourself. Think calming thoughts.
Make sure you are hydrated and fed, and not over- tired.
Use a walking frame whenever possible as a precaution against falls. A good walking stick can help your balance and feeling of security.
Clear clutter from your rooms so you don't trip over things.
The NHS has gone to pot and we have no choice but to help ourselves as much as possible.
also a lot of falls are caused due to insufficient light. people try to manage without putting lights on, esp in halls/landings.
there is the added risk of night-time dopiness en route to loo, so it's a good idea to leave a light on all night between bedroom and loo.
DH has had a couple of bouts of dizzyness and being violetly sick . He was unable to get to his bed and eventually crawled into it . The GP seems to think it is an inner ear problem perhaps caused by crystals in the ear . Like you he is waiting for further investigations which will have the GP trtying to bring on one of these episodes by manipulating his head .
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