What provokes my constant constant lightheadedness?

ko · Newbie Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 1

I AM 26 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE CONSTANT LIGHTHEADEDNESS ALWAYS, IT STARTED 2 YEARS AGO AND HASN'T STOPPED SINCE.ONE DAY I WAS NORMAL AND THE NEXT DAY I WAS DIZZY AND UNSURE. SOME DAYS IT IS WORSE THAN OTHER DAYS. SOME TIMES IT SEEMS TO GO AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN RETURNS. I HAVE BEEN IN FOR TEST AFTER TEST, CAT SCANS BLOOD WORK AND ALL THEY CAME UP WITH IS THAT I AM HAVING PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION. THE FUNNY THING IS THAT I AM NOT AT ALL DEPRESSED. DRIVING MAKES ME VERY TIRED AND I HAVE A HARD TIME FOCUSING ON THE ROAD, I ZONE IN AND OUT. I AM ALWAYS TIRED AS WELL, VERY FATIGUED. LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE ANY WORKING RESULTS.

Guest · Guest

My boyfriend and I have been losing our minds trying to figure out what is causing his extreme and constant lightheadedness. He is 22 years old, and this has been occuring for the past two months. He has been hospitalized 4 times because he feels that he is going to faint. He has had an MRI, a CT scan, blood work, and many other tests... they are all clear.
It must be something that medical doctors for some reason do not see or do not know how to heal. I am looking for more hollistic solutions.
I keep researching and it seems that people who are experiencing these symptoms usually have poor circulation. I know Cayenne pepper pills (capsicum) can help, though so far they haven't helped him yet. He quit smoking when this all began, but he still drinks coffee, and doesn't have a very healthy diet. I am going to force him to stop drinking pop and coffee and eating greasy, salty foods, because those things can lead to poor circulation. The chiropractor has helped, and we are also thinking about acupuncture. The medical doctors don't know everything, look to alternative solutions... that is the best advice I can give. We are pretty overwhelmed.

plynkyme · Newbie Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 6

i wanna try acupuncture too because maybe it will help improve this condition. my problem now is that there aren't any acupuncturist in my area. i'd probably try to look for one when i go home.

Guest · Guest

To everyone who has commented on this topic: look in to "generalized anxiety" and Paxil.

I had the symptoms described by many of the people who commented here, for a couple of years. After meeting with a psychiatrist I was given a prescription of something similar to Paxil (years before Paxil was on the market).

The very instant I took the medication -- and I mean instant -- I *KNEW* that the long nightmare was over. The relief was so dramatic that I cried (and I was a 24 year-old man!). It took months of medication, but my body seemed to transition to a non-panic-prone state. Eventually I tapered down to no medication. Although I still have minor flare-ups of anxiety, even now, 13 years later, it's NOTHING compared to that two-year period of feeling every day would be my last.

It's sad to read the familiar story of visiting a lot of doctors who say everything seems fine -- but the person feels like they're going to collapse and die any day now. I also had the experience of seeing lots of mental health workers, too. Only when I met with a psychiatrist did I finally reach a working solution -- a medication.

Perhaps some of you have different causes of your symptoms, but for those who have "generalized anxiety" due to biological causes (and not environmental factors or psychological issues), you might discover that something like Paxil (or similar anti-depressant/SSRI) gives you back your life. You know that your natural state is happiness, and so the fear and panic confuses you, especially given that you cannot identify what social or mental factor could possibly cause the fantastically-high level of anxiety you're experiencing. If that's your world, then see a psychiatrist and insist on medication.

plynkyme · Newbie Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 6

thanks for the feedback!

was diagnosed with anxiety attacks last year and I was given some medication -- xanor. however, i did not take my prescribed medication because i got better. this time, the symptoms seem to be back. i think i'll try that medication.

KoZz · Newbie Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

I'm 24 years old and experiencing the same thing. It's been about 8 months and I am constantly lightheaded and tired and many times feel as if I'm fainting, but have only actually fainted once. I always have to fidget a lot or sit down to stop myself from fainting. I have had a CT scan, MRI and multiple cardiac tests and blood work, ALL negative as well. These feelings make me anxious about doing things as simple as standing in line. I have been researching and found a couple things you may want to look into. Vasovagal Syncope and Neurocardiogenic Syncope. These conditions are related to blood distribution in the body causing a drop in blood pressure. This causes feelings of constant lightheadedness, dizziness and fainting. I am seeing a neurologist and will bring this up to him and post my results. Good luck everyone and it is definitely good to know I'm not the only one...

KoZz32 · Newbie Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

Hi All,

I recently had a Tilt Table Test and was diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope. I would definitely ask your doctor about this because I have constant lightheadedness and headaches every single day. It's so bad sometimes that I don't even want to get up from my desk and feel like I'm not going to make it through the day. The doctors said this is more of a managable thing than anything else, but I'm going to try to get whatever medication could help. I still feel this everyday and will post anything that helps. I've been told to increase salt and electrolytes in my diet. I'm skeptical of all this because of how I feel. I don't feel like a change in diet is going to help so I'm going to push for something more. I would research "vasovagal syncope" online and ask about the test. It may be worth it...I'll keep posting.

Guest · Guest

hi,
I constantly feel light headed after sitting on the sofa and getting up and when doing excercise of the minutest. I have reynards disease could this be related? I also take Yasmin contraception and have hand many migranes recently. I am 18.

Please help
Jenny

Guest · Guest

I have had several problems with this throught my life. I run 4 miles a day and can bench about 250 lbs. The last time I felt like this was about 4 years ago. Just recently I was working out and after my workout I kept feeling like I was going to faint and feel lightheaded after meals. I called the ambulance after the excersise incident and when they got there I was fine but my blood pressure was low. I was in panic and didn't know what else to do. I have gone to the doctor and they diagnose anything from tachycardia to anxiety or panic attaks. They have done some EKG's and my heart is perfect.

I started doing some research and there is something called Neurally Mediated Hypotension that is very simmilar to all of this. My problems could be due to a slight dehydration problem as well. I started drinking lots of fluids and some of this started to go away, but not completely. I still feel lightheaded at times after eating.

I have read that people with Neurally Mediated Hypotension have lightheadedness after eating becuase the brain isn't getting enough blood. When the body recognizes this, it sends a message that shoots out adrenaline (the feeling of fear) wich leads to higher heart rate. Then your body tries to bring a balance and you keep giong back and fourth and feel like you are going to faint. I guess some people get better by adding more soduim to their diets so that is why I am trying right now.

Here is a good link.

home.vicnet.net.au/~mecfs/general/nmh1.html

What provokes my constant constant lightheadedness?

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