Anyone else dizzy?

I'm writing on behalf of my husband who is an early Alzheimer's patient. For more than two years, he has experienced dizziness, sometimes fainting, and profuse sweating. He has had every test imaginable, been hospitalized for complete workup twice, monitors, etc. In August he received a PM, (Boston) and still the symptoms continued...no fainting, but frequent dizzy spells and sweating. On Oct. 8, he received two stents in an artery, which everyone believed would eliminate the symptoms. Not so. In fact, after several PM adjustments, he is having relatively minor dizzy spells nearly every day, sweating, and the Dr. has no explanation. Says we may just have to live with it. Doesn't sound right to me. Any thoughts?

5 Comments

Hi Nancy

by Hot Heart - 2009-11-02 03:11:07

Im sorry I dont haveany answers but there are people on here with loads of knowledge who will hopefully be able to help you. Just wanted to let you know that there are lots of us on here if you need support, I've hada lot of experience of alzheimers with my nan, mother in law and a close friends father, and now a friend of my own, so anytime you need a chat just pm me. You take care of yourself as well as your husband,I know how hard it is.

HH x

Hi Nancy

by Pookie - 2009-11-02 05:11:08

Has he been tested and/or diagnosed with an Autonomic Neuropathy? Has he had the Thermoregulatory Sweat Test??? The Tilt Table Test?

I did at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and that is how and when I was diagnosed with the Autonomic Neuropathy secondary to Hypotension Intolerance along with a few other things.

I am dizzy a lot. I have also been diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic Syncope. And I've been diagnosed with Endolymphatic Hydrops which is a form of Meniere's Disease which in an inner ear disorder which messes up my balance. Has he been seen by an ENT?

Dizziness is such a broad term for the doctors and they always have such a hard time diagnosing the cause as it can come from a lot of many ailments but it can also come from medications or the combination of some medications.

Does he have low or high blood pressure? Mine is so low that I have to wear those compression stalkings and add salt to my diet!!!!!! Mind you, I am not on any heart medications....yet.

I've been battling with dizziness for just over 5 years and it has been one of the most frustrating things I have ever encountered in my life.

I wish you and your husband the very best....and never ever ever give up hope.

Pookie

Be Persistent

by ppt - 2009-11-02 07:11:11

I had a Physicians Assistant tell me to "deal with it" when I couldn't bounce back from my PM! That to me is just so unprofessional it is mind boggling!!! Dig, dig and continue to dig until you get the answers you need. It may have taken me time to get back to a decent activity level but it proved to be just settings on the PM - that were tough to get right for me. The PA was out of line and completely wrong! I do not have to "deal with it". Just spent the entire morning pruning palm trees and cleaning out bromeliads! Wonderful day :-))

P.S.

by ppt - 2009-11-02 07:11:34

And I now go to a different office and deal with the Dr directly - not the PA at the new office! Again - good luck and never never never stop persevering!

Possiblilities

by lenora - 2009-11-02 11:11:58

Nancy, what Alzheimer's meds is your husband on? All the Alzheimer's meds have LONG lists of side effects. Here are just a few for Aricept (donepezil): syncope (near fainting), dizziness, vertigo, dehydration, hypertension or hypotension, atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular block, myocardial infarction ( heart attack in lay terms), angina, and postural hypotension. Postural hypotension means that when you get upright your blood pressure takes a dip, often dramatically, and you can get dizzy or faint. It sounds to me like his problems are med related and don't have anything to do with the pacemaker. Lenora

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