Lightheadedness

Staying hydrated

by AgentX86 - 2021-05-06 21:04:00

Staying hydrated is more than drinking water.  In fact, water can make it worse as it flushes minerals out of the system.  Not replentishing them can cause serious problems.  And, no, I'm not talking about drinking Gatorade or any of the "sports drinks".  Read the labels - Water, Sugar, and salt.   None of it being what you need (salt maybe, if you're on a very low sodium diet).

Other than that, "lightheadedness" can be cause by other things than the heart.  A sudden PB drop will cause it.  Neurological problems will too and cardiologists won't find that, no matter how hard they look.  Neurological problems can be caused by heart problems but it's highly unlikely either side will find anything alone.  Don't ask me how I know.

Need more info...

by asully - 2021-05-06 22:16:26

Are you on ANY medications heart or others?  Many meds can cause dizziness or increase dehydration.  What is your average daily fluid intake?  Do you have any trouble with fluid retention?  Was it really hot that day?  Have you had your potassium checked?  Did you eat enough?  Do you suffer from low blood sugar?  I digress....

You need a diagnosis

by Gemita - 2021-05-07 04:24:20

Linnie,

This is a miserable catalogue of events.  Lightheadedness may not be treatable by a pacemaker setting but the cause of your lightheadedness may be treatable if this is due to an arrhythmia like AFib (which I note has been seen) and you should perhaps ask whether further external monitoring would help to detect cause of this symptom and determine whether an arrhythmia like AFib is progressing.  If it is and if it is causing your symptoms, unfortunately it will need treating.  I know you do not like meds, but they may be able to offer you something that can help without too many side effects.

Lightheadedness of course is very common and has many causes, so you really need to get a diagnosis before you can ever hope to move forward.  As an arrhythmia sufferer, I would recommend you get monitoring first and try to correlate your symptom with the arrhythmia when it actually happens.  This is very effective, especially if you keep a diary note of the time and date your symptoms occur.  Have you checked electrolytes (my husband became dizzy/lightheaded with a potassium deficiency for example), look for any hidden blood loss leading to anaemia, any infection, sudden falls in blood pressure (which cannot be controlled by our pacemakers), falls in blood glucose - get that diagnosis first.  Please do not assume it is dehydration or pacemaker generated.  

Linnie, re-reading your history I see you have only one lead functioning on your dual chamber pacemaker.  Is this because you still have atrial arrhythmias or have they deliberately turned off one lead for some other reason?  Something doesn't sound quite right to me.

Good luck