So I recently lost about 12 pounds (125 -> 113) on a 5'3" height, small frame. I lost by limiting myself to about 1200-1500 calories daily, and changing the diet from mostly empty carbs to mostly vegetables, fruit, nuts/seeds and lean meat. I also exercising lightly (no more then 2-3 hours a week). I eliminated dairy from my diet and my acne went away so I'm staying away from it. I also heavily reduced Coke drinking but I rarely consumed more then 1-2 liters per week. I don't drink coffee.
Before the weight loss, I had pretty low blood pressure (usually 110/70 or something) however my pulse was usually 80something. Now, my BP is 100/60 and my pulse is 60-65. Heck, sometimes my BP is 90/60 and that's when I start having starry vision (can't describe it otherwise)
I have diziness often during the day. I also have bursts of dizziness when I change my body position, and laying down usually gives me a "floaty head" feeling for a couple of seconds. I also noticed a lack of calcium (muscle cramps, spasms on my face) so I started a calcium supplement, however the dizziness is still there.
So I figured I eat too little, so I increased to about 1500-1600 a day (pretty sedentary now) and while I don't seem to be gaining anything just yet, I stopped losing, and I'm still bloody dizzy! So I doubt it's the food thing. I mean, I don't feel hungry, I actually push myself to eat.
Help?
Couple quick questions for you, do you notice that it happens when you **** your head to one side ( like if you were to try to touch your ear to your shoulder) or if you were to lift your chin and look up? And how bout when you first sit up to get out of bed in the morning, do you have to wait for the spins to stop first?
EDITED- I wasn't trying to use a dirty word, lol, but apparently CC doesn't let you use the other word for rooster or turning something at an angle. LOL
I also get dizzy patches when I'm losing weight. In the past, I've attributed it to either eating too little, not enough vitamins or dehydration. You could try taking a multivitamin to boost your immune system and see if that helps. And perhaps try drinking more water.
Original Post by makenasmom:
Couple quick questions for you, do you notice that it happens when you **** your head to one side ( like if you were to try to touch your ear to your shoulder) or if you were to lift your chin and look up? And how bout when you first sit up to get out of bed in the morning, do you have to wait for the spins to stop first?
EDITED- I wasn't trying to use a dirty word, lol, but apparently CC doesn't let you use the other word for rooster or turning something at an angle. LOL
Nope. Moving my head doesn't change anything (no increase or decrease).
However if I'm laying down for some time, and get up, I do have to wait for the spins to stop (although in my case, I also get spots in my vision to the point where I can't see anything for a couple of seconds, so I ain't going anywhere). I've had that since forever (dizzy upon getting up) but the dizzy in general coupled with a "shiny" appearance in the things that I see (kinda like increased contrast?) is new.
Forgot to add - I'm also bothered by light. Right now I'm sitting in this room with the light shining at an angle through a wall/sized window, and it's bothering me.
Original Post by reademil:
I also get dizzy patches when I'm losing weight. In the past, I've attributed it to either eating too little, not enough vitamins or dehydration. You could try taking a multivitamin to boost your immune system and see if that helps. And perhaps try drinking more water.
I actually drink a lot more water now. I used to drink so little in the past, sometimes as low as one cup a day. Now I purposely drink at least 4-5 cups.
I think a vitamin/mineral deficiency is a possibility, I just find it ironic that I now have one while eating mostly fruit and vegetables, plus quality meat, servings of olive oil, and nuts everyday. But I didn't have it in the past with bread, tons of cheese, lots of snacks and sweets, and plenty of stuff like macaroni, or potatoes, or stuff like that.
I have symptoms very similar to what you describe but I have associated it with my sinus disease. Do you have allergy issues? Hay Fever?
Have you had your iron levels checked? Anaemia causes dizziness and blurred vision, where everything sort of goes grey when you stand up. I've had bouts of those symptoms that have been diagnosed as just a combination of things; low weight; low blood pressure; low iron levels. Although, on their own, none of the factors were worrying low, all at the same time they made me get dizzy. Now I'm a bit heavier and get more iron I feel a lot better, although I'm obviously not over the moon about the weight gain!
Original Post by kmejia250:
I have symptoms very similar to what you describe but I have associated it with my sinus disease. Do you have allergy issues? Hay Fever?
Nope. Never been allergic to anything. Except dairy - since once I stopped eating it, my acne went away. And MSG gives me migraines. But nothing sinus related. In fact, I haven't had a cold in years.
Original Post by vsmith513:
Have you had your iron levels checked?
Nope, but I'll keep it in mind when I have my next check-up. And it wouldn't hurt to take a comprehensive multivitamin and mineral supplement just in case. I was gonna say I don't think I have a defficiency since I eat a ton of beetroot, but turns out the beetroot - good for blood - is a myth. Oops.
I am in the SAME boat as you (5'3", went from 130 to 115) and now get dizzy lots. I am almost sure it is anemia as both of my toddler daughters are anemic. I also pass out when getting my blood drawn. I also get muscle twitches/spasms. Maybe I will start taking a supplement, although I also know too much iron is harmful as well. Guess I have to get tested, which goes back to getting blood drawn...oh boy.
Well, when you find out what is causing your symptoms, and I hope that you do, please let us know.
I keep my office very dark for the light sensitivity and try not to stare at the computer for long periods of time. The blood pressure being low has never caused any problems for me except for when I was pregnant. It would be so low that their machine would not register and they would have to take it manually. I do sometimes feel tired and I attribute it to low blood pressure. But the dizziness is what bothers me most and it sounds like thats the case for you as well.
I know how overwhelming it can be and I have presented my symptoms to multiple doctors at different times and most just look at me strangely and say that they don't think they are all connected and give me no help or advice. So I hope that you have better luck.
You should get checked out. It may not be related to diet (sounds a little like vertigo w/ dizziness, spots and light aversion).
I have (don't know technical term for it) high tolerance for heat...it takes a while for me to break a sweat. I would get faint and a couple times black out. I was told by a neurolgist what was years ago (again can't remember the term) but even though it wasn't related to diet and excercise...obviously working out or hot showers would bring it on. He suggested me increasing my salt (sodium) intake which helped with dizziness & light headedness. I'm sure to eat some thing w/ salt (pretzels filled w/ peanut butter are great & yummy) before a supper strenuous work out. I still rarely feel the dizzy spells coming on but know how to halt them.
Sorry for the long story, but you should get it checked. Good luck and feel better.
Not enough carbs.
Original Post by suzushii:However if I'm laying down for some time, and get up, I do have to wait for the spins to stop (although in my case, I also get spots in my vision to the point where I can't see anything for a couple of seconds, so I ain't going anywhere). I've had that since forever (dizzy upon getting up)
i had that that feeling too when i had a sinus infection. i rarely get it now though..
its definately lack of water. if you say you drink alot, thats good. but your suppost to get 2L of water everyday. by my advice would be DRINK MORE WATER. lack of water will cause muscle twitches/spasms and dissyness. you need WATER WATER WATER!!! it makes food taste better i think....no more soda (and some juices have as much calories as soda btw)
and eating food isnt a bad thing. try to eat little snacks throughout the day. it will keep your body energized and you metabolism running. eat a bunch of healthy snacks...find something u like (ex: rice cakes which are only 35 cals)
Your new diet sounds very healthy so I wouldn't go back to what you used to eat... but one thing that I might recommend is increasing your healthy fat consumption so that you feel less dizzy - sometimes even though you don't feel hungry, your dizziness is a sign that your body needs something to eat (trust me it happens to me a lot but then I eat some fat -along with a balance of protein & veggie- and feel a bit better). I too get dizzy quite often because I eat roughly the same diet as you (except I don't eat fruits, nuts/seeds too). Although when I consume healthy fats in my meals I am less so. But since you aren't eating as much carbohydrates as you were in the past you will forever have dizzy spells every so often (but not as many if you include olive oil, flaxseed oil, fish oil, etc in your diet).
When I get symptoms like that... it's a migraine. A visual migraine, there's no pain involved, but sometimes I won't be able to see for several minutes. I guess it could be something like that?
may just be the mother in me but I think you need to check it out with a doctor.
It could be blood sugar. Diabetes, anemia, or equal librium they all cause dizzyness
It could be a number of things. To me, it sounds a bit like postural hypotension (low blood pressure when changing positions especially upon standing from sitting or lying down) which can be caused by medications (a lot of allergy medicines), dehydration, lots of stuff. Could also be what others are saying: vertigo, migraines, anxiety, any other number of things that cause dizzyness. You should probably get it checked out though if it's a continuous problem. Best of luck!
