Periodic dizziness, fainting and feeling like passing out

Posted by rjtx @rjtx, Apr 26, 2021

I wonder if this is even the right forum? Please point out the right one if it's not. My wife (age 52) has had this symptom many years. She would feel dizzy, faint and almost passing out (not to a point to lose consciousness completely yet). But when it comes, it's pretty severe and she feel she would pass out. This happens every a few months. She has gone MRI for brain and blood testing. All test numbers are normal (except low Iron). She has been taking Iron pills and try to raise her number. Other than Iron, what kind of tests should we ask doctor to further diagnose?

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kjoed53 | @kjoed53 | Apr 26 8:45am

I have PMR and I'm on 22.5mg prednisone daily. I've been having problems with my BP for the last few days. First it was high at 148/84 and I felt lightheaded whenever I was standing, and then last night I felt lightheaded and my BP was 105/52. My normal HR before PMR was between 50-60 but it's been more between 60-70 now. I'm on a low dose of BP meds and also meds for PVCs and PACs, but I didn't feel either PVCs or PACs when I felt lightheaded. I also can't rule out a secondary issue to PMR since I'm still being tested for a blood disorder but for me at least, it seems that BP is the cause of my lightheaded feeling. I just don't know what is causing it. I'll be contacting my cardiologist this week because I don't want to start guessing what is going on.

Chuck | @chucklesg | Apr 26 12:03pm

When my doctor kept telling me the dizzyness etc was due to dehydration, I decided to investigate more. When an episode would occur, I would take my blood pressure, and I noticed the BP was normal the pulse was always low, like 50 or so. I looked up low pulse on Mayo’s site and I found Bradycardia. As I have several issues listed in association with bradycardia. I will investigate further with a different doctor!

alto22 | @alto22 | Apr 27 5:46pm

Just started on Fosamax and having mild lightheadedness. Anyone else have similar issues?

barbaradh | @barbaradh | Apr 28 5:22am

There are a number of conditions for which feeling lightheaded can be a symptom. For me, it was a precursor to a discovered heart arrhythmia. I would ask my PCP for a referral to a cardiologist. There are a number of tests they do to see if the problem could be coming from the heart. I would not ignore her problem, but keep seeking medical attention from a physician.