Legs and Head feel like they are filling with air

[tabithakristen]

Ok, I can't take this anymore. For quite a long time now (maybe 4 or 5 years) I've been dealing with this. When I stand up from a sitting position (no matter how slowly or quickly I stand) I get this sensation like my legs are going numb, they get kinda achy and they feel like they're being inflated. Along with that, my head will also feel like it's being inflated and I can't say that I black out but it's almost like I go blind for about 10 seconds. I also feel like if I don't sit as soon as possible, I'm going to fall over. The only time Ive had medical insurance in the past 5 years is when I've been pregnant and my Doctors, no matter what I say to them, tell me that it's coming from pregnancy. Although, I experience this MORE often when I'm NOT pregnant. Please, someone help me out here. I'm so afraid that one day I'm going to fall down the stairs or even drop one of my children.

Oh, and one more thing, my symptoms appear to be getting worse and worse AND when I was pregnant I was told that I had a heart murmur. Not sure if that will help but I figure it won't hurt to mention it.

thank you

[Forum-M.D.-MJM]

Hello,
Most pregnancies have an associated murmur related to changes in blood volume.  I don't think that is the issue. The first question that comes to mind is that your blood pressure drops when you stand -- orthostatic hypotension.  Although the word sounds big and scary, we don't worry to much about this.  We don't understand the physiology of this happens except to say that some people have an imbalance in their autonomic nervous system that does not regulate their blood pressure response to standing as quickly as others.  If this is what you have, I would only treat you if your symptoms are severe.  The medications used to treat this raise your blood pressure.  You can check your blood pressure lying flat and then immediately after standing, possibly even with the cuff already inflated with standing as the low blood pressure sounds like it doesn't last very long.

If this is problem, it is unlikely to be associated with any long term help problems.

I hope this helps.  Thanks for posting.

[tabithakristen]

Thank you for replying. I'd definitely say that my symptoms are pretty severe. And, I may have been confusing you in my previous post but I'm not currently pregnant. The symptoms are actually not as bad when I'm pregnant. I can't really imagine something that makes me almost fall over and lose all sensation in my legs not being a big deal. It's pretty scary.

Oh, and I'm 24. If that helps at all.

[Fionajnz]

Have you had your iron stores and iron levels checked?  Anemia, esp if its chronic can cause you to feel lightheaded and weak.  Its often associated with post pregnancy after the iron load stabilises from delivery and can last and worsen for more than a year after delivery.  

Just an idea, though it does sound like a blood pressure change associated with position.  

I hope you get some answers soon, some easy bloodwork if you can find somewhere to have it done for low or no cost, will help work things out.

Fiona