Should I see a specialist?

So I have always had low blood pressure. I have also a history of bulimia. I get light headed alot, yesturday my boyfriend said I get dizzy more than anyone he knows. Today I went to have a colonoscopy done and the whole time I was there my heart rate was in the 30's and 40's. When I woke up the Doc that put me under was in my recovery room telling me that my heart rate was so low it was scaring them. He didn't tell me what it was  or if I should see someone but I was alarmed. Should I see a Cardiologist?


This discussion is related to Heart Rate in the 30s � 40s.

[Yvette BG]

Bulimia can cause electrolyte imbalances and irregular heart patterns/dangerous or even fatal arrhythmias. You don't mention whether you are currently receiving treatment for the eating disorder--or whether you are not yet in recovery and are still bingeing and purging, etc.

The colonoscopy prep procedure itself is pretty hard on some people and some of the light-headness could be due to not having consumed many calories for 12 or more hours before the test. If you have an active eating disorder, you likely may not have many glycogen reserves to draw upon and may already be prone to low blood sugar.

People can get dizzy from low blood pressure as well as from electrolyte problems, etc. I would be concerned about having a heart rate in the 30s and 40s given your medical history and the fact that you frequently experience dizziness. Is your primary doctor aware of this situation? If not, I think I would start by contacting him/her today and explain fully how you're feeling and what was going on with your pulse rate during the colonoscopy (also make sure to tell him/her how often you're bingeing and purging, if that applies). He/she may recommend or suggest you see a cardiologist, or may start by doing some heart tests himself/herself first.

Good luck,
Yvette