Can orthostatic hypotension cause a "low flow" TIA?

[Danish65]

I am a healthy 43-year-old woman, not overweight. My blood pressure runs on the low end of normal, usually somewhere in the neighborhood of 100/65 (give or take).  Going back to at least adolescence, I have ocassionally had very short episodes (usually only around 5 seconds or so) of dizziness/lightheadedness and total loss of vision.  This happens if I stand up too quickly, and usually does not happen again if I increase my fluid and salt intake. I have read about orthostatic hypotension, but have never been tested and/or diagnosed with that. I am so accustomed to these episodes that I can typically continue walking, maintaining my balance, and sight will return within just a few seconds.  If I feel extremely dizzy, I'll just stop in my tracks until my balance & vision returns.

This morning, however, I had an episode that was more severe.  I continued walking for a couple of steps after my vision loss, but after just a few steps, I felt very strange. In addition to the temporary blindness, I had the sudden onset of loss of coordination and impaired ability to control my arms and legs.  I went from being capable of a normal gait to barely able to shuffle my feet. I felt like I was losing my balance from my the sudden loss of momentum, but when I reached out to the counter (was in kitchen) and I had the same loss of control/coordination in my arms. This entire process only lasted maybe up to 10 seconds max, from beginning to end.

If this happens again, I will most definitely go see my doctor.  I'm wondering though if this was something along the lines of a "low-flow" TIA, or just a temporary lack of blood/oxygen to my brain (or is that what a "low-flow" TIA is?), and if so, would that result in any damage or even show up on any tests, etc.?  

Thanks in advance.

[Jules77733]

I'd get ahold of those results if you can and post the appropriate bloodwork on here so a doctor and/or some people who are familiar with adrenal fatigue and adrenal insufficiency can comment on it--could be helpful.

Yeah, in general, I'd never go to a naturopathic practitioner, but I suppose that desperate times might call for desperate measures! I think those types of "doctors" are more geared toward helping the people who have a psychological component to their disease--as in, they've convinced themselves that they get headaches everyday (and so they do) and that stomach pain is a symptom, even if it's just indigestion. It's for some people, but really not for those of us suffering from a serious health problem(s).

You could say I'm a health care provider of sorts....I've got a degree in Chemistry and a degree in Biomedical Engineering, and I'm just finishing up my first year as a PhD graduate student in Biomedical Engineering. I'm considering applying to medical school, but I'd have to get better before I could handle that (I've been sick for about a year--some unknown disease(s) but it looks to be autoimmune, like Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or the result of a pineal cyst in my head near the brain)! Essentially, I'm being trained to do medical research, design new medical devices, and work with doctors to produce the best possible products or services for patients possible. I also interned at a pharmaceutical company this past summer where I worked on synthesizing drug candidate molecules--i.e. compounds that could one day be the next apsirin or ibuprofen. It was pretty cool! So I know a good amount about the human body since I had to take a lot of chemistry, biology, and anatomy and physiology courses over the past 5 years.

No problem, it was my pleasure to (hopefully) help you out. Get well soon, and keep me posted on what happens!

[Danish65]

Thank you for your reply. That is very interesting. I did undergo some rather extensive testing several years ago by a naturopathic practitioner (RN, I believe. Not an N.D. -- Long story there, I wouldn't normally seek naturopathic treatment but figured what the heck.). She said the results indicated I had adrenal fatigue, although when I went over the results with my physician, he felt they were within the normal ranges. Nevertheless, I did try a trial of the rather EXTENSIVE vitamin, mineral, supplement regimen that the naturopath "prescribed."  It was rather expensive and I didn't see a noticeable improvement in my symptoms, so I didn't stay on it.  I will look into that more and discuss it with my doctor next time I go in.  Are you a health care provider?

Thanks again for replying to my post. I appreciate it very much.

[Jules77733]

Low blood pressure is also a big symptom of adrenal insufficiency--I forgot to mention this in my last post.

[Jules77733]

Orthostatic hypotension is a symptom of adrenal insufficiency. You mention this problem disappearing when you increase your salt intake or fluid intake, which further points toward some sort of adrenal issue. Have you had your sodium levels checked out recently and have you ever been evaluated for adrenal insufficiency (i.e. check ACTH, cortisol levels, etc.)?