Extreme lightheadedness 3 weeks out of surgery

[motherof2cuteones]

I am 3 weeks out of my laparotomy surgery (removal of uterus, right ovary and fallopian tube and cantaloupe size endometrimoa (sp?)).  Within the past week and a half I have started becoming more and more dizzy and lightheaded EVERY time i stand up.  I have to stop and lean against something b/c everything goes black and i can't see and feel really weak for about 45 seconds.  I didn't know if this was a normal condition while your body is healing or if I should be concerned and call my dr.  Any info is greatly appreciated.  The weird thing is that it seems to be getting worse the farther away form surgery I get - I would think it would be getting better b/c my body is healing, etc...but than again - you don't get a lot of medical training when you get a Bachelor of Arts in Communications - right?

THANKS!

[Gatsby]

I am right there with you with a nightly glass of chianti!!  Cheers!
~Tascha

[shazzybow]

well done laura for going to see your doc, i wish mine looked like sting!! i,m glad you sound cheerful, it can be depressing when you feel your going backwards! please make sure you eat properly your body needs the nutrients to repair itself, sorry i sound a real nag. take care of yourself, (im 12 days post op and also a bit frustrated by the recovery period, im spending hours on this site because it makes me sit and rest and takes my mind off things!)sharon

[shazzybow]

like the others i would say you need to have your blood pressure checked and a blood test for anaemia. get up very slowly (obvious i know!) and try and eat foods high in iron,red meat green veg,cereal, eggs and vitamin c to help your body absorb the iron. take care hope you feel better soon.

[motherof2cuteones]

Well I just got back from the Dr.  I have a bladder infection and severe anemia.  My blood pressure is good.  I am to start on a protein powder and a major iron supplement and then we are going to monitor it to make sure that i am progressing well.  I guess I'm a little over an 8 (hemoglobin - 12 being healty and normal) and i think he mentioned 7 as being low enough where people would consider transfusions - but i don't want one and he thinks i can build it on my own as long as i do my iron and protein.  i'm a vegetarian - so i haven't been doing well with my intake of protein.  i was reprimanded for not eating enough (apparently he wasn't pleased with my regular diet of cucumbers and fruit smoothies and a handful of crackers).  lesson learned.  we did discuss my inability to relax and sleep at night.  he told me to drink a glass of red wine every night to aid in my relaxation and that it was good for my health and healing anyway.  i inquired if i could drink straight hard liquor instead (j/k) but he won't allow it.  so, i got permission to get fat and become a lush.  aren't doctors awesome?

thanks everyone for your advice and for the kick in the pants.  i would have just kept dealing with it b/c i'm lazy when it comes to going to the dr.  but not anymore...have i mentioned that my gyno looks like sting???  i think i'll ask him to sing a few tunes next time i'm in for my annual exam....my husband threatens that he is going to find a urologist that looks like angelina jolie - but i think we need all the positive we can find when it comes to those kinds of exams.

Bless you all!
Laura

[ShawnP]

Yes, please contact your doctor.  It could be your blood pressure or maybe even an inner ear problem without any other symptoms.  Either way, it needs to be addressed immediately.

Best of luck to you,
Shawn

[Jane39]

Please call your doctor.  I had problems with my blood pressure being very low after my complete surgerical hysterectomy, which caused me to become light headed when I rose too fast from a chair or from bed, fuzzy feeling and I also was freezing cold most of the time.  Now that lasted alittle over 3 weeks with me.  I had no other complications with my surgery (my blood pressure has also been alittle lower than normal) plus I become anemic easily as well too.  But you should certainly make a phone call to your doctor asap, you should feel better as you go on not worse.  Take Care.