Very Dizzy

[Shay888]

I've been having these spells off and on since i was i kid.  When i'm in the bath tub, its happened a few times in the shower, when i go to stand up or move to fast i suddenly get extremely dizzy. I feel like i'm going to faint, my vision blurs, i feel like all the blood is rushing to my head, i get nauseous, break out in a cold sweat, and my heart starts beating rapidly.  Most of the time i have to get out of the shower and lay flat on the floor on my back for sometimes ten or fifteen minutes before i feel well enough to stand up. It only happens in the bathroom especially when the water is hot.  What is going on with me?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Since you are having the symptoms since you were a kid and the symptoms are now worsening, they may not entirely be due to stress. If you do not have an insurance, I am not sure what other options are available for you. But definitely you should consult a doctor and rule out postural hypotension, ear problems, anemia, hypoglycemia and cervical spondylitis. A GP or PCP would be the right place to start with because this is not something ER people will have time to deal with.
Hope this helps. Take care!

[Shay888]

This may be more than you can help me with, but it seems the frequency and severity of the episodes is worsening to the point that its really starting to scare me.  My real question is, I don't have medical insurance.  If i went to a hospital, is this something they would turn me away for or is it really something that i should have checked out, like through the emergency room? I know you don't know for sure but i would appreciate an opinion.  Every time i go to the hospital they tell me there's nothing wrong with me, but they haven't run any of those tests.  Just took list of my symptoms, told me i should cut down on the stress and i'll be fine. What do you think?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Dizziness could be due to postural hypotension (blood pressure falling with change of position), internal ear problems and cervical spondylitis or compression of cervical spinal nerves. All these cause dizziness when you get up from lying down position or when you change position that results in a change in the level of your head. Cervical spondylitis and ear problems also cause dizziness on changing the position of the neck.
Since it happens with change of position since childhood, chances of postural hypotension are high. The blood pressure falls when you stand and causes all the symptoms that you are suffering. Dehydration, certain medications, heart problems, untreated diabetes, and nervous system disorders can all cause this. Blood pressure monitoring, tilt table test, EKG, heart echo, ambulatory blood pressure recording are all required.
There are many causes of dizziness, lightheadedness, passing out, blackouts etc. Anemia and hypoglycemia too is a possibility. It is difficult to comment without examination. I am just enumerating the possible causes. You can discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!