Aa
need advice
I'm a 33 yr old female I have high blood pressure and am pre diabetic. For the past few days I have episodes where I feel like I'm going to faint......what could it be????? Doc has said I suffer from anxiety but they really havent done any test so its kinda hard for me to accept. I keep having to talk myself out of going to the er.
I do Hav a follow up appointment regarding my pre diabeties on Tuesday, so should I just wait it out??!!
Thanks for the advice
I do Hav a follow up appointment regarding my pre diabeties on Tuesday, so should I just wait it out??!!
Thanks for the advice
Thanks for thr advice. I guess since I have had all kinds of blood work and it came back ok I'm just gonna have to except that its the anxiety causing me to feel like this......I don't know what else it could be?! That's what I can't handle is not knowing forsure!!!
Frances, Counseling is an excellent idea, they may even give you a temporary tranquilizer, and that will bring your heart rate down even further. Yes, your heart numbers sound pretty good, considering you are overweight. I'll repeat, too, if you'll drink a glass of water before each meal, and a salad with dinner, this will help you lose weight combined with exercise. Also, no regular sodas; just diet stuff, but do not drink the kinds with aspartame, becuz that can cause dizziness. Take your girls out to a park a couple times a week, just for play with Mom and you getting health benefits too. See, I have a new dog that likes me to go outside with him in the back yard, he will sometimes "insist," and so I TRY to go out more than I used to, just to make him feel good. And before all my injuries, as part of any weight-loss program, I would usually join an aerobics class, hated it, but it really helped get me in shape, increased endurance (good for working Moms), and of course I lost weight. I'm glad you found out about the potassium! Well, keep up with the good work, perhaps you have a handle on this thing. Keep in mind going to the ER if things get a little too scary. GG
Thanks u so much for responding!! And for all the help! Yes, I need to loose quite a bit more weight, I think by the bmi chart I should weigh like 120, which is too small for my body type but I would love to loose at least another 40-50 pounds! I know I would feel better! I know my potassium was a little low so I'm gonna start taking a daily viatmin. Thank God I haven't really bein having much of the dizziness feelings just more of a weird feeling but its not constant! I do notice that Moët the time when my heart rate is elevated that if I do brething it does go down. This am I checked my bp 123/82 pulse 84. That made me happy!! If I get stress at work my pulse goes up but guess that's to b expected! I'm going to make sure to start and continue exercising, I have 3 little girls that count on me!! I TOT myself into counciling and hoping that can work for my anxiety!!
I'm glad your visit went so well. But I'm sorry you have this unresolved anxiety issue that apparently makes you dizzy-like. You have lost some weight, so lose some more, the more you lose, the less likely you will get that sensation and possible sense of fear, and also as I said before do some deep breathing anytime that feeling comes over you, and if doesn't subside with that, go to the ER. Carrying around extra weight makes the heart work SO much harder, so could be periodically it'll be pumping hard because of whatever activity you're doing, and you'll get that dizzy-like feeling. So, as I just said, keeping working on getting the pounds off, I believe I told you what sorts of things will help with that.
Another "self-check" you can do whenever you do your regular checks of where your sugars and BP are, is to check your pulse, just inside the wrist bone and before the tendons. If your heart rate goes over 100 beats per minute, BINGO, that's what is making you feel nervous. Could be a thyroid issue doing that, which is how come your doc checked your thyroid numbers. But if you do notice a fast heartrate a few times upon checking it, keep track of it in a little booklet along with your sugars and BP and weight, what you were doing and the time of day, that sort of thing, and then after a couple weeks of a fast heartrate, make arrangements to see your doc again and report this heartrate problem to him.
That leaves how your bloodwork came out, whether you're anemic or whether you are perhaps low on a vew vitamins, like for example if you don't eat enough protein, you'll get a little dizzy sometimes. Look online for good protein foods that won't raise cholesterol.
I take it your breathing is doing okay? If you have noticed you have a lot of asthma-like symptoms or get a lot of coughs or have bouts with pneumonia in the winter, you should mention this to your doc next time you see him. He will know that this could cause poor oxygenation of the blood, and that can make you feel dizzy, and it sort of opens the door to a few other avenues as to why you've been feeling a little strange of late.
So, find out the results of your bloodwork, take your pulse whenever you feel dizzy, do some deep breathing when that happens, and if it sticks with you then go to the ER. Try eating more proteins and less carbs for a while, up your exercise gradually, get a fair amount of weight off whether you like it or not. Stay well-hydrated by drinking extra water as a routine, exercise regularly, keep track of any unusual things in some notes, and I really hope this dizzy stuff gradually goes away.
Another "self-check" you can do whenever you do your regular checks of where your sugars and BP are, is to check your pulse, just inside the wrist bone and before the tendons. If your heart rate goes over 100 beats per minute, BINGO, that's what is making you feel nervous. Could be a thyroid issue doing that, which is how come your doc checked your thyroid numbers. But if you do notice a fast heartrate a few times upon checking it, keep track of it in a little booklet along with your sugars and BP and weight, what you were doing and the time of day, that sort of thing, and then after a couple weeks of a fast heartrate, make arrangements to see your doc again and report this heartrate problem to him.
That leaves how your bloodwork came out, whether you're anemic or whether you are perhaps low on a vew vitamins, like for example if you don't eat enough protein, you'll get a little dizzy sometimes. Look online for good protein foods that won't raise cholesterol.
I take it your breathing is doing okay? If you have noticed you have a lot of asthma-like symptoms or get a lot of coughs or have bouts with pneumonia in the winter, you should mention this to your doc next time you see him. He will know that this could cause poor oxygenation of the blood, and that can make you feel dizzy, and it sort of opens the door to a few other avenues as to why you've been feeling a little strange of late.
So, find out the results of your bloodwork, take your pulse whenever you feel dizzy, do some deep breathing when that happens, and if it sticks with you then go to the ER. Try eating more proteins and less carbs for a while, up your exercise gradually, get a fair amount of weight off whether you like it or not. Stay well-hydrated by drinking extra water as a routine, exercise regularly, keep track of any unusual things in some notes, and I really hope this dizzy stuff gradually goes away.
BTW, my weigt is an issue. I'm overweight an can't do as much as I'd like but I was down seven pounds at my appt.
Ok I went an had blood work, my reults were good nutshell did say my cholesterol was a little elevated but not bad at all. They did a lipid and cmp test. When I went in office today they checked me all out and said they don't think I have anything wrong with me heart that it sounds good an my bp was good too. He said he didn't think doing further testing was needed he think a lot of my problems are anxiety related! He did go ahead an Hav me to blood work for thyroid and a cbc to kinda ease my mind. I have been feeling a little better its just like sometimes I will just feel weird, can't really explain just not right but then it will go away. I always check both bp an sugar and there both normal. I do feel like I'm on edge a lot so maybe I should accept the fact that maybe.it is just my anxiety.....
Looks like I missed replying to you in time for your doc appointment. Therefore I really cannot comment on your question about the SSRIs in case they did indeed give them to you. They are for depression, sometimes anxiety too, and are a very powerful drug. As for what medicine you need, if you have anxiety, then normally tranquilizers are dispensed, which many are also very serious to use. You had said your docs thought you have anxiety, and that's why I talked about it so much, and those are meds that are often used for it.
You had said in your original post you were going to visit a doc yesterday for pre-diabetes, and then you said in your second post you were going to visit a therapist yesterday (which implied to me a psych doc). Also, you did say you do have high blood pressure, as well as you have pre-diabetes. So, since I know that feeling faint can happen from either of those disorders, I told you to make sure your sugars and BP were okay, which in your second post you said you were okay. So, if they are indeed okay, I suppose something else is at work here. And that's why I brought up my weight being too high, because I'll get that same dizzy feeling as you and it's as a direct result of my not being active and being overweight. But you did not discuss that as a possibility, so I have to assume you don't have a weight problem, which by the way is very common with diabetes in particular, and often with blood pressure.
You are not being paranoid about your health; you do have bonafide health issues. That's why it's so important to make real sure your health really is in order. As for just pure anxiety not brought on by any health issue, then anxiety can come from all sorts of things; with me, it was a car accident I was in that injured me very badly, so I have panic disorder. So, sometimes people will get anxious over something like that kind of as an undercurrent to their lives. Other reasons for temporary anxiety are things like dehydration, anemia, circulatory or pulmonary problems, recently losing a loved one, a change in location or job, the list goes on and on, which is why people go to a regular doctor to rule out physical problems that can cause it (anemia, pulmonary), or go to a psychiatrist when they wind up being told by a doc they have anxiety over more social issues (passing friend, changes).
One thing I can tell you is this: If you find yourself feeling the way you did before, my advice remains the same, to go to the ER. But there is something else you can try, too. I do it all the time because of my panic disorder. I do very deep breathing, I breathe in really deeply, blow it out, breathe normal a few times, then deep breathe again, perhaps four or five times. This lowers the heartrate, which in turn lowers anxiety. Whenever I get nervous or feel strange in anyway, I do deep breathing, and it can get me through a rough patch.
So, let us know how your doc appointments went, keep telling us how you feel, maybe someone else will chime in here with some tips, or I'll keep trying, too.
You had said in your original post you were going to visit a doc yesterday for pre-diabetes, and then you said in your second post you were going to visit a therapist yesterday (which implied to me a psych doc). Also, you did say you do have high blood pressure, as well as you have pre-diabetes. So, since I know that feeling faint can happen from either of those disorders, I told you to make sure your sugars and BP were okay, which in your second post you said you were okay. So, if they are indeed okay, I suppose something else is at work here. And that's why I brought up my weight being too high, because I'll get that same dizzy feeling as you and it's as a direct result of my not being active and being overweight. But you did not discuss that as a possibility, so I have to assume you don't have a weight problem, which by the way is very common with diabetes in particular, and often with blood pressure.
You are not being paranoid about your health; you do have bonafide health issues. That's why it's so important to make real sure your health really is in order. As for just pure anxiety not brought on by any health issue, then anxiety can come from all sorts of things; with me, it was a car accident I was in that injured me very badly, so I have panic disorder. So, sometimes people will get anxious over something like that kind of as an undercurrent to their lives. Other reasons for temporary anxiety are things like dehydration, anemia, circulatory or pulmonary problems, recently losing a loved one, a change in location or job, the list goes on and on, which is why people go to a regular doctor to rule out physical problems that can cause it (anemia, pulmonary), or go to a psychiatrist when they wind up being told by a doc they have anxiety over more social issues (passing friend, changes).
One thing I can tell you is this: If you find yourself feeling the way you did before, my advice remains the same, to go to the ER. But there is something else you can try, too. I do it all the time because of my panic disorder. I do very deep breathing, I breathe in really deeply, blow it out, breathe normal a few times, then deep breathe again, perhaps four or five times. This lowers the heartrate, which in turn lowers anxiety. Whenever I get nervous or feel strange in anyway, I do deep breathing, and it can get me through a rough patch.
So, let us know how your doc appointments went, keep telling us how you feel, maybe someone else will chime in here with some tips, or I'll keep trying, too.
I constantly worry about my health! I actually think I'm paranoid about it. I check my sugar an bp regularly at home esp. When I have a funny feeling and its ok. I haven't been having the faintish feeling issue- not sure if that's what I should of called it its more kinda like a lightheaded feeling. It doesn't last for very long, real quickly. I had a bunch of test on heart an other things in 2007 and everything was good. So they said it was anxiety. I recently had a heart scan an my score was 0 they said I have no plaque or calcium build up. It's like a no win situation for me.
When u say avoid ssri, what type of medication would I need??
I also have an appt with a therapist tomm, feel like I may need it!
When u say avoid ssri, what type of medication would I need??
I also have an appt with a therapist tomm, feel like I may need it!
FRANCES, If you feel faint again today, have someone take you to the ER. But could be almost anything doing this fainting feeling to you, which would include any excess weight you have, lack of exercise and extra weight, sugars all out of whack, and of course your blood pressure being too high or low.
See, I am overweight, and because of injury disability, I really am not able to do much activity without a lot of pain, so I put on weight and I have to lay around a lot. So, whenever I simply get up and do something even minor in the house beyond going and coming, I become short of breath, feel kind of faint, and in general it scares the daylights out of me. But I also have panic disorder, which is one wild version of anxiety, but it's because my car wreck really did a number on my nerves. But despite my tranquilizers, then whenever I get faint like you, I get double scared.
So, which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Which is to say, in our cases, which comes first, illness or anxiety? It's illness that causes sometimes a fainting sensation, and fear just naturally flows from that loss of control, which causes anxiety. So, unless you have a specific reason for anxiety, I think yours comes from your health issues.
I WILL tell you this. I am very proud of you for visiting your doc tomorrow on the pre-diabetes thing, and I'm hoping any testing of your sugars was done properly, which I think includes a fast or something, but I don't know. Be proactive about that particular situation, just a little reading on diabetes so you can alert them to anything they should know, like the fainting. See, if your sugars get dangerously low, you can pass clean out and find yourself in a compromised situation... you may consider getting a little tag to wear that identifies you as pre-diabetic or whatever, so if you DO pass out, and someone finds you, they will perhaps be able to help you better until the EMT people arrive. By the by, you should carry a cell phone.
Now, high blood pressure, that can make you just miserable in the mind, it can amp up your emotions to where you appear to be anxious, when all in the world that's going on is, your BP levels are not exactly right. Therefore, you could ask your diabetes people about that tomorrow, COULD be they can get you squeezed into a BP appointment sooner rather than later, so you can maybe get a change in your medication to keep that BP straight. And this is another reason you should consider wearing a tag for THAT issue, too. By the way, Beta Blockers are good for blood pressure, and talk about feeling calm! I had to take them for a temporary hyperthyroid condition, and it slowed my heart AND made me feel calm as can be. Just a thought.
I suppose I could go on and on about you, sorry. Now, hon, you CAN have BP trouble and diabetes WITHOUT extra weight, but IF your weight is goofed up, you must eventually get it off, and to keep it off you stay active as a lifelong habit, PLUS forever no fast foods, no regular sodas, a salad and glass of water with meals to make you feel fuller quicker, and, except for a bite of dark chocolate or a spoonful of ice cream, NO DESERTs.
Well, if you have time and remember, let us know how things go for you. You may also wish to post over in the BP or Diabetes forums. And hey, if they think you are simply stressed, fine, go that route and tranqs will at least help you feel better (avoid SSRIs), but I do not think that is the CAUSE of your health issues. GG
See, I am overweight, and because of injury disability, I really am not able to do much activity without a lot of pain, so I put on weight and I have to lay around a lot. So, whenever I simply get up and do something even minor in the house beyond going and coming, I become short of breath, feel kind of faint, and in general it scares the daylights out of me. But I also have panic disorder, which is one wild version of anxiety, but it's because my car wreck really did a number on my nerves. But despite my tranquilizers, then whenever I get faint like you, I get double scared.
So, which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Which is to say, in our cases, which comes first, illness or anxiety? It's illness that causes sometimes a fainting sensation, and fear just naturally flows from that loss of control, which causes anxiety. So, unless you have a specific reason for anxiety, I think yours comes from your health issues.
I WILL tell you this. I am very proud of you for visiting your doc tomorrow on the pre-diabetes thing, and I'm hoping any testing of your sugars was done properly, which I think includes a fast or something, but I don't know. Be proactive about that particular situation, just a little reading on diabetes so you can alert them to anything they should know, like the fainting. See, if your sugars get dangerously low, you can pass clean out and find yourself in a compromised situation... you may consider getting a little tag to wear that identifies you as pre-diabetic or whatever, so if you DO pass out, and someone finds you, they will perhaps be able to help you better until the EMT people arrive. By the by, you should carry a cell phone.
Now, high blood pressure, that can make you just miserable in the mind, it can amp up your emotions to where you appear to be anxious, when all in the world that's going on is, your BP levels are not exactly right. Therefore, you could ask your diabetes people about that tomorrow, COULD be they can get you squeezed into a BP appointment sooner rather than later, so you can maybe get a change in your medication to keep that BP straight. And this is another reason you should consider wearing a tag for THAT issue, too. By the way, Beta Blockers are good for blood pressure, and talk about feeling calm! I had to take them for a temporary hyperthyroid condition, and it slowed my heart AND made me feel calm as can be. Just a thought.
I suppose I could go on and on about you, sorry. Now, hon, you CAN have BP trouble and diabetes WITHOUT extra weight, but IF your weight is goofed up, you must eventually get it off, and to keep it off you stay active as a lifelong habit, PLUS forever no fast foods, no regular sodas, a salad and glass of water with meals to make you feel fuller quicker, and, except for a bite of dark chocolate or a spoonful of ice cream, NO DESERTs.
Well, if you have time and remember, let us know how things go for you. You may also wish to post over in the BP or Diabetes forums. And hey, if they think you are simply stressed, fine, go that route and tranqs will at least help you feel better (avoid SSRIs), but I do not think that is the CAUSE of your health issues. GG
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