Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Post C-Section Dizziness/Lightheadedness/Fatigue/Thick Headed - Any ideas?

I had a baby by emergency c-section on May 30th. My blood pressure started to spike around week 37 and I had borderline low amniotic fluid. They gave me a TON of pitocin but she would progress b/c her hand ended up being above her head. Therefore, c-section. She is 4 mos old tomorrow... and every day since the delivery I have been lightheaded/dizzy/brain fog. This is my problem that my Specialists can't figure out. I need help diagnosing what could be causing this constant state of dizziness/lightheadedness/brain fog. Also, I break out into a cold sweat any time I try to get going really anywhere. My main issue is trying to figure out what could be causing my dizziness but overall my health has been horrible since the baby.

I thought at first it was the pain meds (which I had never been on before). They had me on a ton in the hospital and then released me with Hydrocodone and 800mg of Ibuprofen. I quickly weaned off of them b/c I was nursing my daughter and hated for her to have these meds in her system. It was at my first 2 wk check up that I mentioned the feeling of being unsteady almost like I just got off a boat to my OB/GY. I told her I felt as though I was walking on clouds or had just gotten off a boat. Sometimes it feels like my head is too heavy for my neck. It is better in the mornings but still always there and gets worse as the day goes on. LONG LONG STORY short, she tested me to see if I was anemic and my levels were fine. She also tested my TSH (Thyroid Stim Hormone) and it was fine. She referred me back to my Neurologist.

Back in 2003 I was hospitilized for 5 nights with high fever and vomiting. Before this, I had never been sick a day in my life. It all started with a rash on my trunk mainly stomach area. The best they could come up with was it was a harsh virus. After this hospitilization I started having muscle spasms... like little worms in my legs primarily but all over.  That is why I have a Neuro. He ran an MRI to look for MS lesions and found tiny non-specific white spots that looked like it could be from Migraines (which I have never had), Vasculitis, etc etc but didn't present like MS lesions. They have since stayed the same on subsequent MRIS in 2004, 2006 and now in 2008. He re-MRI'd me in July after my baby to explore the dizziness and my MRI was still the same. He has since ran an MRI on my spine and it is clear. All of these with contrast. He ran a ton of blood work searching for an answer for me and tested me for everything under the sun including autoimmune disorders. My ANA came back normal (always has every time it has been ran... even back in 2003). The only thing that flagged after 16 test tubes of blood was my PTT was slightly elevated. He referred me to a Hematologist after he repeated my blood work and my PTT was still elevated. The Hematologist suspected APS (Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome). He tested me and then diagnosed me with APS even though I only had 1 elevated anticardiolipin IGA antibody. My IGG and IGM antibodies were normal. Also, my DRVVT was normal. Also, I have never had any miscarriages (carried 2 babies to term) or had any blood clots. Therefore, I sought a second opinion and the 2nd hematologist doesn't believe I have APS after re-running some labs. He said my IGA being elevated is non-specific and I probably have a mild form of von Willebrands disease type I (easy to bleed... easy to bruise... heavy periods... etc etc). Some Factor VIII labs have been abnormal. My first hematologist also suggested I have an MRA and MRV with contrast. This led to a CT Angiogram of my neck and head b/c the radiologist saw a decreased flow in my left jugular vein in my brain MRI. If he would have looked at my history and the MRIs from 2004, 2006 and 2008 my Neurologist noted this back in 2003 and figures it is congenital.
The CT Angiogram was clear.

I have seen a Rheumotologist in case she had any ideas regarding APS or my dizziness and she believes after reviewing my paperwork and records that I don't have APS either or any auto immune condition. She suggested rest... more sleep and naps. Well, this strategy hasn't helped either. Now that my daughter is sleeping better, I am getting a ton of rest at night.

My Neurologist prescribed Lexapro which has helped with my anxiety a ton but since starting I have noticed twitching (involuntary movements) and hazy vision at night. Like everything isn't as sharp and things seem to glow a tiny bit. I have also seen an Endocrinologist b/c my first hematologist discovered I have 7 nodules on my Thyroid which I am now having to monitor every 3 months. The largest is almost an inch so they are waiting and watching rather than doing a FNB. They suspect multinodular goiter. My grandmother had a goiter removed in her late 30s so I do have family history. The endocrinologist tested my Thyroid again and adrenal levels... but still doesn't think a Thyroid problem would cause my current condition. He believes this could be a secondary problem that came to light as a result of my search to figure out the dizziness.

I know this is the longest post in your history but I thought I would see if anyone on this forum has seen persistent dizziness, lightheadedness for 4 months with muscle twitches??? Any ideas on other tests or specialists I could try? I have 2 young children and I am determined to find the answer and get better. I feel the dizziness (never spins... I can drive and function overall) constantly. It is always there. I haven't felt normal since they wheeled me in for my c-section. I wonder if I have microclotting in my brain and really do have APS. I am nervous about MS appearing although I have yet to present with numbness, tingling or weakness.

As you can see I have been to many specialists with no answers. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thank you for reading the longest post ever! Could this be related to the epidural possibly... it was a combined epidural? I am also doing acupuncture in case this would help and taking Chinese Herbs.

Lara
Frisco, TX

13 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
This lady iknow have those same symptoms come to fine out the eip she had left with a spinal fluid leak... not sure how u would check for it tho. Be she has had all the same symptoms.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
How are you now lararobin? My daughter is 18 months and I am still struggling with dizziness and lightheadedness. It is so frustrating!  No one seems able to find the answer!
Helpful - 0
17180473 tn?1454356946
i am having weakness , light headness , always tired , my head is always spinning , i get pains all through my body and my muscles feel sore an weak alot , i had my 8 month old daughter by c-section she was breech and ever since i have left the hospital my body and i have not been the same , before and during my pregnancy i always had energy and was always active i am not really sure what to do or who to go see but i would love to be my self again so  if you have any suggestions that would help me that would be great i please and thank you kelsey .
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok you guys i had the same exact same thing .  I had my son c section due to failure to.progress . I was fine for the first 3 days then i started getting dizzy,i couldnt stand up or walk right and was very very sentitive to the  light so they diagnosed it to be a problem with my epidural, blood was going back to my head ,what they did was get another epidural but instead of getting medicine they put my own blood to clog up the injury it caused , they take blood from your arm and attach it to the epidural .with in minutes i was feeling soooo much better. They say it happens all the timr and its a risk when you choose to get the epidural ,or even the csection since its the same procedure.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Anyone want to talk about this...I'm experiencing the same things...Lakeshia 318-732-9859 Louisiana
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Everyone! Wow...so good to find fellow sufferers of these crazy symptoms (although sad to see how many people are suffering along with me) at a time when you need all the energy and focus that you can get.

I have two chiddren. My son is 2.5 years and my daughter is 12 weeks old. Both were born via C-Section and the more I read, the more convinced I am that the dizziness is linked to epidurals.

After my son, my dizziness kicked in after a few weeks. I kept thinking it would just go away and it didn't. Just persisted for months. I am a healthy person, with healthy pregnancies and few complications during birth etc... I have a good diet and exercise regularly...so I just couldn't understand what was going on! It's so frightening and GP's seem as lost as we are as to an explantion.

Then one day I thought I would go and see a Chiropractor. I went to see her and she explained that pregnancy puts huge strain on your spine etc... which can affect your brain i.e. headaches, visual disturbances and so on. I had approx. 6 sessions of spine and neck clicking!! At first, I saw no difference but the foggy head did improve after a couple of months, day by day, step by step, it lifted. It never went completely but did improve vastly!!!

After my daughter (12 weeks) ago.....sure enough, its back again!!! Symptons seem to improve if I wear my glasses but still feel like I have no feet when I walk and am looking at the world through some kind of spongy tunnel. So...back off to the GP to ask for a referral to a chiropractor....perhaps you can try this? If anyone does and has a success, please let me know, be lovely to hear some positive news.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Test
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My son was born 21 days ago(7/1/2010) by c-section and I have been weak and dizzy ever since. This is my fourth child but first not delivered vaginally. All my other children are healthy l&d was normal. But my son was a little larger than the others so after pushing with no progress he was delivered by c-section.After my complaints my ob-gyn ran blood tests, checked my ears and thyroid to find no symptoms, so I was referred to see a neurologist. Well, my insurance has tons of red tape so I must see my PCP before neuro so I went to the local ER to see if I could bypass the tedious process. To no available my bloodwork and EKG were normal. It feels better to know that I am not the first person to experience this phenomenon, but it is worrisome to see that no one has figure out the cause. I too stop taking the strong pain meds, made extra efforts to rest more, began to supplement breast feeding with the bottle , iron pills were prescribed, but long story made short no cure thus far.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi!  I am searching for answers to the dizziness too.  I just had a C-Section early October and am having unexplained dizziness too.  My 2 year old likes to dance and I did one spin and thought that I was going to throw up.  I also had a dizzy sensation when I was sitting in her new princess tent... I started feeling really light headed and over-heated.  I'm going to my OBGYN in a couple days and hoping to get an answer.  In the meantime, I've been searching for an answer online and have found nothing so far except a lot of other women who are in the same boat.  If I get an explanation that hasn't been posted yet, I will let you all know!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello~
My daughter was delivered via planned c-section seven months ago - she was breech. Everything went well until I tried running again after having her. I have always been an avid runner, and until I had the baby, my head spins during the first few minutes of a jog. It is SO FRUSTRATING!! I had hopes of running the NYC marathon at some point, was looking forward to getting into shape after the baby, and I get such anxiety when I even think about running. The dizziness stops after a few minutes of the jog, then I can go until I fatigue, but that inital diziness is worrisome Perhaps it is an inner-ear issue. Or an iron deficiency. I am still partially breastfeeding... any help?? HELP!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I hate to hear you are going through this! It is no fun at all. My daughter just turned 1 last weekend and still no change. I have been to a number of specialists... neurologist, rheumatologist, endocrinologist, hematologist, neurootologist, etc etc... in my quest to not give up and figure this thing out. I finally did get a lead. My neuro-otologist out of UT Southwestern here in Dallas ran a number of inner ear tests. Out of the 4... 3 were totally normal; however, 1 was very abnormal. My VEMP (Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential) test was completely absent. Meaning my inner ear nerve was not even putting out noise, seems to be completely dead/gone. This confirms the feeling of my slight dizziness/lightheadedness/imbalance. My Dr. said someone with an absent VEMP would feel this way. It is still frustrating b/c he said we will never know for sure what caused it. However, typically it is do to one of the 3 following conditions. An inner ear virus (unlikely b/c this for sure occurred during my hospital stay having my daughter), a hypotensive event (loss in blood pressure... I did have a sudden drop during the beginning of my c-section after the anesthesia/epidural was administered) OR a blood clot. The only other testing that has come back abnormal in my last year of trying to figure this out was a PTT. This is a test they run on you to check your coagubility (liklihood for blood clots) and mine was slightly elevated. Over the past 6 months it has normalized but it is possible that I had some clots in my inner ear due to the surgery. Strange, but possible. I know for sure something happened and I'm determined to fix it. One way or another!!! I also have experienced a slight haziness to my vision. Mostly under flourescent lights or in the evening, I notice a bit of blurriness. Almost like a light light fog. Have you had anything similar?

I would recommend definitely checking your blood... have your PCP run a PTT and maybe an Anticardiolipin Panel. My hematologist is currently watching me for APS (Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome). I have 1 elevated anticardiolipin antibody (IGA) the other 2 are normal (IGG and IGM). Therefore, his opinion is I still don't have the condition. But, if I happen to have it... it would mean I have an increased chance of blood clots. Typically folks with this condition cannot carry a baby to term and I have 2 healthy children and pregnancies.... so who knows. But I am being monitored.

I hope all of this makes sense one day. I pray someone can figure it out. Please let me know the details of how you feel (your explanation of the dizziness) and if you are experiencing any vision issues. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have and maybe together (with a team of Dr's) we can figure this out. I hope your condition improves quickly and is easily fixed. Maybe a hormone imbalance... did they check your thyroid and iron levels (anemia). These are two 1st line tests you want to have done. Either of these conditions can cause dizziness and are common after having a baby. Hopefully your situation is easily fixed. Those were the 1st tests my OB ran when I first complained back after Kate was born. Of course those tests came back normal for me :(

Lara
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I actually just typed in a search for post baby dizzyness.  I'm sitting here feeling dizzy right now.  My little girl, delivered via c-section is now 11 weeks old.  I didn't feel this way after the first child.  I haven't really talked to my doc much about it.  I did stop taking the mini-pill b/c of it, but that hasn't helped.  I also take synthroid for hypothyroidism, but he just retested my levels and said they were normal.  At least I know I'm not the only one feeling this way.
--Celeste
Helpful - 0
363110 tn?1340920419
I thought i'd say that when my neurologist put me on Topamax for migraines I had side effects like fuzzy vision. Unfortunately, i doubt anyone here can help much. I had a Stat Csection due to no fluid and my son was 1mo preterm. I haven't had any wierd side effects after having him.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Pregnancy Community

Top Pregnancy Answerers
13167 tn?1327194124
Austin, TX
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Get information and tips on how to help you choose the right place to deliver your baby.
Get the facts on how twins and multiples are formed and your chance of carrying more than one baby at a time.
Learn about the risks and benefits of circumcision.
What to expect during the first hours after delivery.
Learn about early screening and test options for your pregnancy.
Learn about testing and treatment for GBS bacterium.