Dizzy when standing, feel faint and sometime pass out when heart rate gets up

[Knc8485]

Hey for the past 2 years randomly when I stand up I get very dizzy and have to usually hold onto something for a sec BC everything goes black.  Well he past few months it has gotten so Much worse.  3 months ago I was at my brothers and when I got in the shower while washing my hair I started to black out.  Everything slowly started to get blurry and then went completely black.  I slowly stated to feel faint and sat down in the floor of the shower .  Within sec I couldn't see, couldn't move, and was having trouble catching my breath but I was still awake.  After what felt like several minutes I finally slowly started getting my vision back, and was able to get enough energy to crawl out of the shower.  My brother took my to the er where I spent 2 days having every test known to man ran on me where they found nothing telling me everything was normal even the dr were confusing on why that happened.
The past two weeks I feel like it's taken another turn for the worse.  It's now every time I stand up I go completely black for a sec and have to hold on to something for a few sec and a few times I've actually passed out.  Twice this past week when my heart rate has gotten up I've gotten dizzy and passed out both time my left arm would go numb and my fingertips tingle, I start to shake, I get nausea, and feel like I can't catch my breath.  I have horrible headaches everyday.  I have 3 little kids and this has really taken a toll on me..  I just don't understand why this keeps happening to me and is getting worse yet no one seems to be able to tell me what's wrong.  Please help!!!!

[azjeepin]

I have had this situation quite a bit and I, too, am a mother of 3, so I can imagine how you feel.  While you are working the doctor angles to ensure there isn't something very serious going on, I will give you my recommendations.

Historically, I have pretty low blood pressure over all, so that doesn't help and I've had my docs check me out a couple times in my life for similar issues.  I can tell you that I notice my symptoms are much worse
1) if I drink a lot of caffeine (I used to be a huge diet soda and coffee drinker, now I've cut back quite a bit)
2) if I haven't been eating healthy or often enough (Now I actually have an alarm set on my phone to have a small snack every 3 hours - a few nuts or vegetables are sufficient and definitely seem to help)
3) if I haven't had enough non-carbonated non-caffeinated beverages every day (maybe sensitive to dehydration?)

While you are working to determine if there is a more serious, I would recommend the following if you aren't already doing them:
- Eat some protien for breakfast (not all carbs) - if you are making PB&J for the kids, throw some PB on Celery or carrots or toast and that's a good start.  or Eggs, or whatever.  I know for me it ends up being a natural crunchy peanut butter romaine lettuce wrap and a cup of great coffee.

- Set an alarm and eat a little protien every 3 hours (my days go toooooo fast and before I know it, it's been 7 hours and I haven't eaten at all - not good).  If you like nuts, it's easy - like 5or6 nuts, or a bite of beef jerky or a piece of lunchmeat - you get the idea.  I think maybe keeping your blood sugar level helps alleviate the lightheadedness.

- Drink baby drink.  I know we hear it all the time, but only in the last 2 years did I start to realize what a difference it makes.  I'm not saying don't drink other stuff, but try to drink like 1/2 a gallon of non-caffeinated non-carbonated drinks every date - like Diet peach iced tea or water with Crystal light or just water.  For me the key was lots of drinks with no carbonation and no caffeine.  It sounds like a lot, but it's really not.   64 oz is 4 of those water bottles most of us buy by the pallet.  They are usually around 16 oz.  

I hope some of my suggestions help you while you get this figured out!  good luck and remember to take care of "The Mom"!!!

[Mermaid3773]

Maybe POTS??

[jemma116]

Degenerative disc disease can cause these symptoms especially if there is narrowing along the spinal canal and the spinal chord is being pinched.

You do really need to go back to ER if you have collapsed.

You certainly do have a problem, and do need further investigation.  Shame you were not able to see the neurologist.

Make an appointment to see your own doctor and take care how you move and do move slowly.  

[Knc8485]

When I went to the hospital they checked EKG, ct, and MRI... Again everything came back normal.  I was suppose to follow up with a neurologist but I don't have insurance so I couldn't.  
I fell down the stairs a few years ago and was told I have degenerative disc disease. I am just at a loss.  I don't know if I should go back to the er or not?? I notice after having sex when my heart rate is up it gets a lot worse.  I've actually passed out after having sex the past two times waking up not really remembering what happened and my legs shaking, nauseas, with an awful headache... My boyfriend wants me to go to the er but I'm just scared like last time that they'll admit me for two days run a bunch of tests and then still not find anything.

[jemma116]

I suggest you make an appointment to see your doctor with all these symptoms so that he can refer you to the correct specialist/s for further investigation if the doctor feels this is required.

When you say the ER did every test, did they check your heart?  If they did, it may be that you need a more thorough investigation.

As you have the symptoms most when you are getting up from a sitting position, it appears that you may have a muscular/skeletal problem, namely problems in the cervical area (the neck).  Your doctor will be able to send you for xrays or an MRI scan to see if there is a problem with the spine.

When you do move and get up from a sitting position, move slowly and carefully.  Have you been involved in a car accident where you suffered whiplash?  There may be degenerative changes in the cervical area of the spine and that too can cause problems of dizziness when getting up from a sitting position - this is referred to as postural hypertension.  

Did the hospital check your blood for iron deficiency, if not that would be worth getting done.  Some of the symptoms like having difficulty getting your breath, could be from being anaemic, anxiety and stress, heart or lung problems like asthma.

Let me know how you get on.
Best wishes.