Dizziness

I am also feel so terribly dizzy and nauseous today. I feel terrible and actually fell down. I think it is my Meniere's disease that has come back--I hate this! My MD took me off my high blood pressure medicine (a diuretic) cause my BP became too low, so I think that may be the cause. I will call my ENT tomorrow morning--I feel like I am rolling on a ship, sort of seasick. I also have this horrible constant stabbing pain in my right side of my stomach. Does anyone think this could be connected to the dizziness?

Dizziness may be described in two ways, vertigo or light headedness. It is important to differentiate between them. If you experience either though, you should share your symptoms to your physician.

Vertigo is the sensation that the room or your surroundings are whirling or spinning. This may be caused when your sensory nerves send incorrect signals to and from your brain.

Light headedness or wooziness is a feeling that you may faint, but you do not feel as if you or your surroundings are moving. Light headedness usually is a result of a lowering of your blood pressure or not enough blood flow to your head when you get up too quickly from a chair or out of bed. This might be a result of dehydration. It is a feeling of weakness or unsteadiness.

Chemotherapy may cause the side effect of dizziness. Some medications that might have this side effect are faslodex, femara, and fareston.

Here are some tips that may help if you are feeling dizzy: drink lots of fluids, try not to make quick movements, keep a telephone near in case you fall, keep the floors clear of clutter, and your living area well lighted.

Medications that may be prescribed for vertigo are meclizine, dramamine, and scopolamine patch.

Symptoms of blood pressure changes may include:
- Fatigue - tiredness, weakness, difficult to do daily activities
- Dizziness or a feeling of fainting when changing positions such as arising from bed, standing or sitting up
- Nauseated
- Perceiving irregular heartbeats
- Experiencing sweatiness
- Experiencing chills
- Breathlessness and chest pain due to the heart not having enough blood to pump throughout the body
- Skin palor (pale)

Factors contributing to hypotension and low blood pressure include:
- Side effects or adverse effect of chemotherapy treatment
- Situations that decrease the amount of blood in the body and therefore decrease the amount of blood the heart can pump
- Certain medications
- Losing fluids from nausea, vomiting and diarrhea which leads to lower than normal amount of blood in your body
- Dehydration may also occur from hot weather, exercising, sweating, or fever

Make sure to track what causes low blood pressure for you and discuss with your health care provider.

Some tips manage hypotension are:
- Drink lots of water, gatorade, etc. to avoid dehydration.
- Eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, etc.
- Your doctor may recommend adding a moderate level of salt to your diet to increase blood pressure.
- Move slowly and take short rests between getting up, lying down, sitting, or standing. Don't stand up quickly or get out bed quickly.
- Stay out of the heat. This includes hot baths or showers, which might cause your blood pressure to drop even more.
- Try not to drink alcohol. Alcohol can contribute to low blood pressure and dehydration.
- Know your medications, because many medications may affect your blood pressure.