Trying to fix the dizziness...

[scifi-enthusiast]

OK, I've been feeling very lightheaded (even dizzy most of the time) and sometimes short of breath since last Wednesday, so I thought it was because I tapered from 40mg to 30mg of pred the day before. Well I saw my GI specialist on Thursday and asked him about it and he said at those levels the Pred wouldn't do that; although it would do it if you went from 40mg to 10mg.

I bared with the dizziness through the weekend and on Sunday night began to experience hand tremors, so I thought maybe it was anemia. I went to see my general physician today to see if it was. He did blood work, a urine test, a chest X-ray, and an EKG. The blood work showed my Hemoglobin level was 13.9gm/dl (where normal is 14-18gm/dl for a man my age) and my physician said that's not enough of a drop to cause the dizziness I'm experiencing. So he thinks maybe my equilibrium may be off caused by an ear infection, but I doubt it. He prescribed me Omnicef (Cefdinir) for the supposed infection and Antivert (Mecllizine) for the dizziness. The Antivert lowered the intensity of the dizziness (not by much) for about an hour, then the severe dizziness came back.

Well I'm to call my physician back on Wednesday since that's when he'll get my B-12 level and other more detailed tests back from the lab. I have a follow up appointment coming up on Aug. 12th so hopefully we'll know what's going on then.

Has anyone else experienced a problem like this that wasn't caused by anemia?

 

[Entchen]

How annoying for you! Re. your question, I went through about 3 months of near constant dizziness, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. This was pre-diagnosis, so it was lumped in with my other symptoms (although I do have anemia and for me that is the most likely cause). It still happens now, but less frequently and for much shorter periods of time. Will be interested to hear if you find out the cause. Also, maybe don't disregard the possibility of an ear infection quite yet, especially if you have had any symptoms of a virus in the past couple of weeks. You won't always feel ear or head pain.

More important: I hope you hit on a solution soon!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Yes! I've been through something very similar, and I'm also not anemic. What fixed things for me was upping my sodium intake significantly. I just talked about this in another thread - tapering down from pred too quickly can cause symptoms similar to Addison's disease (low blood pressure and dizziness). If you're feeling really dizzy, try eating a tablespoon or two of soy sauce as that's really high in sodium. It's gross but it works immediately for me and makes me feel pretty much instantly better. Good luck, let us know if that works for you.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I meant to mention that I also get the weird hand tremors/hand tingling/hand numbness similar to what you mentioned. I only get those if my blood pressure is really, really low. Do you get dizzy (more dizzy) when you go from sitting to standing? That's another classic sign of low blood pressure.

 

[Astra]

Hiya Sci fi

here's some thoughts

Low blood pressure - check for a problem with your adrenal glands, sometimes not enough blood flows to your brain, like when you stand up suddenly, helps to stay hydrated and eat little and often, a handful of nuts is an ideal snack (if you can)

Labyrinthitis - a viral or bacterial infection in the ear, needs anti biotics,

Meniere's Disease - imbalance of pressure in the inner ear, can be caused by autoimmune diseases. minimise salt and caffeine intake, chocolate is a trigger too

Panic Attacks - hyperventalation, dizziness, can be caused by stress and dips in blood sugar, slow deep breathing and counting to 3 will help

Hypoglycaemia - light headed, weak and dizzy, this happens when blood glucose drops beneath a certain level, going too long without food, or on a low calorie diet, a glass of orange juice is ideal for pumping glucose into your bloodstream rapidly followed by a proper meal, check for type 1 diabetes.


hope this helps
xxx

 

[Dallies]

Hiya Sci-fi, I have fairly low blood pressure and it was recommended years ago to use salt!!!! I actually passed out when I was pregnant LOL

Meg has these symptons - after calling the Doc, he told us these were classic symptons of her anemia as her iron levels are low.

Keep us posted love!

xx

 

[scifi-enthusiast]

So, I went to my GP today for the follow up appointment. Keep in mind that I'm still having the dizziness and have started vomiting since Tuesday. He said that everything was normal on my blood test, and that my blood pressure and everything else was fine. He thinks that the Omnicef (antibiotic) may not be working on me, which is sometimes normal for patients with illnesses. So he put me on Bactrim for the "infection" and gave me a gel that you rub in your wrists for the nausea (forgot the name).

Well he said that if I still experience the dizziness after a week he may need to put me in the hospital to figure out what's going on. And I'm thinking, "Great, right before college starts. First I go in at the end of the Spring semester and miss my finals (which causes me to fail one of my classes), and now I may go in at the beginning of Fall semester."

On a side note I have some good news. I got awarded work-study from my college and have an interview with H.R. on Monday. The great thing is that since they don't take taxes out of work-study (which is meant just to help with school related necessities) I still qualify for SSI & SSD. Which reminds that I need to call them to change some of my information, like the fact that my brother-in-law totaled the van that was in my name, and that I forgot to put down that I've been experiencing depression.

 

[ChefShazzy]

...Could going from 40mg to 30 have been too much of a drop too quick? I usually taper by 5mg a week.

The other suggestions of low blood pressure, low sodium, etc might explain it, too.

 

[scifi-enthusiast]

No, because it never did that to me before, and before I always tapered by 10mg. Also, both my GP (who I've had for over 10 years) and GI said at those levels it wouldn't cause the dizziness I'm experiencing.

I've been on 30 mg for over 2 weeks now, so my body should have leveled off by now anyways.

 

[Jennifer]

I'm assuming they checked your blood sugar as well? My mom had similar symptoms and she recently found out that she has type 2 diabetes.

Are you dizzy constantly or does it come and go? Are you still vomiting? How often?

 

[scifi-enthusiast]

It's constant but at different intensities, but gets really bad in the afternoon. I asked my GP about my blood sugar level and he said that it was normal.

I only vomit 15-45 minutes after I eat something. And even then it's not a lot. Most of the time it's just two or three drops, or an ounce at the most.

 

[Jennifer]

Was changing the dose of Prednisone the only recent change? Have you been eating anything different or using any new cleaning products in the house or any change at all? Do you still feel this way outside of your usual surroundings?

 

[scifi-enthusiast]

Well, my doctor told me to cut down to eating red meat twice a month, but my blood test shows that my iron and other protein levels are fine. I'm also eating a lot healthier than I use to which means no more fried foods.

It stays about the same when I go outside, but if I stand for too long inside or outside I start to feel like I just got off a roller coaster.

No new cleaning supplies, or changes in other solutions.

And really the pred is the only change. Maybe I do have to go back up. Or go up to 35 instead of 40.

 

[Chuck2008]

I've been on prednisone for about 2 years now (the last 1.5 years at between 3 and 7 mg/day). I can tell you that every time I taper the prednisone, even as little as 10%, there are withdrawal symptoms that start a few days later. They ALWAYS include lightheadedness, dizziness, mild nausea, seeing stars when you get up too fast, a little bit of depression, etc. But it always goes away after a week. Then I taper another 10% and a few days later the dizziness/lightheadedness starts again.

I think your doctor is wrong to say that going from 40 to 30 wouldn't be enough to cause withdrawal symptoms. At least for me, anything over a 10% decrease triggers them. I remember when I tapered originally down from 40 in 5mg increments I got those same symptoms every time.

 

[scifi-enthusiast]

OK, been on 30mg of prednisone for nearly 3 weeks now, and the dizziness is still there, and the vomiting is worse now. Instead of waiting 30 minutes after I eat, it's now right after and comes back every 15 minutes until my stomach is empty. I even vomit after I drink a glass of water.

I thought maybe it was the new antibiotic (bactrim) causing the vomiting, but I was vomiting 2 days before I finished the Omnicef, which doesn't cause vomiting. And with 3 weeks being on the same level of prednisone, the withdrawal effects should have subsided.

 

[Astra]

Hi Sci-fi

hope you're ok?
did your doc checks your ears? or mention vertigo? vertigo makes you vomit.
I think you should see your doc again, my gastro said vomiting should never be ignored, it's a sure sign something is wrong, such as narrowing or obstruction.
take care
xx

 

[scifi-enthusiast]

Doc checked my ears, which is why I'm on the antibiotics. Thing is the prednisone is keeping my ears from becoming inflamed so it's hard for my GP to tell. I see my GP again on the 26th, but he says if it persists until Wednesday to come back. Thing is, I'm out of money, so can't go and see him until the appointment. May come down to giving him a call and going into the emergency room.

And I don't think I have an obstruction or narrowing of the intestine, since I'm having regular solid (big) bowel movements. Although the colon pain (Upper-Right-Quadrant & Lower-Left-Quadrant) has gotten a little worse.

[EDIT] Just went to the restroom, and while my B.M. was solid, it was very small and flat. Although right before it felt like I had to make a big snake like one. But usually it is a big B.M.

 

[Chuck2008]

That does sound unusual scifi. Prenisone withdrawal symptoms only last a couple days, not 3 weeks. I'd be headed to the emergency room today if I were you. Sorry to hear you are having such a bad time right now, it must be terrible..

Good luck!