Dizziness/presyncope

MyLovePrayer

I've had mild dizziness once in awhile, but last night while I was cooking dinner, I started to feel light-headed. It was quickly getting worse. I started to get so hot and diaphoretic, my husband could see me sweating. I also had nausea, felt so sick, like I could have fainted. I was able to sit down and my husband was helpful. It was scary.

I didn't know what was happening. At first I thought I ate something bad or had some kind of horrible infection. I knew that wasn't the case when the worst of the symptoms and the fever were over about 5 minutes later. I'm sure my BP dropped too low, didn't have enough blood flowing to my brain, so the body was trying hard to fix it. I read a lot last night how pregnant women can be prone to presyncope or syncope (fainting), because of all the changes to their vascular system.

I'm worried about it happening when I'm alone or driving. I know now that I need to stop sooner, what ever I'm doing and sit with head between my knees or lay down if I can. We just moved into a new home, and just got the old apartment cleaned up this past week. Glad that's over. I was working much harder during all of that.

I know stress can aggravate it. My brother (50) had a double heart attack last week, and his heart stopped from an arrhythmia a couple days ago. They put a defibrillator in him yesterday, so hopefully he'll recover enough to go home soon. He will still need to work hard with his rehab. Also one of my brother in laws ended up in the hospital with food poisoning from eating bad sushi. He has diabetes so that always complicates things. 

So, it hasn't been the easiest couple of weeks. I thought I was doing fine, great even, but now I know I need to manage my stress better and take more breaks.

Has anyone else gone through this or know anyone who has dealt with this? I have an OB appt next week. I'm curious to know how other women are handling this.

Thank you for your time. This is my first day posting on the bump, so gradually learning how to navigate it. 

FLRainbowGirl

Glad you're ok. I realized that a pregnant momma has a lot of stress on her... Even without all the incidents. I hope everyone in the family will heal up quickly!

I've had dizzy spells with my previous 2 pregnancies. I always had a little OJ & it made me feel better immediately.
I think mine was a low blood sugar issue.

Don't over-do it! Take it easy...

MyLovePrayer

Thank you! I'm trying to pace myself and care a lot less about finishing things right away. It's not worth it. I think it was blood pressure, but know low blood sugar could have been a reason also. I had been snacking while cooking though, so that's why I'm leaning more towards BP. I hope I get good info at my next appt.

NicoleWI

I had a lot of light-headedness with my first two, although only once as bad as what you described. I found if I just got my head down and drank water, I would be OK. It mainly happened each time at end of first tri/early second tri.

JilliansMoma

This happened to me about 5 weeks ago. Seriously thought I was going to pass out. I was at work I got hot and sweaty and really light headed all of a sudden, I thought I might need more water so I got up from my desk and and had major tunnel vision. I sat back down and called my hubby, he works right down the street, he came right over. My boss came into my office and had me call the Dr. The advice nurse told my to put my head down and my feet up. Freaked me out. Dr called and told me it's common, she called it blood pooling, basically a reverse head rush but to your uterus instead of your head. She asked if my blood sugar was low, but having had GD with my last baby I knew it wasn't that. It felt different and wiped me out. I went home from work early and took a nap with a pillow under my feet. It hasn't happened again. My accupuncture Dr would have me do breathing exercises to help with stress and they always calmed me. GL and I hope everything calms down for you. JM

MyLovePrayer

Thank you so much ladies! I've read medical articles about how common it is, but it helps a lot to hear real stories. I used to be a rehab and long term care nurse, which helps when it comes to certain things, but I've never had a pregnant patient, so I have a lot to learn when it comes to all of this.

Today I am determined to find a pregnancy yoga/workout dvd. I have many workout video's but they are too intense for pregnancy. I think it'll help with some of the stress. I stretch every day, but this should be better. And hopefully things will calm down for awhile. 

ktb31

Exact same thing happened to me the other morning while I was trying to make everyone else breakfast and it was way past the time I should have eaten.  I started sweating and feeling really weak, I had to stop what I was doing and sit down and eat.  I am really prone to dizzy spells, I have to be careful not to stand up too quickly.  I did pass out during my first pregnancy because I stood up too fast and it was really scary.