Dizziness - Blood Pressure Issues, maybe?

[CycleChic06]

Hi all,
I was wondering if I could get some thoughts on a problem I've had. When I'm excersizing strenously, whether it be climbing a big hill while biking or out hiking and my heart rate rises and I start breathing heavily (all normal)...I've noticed that if I stop immediately to catch my breath, or come to a stop light I get extremely dizzy and lightheaded and nauseaus (to the point of puking sometimes...its embarrasing, I know). BUT, what I've finally discovered is that if I don't stop and keep moving, or if I stop, start to feel ill and I start moving again, I'm fine! Eventually I recover and my heart rate comes back to normal. I feel like if my body can keep up with my heartrate, I'm fine.

Is this normal? I mentioned it to a friend the other day and she thought it might be a blood pressure issue. Any thoughts on this?

[Veronica]

No, I don't think it's normal.

Do you wear a heart rate monitor?

V.

[guanajagirl]

Def not normal. Have u had any problems with your inner ear? That can cause dizziness and nausa with changes in movement. In any case sounds like a phyical is in order. Do you ever have any other symptoms like chest pain?

[DarcyInOregon]

Hi, it might be a blood sugar problem. You described some of the same symptoms I get when my blood sugar goes too low. The reason you might be recovering is that your body is trying to produce sugar to fuel your cells. Like the others said, you need to see your doctor, because you might have an insulin impairment problem, or it might be a heart problem, or it might be something else. Be sure to think carefully about what you are eating and drinking before you ride and while you ride, if it is enough for the amount of energy you are exerting, and then you can have an intelligent conversation with the doctor. It might be a simple solution, like you need more potassium.

Darcy

[Bikingmomof3]

Something similar happens when I workout and have not paid attention to my blood sugar. It has never happened on my bike thank goodness.

I strongly encourage you to go see your doctor and have a full physical with blood work done.

[CycleChic06]

Thanks for the advice. I never really thought it was a problem, just figured I was out of shape.

I have had a physical in the last year and have had bloodwork done and nothing came up abnormal, but I didn't bring up this since, like I said before, I always just assumed that it was because I was out of shape.

I'll definitely bring it up at my next physical.

[CyclChyk]

I second the inner ear theory. May even go so far as as to guess vertigo. I had a dear friend who had been treated for an inner ear infection, and when all was said and done, she was diagnosed with Vertigo. Her symptoms sound very similar to yours.
Hopefully its something minor (vitamin deficiency)...... but money well spent to see a doctor and find out for sure.

Please keep us posted!

[CycleChic06]

Well I saw the doctor the other day. After I swore to her that I've never snorted coke before, she set me up with a heart monitor that I will have to wear for a month, but luckily only when I excersize. She's telling me to try to induce one of the episodes while I'm wearing the monitor. All I think of is great...this is going to be fun. And she also scheduled me for an echocardiogram. After she gets the data from the monitor I have to go back and see her.

I'm really figuring on this being something minor, but it's good just to make sure of these things.

I'll give an update when all this is over. Thanks everyone for your support.

[CycleChic06]

I'm so frustrated with my doctor. I had all the tests done, wore the heart monitor and called her a week after the end of the study. I called three times before anyone would return my phone call and this is how the conversation went:

S: Hi this is 'S' from Dr. P's office returning your call.

Me: Hi, I'm calling to follow up on the tests I've done, I've called three times and left three messages and this is the first returned call I've gotten.

S: Well the echocardiogram came back normal, so I don't know what you want from me.

Me: (trying to stay calm and not blow a fuse) Well first of all, no one called to tell me the results were ok and no one would even return my phone calls to tell me everything was ok. Second, Dr. P told me to call and schedule an appointment so she could tell me the results of the test.

S: Well let me speak to her and call you back to schedule an appointment.

I have never heard back from them. I'm so tired of chasing people down in this office! I'm so angry, I want to switch doctors. Its great the ECG was fine, but there's still no answer to what my symptoms are!!! I feel helpless!

[LBTC]

Awww

I see that the pay-for-medicine process is similar to the universal health care we get here in Canada!

I can't think of how many times this has happened to me over the years. I'm sorry you have to pay for your visits (hopefully you have good insurance), but, with anything medical I've found you have to be your own advocate. If you want an answer - and I do believe we should have a diagnosis before self-treating - just book the appointment to review the results, regardless of what the receptionist says. And if those results are normal, bring in your checklist and find out if any of the other items can be tested - maybe a blood test is in order.

I do understand how frustrating this is. I've been trying to get a diagnosis on a condition that has seriously limited my activity since July. My next specialist appointment is on December 12. 1 of 3 tests indicated it could be my gallbladder, but 2 of them returned normal results, so....off to the specialist to check who knows what.

I would not have had any of the tests if I had not just kept booking appointments with my doctor to discuss how I'm feeling now and what the last thing we tried did.

Don't give up! If your doctor doesn't give you the treatment you want, by all means start shopping around, but do talk to "Dr. P" about these results to find out the doc's thoughts on what could be next....

Good luck!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Aggie_Ama]

Did you doctor do a complete metabolic panel? I was having similar problems (except they happened mostly at a resting rate) and I had a battery of tests. I felt like a research experiment I had an ECG, Heart Monitor, two metabolic panels, EKG. I saw my internal medicine doctor, a neurologist and my eye doctor. They have determined it is most likely a form of migraines. Not the typical type, but something like it.

Anyway, I am just trying to tell you the path I had to go down to get some answers. Like I said it was similar, not the same. An echo doesn't seem like a stopping point though.

[CycleChic06]

Yes, luckily I have good insurance. It hasn't cost me too much yet. But I've had an ECG, EKG, monitor and a metabolic panel. I'm assuming everything came back normal, the only thing that prissy miss 'S' commented on was the ECG when she said it was normal. I think you're right, I'll make an appointment for a follow up anyway. I'm just so annoyed.