Light headedness

[marie2278]

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a problem with this? I can't seem to shake it. It's especially bad when I bend over and get back up or stand up after sitting on the ground, sometimes I feel like I am going to faint.
I think I'm eating ok. I lsoe maybe 1/2 lb a week, sometimes more sometimes less.
I'm really down to my last 10 pounds so it is slow going.
I want to eventually just maintain on this diet because I have hypoglycemeia, but I don't know if I can tolerate the lightheadedness problem. Is it possible my body just can't live without a regular supply of sugar? Is it a hypoglycemia problem. I'm getting so frustrated.

Thanks,
Marie

[mermaiden]

I know several hypoglycemics who had a complete turn around on Atkins. They can't ever eat too many carbs, or they get hypo crashes again. I don't think it's too little sugar, but too much that is the problem.

I'm not trying to convert you or anything, but maybe you would do better on another plan that is lower carb.

Just my thoughts, hope you feel better :)

[babe]

it sounds like orthrostatic hypotension. basically, a momentary drop in blood pressure when you go from down to up. the blood kinda settles in you legs and it take the heart a couple of moment to get it pumping up to your head.
it's pretty common. the easiest way to check is do laying and standing blood pressures. take your bp laying down and then again right way when you stand up. are you on bp drugs? maybe they need to be adjusted. adding a little extra salt (if you've been cutting back on salt) helps too. since you know this is a problem, get up slowly, give yourself an extra moment to things to settle. i don't think it had anything to do with blood sugars.

[marie2278]

it sounds like orthrostatic hypotension. basically, a momentary drop in blood pressure when you go from down to up. the blood kinda settles in you legs and it take the heart a couple of moment to get it pumping up to your head.
it's pretty common. the easiest way to check is do laying and standing blood pressures. take your bp laying down and then again right way when you stand up. are you on bp drugs? maybe they need to be adjusted. adding a little extra salt (if you've been cutting back on salt) helps too. since you know this is a problem, get up slowly, give yourself an extra moment to things to settle. i don't think it had anything to do with blood sugars.

It does definitely sound like that. I know I usually have low blood pressure naturally, maybe something is just sending me over the edge, maybe I'm eating less salt or something. I can say that this particular symptom is only happenng when I start dieting. Also, I noticed that if I exersize vigorously it will be doubly bad for a few days, and if I'm not dieting that doesn't happen.

I'm not taking any medication.

If it doesn't get better maybe I will try just cutting out all carbs, that is what they recommend, I was just hoping to 'cheat' a little lol.

Plus, I wonder if you went on a permanent low carb diet like is recommended for hypoglycemia, would you just lose weight until you had no body fat left? I don't get it.

I'm going to also try switching my vitamins, maybe I'm gettng anemic or something.

[chelles]

I have the same problem - low blood pressure. I've had it since I was young, though.

I eat tons of salt and it seems to help. LC makes it worse, but I think that's just because LC brings my blood pressure down even lower.

[Enomarb]

Hi Marie-
losing weight will usually lower blood pressure naturally- in fact weight loss is one of the first things a MD will recommend to a patient who is overweight and hypertensive.
You can add in salt, make sure you are getting lots of water, and you may need some potasium too- easy to get by using one of the 'light salt' products out there. You may want to see your MD and get their opinion.
I have lost a lot more wight than you on CALP- IMHO this has nothing to do with blood sugar or hypoglycemia. I have low blood pressure and sometimes I will also feel faint- I eat some salty stuff and drink some water and it goes away.
If you want to switch to Atkins and see if it is different- please let us know how you are!
E

[SloLoser]

My daughter had a fainting spell this summer that scared us. We took her to the Doc and were told that she has naturally low blood pressure and that she just has to be careful. Stay well-hydrated, eat regularly, and if you feel light-headed, sit right down immediately. (She fell after ignoring the warning signs.) Apparently, it's pretty common, particularly in teenage girls. My DH's blood pressure is also very low and he sometimes gets dizzy if he gets up too fast. I doubt very much that your diet, low-carb or otherwise, would contribute to this. I hope you feel better!