How do I stop the lightheadedness?

[quote="deltadave]OTOH, if we're considering the presence of an underlying cardiac arrhythmia, we may be moving out of the DIY milieu (I like saying "milieu") and having to go get a Holter.[/quote]
But I had one back in October. It was normal.

tetragon wrote:

deltadave wrote:OTOH, if we're considering the presence of an underlying cardiac arrhythmia, we may be moving out of the DIY milieu (I like saying "milieu") and having to go get a Holter.

But I had one back in October. It was normal.

Did you have any of these "lightheadedness" events during the Holter?

Tetragon, what you're describing sounds a lot like orthostatic hypotension. There are lots of causes, but sometimes it's just a benign "annoying thing your body does." I've had it for decades, had many of the same tests they've put you through (and then some), and all came back clear.

There are coping strategies that work pretty well; eating extra salt is one of them that's often suggested. So is tensing your abdominal muscles as you start to feel the symptoms. One that might help for you when you mask up is to dangle your lower legs and feet off the bed for a few minutes, and see if that doesn't stop the lightheadedness.

Another thought is that you might consider seeing an ear doctor, since sometimes inner ear issues can exacerbate this and that would fit the situation you describe, where it comes on when you start your cpap. But overall, if you've been checked for the bad stuff and found healthy, it may just be a matter of finding some coping strategies that work for you. Good luck!

deltadave wrote:

tetragon wrote:

deltadave wrote:OTOH, if we're considering the presence of an underlying cardiac arrhythmia, we may be moving out of the DIY milieu (I like saying "milieu") and having to go get a Holter.

But I had one back in October. It was normal.

Did you have any of these "lightheadedness" events during the Holter?

I don't think so. It took place right when I first got my machine (the highest recorded heart rate was during my first DME trip), and the other reliablish ways I could get one going I either didn't think of (stand in one place for a while) or was outright told not to do (a nice, warm shower).

RocketGirl wrote:Tetragon, what you're describing sounds a lot like orthostatic hypotension.

According to tarragon's original post:

that I lay in the middle of the bed, I can feel that I am laying down on what feels to be a safe surface, and hence I cannot fall down.

this phenomenon appears to occur while supine. In order to be orthostatic hypotension, it would need to occur when she gets up.

RocketGirl wrote:Another thought is that you might consider seeing an ear doctor, since sometimes inner ear issues can exacerbate this and that would fit the situation you describe

Well, again, if the symptom is "lightheadedness", ear is not primary. If the symptom is "dizziness" or "vertigo", then ear moves to primary.

tetragon wrote:

deltadave wrote:

tetragon wrote:

deltadave wrote:OTOH, if we're considering the presence of an underlying cardiac arrhythmia, we may be moving out of the DIY milieu (I like saying "milieu") and having to go get a Holter.

But I had one back in October. It was normal.

Did you have any of these "lightheadedness" events during the Holter?

I don't think so...

Wellllll.........

tetragon wrote:It took place right when I first got my machine (the highest recorded heart rate was during my first DME trip), and the other reliablish ways I could get one going I either didn't think of (stand in one place for a while) or was outright told not to do (a nice, warm shower).

This understands different in reading before the other what I'm thinking of.

deltadave wrote:

RocketGirl wrote:Tetragon, what you're describing sounds a lot like orthostatic hypotension.

According to tarragon's original post:

that I lay in the middle of the bed, I can feel that I am laying down on what feels to be a safe surface, and hence I cannot fall down.

this phenomenon appears to occur while supine. In order to be orthostatic hypotension, it would need to occur when she gets up.

To clarify timing a bit: before I started with my machine, I would not become lightheaded when laying down. Then, it was mostly if I was standing for a while, and on a couple of occasions it started when I was sitting. I have only noticed lightheadedness start when laying down on occasions when I have been awake with the machine on for a few minutes.

deltadave wrote:Wellllll.........

I just don't know. But I do know that something isn't right right now. Less than a week until yet another doctor's appointment now.