Lightheadedness - Menopause Message Board

jennyjo · 08-21-2007, 03:01 PM

About 5 years ago I quit breastfeeding my last child and with the return of my periods I began getting dizzy right before or during my period. I was 43 years old. It has been happening sporadically ever since. In the beginning, it happened every month for about 6 months. Then it didn't happen for several months. It has been like that. Sometimes an episode is very mild where it is very light and mostly unnoticable and lasts only a few days. Sometimes they last 10 days and are accompanied by extreme fatigue and I am bedridden for at least 24 hours so dizzy that I have to put my head down on its side to feel somewhat balanced. For several other days I lay down whenever possible. The bad episodes are really bad.
I went on the pill 10 months ago to try to level out my hormones, but I just had one of my worst episodes while on the pill. I've read that it might be low blood sugar as well. This "condition" can be completely debilitating.
Is this common? Does anyone have any advise?

sammi2 · 08-30-2007, 03:38 PM

It sounds like it could be Meniere's or vertigo. Fluid accumulates in the inner ear & causes dizziness, off balance, sometimes full blown vertigo. Hormones of any kind will cause me to have an attack because they cause fluid retention in some people. The tired exhausted feeling that goes with it is hard to describe unless you've experienced it. Some people get relief by taking an antihistamine, McClezine, or a dieuretic. Do you have any ringing in your ears? Do you have a feeling of fullness in either of your ears or jaw? Hope you're better by now. Let us know.