Blurry vision, nausea, headaches, nutrition.

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2

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  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    edited July 2017
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    nickhennessey wrote: »
    StealthHealth wrote: »
    nickhennessey wrote: »
    My acupuncturist has suggested that my stomach/spleen energy is very weak, so has recommended eating
    little and often.

    Woo. By the way, what are you seeing your acupuncturist for?

    Because I was getting nowhere with the GP.



    Acupuncture is, in my opinion, pseudoscience and has no clinical benefit over placebo (except for pain management where I think there are studies that show benefit) but is certainly not a diagnostic tool.
  • nickhennessey
    nickhennessey Posts: 26 Member
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    TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »
    In the US, a test for vitamin and mineral deficiencies could cost thousands. Insurance only pays if it's absolutely necessary. And insurance companies tend to be stingy with this.

    I can imagine. I've just booked a fasting blood test.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited July 2017
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    nickhennessey wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    nickhennessey wrote: »
    TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »
    Is that acupuncturist giving you any supplements that could be doing this? Are you taking anything like ginko, ginseng, herbal teas, any strange supplements? Surprised your doctor did not test you for type 2 diabetes fasting. He must have had a reason.

    The Doctor was a locum back then, in January, and wanted to talk a lot during my consultation about under funding to the NHS, so it wouldn't surprise me if he over-looked it. But subsequent GPs haven't picked up on it, and I've had 4 different ones since then.

    Have you asked them to test you for diabetes?

    Well I can see from my test results that they did a random glucose check, and that came in as normal. Do you suggest I ask for a fasting check?

    I am diabetic and your symptoms sound closer to what I get if my blood sugar goes too low. A fasting blood test can indicate low glucose. Often it is done at the same time as other fasting blood tests like a metabolic panel or lipid panel. I doubt if that is you issue but ti doesn't hurt to rule it out.
    TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »
    In the US, a test for vitamin and mineral deficiencies could cost thousands. Insurance only pays if it's absolutely necessary. And insurance companies tend to be stingy with this.

    I have never run into any push-back from my insurance company. Using things like metabolic panels and other tests for deficiencies is one of the best and cheapest diagnostic tools doctors have and, if being used either to determine a diagnosis or as follow-up if a deficiency is noted, Insurance covers without a squawk.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,728 Member
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    StealthHealth wrote: »
    nickhennessey wrote: »
    StealthHealth wrote: »
    nickhennessey wrote: »
    My acupuncturist has suggested that my stomach/spleen energy is very weak, so has recommended eating
    little and often.

    Woo. By the way, what are you seeing your acupuncturist for?

    Because I was getting nowhere with the GP.



    Acupuncture is, in my opinion, pseudoscience and has no clinical benefit over placebo (except for pain management where I think there are studies that show benefit) but is certainly not a diagnostic tool.

    Just like Chiropractic. They frequently get outside their lane and start making rediculus(!sp!) claims.
  • nickhennessey
    nickhennessey Posts: 26 Member
    edited July 2017
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    For what it's worth, my acupuncturist hasn't made any ridiculous claims about my health.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
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    Have you had your blood pressure measured? As you lose weight your blood pressure can go down. Try to ask your doctor to do a reactive hypoglycemia test. This looks like a blood sugar, blood pressure, or electrolyte issue. Blurry vision smells of blood pressure issues, either chronically low or sudden changes to it. Do you feel lightheaded and get tunnel vision when you change your position suddenly, like from sitting to standing or from lying down to standing? It's more common in women, but POTS is something to look into if the symptoms fit. Some of those who have it get persistent symptoms and can be misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue. You said you were a runner, do you sweat a lot? Do you make up for that with supplemental electrolytes? Are you eating enough carbs? And if not, are you making up for that with increased salt intake? This can be anything... I would continue working with your doctor until you find out the culprit.
  • nickhennessey
    nickhennessey Posts: 26 Member
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    StealthHealth wrote: »
    nickhennessey wrote: »
    StealthHealth wrote: »
    nickhennessey wrote: »
    My acupuncturist has suggested that my stomach/spleen energy is very weak, so has recommended eating
    little and often.

    Woo. By the way, what are you seeing your acupuncturist for?

    Because I was getting nowhere with the GP.



    Acupuncture is, in my opinion, pseudoscience and has no clinical benefit over placebo (except for pain management where I think there are studies that show benefit) but is certainly not a diagnostic tool.

    Fair enough.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,728 Member
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    nickhennessey wrote: »
    My acupuncturist has suggested that my stomach/spleen energy is very weak, so has recommended eating little and often. This has helped a little in the last few days, particularly with the headaches, nausea and blurry vision. But that has confirmed (a little at least) that the issue is dietary. But what did I do to myself last year that could have thrown my body so completely out of whack?


    nickhennessey wrote: »
    For what it's worth, my acupuncturist hasn't made any ridiculous claims about my health.


    I'd disagree. "Stomach/spleen energy" isn't a real thing.
  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
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    When it comes to vitamin tests, the trick is to let the doctor ask for them. If the doctor writes down that you requested them and the doctor does not see them as necessary, you are screwed.
  • nickhennessey
    nickhennessey Posts: 26 Member
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    stanmann571 wrote: »
    nickhennessey wrote: »
    My acupuncturist has suggested that my stomach/spleen energy is very weak, so has recommended eating little and often. This has helped a little in the last few days, particularly with the headaches, nausea and blurry vision. But that has confirmed (a little at least) that the issue is dietary. But what did I do to myself last year that could have thrown my body so completely out of whack?


    nickhennessey wrote: »
    For what it's worth, my acupuncturist hasn't made any ridiculous claims about my health.


    I'd disagree. "Stomach/spleen energy" isn't a real thing.

    Whatevs. Not really interested in a debate about it right now.
  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,514 Member
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    I get similar symptoms with hypoglacemia, the lower my blood sugar, the worse i feel. Hospital spotted it after i spent 2 years asking my gp for help..... my sugar was 1.1 at the hospital
  • nickhennessey
    nickhennessey Posts: 26 Member
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    ruqayyahsmum wrote: »
    I get similar symptoms with hypoglacemia, the lower my blood sugar, the worse i feel. Hospital spotted it after i spent 2 years asking my gp for help..... my sugar was 1.1 at the hospital

    Wow! Do you manage it ok now?
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,894 Member
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    TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »
    In the US, a test for vitamin and mineral deficiencies could cost thousands. Insurance only pays if it's absolutely necessary. And insurance companies tend to be stingy with this.

    Really?

    I get one done about once a year as a part of a complete physical here ... I think it's about $125.
  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,514 Member
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    nickhennessey wrote: »
    ruqayyahsmum wrote: »
    I get similar symptoms with hypoglacemia, the lower my blood sugar, the worse i feel. Hospital spotted it after i spent 2 years asking my gp for help..... my sugar was 1.1 at the hospital

    Wow! Do you manage it ok now?

    I make sure to eat regularly and always carry snacks on me.

    So long as i keep a close eye im fine. If i start to feel a little fuzzy or confused a small snack will bring it back round. If i ignore those signs then ill end up spending most the day shakey, blurred vision, clammy, nauseous, headachey and dizzy while trying to eat my way out of it.
    Not my favourite way to spend a day
  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,514 Member
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    I also have migraines that can be food related
    For those the headache always starts behind my right eye and i get neauseous and need my glasses
    It goes when i eat but will come back 30 minutes after eating. Thankfully it never lasts longer than a day
  • nickhennessey
    nickhennessey Posts: 26 Member
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    ruqayyahsmum wrote: »
    nickhennessey wrote: »
    ruqayyahsmum wrote: »
    I get similar symptoms with hypoglacemia, the lower my blood sugar, the worse i feel. Hospital spotted it after i spent 2 years asking my gp for help..... my sugar was 1.1 at the hospital

    Wow! Do you manage it ok now?

    I make sure to eat regularly and always carry snacks on me.

    So long as i keep a close eye im fine. If i start to feel a little fuzzy or confused a small snack will bring it back round. If i ignore those signs then ill end up spending most the day shakey, blurred vision, clammy, nauseous, headachey and dizzy while trying to eat my way out of it.
    Not my favourite way to spend a day

    I can imagine. Helpful for me to know it's manageable, thanks for your input.

  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,013 Member
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    OP, about 10 years ago I started getting lightheaded and nauseous with a headache several times a week, usually in the morning when I first got to work. My doc had me get a fasting blood test and they found I had super low blood sugar in the morning. I guess as I ate and drank through the day it leveled up, so it was only noticeable on the fasting test.

    They told me to have a string cheese and a glass of juice immediately when I woke up in the morning, and the dizzy spells stopped. After a couple of months, I stayed with my brother for a few days and forgot my little morning snack and had no problems. So eventually I got back to not eating in the AM and haven't had any problems since. I have no idea why it happened and why it stopped being an issue, but I hope you get some answers with the fasted blood test!
  • nickhennessey
    nickhennessey Posts: 26 Member
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    kimny72 wrote: »
    OP, about 10 years ago I started getting lightheaded and nauseous with a headache several times a week, usually in the morning when I first got to work. My doc had me get a fasting blood test and they found I had super low blood sugar in the morning. I guess as I ate and drank through the day it leveled up, so it was only noticeable on the fasting test.

    They told me to have a string cheese and a glass of juice immediately when I woke up in the morning, and the dizzy spells stopped. After a couple of months, I stayed with my brother for a few days and forgot my little morning snack and had no problems. So eventually I got back to not eating in the AM and haven't had any problems since. I have no idea why it happened and why it stopped being an issue, but I hope you get some answers with the fasted blood test!

    That's really helpful, thank you. I've booked one for next week, so we'll see.....
  • bluestarlight19
    bluestarlight19 Posts: 419 Member
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    Have you had an eye exam recently? Its how they found my IIH. I had blurry/blacking out vision and headaches, nausea on and off. But I thought they were just migraines, since I've had those since a kid. Went for an eye exam and they found my optic nerves swollen/enlarged. Was sent for an MRI and all came back normal. They did a spinal tap and it turned out my CSF in my brain is too high. Causing all the symptoms.
  • codycoder
    codycoder Posts: 5 Member
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    nickhennessey wrote: »
    Hi there,

    I'm really keen to hear what people might think is going on for me.

    I've been using MfP for two years, steadily losing weight, and lowering my intake from 2600 to 1800 over that time. In that time I took up running more seriously, and began fell running last autumn. On two occasions in December and January, both about 48 hours after a big run, I almost passed out. Then I occurred to me that 1800 calories is a BMR for my height and size, and I was only averaging around 1600. So I upped my intake, quite a lot at first (my weight went up to about 15.5 stone) , and have since (over the last three months) lowered it to about 2100.

    However, since January my vision has been blurry, my general energy levels have dropped substantially and I get regular headaches and nausea and dizziness. My GP can find nothing amiss, they've tried labyrinthitis as a diagnosis but the ENT specialist can't find evidence. I'm awaiting a head scan. All blood tests come back fine.

    My acupuncturist has suggested that my stomach/spleen energy is very weak, so has recommended eating
    little and often. This has helped a little in the last few days, particularly with the headaches, nausea and blurry vision. But that has confirmed (a little at least) that the issue is dietary. But what did I do to myself last year that could have thrown my body so completely out of whack?

    I have occasional runs now, no more than 3 miles, and whilst being a bit slow to start there is energy there once I get going, but the day after and (today) 2 days after the headache, blurry vision and nausea return, and eating doesn't really help.

    Any thoughts? I'd really appreciate any advice.

    I'm 6'2" male, and weigh about 14.5 stone.

    Thanks ever so.

    Maybe you need to take a break? It sounds like you've been working hard for a long time. Rest is critically important for long term progress.

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