Dr Joshi,

I noted in a recent post that someone suffered from dizzyness spells some months after radiotherapy (or perhaps chemotherapy) treatment. I have recently experienced the same and it is some 7 months since I completed my radiotherapy.

My most significant spell was exiting the sauna at a health centre. This spell caused me to fall over on tiled steps. Result was a black eye, a bruised back of hand and a bruised rib cage. While my black eye has almost gone and my hand OK, I still suffer from my bruised rib some 12 days after the event.

I am aware that dizzyness can occur using saunas but I have had these spells outside of the sauna. Are these spells the outcome of radiotherapy? I have lost 20lbs in weight following treatment but I am now at a steady weight more suitable to my size and wish to remain in this area. Comment please.

Regards, Fridge

Hi Fridge

Dizziness has several causes. Commonly, it can occur when you get up suddenly from a sitting or lying postion; it is called postural (orthostatic) hypotension. It is likely that your dizzines is caused by this aggravated by not having enough to eat (hypoglycaemic) and feeling weak as after treatment. Links: Postural Hypotension and What to do when you get symptoms (pdf). Hope that helps.

Best wishes
Vinod

Dr Joshi,

Thank you for your reply to my dizziness query.

Regards, Fridge

Fridge,

I got them, too, around the end of my radiation treatments and for a few months after.

After getting out of my car, I would have to pause and hold on to the car until my head cleared. A couple of times, I got up to do something and found myself on the floor with a bruise on my face that I did not remember getting.

Ten months past radiation treatments I don't get them any more.

Ron,

Thanks for your dizziness experience. That makes me feel better.

On another matter I noticed a post which implied that a persons normal daily calorie intake should be 4000 calories!

If this is so I am sorely underscoring. I am hoping that calorie intake should be associated with ones body size. Is this so?

If so, what should be the intake for a person 5' 8" weighing 144lbs (was 161 lbs).

Incidentally, I wish to remain at my present stable 144 lbs.

Regards, Fridge

4000? That's absurd. You should be able to maintain your weight at 2000-2500.

Are calories measured the same in England? It not like some metric thing, or how you measure weight in stones?

Dizzy, I still feel dizzy after 7 months, along with little quirks that were not there before, I lost 25 pounds, gained back 20 of that, but still feel the threatment in strenght. all the best. CS

Ron,

To my knowledge UK and US calories are the same. As for the quirky UK stones (1 stone + 14 lbs) for weight measure, I think we are leaning towards using lbs more often these days.

Regards, Fridge

Re Dizzyness, when I was first out of hospital,I did faint quite a few times, however it has now turned to being quite giddy, I have had my eyes tested and they are fine; I am eating quite well, my blood pressure has always been on the low side. I have noticed I do not suffer from giddyness in the great outdoors, only in shops or working in the kitchen. I have put on weight, and do eat three times a day when not suffering from thrush; have been to doc's for a blood test just in case.
Big Bear Hugs to you all out there Garance