I also suffer from this malady and have so for the majority of the 13 years I have spent in this chair.
The first three years of my chairbound existence was largely spent lying back in my wheelchair. My problem is especially acute when I stay down for an entire day and then get up and try to eat a heavy meal. It usually takes me an hour and a half to get my blood pressure up to a level where I can go into my office to work. I also find it extremely difficult to eat within an hour or so of getting up and then get into my Van to be driven around. Here are my suggestions: 1. Have someone take your blood pressure when this is transpiring to get a good idea how low it is actually going. 2. Start wearing an abdominal Binder if you are not already doing so. In doing so helps contract the diaphragm and increases the blood pressure, at least in my case. 3. If your BP is going to low, you might want to talk to your physician about having ephedrine on hand for really difficult times. 4. If it is at all possible, you need to eat lighter meals. For me this is impractical as I am alone most of the day and need to maintain my blood sugar, but I try to factor in that I will usually have to sit back for anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour before getting on with my normal daily activities. 5. I also had a doctor suggests that I sleep with my head inclined at a 30° angle. I haven't been able to do this too much, but when I do I have noticed I am able to get going much quicker. I hope this helps. Also make sure you take a look at all the other responses as they additionally have a lot of experience dealing with issues like this. Quadius On 7/16/08, Dwain Powell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, > > I am new at this so I really don't know how this works, so here it goes. I > am a 49 yr. old C 3-4 quad. I can not move anything below my shoulders but > I am not on a vent. I am going on my 24th year. The past 2 to 2 1/2 years > I have been having dizzy spells to where if I don't tilt back in my w/c I > will pass completely out. It happens after I eat a meal. I have been to > different Dr.'s about this and the only thing they can tell me is that my > blood is going into my digestion system. The only problem is it doesn't > happen every time I eat. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this? I > also have scoliosis bad. My spine curves bad right in between my > shoulders. Could this have anything to do with it? Any reply would be > helpful. > > > ------------------------------ > Time for vacation? WIN what you need. Enter > Now!<http://www.gowindowslive.com/summergiveaway/?ocid=tag_jlyhm> >
