Anybody overcome dizziness b/c of standing?

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

Hi All....

I'm considering whether to apply for an entry level OR position. But I'm not sure I'd be a good fit.

Sometimes after standing for long periods of times I get this "black out" type feeling. Like there's no air and I need to sit immediately then I usually even have a cold sweat.

I don't believe it's nerves as it's happened a few times in church. Sometimes I can say it's b/c I didn't eat enough beforehand but sometimes it just happens. There's usually no warning, one minute I'm fine the next I feel the above. I do have to say it will happen if I feel like I'm getting overheated like a 1/2 into mass they'd shut off the a/c and I'd go from kneeling to standing (slowly) and after I'd be standing for like 30 seconds it would hit.

I really enjoyed my OR experience as a student, but I only got to view a mitral valve procedure for about 2 hrs. I didn't have any of the dizziness then but I was just peering over the top and needed to move out of the way several times. Key thing there I could move around.

It has happened in our school's skill lab and there was another student with the same problem and she was a heck of a lot younger than me! :lol: but we both felt in that case that it was too warm and we needed to at least "lean" on the wall or stoop down in fact other students joined us in the leaning... and this was after lunch that's why I'm not so sure it's food related. The skill lab was warm that day so maybe that contributed.

It's not a constant thing but like I said, I never know when it's going to hit. Anybody relate to this or should I just look towards something else?

I have different applications out there, my heart is in no way set on this but in this economy I also don't want to be stupid and pass by a good opportunity especially as I've learned in my life, things that are meant to be happen for a reason so I sort of feel a pull to this but not 100 percent. Confused? Yes!

Thanks for any input.

[linda2097]

Don't lock your knees. Even soldiers pass out if they lock their knees when standing at attention. Move your legs a lot. Flex your leg muscles once in a while to stimulate blood flow.

[fracturenurse]

Don't lock your knees. Even soldiers pass out if they lock their knees when standing at attention. Move your legs a lot. Flex your leg muscles once in a while to stimulate blood flow.

Yes, this is it...When I was learning to scrub I passed out after locking my knees one day. I had to learn to move my legs a little bit. One doc suggested wearing TED hose, but I don't. If you stand in one place for too long, you will pass out, especially if you are holding a retractor or such.

I remember in high school people talking about the freshmen band students. When learning how to march they would lock their knees every year and a few would pass out. Good luck!

[ruralgirl08]

Just a question...have you had your BP checked out lately? A young girl I worked with, 22yrs old, had similar symptoms at work and she had them occasionally before. We were there to take her BP when it happened: 220/110. We wheeled her down to the ED for a check up, she was fine after, but had to follow up with her family Doc.

[Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN]

Just a question...have you had your BP checked out lately? A young girl I worked with, 22yrs old, had similar symptoms at work and she had them occasionally before. We were there to take her BP when it happened: 220/110. We wheeled her down to the ED for a check up, she was fine after, but had to follow up with her family Doc.

Hi, yes I have, it's fine usually around 115-117 systolic and around 70's diastolic.

I do have MVP though (according to my doc nothing to be that concerned it's a mild form) as I know that can cause the heart fluttering, anxiety etc.... And I'm also anemic. yeah I know that could be contributing, but until I can get regular insurance, well suffice to say my total health check ups are taking a backseat. So I haven't had my iron levels checked recently but I do feel decent, it's on the agenda to get done once working.

I try not to let my health issues come into play, but with a position like this, I can see they might.

Thanks all for the input. I read about the locking knees, I also read an old post from someone that put their hand in saline or water when she felt it coming on, that was curious as I never heard of that.

I'm still on the fence to put my hat in the ring for this one, as I just received word that my desired hospital does take a while via the online system so I guess I'm in a wait and see mode. Thanks again for the insight.