Hi everyone. I'm new on here..just found you all tonight. I have Menieres Disease and Positional Vertigo but the question I have is about something that has woken me up about 6 times in the last few months. I know it's not sleep paralysis because I have had that for many years.

I wake up in the middle of the night and feel very faint and have the buzzing in my head that proceeds fainting. The strange thing is that I can see a 'grid' or similar to a 'kalidascope' of bright colours. (sorry i don't think that's how you spell it!) I feel better after a few minutes and haven't actually fainted..even when I got up out of bed to make sure I could move!!

I know this sounds strange but I feel silly telling the doctor. thanks very much

If these are the feelings you get before you faint, how is your blood pressure? Could you be experiencing low BP at these times? There is a 24 hour BP monitor availble as a test from the doctor. The problem would be to get monitored on the night you have this problem.
Anne

Thanks for that. That could be true because I have had problems with low blood pressure in the past..i will mention it to my GP.

do you eat aspartame?

I used to have low blood pressure. One doctor told me that it was generally healthier than high blood pressure, except that mine was so low I could have a bad accident fainting.

So I started eating saltines. Surprisingly, the salt helped.

I've never had the visual experience you have, though.

On the other hand, sometimes I have dreams that are related to my health, and sometimes they are a bit symbolic. I wonder if your visual experience, with the grid, could possibly be a "dream" related to your blood pressure?

One other thing... I used to feel like I was going to faint a lot, though I seldom actually did. I'd be dizzy a lot, but not faint.

Then I had B12 replacement and I stopped having that dizzy feeling so much of the time, and I didn't feel as if I was going to faint whenever I got up suddenly.

You might try some B12 and see if it makes a difference. If you do try it, though, get the Methylcobalamin kind. It works MUCH better.

I hope everything sorts out for you.

I agree with covering the possiblity of B12 deficiency, which could also play a role in the Meniere's/ Vertigo symptoms as well.

I'd DEFINITELY tell your doctor about these symptoms you are having. There may be other considerations as well.

There is a chance it could be seizure related as well, but even that can be caused by B12 deficiency. If you drop down the right bar of The Gluten File you will find a page on B12 deficiency, with symptoms listed. It is worthy of consideration.

Cara