Feeling light-headed while standing

More often than not, I feel light-headed while I'm standing. Sort of like if it got much worse, I'd pass out. It also feels like I'm spaced out. I sometimes get this sitting down, but much milder. And almost never when I'm lying down. One doctor told me over the phone that my blood pressure is probably dropping too low. But when I visited the doctor's office I asked the nurse to take my blood pressure while I was standing up, it was normal. And I was feeling very light-headed when she did this. So this is all very confusing to me.

Do you ever feel this difference when standing. Or do you know of other people with CFS who get this?

Thanks. I'll look for your messages about Adrenal Fatigue.

I know what you mean about standing in line. I always have to step to the side and lean on something. If there is nothing close to lean on, I usually give up and leave.

I'm not sure what to make of the Cheney article, partially because I am having trouble concentrating as I read it. In the last year I've had about three EKGs, an echo cardiogram a stress thallium test, and I wore a heart monitor for 24 hours. It seems that Cheney is talking about another type of test? I live in Los Angeles, and maybe I could find a place to get this test.

I also wonder if it is possible for me to find a chronic fatigue specialist, one who takes a multi-theoretical approach. IOW, one who understands all the theories, and uses what they suggest as areas to investigate. Because when I ask questions of doctors now, they give me no information about chronic fatigue.

Orion,

I started to read about Adrenal Fatigue after you posted to me. Coincidentally, I also started reading at the Good Hormone Health site, and there's a chart that shows which hormones contribute to different symptoms. Low Aldosterone is listed as a possible cause for fatigue and dizziness while standing. So I was going to call their office and see if they test for Adrenal Fatigue, or if they can recommend someone. That's as far as I've gotten.

My problem started about a year ago. I was suddenly hit with extreme fatigue, feeling very spaced out when I was standing or walking and legs feeling very heavy. Also, mild sore throats on and off. An infectious specialist told me the blood tests showed my body had just been fighting Coxsackie, but as time when on, I only improved by about 2%. I also saw a hormone specialist at the time, and I recently asked for copies of these records, but I was not tested via saliva.

As for doctors carefully ruling things out, I've had lots of tests, but never got the feeling that my past Internist or my current one pondered this very carefully. But they are saying Chronic Fatigue.

As for stress, I was under a tremendous amount of stress at the time, and after. I have also been dragging myself into work for the whole year, feeling dizzy every time I walk to another desk, and feeling spaced out a lot of the time I'm sitting at my desk. A few months ago I developed sleeping problems. And a few weeks ago I was staying up too late for several days in a row. All symptoms got worse, plus I started to get stomach problems. I can't work anymore, and I'm applying for early retirement.

...Andrew