Almost Fainting

Hi everyone, I'm new on here, but was diagnosed with UC last June. My doctor had me on Lialda (2 pills, twice a day) and I was fine. He reduced me to just 2 Lialda a day back in March and everything was going okay. about a month ago I had a flare so he increased my Lialda and have been on a prednisone taper that started at 40mg, and he's been reducing me 10mg a week. He also said my iron was a little low, so I've been taking vitamins. I've been doing well and tomorrow is my last day of 4 weeks on prednisone, but this morning I almost passed out on the subway on my way to work. I was fine one minute, and the next, my arms and legs were tingling, my vision was blurry and everything around me sounded like I was underwater. I didn't actually faint, and it passed within 5 minutes. Has this ever happened to anyone before? Could it be related to any of my meds?

I remember someone posting about something similar. They just blacked out in their car and went to the hospital a little after to see what the cause was and all tests for heart attack, blood sugar, etc, came back normal. It's the prednisone, I think.

A few days ago I had a couple days where I was feeling really light headed too. I had to up my dose of Prednisone as well. I thought I wasn't eating enough or something like that, but I wonder if it could be also caused by pred.

Thanks for all the responses. I'm waiting to hear back from my doctor to see what he says.

Any update to this thread? I began experiencing these recurrent almost fainting episodes a couple days ago. I did a two week quick taper from 40mg to 5 mg prednisone exactly two weeks before the first episode. It happened while I as hydrated, well-fed and sitting down (not exerting myself). I needed to use the restroom for a bowel movement not too long after each episode. I went to my GI and they restarted pred at 20mg and abother medicine called uceris. I still don't feel quite right, though better than before. Just generally foggy, dizzy and wobbly. I also completely lost my appetite before the new round of pred kicked in (I was gagging on the food I was trying to force down). My color was quite pale, but no anemia. Waiting on results of bloodwork. This has been the worst complication of UC yet but I wonder if there are any other things to attribute the ill, fainting episodes to?

Post Edited (Tilly2) : 3/9/2014 11:35:57 AM (GMT-6)

Just want to bump this up. Any help ?

Thank you for the reply. The CBC showed high platelet, low RDW, and high absolute lymph. As the days have gone by, the steroids have helped the colitis but not the general lol and dizzy feeling. Feel almost like I have a respiratory illness. I'm thinking of taking these results to a family physician - the GI is moving so slowly on this and I feel so sickly. Also have pale coloring and dark circles under the eyes. Not fun!