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What Causes Episodes Of Temporary Dizziness And Imbalance While Or After Urination?

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Posted on Thu, 4 Jun 2015
Question: Body suddenly pitches backward then pitches forward while urinenating self barely able to sit down. Light headed and body trembling..after several seconds able to. Stand up...several more seconds before body and walking gets back to normal.....happened 3 or 4 tines in March and April. Today, just now 1st. Time in May. Need sound answer, if possible....need help ASAP. Thnx
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Vasovagal excessive response.

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

So if I understand your description you are having episodes of temporary dizzyness and lack of balance which happen while or immediately after urinating. Please tell me if there is some other accompanying symptom, also if you have any other medical condition.

That description seems compatible with a vasovagal syncope or lipothymia. It is an excess stimulation of the vagal nerve during urination. Since the vagal nerve apart from being involved in the bladder function also slows down heart rate its stimulation can lead to a fainting feeling. Luckily it's a self limiting condition, which regresses spontaneously.
There is no specific treatment. Some preventive measures include avoiding urinating while sleeping, sitting on the edge of the bed for a while before going to the bathroom.
Because this phenomenon is not that typical in women it must be looked about a condition favoring it called orthostatic hypotension, an excessive change in blood pressure when switching from supine to standing.

If the episodes occur outside urinating as well please tell me as there are some other possibilities to be considered in that case.

In terms of tests to be had apart from testing for orthostatic hypotension, some routine tests to exclude other possible causes are blood count for anemia, glucose, liver and kidney function tests, electrolytes, vitamin B12 levels and ultrasound of neck vessels to check for narrowing of the vessels supplying the brain with blood, EKG.

I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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What Causes Episodes Of Temporary Dizziness And Imbalance While Or After Urination?

Brief Answer: Vasovagal excessive response. Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. So if I understand your description you are having episodes of temporary dizzyness and lack of balance which happen while or immediately after urinating. Please tell me if there is some other accompanying symptom, also if you have any other medical condition. That description seems compatible with a vasovagal syncope or lipothymia. It is an excess stimulation of the vagal nerve during urination. Since the vagal nerve apart from being involved in the bladder function also slows down heart rate its stimulation can lead to a fainting feeling. Luckily it's a self limiting condition, which regresses spontaneously. There is no specific treatment. Some preventive measures include avoiding urinating while sleeping, sitting on the edge of the bed for a while before going to the bathroom. Because this phenomenon is not that typical in women it must be looked about a condition favoring it called orthostatic hypotension, an excessive change in blood pressure when switching from supine to standing. If the episodes occur outside urinating as well please tell me as there are some other possibilities to be considered in that case. In terms of tests to be had apart from testing for orthostatic hypotension, some routine tests to exclude other possible causes are blood count for anemia, glucose, liver and kidney function tests, electrolytes, vitamin B12 levels and ultrasound of neck vessels to check for narrowing of the vessels supplying the brain with blood, EKG. I remain at your disposal for further questions.