Sudden Drop in Blood Pressure

[Cocoabean 430]

Hi Everyone!

Over the past seven months I have had 3 episodes where my blood pressure has dropped to very low levels, and I have nearly passed out.

Each time I had been standing for about 20-25 minutes in a relaxed manner. Then all of a sudden I get hot, nauseated, sweaty, and everything goes gray.

So, after the last episode, I saw my PCP. He said he's seen it many times with his patients who have lost significant amounts of weight. He said it appears that we have a hard time maintaining blood pressure sometimes.

I was actually seeing him today for something else, but have a follow up with him in a week and a half. I'll speak with him further about it then.

I am curious if anyone else has experienced this?

Thanks!!!

[elcee 3,341]

YES!

I passed out in a lift a couple of weeks ago and took a couple of minutes to come round. When they checked my BP it was so low they couldn't initially pick up the lower reading! I got taken to emergency and monitored. The only other thing they found was low potassium so I had to drink a yukky supplement.

I went to see my GP a couple of days later and have been told i can now stop taking the high BP meds that I have been on for years.

That is great but I am concerned in case it goes up again so I bought a BP monitor so that I can check it myself at home for peace of mind.

Are you on any kind of BP meds or does it just drop by itself?

[adagray 1]

I've had high BP and on meds for it for over 10 years. I have been well below the weight I am right now several times before and my BP never went down. But, somehow my BP suddenly became normal a couple months after getting the lapband. I have a monitor at home, but don't normally take it daily.

But, after a few days of being tired and then getting dizzy doing some housework, I took it and it was really really low for me (like 86/60). I usually run 130/90 even w/meds. I quit taking my meds as of that day and have been monitoring my BP daily now and it has remained in the normal range.

[onenuttynurse 0]

Oh believe me if you only knew. I was in the hospital for 4 days with low bp issues. Its due to losing weight and not listening to what our body needs and wants. I was on bp lisinopril at the time and could feel it coming on. Became very warm, sweaty and nauseated while caring for a patient. Go figure. Was able to sit down, call my collegue tell him to please come over to where i was sitting and THAT WAS IT...i WAS DOWN AND OUT, rushed to the ED and admitted for 4 days. The problem is when your bp drops it also affects the amt of oxygen to your brain, so I don't remember a thing, except i was concerned that they didn't have my bed rails up....Thats just part of being a nurse...Watch that bp and take it once a days, keep a journal for your PCP...It will level out soon......

[kells0802 0]

OMG Coco this happened to me over the weekend I was in the grocery store and all of the sudden I thought I was going to faint. I am diabetic so I was thinking it was my blood sugar levels dropping but I wonder if it wasn't my blood pressure too because I had eaten Breakfast right before I went to the store but that was SCARY :thumbup: I kept thinking please just let me get out of here standin up. Let us know what your doctor says.

[Cocoabean 430]

Hi Again,

Nice to know I am not alone!

Little bit more of my Band history.

I had high BP prior to surgery. Was on meds. They stopped it right before I got my band. It came down quickly as my weight went down.

My weight has been pretty stable for several months. Just a few lbs. lost. My pressure is usally in the 110/70 range.

When the last bout happened I had my BP taken and it was 80/50. Yeah, I felt awsome!

So, how do we combat this? I drink my Water like a good patient should.

We cannot always avoid standing for longish periods of time. In my case when this happened, I had been moving around a bit. I was chatting with friends leaning against a wall or counter. Nothing stressful. I'd really prefer to not collapse in front of a bunch of people, I'm just odd that way :thumbup:

Thanks!

[adagray 1]

This is just a guess, but maybe you need more sodium in your diet. We are eating so little once we get to restriction, I wonder if we are even getting the daily value. I've stopped salting most of my food and I rarely eat processed foods or eat out. I know this combined w/the low quantity of food I eat now means that my sodium consumption has really dropped.

[Cocoabean 430]

This is just a guess, but maybe you need more sodium in your diet. We are eating so little once we get to restriction, I wonder if we are even getting the daily value. I've stopped salting most of my food and I rarely eat processed foods or eat out. I know this combined w/the low quantity of food I eat now means that my sodium consumption has really dropped.

I LOVE salt! Can I shake with wild abandon?? Tee hee!!

They checked my soium levels just recently, they were right in the middle. I was at urgent care on Saturday for an unrelated problem and they did some blood work.

Edited April 13, 2010 by Cocoabean
Cause I could not remember my test results!

[Melinco 1]

It could be potassium rather than sodium levels being too low. It might be time for a complete blood work up with your PCP. I hope you can find out what is causing this issue. I'd rather faint in front of lots of people than in front of no one, so in case I hit my head or hurt myself, someone can call in aid. Embarrassing? Yeah, but possibly life saving? Definitely!

[emjay 8]

Cocoabean - the same thing happened to me a couple of times. Mostly when I had been standing for 30-60 minutes and not drinking anything and a couple of hours after a meal. I never have been on BP meds and my normal bp these days is around 104/70. It seemed to go away after drinking Water and being able to sit down, but it was kind of scary.

I couldn't pinpoint what is was exactly that caused the episodes, and I attributed it to maybe a little low blood sugar, but don't really know - don't have an issue normally with that either.

The last time was 3-4 months ago. I had bloodwork about the same time and all was great. Go figure!

[Cocoabean 430]

It could be potassium rather than sodium levels being too low. It might be time for a complete blood work up with your PCP. I hope you can find out what is causing this issue. I'd rather faint in front of lots of people than in front of no one, so in case I hit my head or hurt myself, someone can call in aid. Embarrassing? Yeah, but possibly life saving? Definitely!

Hi Melinco!

I had bloodwork done in Feb. and my potassium was A-OK!

Good point about passing out in front of someone rather than alone. Hadn't really thought of that. So far, I've had warning to get seated before I keeled over, but ya never know.

I was at urgent care Saturday with low BP and intestinal upset. They suspect a c. diff. infection. My potassium was low, and my white cell count was high. Still waiting on cultures to be sure. But being treated for that, and am responding to the treatment. So, I think they were on the money.

It's been a joyous month thus far! :thumbup: