Bp

[RR 1]

Has anyone had their blood pressure get low after surgery? Dr told me to stop taking my bp meds. What was the way you got it to go back up? TIA

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[NovaLuna 710]

The anesthesia they give you for surgery lowers your heart rate and blood pressure for a few days to a week or two post-op (in my experience, anyway). My doctor was initially one of those who thought my blood pressure would be fine after surgery, so she actually told me just stop taking my meds altogether. It wasn't okay. I went off my bp meds for three months and my bp SKY ROCKETED! I had to go back on them. I mean, I take less now then I used to (i.e I used to take my bp meds pre-op every other day. Now 18 months post-op I take them every 3-4 days. And my bp is normal with that. But I can't give them up altogether because my bp sky rockets and so does my heart rate. I also have tachycardia btw, so yeah). Just monitor your blood pressure for a couple days and then take them when it starts to rise again. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones that may not have to take them anymore (that's usually only for those who have weight related bp. Mine is genetic. Literally everyone in my generation except my sister has hbp. Everyone in my mom and grandma's generation take bp meds. Weight in our case doesn't matter).

[lizonaplane 1,612]

When you say it is low, do you mean you are dizzy? Because "low" blood pressure is only a problem when it's symptomatic, meaning it's causing you problems. My blood pressure used to be around 90/60, due to genetics and medications I was taking for non-weight issues, and that was just normal for me. It's a little higher now, but still normal. If it's low and making you dizzy/light headed, you can drink more Water, try electrolytes/high sodium foods, etc, but you may need to see a doctor if you continue to have issues because it could be something else. Did you already stop your BP meds?

[Orinskye 165]

I was on losartan prior to surgery (it lowered my blood pressure but I took it for a different reason… to increase blood flor to some vital organs)…..

after surgery I got dizzy upon standing and actually blacked out once. I was immediately taken off the med and that problem went away.
however…… I am now 4 months post op and NOT on blood pressure meds and they are concerned that it could dip too low (it’s hovering just over 100…)

they said if my blood pressure goes below 100 it’s too low and they will need to put me on a new med to fix it😬

[Arabesque 7,150]

At lot of people experience a drop in their BP after surgery. For some it persists for a few months. For others it passes & their BP increases again. As you lose weight your BP should decrease but how much is an individual thing.

I always had a tendency for low blood pressure but the episodes of weakness & loss of vision would only happen occasionally - couple of times a month. After my surgery it started happening every day then multiple times a day. My GP put me on a med (a fludrocortisone) to increase my BP but it didn’t work at all.

Now it doesn’t happen quite as often only a few times a day so it’s improved lol! When I had my gall out in May, they pumped me full of fluids & even gave me a shot of ephedrine because my pressure was so low after surgery but nothing really worked. The ephedrine got it up to 105 over 70 something but ten minutes later it was back to the low 80s over 60s. It’s just me.

My GP checks it when I see her but it seems to sit around that 90/100 over 70ish. Do you have your own BP monitor so you can track your levels during the day? Talk to your medical team about your BP meds & how to manage the drops in pressure.

If you start to feel weak, dizzy or your vision narrows, stop moving, sit if you can or hold onto something. The episodes tend to pass in 5-10seconds. Some people do blackout so be very careful. Get up slowly & wait on standing before moving. Keep hydrated. Add extra salt to your diet.