I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions) => Topic started by: MyssAnne on January 23, 2008, 06:38:14 AM

Title: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: MyssAnne on January 23, 2008, 06:38:14 AM
I couldn't really find anything, maybe someone knows where the topic is?  My problem: I have extremely low blood pressure, 90's/low 100's, with the lower number in the 70's.  Which means when I stand up/walk, I get VERY dizzy. I now have a wheelchair at work, that's how bad it is!

My question: I've tried salty foods, I've tried drinking MORE fluids, lower dialysate (yellows).  Nothing seems to work!! Any other ideas?
I'm getting awfully tired of this. My nurse suggested the foods/more fluids.  I hate this.
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: KT0930 on January 23, 2008, 07:04:39 AM
Anne, I went through that for a couple of weeks earlier this winter, and you're right, it is incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately, I can't offer any advice, as I did the same things you did (I was already using only yellows before it started). Have you tried Chinese food?  :grouphug;
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: MyssAnne on January 23, 2008, 07:51:25 AM
No.....I haven't!!! GOOD idea!! I looove Chinese food, too!!!  That and Mexican, and Italian, and Greek...come to think of it, there's
very little ethnic foods I don't like!!!!  Thanks for the encouragement Katie, my fiancee is just freaking out, telling me, call this doctor,
call that doctor!!!  Well, if my nurse is helping me, I gotta let her, right??
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: Romona on January 23, 2008, 09:21:50 AM
I went through a period like that too. Felt like I was drunk all the time. I was on blood pressure meds so they cut them.
I hope you find something that works.

If not five minutes with my four kids might do it for you.  :rofl;
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: Chicken Little on January 23, 2008, 09:46:38 AM
I'm on the same rollercoaster.  I have to do 7 exchanges of 1.5 to get enough clearance and I pretty much have to drink all day long to keep up with the U/F that pulls.  I've been in the 90/60 range for the last 4-5 months.   Strong chicken bouillon and Fritos are my go to when it gets bad.
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: Ang on January 23, 2008, 06:24:25 PM
would  be  interested  if  anyones  got a  solution,  my  problem  is  that  i  start  at  130/72  but  within  an  hour  i'm  at  low  100/60s  another  hour  later  90s/60s  4th  hour 88/45  and  can  go lower all  the  nurses  ask  are  you  ok,when  i  get  off  bp  has  been  as  low  as  90/60,  as  high  as  102/55.

the  only  solution  i  can  come  up  with  is  ibw  has  to  go  up,  but  that  gets  me  futher  away  from  transplant.
been  told  by  the  surgeon  to  lose  5  kg :banghead;
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: AlasdairUK on January 24, 2008, 12:14:43 PM
Are you on PD or HD? An increased dry weight should increase blood pressure. No other solutions.
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: susie q on January 24, 2008, 01:53:26 PM
Some people in my clinic take Mitadrine for low bp.. seems to help .. Mine goes way low.. in the 90's but I don't get dizzy.  8)
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: MyssAnne on January 24, 2008, 04:34:59 PM
I'm on pd, the cycler.

ALl my nurse could tell me was to eat salty foods and drink a lot, and use the lowest dosage
bags possible. STILL no improvement after a week of this. Tonight it was 101/55. That lower
number is what throws me. 
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: jollor on January 24, 2008, 05:28:46 PM
I was having problems with my bp getting really low too so I asked my doctor to stop my bp medication. An so far that has helped.
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: glitter on January 24, 2008, 08:12:36 PM
call your dr, if your on bp meds- he should adjust them, when my husbands gets too low for a week or so they usually cut him back a little.
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: MyssAnne on January 25, 2008, 01:31:28 AM
I also started taking Phoslo.  Which is about when I started having problems with this.

Could that be the problem?  I am awake at 4:30 a.m., and am clear headed and coherent.

I'm gonna calll my nurse at 8 and ask her if that is what the possible cause could be.
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: KT0930 on January 26, 2008, 10:25:25 AM
What did the nurse say, Anne?
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: MyssAnne on January 30, 2008, 11:18:47 AM
Katie, she said she couldn't help me.  My fiancee ended up taking me to ER Friday afternoon, turns out I was losing blood, huge amounts of it
to the point I needed 4 pints!!

I'm back to work, and feel so much better!  Tired, of course, but better!!! 

Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: KT0930 on January 31, 2008, 06:29:59 PM
Did they ever figure out why or where you were losing the blood??
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: MyssAnne on February 01, 2008, 10:00:59 AM
KT, I have fibroids.  AFTER I had my 'regular' period I started bleeding clots. Or rather, passing clots. I was
a bit surprised, but figured it was just 'extra' lining.  I ddn't think anything of it, but then it kept going.
And my blood pressure was dropping.  After 10 days, my fiancee said that that was enough and that
was when he came over and took me to ER.  I'll be getting an ablation this month sometime.  Another
procedure to go through. Yay.
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: KT0930 on February 01, 2008, 11:26:41 AM
Anne, I'm so sorry there's yet ANOTHER procedure. I know that sux! Glad to hear you have someone around who's taking good care of you, besides just you, I mean. Hold on to him, he sounds like a good one!
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: Gramapat on February 19, 2008, 06:10:51 PM
My BP was just like Ang's.  Fine at the beginning of dialysis session but it just kept getting lower and lower so by the end of my 3 hours it was too low.  I asked my doctor what I could do and he said there really wasn't anything I could do but he would raise my dry weight.  That has taken care of the problem.
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: alrightstill on April 14, 2008, 05:55:56 PM
My BP is always low (80/67 type low), luckily I don't usually feel systematic though, so they're ok with it.  If/when I do feel lightheaded I pop a mididrine and it goes away. 

Maybe see if you can get on mididrine?
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: MyssAnne on April 15, 2008, 05:31:51 AM
I've been fairly steady now, 100's. I like being that low, it just feels right to me!  I go in next week for the procedure (ablation) on the 30th.
Title: Re: Raising low blood pressure
Post by: G on May 24, 2008, 03:56:21 PM
Are you doing or consuming any thing that thins your blood? I too have low BP. It is nothing for my BP to be in the 60's just before the end of a run. You are obviously watching your diet. You might see if the things you are eating might be thinning your blood. Other than this I don't have a clue. Good luck....let us know if you find a solution.