Low Blood Pressure.

[Bankviewgal]

i have very different problems concerning my A-Fib compared to most of you. So will go in to a bit of history of my latest health fiasco.

I am 77 and have had low blood pressure a long as I can remember. I developed A-Fib about 7 years ago. Therefore I can’t take the Beta blockers because they drop the blood pressure even more. This spring (March 8) I had to have an emergency appendix surgery. Had to take antibiotics after the surgery. Everything went downhill after that. I got C-Diff which is a serious bowel infection. More antibiotics. The strongest that there are. I was on day 10 of the antibiotics and I got terrible back and stomach pains. Went to the hospital by ambulance and had morphine for the pain. Found out it was my pancreas that didn’t like all the antibiotics. When I get any infection like that my blood pressure drops a lot. I felt like I was going to die after laying on the couch and bed for 2 months.

I lost 15 lbs from being sick and I am maintaining the weight with small meals to keep my pancreas happy and walking at least 3 to 5 km daily. I look quite healthy but my blood pressure is a real nuisance cause I get more and more feelings of passing out. I did pass out about 2 weeks ago and fell straight onto my face and knees in my small apartment (on a concrete floor). Ouch. That was the first time I conked out even though it felt like I would many times. When I managed to take my blood pressure it was 73/54.

Since I had the fall I’ve been monitoring my blood pressure often times during the day and then using my KARDIA device to check my heart rate especially if it’s racing. It appears that when my blood pressure drops really low then the A-Fib acts up. As soon as my blood pressure comes back up the heart quits racing and beats normal again or with irregular beats.

I have increased my salt intake on my family doctor’s recommendation (Himalayan Pink Salt) Now my blood pressure is too high at times and then too low. I’m also taking a few drops of iodine daily the last while. I take B12 and Vitamin D. plus about a year ago we started me on the hormone 5 mg. of DHEA /daily to help with my under-active adrenals. At first I was doing so good on the DHEA. No low blood pressure and hardly any A-Fib episodes.

I want to travel to a friends 75th Birthday in 2 weeks and also to my granddaughters wedding in September and I’m afraid to leave home. I’m in Canada and want to drive. Each trip is quite a long one and not feasible to fly to either place. Does anyone have any helpful suggestions or experiencing similar symptoms?

Thank you.

[MummaSoap]

Hi Bankviewgal

I’m so sorry to hear what you’re going through, it sounds very worrying for you!

If you are determined to make these trips I think it would be sensible to speak to a doctor to make sure it’s safe for you, especially if you’re going to be travelling alone.

Providing you get the green light I would say, make sure you take plenty of water with you for the journey as from personal experience I know how much dehydration can affect blood pressure; also take plenty of snacks to graze on, maybe something like cashew nuts, banana, rice cakes, crackers etc and plenty of rest breaks. I also find it helpful to take my time and do a number of stretches/ankle rotations/calf squeezes etc before getting out the car to help lift blood pressure before moving to standing/walking.

I hope you find something useful in what I’ve said and wish you a safe journey if you decide to go on them.

Keep us posted if you decide to go please.

Best wishes

Soap 🧼

[Bankviewgal in reply to MummaSoap]

Thank you for your advice and suggestions. I always have lots of water with me wherever I go. I also make lots of stops and get out. Plus have snacks and eat along the way. Have a great day.

[CDreamer]

I lived with AF and very low BP for about 5 years, although I have always had very low BP and PoTS - Postural orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrone.

If you are symptomatic, please don’t drive. In UK you have to self declare and if you have any signs of syncope - fainting as you are describing - you would have to surrender your license.

Whilst in AF, your BP will dip and soar so ignore those readings. To obtain a good average keep a record for a week - take your BP x3 daily, take 3 readings each time and record the average of those 3 readings. Ensure you have been resting for 5 minutes before you take the readings and don’t take them on a full stomach. Once you plot those figures you will be able to give you doctor a much better idea of what your BP is doing.

As well as the increase in salt, ensure good hydration and put your feet up every time you sit down. Paced exercising can also help

Visit this site for help and advice and see if you can see a specialist cardiologist/EP experienced in dealing with low BP.

heartrhythmalliance.org/sta...

My eventual saviour was pacemaker which kept my BP stable and hardly any AF since 2018 when implanted.

[Bankviewgal in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for your advice: I didn’t know that a pacemaker could keep your blood pressure stable. If I’m having an a fib day all the time, don’t leave the house and drive. It is happened once or twice while I was driving and I pulled over right away. I sat there until I felt better or someone came and got me and I left my car. Going on a longer road trip. It’s worrisome blood pressure goes up and down like that. Blood pressure thing it’s just been recently. My cardiologist figures it’s something to do with my endocrine system. I don’t have a fib problems when my blood pressure is normal only when it drops. So it’s just frustrating thing. I walk a lots every day. I am in very good health other than this debilitating issue.

Have a great day.

[jayjay10000 in reply to Bankviewgal]

Hi there. Iam having the same troubles as you. My blood pressure is low at the moment, most days my legs feel like jelly and I also feel like iam going to pass out, I checked my blood pressure around 10am each morning and then again. 6pm in the evening. I don't like going out after my medication because iam so frightened that iam going to pass out. I felt unwell today and I was driving at the time, I managed to get home but it took longer to get back qnd Keept my speed around 50 mph. My blood pressure is not too bad in the morning when I first get up, the problem is when I take my second lot of medicine. My ramipril been reduced from 2.5mg to 1.25mg and iam also taking propranolol 40mg three times per day. I take me ramipril at 7am and two hours later iam taking my propranolol. So around 1030am iam starting to feel lightheaded, sick, dizzy and my legs feel like jelly. I know my blood pressure has dropped. On a night time my blood pressure starts to rise at the moment is 137 over 97 I just feel hot. I wish I can feel ok every day like last year ☺️

[CDreamer]

PS - why the iodine and is it under medical advice? Please be very careful and ensure you have your Thyroid panels checked as Hyper Thyroidism can cause AF.

PPS - if you have been diagnosed with Addisons’ there are drugs to help and obviously they did for a time so have you seen an endocrinologist? And you may find the Thyroid forum on HU helpful.

[Bankviewgal in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for your reply. My thyroid is on the low side. But Parathyroid is overactive and not bad enough for surgery. And I don’t want to take thyroid meds for low thyroid. The little iodine has has been sufficient in the past over the years. I’m having new blood work done now and will see how it is. Have a great day.

[Popepaul]

I have had one episode of fainting with afib, it happened shortly after a period of tachycardia. I saw a Cardiologist 6 months later, he told me that here in the UK the rule is that you must mot drive for a period of 6 months following a single episode of fainting.I did find that liquorice tea does raise BP and it is enjoyable.

Good luck.

[Bankviewgal in reply to Popepaul]

Thanks for your reply. Funny that you mentioned liquorice tea raising blood pressure. I’ve had a bag or liquorice assorts from England and have been eating a lot of in the last few days. That may not have helped the low blood pressure either. All I’m doing is monitoring my blood pressure these days and eating healthy and walking. Have a great day.