I recently started to get low blood pressure epi... - Ataxia UK
I recently started to get low blood pressure episodes where I get really faint and feel sick, is this part of ca? My bp been 88/65
Hi Pinkpiglet
Low blood pressure is not a symptom in CA. However that BP is very low and I would strongly advise discussing this with your GP who should arrange further investigations. It is likely to be a sign of something else that needs to be looked into.
Harriet
Thank you for replying. I am on 16 mg of tizanadine a day which I have just read can lower blood pressure, but I have been on this for quite a while. I recently had a peg fitted (8 weeks) though and blood pressure problems started about same time. Will mention this when I see my neurologist next month and see what he thinks then but I have tried baclofen and that does nothing.
Definitely get your blood pressure checked because it could be something else, but I thought I would tell you about my Dad, so you do not worry if they cannot find anything.
Although low blood pressure is not a classic symptom, it can be a problem. My Dad had SCA1 for the last 15-20 years of his life. He suffered from increasing hypotension whenever he got up from a chair. He needed to wait just a couple of minutes for his heart (which was very strong) to readjust to his sudden low blood pressure, and then he would be OK. My sister is a doctor and knew this was a problem. At the end of his life, Dad spent 10 days in intensive care and the doctors were amazed at how strong his heart was (he did 30 mins on his bike and 30mins on a rowing machine every morning) but they could not keep his blood pressure constant. My sister was chatting to the anaesthetist one day and they worked out that there was nothing to worry about because that was just his body being a bit slow to readjust.
If they do not find anything, you might be the same as Dad was?
Anyway, try not to worry and give yourself a minute to readjust when you get up : )
Hello Pinkpiglet,
I sufferer from MSA which has a lot too do with BP so get your doctor too check it out.
MSA Stands for Multi System Atrophy
Regards
I also have MSA, dlief55, and suffer postural hypertension (changing bloodpressure) for which my neurologist suggested steroids, but my GP has postponed these as they cause weight gain and i have already voiced my concerns regarding these!
I have always have had low blood pressure but although I have been tested for MSA twicethe neurologist was barking up the wrong tree.They get all excited when they think they can fit a label round our necks.Now I am very careful what I say as I could subject myself to a lot of unnecessary tests.I have always had low blood pressure.I don't think in this instance it is related to my ataxia.When I stand up from sitting I don;t go faint or dizzy.As has been said before I just adjust and try to take things slowly for a few seconds.If I fell over it would be I moved off too quickly and have lost my balance. We have to keep talking to ourselves to make the necessary adjustments.
