Low blood pressure diet.

[Cat-gal]

My husband has associated low blood pressure so cannot eat what we'd call a proper meal or he's likely to fall over if he gets up out of his chair. He's been eating oatcakes with cheese spread, maybe some soup, and anything that's nutritious that fills a space such as apples and bananas. Has anyone got any other recommendations so he can have a more varied diet? I believe crisps and anything with salt added just before eating is ok.

[SaltyFlorist]

I still eat things I love in very small portions. It’s figuring out how to prepare it without waste. I like it when my husband will share a meal.

If I were to eat a full apple with nothing else, I won’t digest it well. It’s the same with any food.

Examples of meals and portions I can eat

1/3 of a veggie sandwich with cheese.

1/4 portion of pasta, 1/2 apple, 1/2 biscuit.

1/2 egg, 1/2 whole grain toast, 6 raspberries

At bedtime I take polyethylene glycol. I feel like it keeps things moving.

[JJAJJ]

hi Cat-gal, small portions ! My husband had seconds at breakfast this morning…I knew it was a mistake…his BP dropped to 54…he was in bed fortunately so quickly laid him down and lifted his legs to avoid a faint. I make sure I take his BP before he stands up. X

[Cat-gal in reply to JJAJJ]

54??? Crikey! My husband's goes down into the 70s but not any lower. The diet responses on here are exactly what he's been doing i.e.small portions including porridge and soup so that's reassuring - many thanks.

[JJAJJ in reply to Cat-gal]

Yes…It’s very scary, I have had the ambulance out a couple of times because he sometimes goes ‘out’ for 40 minutes. I don’t know what happens to him during this time, I’m worried he might have a stroke, but he says he can hear me trying to bring him round and once he has come round he has been okay. I’ve asked Movement Disorder and Drs. What is happening here but they don’t know !

[leroybrown in reply to JJAJJ]

My wife used also pass out for up to half an hour at a time, especially after meals. Like you say, she said that she could still hear us. But since she started taking Midon this has become much less of an issue. Also smaller more frequent meals and lots of liquid, especially in the morning.

Mind you taking lots of liquid was also problematic given bladder issues, but this now also much easier to deal with since she had permanent catheter fitted,

[DeeMilo25]

Les can’t stand anymore so I’m not sure if his blood pressure issue is still a problem, it was extremely bad then the faints turned into seizures, he was admitted to hospital and put on epilepsy meds and has been free of seizures since, as for food he will only eat porridge for breakfast, soup for lunch and corned beef hash for dinner, and will eat a few snacks in between, he will not try anything else for dinner anymore as he says the thought of a lot of food makes him feel sick, is this normal?

[JJAJJ in reply to DeeMilo25]

I think so, my husband sticks to small portions often. He sometimes skips his last meal because he worries he might need to go to the toilet during the night.