Low blood pressure episodes

[Jud11]

My husband is around 6 years into MSA and has recently been experiencing episodes of low blood pressure which are causing him to pass out. Indeed I had to call paramedics out a few days ago as I could not get him to regain consciousness despite my best efforts, very frightening experience. This also happened when he had COVID earlier in the year. His blood pressure is erratic throughout the day, with very high readings at times.

He has recently been diagnosed with severe Sleep Apnea and has been issued with a breathing mask which has helped enormously with his fatigue problem. As low blood pressure issues started within a couple of days of using sleeping mask, I wondered if he was becoming dehydrated due wearing the mask which is causing him to have a dry mouth. I have tried hard to keep him fully hydrated throughout the day but he has just had a low pressure episode whilst out in his wheelchair.

Has anyone else experienced similar problems ? and if so I would appreciate on any tips on how to deal with it.

[MinasGerais]

Hi Jud11,

We can relate to what you are experiencing, but are not in a position to offer any help!

My wife Sonia, 74, with MSA-C, had an episode one hour ago; it is the 5th time this month. First she goes 'drowsy' and then becomes unresponsive. She tends to slump to the left, has no strength to do anything, and cannot talk even though she can hear me. It takes about half an hour before Sonia slowly comes round, and bit by bit we get back to 'normal'. Her head clears and she can relate almost everything that has happened.

Very alarming when it first happened but now becoming part of the picture.

We are coming to the end of a two-week, daily checking of her blood pressure. Hope the neurologist will be able to make sense of the data because it is all over the place. I was able to take a reading during this morning's event: 70/56 . (Seems low, even for Sonia)

Hopefully there will be some answers, soon.

[Jud11 in reply to MinasGerais]

Thank you for your response. It is very alarming when these episodes happen, had to get paramedics out the other day as my husband’s BP was 62/45 at one point, he was out for over 35 minutes. He is not aware of what is going on. I think the CPAP machine may be making the problem worse. His blood pressure readings are all over the place too.

Hope you get some answers, it is a truly awful condition.

[Cat-gal]

My husband has episodes of low blood pressure and has been in hospital for nearly three weeks due to an infected catheter then recurring low blood pressure episodes. He also suffers from sleep apnoea but hasn't mentioned a dry mouth or any associated problems with his mask.

[Jud11 in reply to Cat-gal]

Thank you for your response. Hospital have phoned to say my husband needs another mask, readings are showing mask not fitting correctly. This perhaps may be cause of dry mouth? Hope I can get this resolved soon.

[Reader103]

Hi, I suffer with low blood pressure and sleep apnoea. I found I got a very dry mouth during the night and was given a water reservoir to attach to my machine which helped. Drinking a lot is important but so is increasing salt intake.

[Jud11 in reply to Reader103]

Thank you. I do keep him well hydrated and have a humidifier in his room. I will try increasing salt intake.🤞🤞