I am currently on dialysis after my 15 year kidney transplant diminished in function. My BP has been low…below 100 systolic, ….likely due to taking Propafenone & Metatoporal for my AFib. Dialysis also contributes to my low BP. Low consistently is hard on kidney health.
Does any one out there have some inout on how you increased your low BP to up over 100 consistently? It is critical for me to get my BP up in order to obtain another kidney transplant. Thank you all 🙏
I agree with you that your blood pressure is too low if this is an ongoing situation. I encourage you to bring this to your attention of your medical team - your nephrologist might be best since the dialysis "prescription" you are on can influence blood pressure too. My husband, who now has a transplant, also has high blood pressure and a-fib. He takes Eliquis for his a-fib and metoprolol for high blood pressure. His doctors (either the nephrologist or the cardiologist) quickly adjust his metoprolol when his blood pressure is either too high or too low. Recently, the dose was lowered, since he too has been having low blood pressure for some time.
HI there.... my doctors are well aware of my low blood pressure.. as its all documented on dialysis machine. No secrets there. They already have me on a medication to keep it from dropping too low, but it is still an issue. This is why I am inquiring on this blog.... to find other solutions. From my experience, Metatoporal is also prescribed for controlling Afib, as well as contributing to lowering blood pressure. Thank you for your input.
My husband is on Metoprolol to only decrease his blood pressure, not prevent a-fib. (My husband actually went into a-fib while on Metoprolol.) I understand it may help some with a-fib. We are all different.
It sounds contraindicative to most diets but upping sodium helped. I didn’t have dialysis but I have perpetually low blood pressure and post transplant I’ve now had two doctors start a conversation with “so do you like chips” aka crisps aka potato chips. It’s my downfall in life - if I didn’t eat crisps/chips I’m convinced my blood pressure would be even lower so I didn’t up that but it was satisfactory to have a doctor “prescribe” it. Instead I drink tonic water or club soda, and I try to cook with more salt than I typically did. I also make an effort to eat more regularly and work out. With low blood pressure I’d develop POTS. Working out surprisingly helped too. It’s clear my sodium bicarbonate also contributes so I make sure I don’t miss that. I was put on some specific medicine at one point but it made me swell up and retain water to an uncomfortable amount. I don’t recall what it was called.
Hi again….
Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda. Is this something you take for low BP?
Also….can you explain briefly what you refer to as your ‘work out’ that helps maintain a lower BP?
Thanx so much
Sodium bicarbonate 650mg twice a day helps primarily with acid stomach (immunesuppressants) but doctors made a comment about this and low blood pressure. I don’t know the ties.
Working out = I do strength training twice a week, pilates once a week and walk 30 mins a day at the gym.
Best of luck!
Hi Tashikat,
I'm sorry to hear you had to start dialysis after 15 years with your transplant. I have had issues with low BP, and I am currently having problems now. I've had a transplant for 20 years and was on dialysis for almost 10. First Metoprolol is a beta blocker and is used to lower blood pressure. However, it also helps to keep your heart rate down so it works well for people with Afib.
1) I would first speak with the nephrologist. Be direct and blunt. Unless there is a huge red flag, it won't phase them to say anything to you. Sometimes they won't even say anything they will just write a new script. Ask them outright. What should my BP and pulse rate be on XYZ days? When should I be concerned? What can I do to help keep my BP from fluctuating? Are you concerned about my blood pressure? Nephrologists are human and they have 100 items to review in their head as they meet with you during appointments.
2)The timing of your blood pressure is very important. Hemo can cause your blood pressure to swing from high to low. It was common for me to have BP around 90/60 post-dialysis, but pre-dialysis was 110/80. Document your pre and post-dialysis BP and, your non-dialysis day BP. Make sure you also document your sitting and standing BP. At home take BP sitting after resting for 5 minutes. Your at-home BP is way more important than your dialysis BP for monitoring your overall BP trends. - Take this info with you to every doctor's appointment. I commonly take my BP monitor to my appointments and compare my readings with the nurse's readings.
3) are you watching your dry weight? It's easy to become too dry which will cause your blood pressure to drop and your pulse to increase.
4) although 100 systolic seems low, it depends on the person. Are you symptomatic - ie dizzy, lightheaded, or lethargic? Anything below 90/60 -is considered hypotensive.
5) As others have said, salt may be your friend. - speak to your dietitian or doctor. Exercise seemed to help me.
Good luck.
Hi there
I have spoken with my Nephrologist on how to increase my BP. They suggested potato chips, increase in salt intake, & they have increased a medication called Mitodrine that Ive been on for 15 years, to keep my BP from dropping too low. I was also put on Propafenone & Metatoporal combined, to reduce my Afib. My doc hestitated, as he knew it would lower my BP & could be a problem with hurting my kidney if my BP lingering helow 100.
I am only using the ‘yellow’ 10,000 ml of fluids for my peritoneal dialysis at night, so I cannot reduce the water coming off, as tests show I am spot on. BP below 100 does make me light headed & hard to walk. Frustrating in such hot temps here.
I have met with my dietician & solutions shared were just to eat potato chips, more salt & more water intake. Its still a struggle. Consistent 7 days reaching over 100 systalic is ideal I am told.
Thanx so much for your input here.
I am not a doctor. These are things I would ask my doctor.
—Would taking salt tablets help?
—I have heard there is a process called ablation that can cure AFIB. I believe they use general anesthesia and feed a wire into/around your heart and burn away the malfunctioning tissue responsible for AFIB. Is this something that would help me, and am I healthy enough for it?
Hi …
I have had 4 ablations on my heart since 2016, 2 of them at the Cleveland Clinic. At the 4th one, I ended up with a pacemaker. I Still have AFIB, but have been taking a high quality ‘Remag’ magnesium liquid for the last 10 mos & tests show its helping improve my afib, tho slowly.
Its been a real chalkenge trying to get my BP up consistently. Hopefully some helpful input here.
Thanx so much !
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When your blood pressure is low...sit or lie down and have your feet raised up higher than your heart...this will help raise your b/p temporarily
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