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Forum Name: Miscellaneous Cardiology Topics

Question: Low Blood Pressure when changing positions

caseyb23 - Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:14 pm

I am a 23 year old women. On my 21st birthday I had the flu and possible strep throat. The months that followed included me constantly feeling sick (very fatigue) and having anywhere from about 4 to 25 blackouts a day, lasting up to 10 seconds, but not causing me to completely faint. Since then, I have gone to numerous doctors, each giving lots of different tests and they still have not found a true cause for this problem. Two different tilt table tests have determined that my blood pressure drops dramaticly (103/64 to about 60/40) when I change positions and my heartrate speeds up and then drops very low (from 94 up to 150 and down to 60). My life is no longer like that of normal girls in thier tweenties. I have to be careful standing up, I have little energy and sometimes have days where I can hardly get out of bed, and I have other strange side effects. I do want to mention that I am not depressed, and my fatigue is not related to my mood. But, to fill you in on some of my other symptoms, my heart will race (pound) for no apparent reason (I could be laying down), I don't sleep well, I sometimes have uncontrolable shaky hands, commonly have a low grade Fever, occasional problems swallowing and sore throat, occasional hot flashes, usually at night, extreme sweating, and problems with noise, light, and touch (could be related to migraines, but happens more often, with out the pain of the Headache.) The doctors have put me on Beta blockers, but I had breathing problems, steriods which made no difference, and proamatine (midodrine) which caused TOO many side effects. I have tried support stockings, drinking lots of water, and increasing my salt intake, with no luck. They have checked me for Seizures, different diseases, inner ear problems, etc. They don't know what the cause is. If it were just the blackouts, I could live, but all of the other problems make it very hard for me to live a normal life. Please, if you have any suggestions as to what the cause of this may be, I would greatly appreciate a response. I personally wonder if all of this is caused by chronic fatigue syndrome, but I understand that this is still not considered a disease by many doctors, and I have heard from some that low blood presure is not a side effect of chronic fatigue( others say differently.) Thank you for your help, Casey

Shannon Morgan, CMA - Sat Jun 18, 2005 2:24 pm

Casey, you didn't mention if you had been evaluated by a cardiologist. Exactly what type of doctors have you seen and what tests besides a tilt have you had? (I am sure you have had plenty of bloodwork).

kp123 - Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:53 pm

hi there my gp has just diagnosed me with low blood prerssure . I feel rubbish most days tired light headed I was just wondering if there is anything I can do to up my blood pressure and stop feeling like this every day thanks

Haley - Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:34 am

Casey You might want to see a gyn - I had the same disorder, a visit to the gyn for spotting. thought it was Cancer the spotting was tric- which if left untreated can cause a few events that can disable you. Go see the Gyn and ask for an STD check-up I am in menopause never thought of Tric, had no symptons.

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