Blood Pressure Fluctuations

[lilteach3234]

Every since surgery, my blood pressure has fluctuated. When I went for my checkup last week it was high. He said my body is so used not being able to flow due to all the damage, that being high was not abnormal and we could take care of it.

They changed my meds from Avapro to Avalide (has a diuretic). Today I noticed each time I stood up or bent down, things went black and I felt like I was going to pass out. I was also a little nauseated. My BP was 51/60.

I called doc and he said don't take anymore meds, drink loads of water (which I have been) and don't overdue it. He wants me to come in next week.

Is BP issues going to be a part of all this new valve stuff? I am so tired of issues.

 

[tobagotwo]

One of the issues of surgery is that your heart undergoes a lot of changes as it readjusts back to its proper size and shape. This tends to make some cardiologists overreact, and try to prescribe something for every change as it happens. As the changes tend to be quite temporary, sometimes just fleeting, this can create real problems for the patient.

In the cardiologists' defense, a lot of OHS patients follow themselves way too closely, and insist on treatment from the doctors for each new twist.

Blood pressure fluctuations, palpitations, odd sensations when turn on your left side, are all common occurrences during the heart's recovery. It can be hard to decide at times what's important and what's not. But it's always important not to treat temporary issues with permanent solutions.

Generally, it would make sense that the fewer drugs there are interfering with the heart finding its own path, the closer to correct it may be when it's finished. If it's being misaligned in BP by too much medication, how will the chemicals allow it to right itself? Yet a mild beta blocker can help keep the heart rate slower in the first weeks after OHS, and that can be good.

Certainly, if blood pressure is too high, it needs to be assisted in lowering itself, but the best way to determine that is to keep a log of your blood pressures at least morning and night. That way, you won't fall victim to a "white coat syndrome" BP number that you might get in the office when visiting the cardiologist. Doctors will prescribe based on just the readings they get during one visit in their office, as unbelievable as it may sound.

Best wishes,

 

[Philip B]

Adjustments

Adjustments

You cannot put your heart through the trauma of AVR surgery without expecting some issues. You've got a new valve that's probably functioning better than your original equipment and your heart muscle isn't used to that. You've simply got to go along for the ride while it adjusts.

-Philip

 

[lilteach3234]

It just kind of scared me today as I've never experienced the blackouts. I have always been on avapro (pre surgery), but they wanted to change me to one with a diuretic.

One more thing that is just going to take time.

 

[debster913]

Every since surgery, my blood pressure has fluctuated. When I went for my checkup last week it was high. He said my body is so used not being able to flow due to all the damage, that being high was not abnormal and we could take care of it.

They changed my meds from Avapro to Avalide (has a diuretic). Today I noticed each time I stood up or bent down, things went black and I felt like I was going to pass out. I was also a little nauseated. My BP was 51/60.

I called doc and he said don't take anymore meds, drink loads of water (which I have been) and don't overdue it. He wants me to come in next week.

Is BP issues going to be a part of all this new valve stuff? I am so tired of issues.

Girl! We're all different, but yeah, I have had "fun" with my blood pressure since surgery. You're not alone in this. My BP runs low, and the different meds make it even lower. Even after my ablation, after my cardio played with all kinds of meds with me: sotalol, Rythmol, verapamil, Toprol, you name it--I still had drops in blood pressure that were pretty frightening. My husband called the cardio back in January when my bp took a dive. My cardio also said to get some fluid and salt in me. Today, at Easter brunch after church, my dad asked me if I should be having salt as I picked a few pieces of bacon from the buffet table.

Hang in there! I've had three years of issues after my repair. I'm calling my cardio tomorrow to tell him I want off the cardizem (calcium channel blocker). The stuff is not fun and makes me really dizzy at times.

Best,