hypotension

[Ter]

Hi,
I am now featuring a disabling problem that I haven't seen discussed here.
I am three weeks post op tomorrow (mitral repair and Maze) - for a week I have been feeling so lightheaded and miserable. I have been to my local hospital three different days for a liter of IV fluids. Today I have had blood work (looks great on paper) - EKG, emergency echo (also looks good), and a liter of fluid - which makes me feel better. I feel like I am drinking fluids, and eating a little. I am salting everything, as instructed by my doctors.
My blood pressure is running low, I usually "tilt" (a test for dehydration), and feel better after fluids. My primary care doc is calling the cardiologist and the cardiac surgeon, but no one seems to understand why. And yesterday I had my first episode of full blown vertigo, room spinning, black hole, perfuse sweating, nausea, and almost passed out from a sitting position. That also doesn't fit with anything (my ears are fine) - All this seems to be hampering recovery and I am frustrated, embarrassed by all the calls to the doctor, and discouraged.
Any advice from someone who deals with similar hypotension?
Thanks, Terry

 

[Bina]

Are you taking any BP meds? What is your BP?

 

[Tbone]

"I have been feeling so lightheaded and miserable." - TER

Does this come & go or is it constant. If it comes and goes how often? Are you short of breath?

 

[Ter]

Hi Bina,
I am not on any blood pressure meds. My usual pressure is about 100/60, lately is about 90/50, and goes down to about 80/40. Good thing is that I am still in sinus rhythm (was in atrial fib before the maze).
per tbone - it stays more than it goes.... better after fluids. not short of breath...

 

[Bina]

Is your Potassium level okay?

 

[Ter]

basically all labs fine (hematocrit still slightly low, and INR subbornly low (taking 15 mg tonite!)- am being given an "event" monitor tomorrow to check for any arrythmias - although none of us think that is the problem.

 

[Bina]

I remember sitting at the kitchen table and almost blacking out right after eating my dinner.
By googling low blood pressure, I found something about BP crashes after eating.
I made sure to eat smaller amounts more often. And I never went in the shower without somebody being home.
Be careful.

 

[briansmom]

I do not have heart problems, but suffer from low blood pressure when taking pain pills. So that is my question - are you still on pain pills. After my last knee surgery I felt like I was passing out when I was laying in bed. We put an automatic blood pressure cuff on and couldn't even get a reading. We called the paramedics and they couldn't get a BP for a while either, eventually they got one of 70/40 and congratulated me on what an athlete I must be to have that low of BP. I finally drank an energy drink to keep from passing out - but I'm not sure if that's ok post heart surgery.

I also know that they keep my son's BP very low. If he gets at all dehydrated he will have to drink something like a Mountain Dew to keep from passing out.

 

[Eva]

Stay hydrated and see if it helps. Have you been walking as instructed?! Keep us posted.

 

[Ter]

HI,
unfortunately, my event monitor shows I am in and out of atrial fib/flutter - so am back on digoxin. still suffering with low blood pressure - have had to get a liter of fluids four times now - and no one can figure it out - not the internist, the cardiologist, or the cardiac surgeon. I am doing everything suggested - lots of oral fluids, small frequent meals, labs still all normal - just feel so much better after getting the fluids. guess i have to wait and see. thanks for all the comments. terry