Low blood pressure

[michaelm]

For the past few years my blood pressure has changed dramatically. For the first 25–29 years of my injury I was 120/80. Now I drop quite low to 90/60 to 80/50 (Being very symptomatic).
My bowels also have changed from really formed stool to loose/mushy. Could my pressure issues be tied to my gut?

[SCI-Nurse]

Hi,

I have not heard of a direct relationship between the 2. Many sCI folks, especially quadraplegics, have hypotension (low blood pressure). Since this is a change for you, I'm wondering if anything else has changed. Are you on a medication that lowers your blood pressure? Are you making sure you are not dehydrated? Is there any change in pulse rate? Does this occur mainly in hte morning but rasies as the day progresses? I would speak with your clinician who can review your medical diagnoses/meds,etc to possibly explain this to you.
AAD

[FER]

hi, check with your Dr. the medicines you are takin, for example Flomax (tamsulosin) can decreases your blood pressure, perhaps the problem is that you don't take enough fluids. You can raise your blood pressure wearing stocking socks and abdominal binder.

[Broken Doll]

.
For the past few years my blood pressure has changed dramatically. For the first 25–29 years of my injury I was 120/80. Now I drop quite low to 90/60 to 80/50 (Being very symptomatic).
My bowels also have changed from really formed stool to loose/mushy. Could my pressure issues be tied to my gut?

I am experiencing the very same issues as you and I'm convinced the two are connected. I am now 29 years postinjury and my changes occurred about three years ago.

In addition, my blood pressure is affected after my suppository/bowel evacuation is over. I might have a little A.D. and discomfort during the bowel program, but afterwards, my colon fills up with air, my belly distends and huge belches are forcefully projected through my upper GI tract relieving the pressure.

In a two hour time span span my blood pressure may start at 90/60; elevate to 225/145; and drop to 55/35. Needless to say, this is uncomfortable and scary.

My blood pressure is also now dropping during the day. I've fainted twice while I'm driving my car.

I have been in the hospital now for six days trying to figure out how to control the dips and elevations in blood pressure. The doctors are stumped.

[sherocksandsherolls]

Originally Posted by Broken Doll

I am experiencing the very same issues as you and I'm convinced the two are connected. I am now 29 years postinjury and my changes occurred about three years ago.

In addition, my blood pressure is affected after my suppository/bowel evacuation is over. I might have a little A.D. and discomfort during the bowel program, but afterwards, my colon fills up with air, my belly distends and huge belches are forcefully projected through my upper GI tract relieving the pressure.

In a two hour time span span my blood pressure may start at 90/60; elevate to 225/145; and drop to 55/35. Needless to say, this is uncomfortable and scary.

My blood pressure is also now dropping during the day. I've fainted twice while I'm driving my car.

I have been in the hospital now for six days trying to figure out how to control the dips and elevations in blood pressure. The doctors are stumped.

that is some scary stuff! I hope they figure it out and let us know please!

[SCI-Nurse]

I would first want to know what is your level of injury? any other changes in sensation/function/pain? recommend a review of all your medications and see which ones effect BP. I would want to make sure you pre-treated yourself with lidocaine jelly with a bowel program to prevent painful stimuli to affect possible AD elevated BP readings. BP can effect a lot of things including bowels, hormones can effect bowels as well.

When you see your provider it would be good if you had a journal of when things began, changes that occurred around that time, etc.

pbr

[Broken Doll]

Originally Posted by SCI-Nurse

I would first want to know what is your level of injury? any other changes in sensation/function/pain? recommend a review of all your medications and see which ones effect BP. I would want to make sure you pre-treated yourself with lidocaine jelly with a bowel program to prevent painful stimuli to affect possible AD elevated BP readings. BP can effect a lot of things including bowels, hormones can effect bowels as well.

When you see your provider it would be good if you had a journal of when things began, changes that occurred around that time, etc.

pbr

My injury is C-5 six level. *The changes that I have noticed have been gas in my belly that projects through my upper GI and is related to my ups & downs in blood pressure; increasing pain in the last three years in relation to my bowel routine. *My stool has become much softer and harder to evacuate.

Just recently I was given the advice to pretreat with lidocaine jelly, switch from magic bullet to Enemeez Plus, follow up with Anusol suppositories. I had a sample of the Enemeez and had great success with it today.

I believe my changes are related to my aging, I've been a C5-6 spinal cord injured female for 29 years. I hadn't considered hormones. I've been looking at digestive issues and changing my diet.

The pain is most focused around my bowel program. First that AD, then the low blood pressure which I'm assuming is partly from a Norco that I'm taking to get rid of the pain that's causing that the AD. I just started experimenting taking the Norco one – two hours before starting the bowel routine and that has made a difference in less dysreflexia.

All of my doctors have been confused and unable to find a solution for me.

[Broken Doll]

Originally Posted by FER

hi, check with your Dr. the medicines you are takin, for example Flomax (tamsulosin) can decreases your blood pressure, perhaps the problem is that you don't take enough fluids. You can raise your blood pressure wearing stocking socks and abdominal binder.

I really don't take very many drugs. I do take a stimulant in the morning, along with drinking a pot of tea, to elevate my blood pressure before transferring into my chair. In addition, I wear compression stockings, a compression undergarment and an abdominal binder.

Per needed, I take a Norco, usually to combat the autonomic dysreflexia associated with the trauma of my bowel routine. I noticed that Norco makes my blood pressure drop. Very rarely, I'll take a half of Ambien and to sleep and a Valium if I have spasms.

I drink a lot of water, Gatorade and green tea, 3 – 4 liters per day.


The fluctuations in blood pressure are scary and driving me and everybody else around me crazy. I was just discharged from being in the hospital for 12 days because the doctors were freaked out seeing my range of 45/20 up to 225/110.

I believe that they went overboard and not fully appreciating what autonomic dysreflexia was, but nevertheless, it is difficult to live with. They didn't find any solution. We tried taking midodrine and clonidine but then my body went even wackier.

The scariest thing was being discharged from the hospital and admitted into a long-term acute care center to be monitored all the time because they didn't think there was any other solution to managing my blood pressure. I refused to stay there and was discharged yesterday to manage this at home.