Anyone else have low blood pressure?

[massagedoula]

Every time I go to the doctor and they take my blood pressure they look at me funny and ask me if I feel OK. I have really low blood pressure since my IC started. Today I took a test in a machine at the mall and all my readings were in the lowest of the low zone. I feel fine, though (other than in my bladder of course!) Could IC cause it? Does anyone else have it?

[K9wife]

Are you tall and skinny? Sometimes. tall, thin women tend to have pretty low Blood Pressure. If it isn't causing any symptoms like dizziness or light-headed feelings, it should be OK.. Just remember to tell any pre-op nurses...it'll scare the heck out of them in post-op! LOL

[Silverfox]

Yes, if you ever feel dizzy when you bend down and then stand up, you should tell your Dr. Low blood pressure can, in some cases, be a symptom of low thyroid. There is treatment for this. I used to have low blood pressure and had severe dizzy spells when I stood up and after getting treated for my low thyroid these spells are gone.

[Katrina]

It is actually is kind of common amoung ICers to have low blood pressure....although some have high blood pressure... I haven't been diagnosed with low thryroid but I have had symptoms from low blood pressure...it been low enough to really concern my doctor at times and that is while on medication for it. I have faited and had many dizzy spells. The fainting was scarry...since the first time I had gotten up from bed for a bathroom trip and all of the sudden was on the floor. Other times that I have fainted I had just recently gotten up from sitting . Since we don't know the cause of IC ...I can't really say that IC causes this....but as many other illnesses it is something more common in ICers. Do you ever get cheast pains? I also have a rapid heart beat which often goes a long with low blood pressure.

[massagedoula]

I wish I was tall and skinny! :)

I do not ever faint, but sometimes I do get chest pains and my heart beats fast. This went on long before the IC, though, and the Low Blood Pressure has been since the IC started.

[ICNDonna]

Actually, low blood pressure is not uncommon in the general population. We have one daughter whose BP has always been low. The point to worry is if your blood pressure has been "normal" for most of your life and then it goes either up or down. What does your doctor say?

Donna

[massagedoula]

The doctor(s) that I go to now are not like a family doctor that I have gone to all my life. I never went to a doctor for the first 25 years of my life, as I have never had any health problems before IC. So they don't know if if just started recently or not, but I do, because I have gotten those blood pressure tests before in school and the do-it-yourself ones at the pharmacy before and it was always normal. Just since the IC has it been low. They asked me if I have to hold on to a wall when I walk because I am dizzy and I said no...

[Kathy05]

Hi-- It's true that lots of people have low-ish blood pressure (especially athletes, for example) without any problem. However, I just want to say that if you have low bp and faint (or almost faint) a lot, or if you also have a rapid heart rate and/or chest pain, it might be a good idea to look into a couple of autonomic nervous system disorders. Those symptoms can be related to disorders like Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (Orthostatic Intolerance) or Neurocardiogenic Syncope. These are not dangerous problems, but can be disruptive or debilitating without treatment. I have POTS, and it was debilitating for years before it was diagnosed, but with treatment eventually got to be a whole lot better. I had "pre-syncope" (feeling dizzy, greyed-out vision, can't stand, but it's slow, so you sit/lie down before you lose consciousness) when I stood for more than a few minutes, very rapid heart rate while upright, chest pain, fatigue, and several other symptoms. With this problem you end up without enough circulating blood volume when you are upright, and that's why you get dizzy. Even though these disorders are basically neurological, they are usually diagnosed and treated by cardiologists. I'm not a physician, but I just wanted to mention this in case it is helpful to anyone. :)

[Kathi]

Add me to the low BP group. Usually about 90/60, have been 50/30, yipes! Can't take antihisamines cause it causes it to go lower & I'm dizzy enough. :loco: Kathi

[emilyrose197377]

no I have high blood pressure . but they are right if you find yourself feel dizzy or sick I would get checked out right away.The only time my blood pressure was low was when I was severely dehydrated in the hostipal.

Take care
Kim

[Cricketmk3]

My blood pressure has always been low (I'm 42). I'm not tall and skinny though. I'm short and average.

[Trishie]

No low bp here, I have high bp

[stacey79]

I have high BP, too. You might ask you doctor about any meds you are on and see if any of them have a side effect of lowering your BP.

[MeganAnne]

Hope this board is still active! It was interesting to read it because when I went to the urologist last week, the nurse asked me if I ever get faint, see stars or black spots when I stand up. That happens to me at least several times per week. She said my blood pressure was too low... 80/50 and to eat more salt. My mother, who has very high bp has always encouraged me to not eat much salt, to the point where I don't really care for the taste of very salty foods.

In addition, my chiropractor told me I have symptoms of a slow thyroid (cracked heels, sluggish, fatigue). She has me taking iodine and selenium. I'm wondering what the connection is between low bp, low thyroid, and IC. If anyone has any info (including what medicines or herbs you take for the thyroid), please send it my way!

[ICNJess]

For the last year or so, mine has been ranging from the 100/80 to 120/80 range, but it goes through the roof when a flare hits.

[Annie2]

Low bp here, too. I'm short and, well, not skinny. My bp always has been low except for about 5 years when I gained a lot of weight and it went up to normal. That was pre-IC. I lost a bunch of weight when I started eating a healthy IC diet and my bp went back to low again. I had to have a colonoscopy a couple of weeks ago and my bp was 76/50. The nurses were concerned. That worried me and my bp went back to a normal 90/60.

I do occasionally have problems with dizziness, but not too often. However, if I take a med that has a potential side-effect of dizziness, that's what will happen to me. I was Dxed with ulcerative proctitis 2 wks ago and the med I have to use had a big warning label on it .... MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS. Yep, it does. The first few days on it were bad but I seem to be adjusting ok now. I also did increase my salt intake as I normally don't use much. Fritos are good for that... ;)

Interesting thread. Glad you brought it up again. I missed it the first time around.

[VickiB]

I missed this thread too the first go round!

Add me to the LBP list. I used to be tall & too skinny. Now I'm tall and about 10 pounds heavier than I'd like to be (I'm working on it!). But my low blood pressure remains. I've always been this way and my doctors have never seemed concerned.

Vicki

[Pac168r]

I have low blood pressure, have for years. I was a mail carrier with a walking route and always thought it was from walking 5 hours a day.

[Prinny Joy]

Hi, I've got Low BP. Have had it since I was a teen. When I have normal BP that means for me is high! When it's high, like hopsital visits then there is concern. It's not something that really bothers me so I don't have much problem except I know it is low. I know that doesn't help, but I have it! PEACE and JOY

[calmkiwi21]

I have normal blood pressure when I go to the doctor but when I'm home it's awfully low. Which I believe it's only normal at the docs office because of nerves lol. I do however get lightheaded spells easily from it. This has only come about in the past few years that I have been in remission from IC.
~Amy~

[Elle]

I've always had a problem w/ low bp, too. And, when I'm pregnant, it gets dangerously low. Since I didn't develop any health problems (IC, FIBR, etc) until after my kids were born, I know mine isn't IC related. I'm also not tall and skinny - short and stumpy better describes me! :biglaugh:

[MeganAnne]

Hee hee! I am short and just slightly (well, 20 lbs.) above average. Is there anything else besides eating salty foods or stressing :) that one can do to increase it a little bit? I recently read online that low blood pressure can be related to dehydration. I try to drink enough water, but I know I don't (because of the IC).

[CherylSLP]

I have low blood pressure too, I get that funny look too. Low BP runs in my family actually. I have low energy too (fibromyalgia). I also deal with bouts of low blood sugar. Had my throid tested, it was fine.

[JenG]

Hi!
I've always had low blood pressure as well, it caused me to have an emergency c-section when it got dangerously low. I am definitely not tall and skinny! In fact with the IC, and the Fibro I have put a bit of weight on and my docs keep checking to see if my BP has gone up with my weight but, luckily it hasn't!

[Prissie]

I have high blood pressure. I am currently taking 7 different bp meds and it is still high.

[marsi4]

Hi Massagedoula!

I never had low blood pressure until I started on the IC diet. I'm not eating enough of the different foods necessary to maintain a healthy body. I was follwing a strict diet and was malnourished. Soon after I started getting stiff and aching joints on my fingers a month ago. I am now eating mostly all foods except for the very acidic ones. Having followed such a restrictive diet along with pain meds has lowered my blood pressure. I don't know if you're taking pain meds but doctors have told me that certain pain medication can lower blood pressure as well as not being active and staying in bed for long periods. I have heard that salt can raise your blood pressure. Try drinking a little bit of baking soda in water from time to time. In the morning get out of bed slowly to avoid fainting or feeling dizzy.

[brat1of2]

For ever my blodd pressure was right on the money , but since last year. when I believe this started I get that same look fro nurses. amd the always ask has my blodd pressure always been low, or did I know it was low.

[extrasharp]

I'm on meds for high blood pressure but something is dropping my heart rate. Am on Elmiron and Ditropan xl.

[sherry6]

I have low blood pressure , and always have. My whole family does. We all have to work our butts off to stay a normal weight. Myself and four of my sisters work out at least five days a week, and two of us are a little heavy (including me) two are normal sized, and one is thin. So, I think we have a low thyroid problem, but not big enough to measure on a regular blood test.

Ironically, I had high blood pressure with my last baby (two months old) and delivered 4 weeks early due to pre eclampsia. Go figure. I am now back down to my regular low blood pressure.

I don't know what the connection is. Good Luck!

[ICNDonna]

My high blood pressure is controlled with medications.

Donna

[dani83]

You mentioned that you have chest pain and fast heart beat
I have that too along with low BP and dizzyness when i change my position from sitting to standing and so forth
I have been dx with POTS it is a dysautonomic condition and my understanding is that it is not all that uncommon....maybe you can look into this and ask you doc

good luck

dani

[Imustpee]

Nope, I have very high blood pressure...even with meds it's been over 179/102...

[sbelle474]

I have low BP too! It is genetic though, and causes me to feel dizzy and faint if I get really hot or stand up for too long. I always let dr.'s know if I have surgery though, because a low BP can cause problems.

[lalarainbow]

Mine is high and I am short and thin.. I have been on one med and now just added another one.. Hope to get it down to normal soon..
~~Pam~~

[icjen]

Wow! I didn't realize so many of ICers have low BP too. I always have low BP and high pulse. I'm currently seeing a Cardiologist for my symptoms that come along with it. I have dizziness, chest pains, SOB, and fatigue. He put a holter on me and only found that I have periods when my pulse is up to about 160 without much activity. He said it was no big deal except that I have most of my symptoms when this happens. Put me on Toprol XL 25mg, then up to 50mg. Then my pulse went down to 42. So, of course I had to stop that. Trying a new med soon. It's nice to know I'm not the only one, but sucks that everyone else also has to deal with more problems too.
Jen

[DebbieD]

I have very low Blood Pressure ans I am Very anemic.

Pressure usually is 100/60 and Lower if in the Hospital. Plenty of Transfusions.

Hugs :grouphug:
DebbieD

[ibtracy]

Hi, I too suffer from this. My pressure runs as low as 80/70 or lower sometimes and they always ask me if I'm alive? :lmao: I've always had low blood pressure even before being diagnosed with IC.

Tracy K.