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Original poster

Anyone else have low blood pressure?

27 replies

hypotense · 15/04/2017 21:59

Hi,

I'm experiencing a whole raft of health problems which my doctor is attributing to stress as nothing shows up on tests.

I regularly get migraines and headaches
epiodic erratic periods (sometimes wappy, sometimes regular)
dry skin
nosebleeds
hair falling out on head
male-type hair growth
quite prone to nausea
sleepy, despite having no sleep issues and getting plenty of sleep!

Most recently everything except the male hair growth has alleviated, to be replaced by the sensation of the world spinning/dizziness for a few days, which is a new one :/

I know I have a low 'operating' blood pressure, it's just naturally like that. But when really traumatic things happen to my body, it does drop and I feel faint and sort of fade out; like I had a planned cesearean which was obviously all a new experience for me and I don't actually 'freak out' at the stress of what's happening as in, panting and sweating or anything, I'll be cool as a cucumber on the outside, but the blood pressure drops and off I go into blackness.

I've tried all sorts of dietary fixes for the hormonal side of things with my period and hair but I'm starting to think maybe the doctor is right, it is stress and these symptoms fit with my usual low blood pressure dropping even further due to the stress?

Anyone else or am I a complete weirdo?

OP posts:
Original poster
hypotense · 15/04/2017 22:01

sorry if this doesnt make much sense, i read it back but I just feel really dizzy now so maybe not making sense :(

OP posts:
NotJanine · 15/04/2017 22:02

Do you mean dangerously low blood pressure?

mycavitiesareempty · 15/04/2017 22:03

Have you had a check of your thyroid? Many of your symptoms suggest hypothyroidism.

70ontheinside · 15/04/2017 22:07

I used to have really low blood pressure and was put on medication for it, but I can't remember what it was.
The things that helped to stabilise blood pressure were: eating regularly, avoiding sugar highs and lows. Alternating between hot and cold in the shower. A glass of Champagne (yes!).
My blood pressure rose to normal during pregnancy and I remember how nice it was not to feel dizzy all the time.

StrawberryMouse · 15/04/2017 22:08

I have always had naturally low blood pressure and been told that unless I'm experiencing "symptoms" this is just normal for me. A couple of bells ring with your post though, I understand the fading feeling, I almost go into "shut down" when I'm feeling very tired and have previously had a sort of "brain fog" hazy feeling. I also used to get lightheaded / spinning feelings (almost like vertigo) when lying down a certain way or standing up too quickly when pregnant. These were all related to blood pressure apparently.

Original poster
hypotense · 15/04/2017 22:09

I don't think my blood pressure is dangerously low, but I know whenever it's checked they comment 'oh, thats low, well done!' sort of thing and it runs in my family.

thyroid - yes I've been checked twice for thyroid and nothing abnormal comes up. I did forget to mention weight gain despite a really good diet, and then sudden loss - 8lb in 3days, with no change in diet. HOW this can be with normal blood test results I don't know!?

OP posts:
Freddyfredfred · 15/04/2017 22:09

I have low blood pressure most of the time. It doesn't massively affect me, I mostly just get the odd dizzy spell, but some dizzy spells can be quite horrible. I have a memory of holding onto a lamppost once during a particularly bad one. During pregnancy it went up to the low end of normal.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/04/2017 22:10

Me - and the 'fading' feeling is exactly how I'd describe it. It starts to feel as if I'm under water. Am now on medication (it took absolutely ages to finally get this) and it's helping a lot to regulate it.

sparechange · 15/04/2017 22:10

I have low blood pressure (60/110ish) and have had all those symptoms but they were down to me having an under active thyroid

As soon as I started on thyroxine, most of them have gone

My problem was that my TSH was always hovering around 5, which is borderline ok for some doctors. The new advice is anything over 2.5 should be treated when you also have symptoms like the ones you've described, so it they've tested your tsh but told you it's 'normal', ask to get the actual result

If it is over 2.5, you need to find a friendly doctor to put you on a low dose of levothyroxine to see if it helps. Unfortunately finding a doctor to do this isn't always easy...

mycavitiesareempty · 15/04/2017 22:11

A test for coeliac might also make sense.

Original poster
hypotense · 15/04/2017 22:14

Thanks for the ideas here! I will specifically ask what my thyroid result was for a start. Glad you know what I mean by 'fading'!

OP posts:
Brighteyes27 · 15/04/2017 22:25

Strawberry Mouse I am the same no medication for low blood pressure. I also have an under active thyroid (on thyroxine) and have terribly dry ittchy skin and scalp. OP I get weird feelings/episodes every now and again but haven't had one for awhile so can't describe it accurately but similar to how you describe but the feelings I remember experiencing are quite hard to describe I feel quite light headed, very ill for only a brief period (but this worries me and makes me feel panicky as I also have another underlying health condition) and I feel completely out of it, I suppose like shutting down feeling as Strawberry Mouse says. I have tried to identify what might have triggered it with me and with me they seem to occur around lunch time when I am maybe hungry and or feeling tired. I feel better once I've eaten and rested. I try now not to get too hungry which seems to have helped me.

Bebraveagain · 15/04/2017 22:37

I also had low blood pressure (100/60) dry skin, tiredness, brain fog and weight gain before i was diagnosed hyperthyroid. My TSH was around 4 and FT4 was around 12, which many doctors would have ignored as normal range. Ask for your results including ferritin (stored iron), b12 and vit D.

StrawberryMouse · 15/04/2017 22:39

Yes definitely to the eating thing! My husband used to joke about "hanger" but eating something does seem to snap me out of it a bit when I'm feeling wiped out so as a result I can be very focused on finding food quickly when I start to recognise the feeling! Maybe I'll pop back to gp but it's hard to explain isn't it? And difficult to line up having these vague feelings now and then with a need for medication when others obviously have much more extreme problems relating to their blood pressure.

Maudlinmaud · 15/04/2017 22:47

Mine is low, if I stand up too quickly I need to get to the floor or a chair very quickly before I faint. Sometimes when I'm down my arms and legs do this strange jerking sensation. Often the dizzyness leads to me feeling or being sick. My consultant isn't too bothered about it and says it's called pre syncope or something. Syncope just means faint. I do think I suffer from low bs too.

Brighteyes27 · 15/04/2017 22:53

Low blood pressure low blood sugar I'm not medical but seems their maybe a link here.
Yes had spells of anemia as well lots of the symptoms for under active thyroid low blood pressure and anemia seem very similar.

sparechange · 15/04/2017 22:58

brighteyes
Have you cut out all shampoo, shower gels, detergents with SLS and parabans?

That made a huge difference for our house - no more itchy scalps
It rules out 99% of what you can buy in supermarkets and Boots, and is more expensive than the Pantene/Herbal Essences of the world but made an overnight difference

Everything in Holland and Barrett is SLS and Paraban free so it's a good place to start
And things like Simple or anything labelled 'pure' or 'natural' tend to be full of nasty chemicals so you really have to read the labels

mailfuckoff · 16/04/2017 06:49

Low blood pressure and arrythmic heart near here. No medication to take, I just have to eat high salt food (yummy chips) and drink squash when not feeling great. I collapse when having an attack which the children find hilarious. No loss on consciousness. I had an exercise test and tilt test to diagnose it. Only issue is no high intensity exercise so losing weight is hard work.

Footle · 16/04/2017 08:30

Off topic, but Brighteyes27, are you the lovely Brighteyes I was in touch with?

Brighteyes27 · 16/04/2017 08:52

Yes, how are you?

Footle · 16/04/2017 09:33

I'm fine and would like to be in touch on fb again if you would, but I couldn't find you. I'll try again. Hope you're all having a happy Easter.

wfrances · 16/04/2017 09:39

i have low blood pressure , low blood sugar and low body temperature.
i wonder if they're connected but the doctors i see dont seem worried about it.
i wore a 24 hr monitor at home as gp was concerned (i have black outs)and my average is 90/60 it has been recorded as low as 70/40.
was told to stay hydrated , get up carefully and have more salt.
my temperature is usually 35.2 - 36
my blood sugar has been found to be low on a few occasions , needing glucose test tube things to drink.
i also have most of your symptoms.

Pleasemrstweedie · 16/04/2017 10:16

Another one here who had low blood pressure for years and years. Sometimes it was as low as 85/50. Doctors were never interested and just told me that it was better to have low blood pressure than high blood pressure. When I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and put on thyroxine my blood pressure almost immediately rose into the "normal "range where it has stayed ever since. No longer do I go dizzy when I tried to get up from sitting and I no longer feel so tired.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 16/04/2017 11:42

Yes to salt. Yes to keeping hydrated. Yes to not going too long between snacks/meals. I sometimes make a mixture of weak squash and salt to carry around with me too.

ArriettyClock1 · 17/04/2017 01:33

Last time mine was measured it was 93/60.

GP just said it was good and still within normal range - not low.