Hi,

I'm a c8/t1 paraplegic. My problem is with my blood pressure: It is a little bit low, especially in the morning and during the winter months. When my blood pressure is low I feel a bit more sluggish with shortness of breadth. I feel better in the afternoon and after I have eaten a meal. Anyone have this problem? If so, what do you do to eleviate it? I understand that low blood pressure doesnt effect my health as opposed to high blood pressure, but I just want to raise my blood pressure up a little so I dont feel so sluggish in the morning. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I don't know about para's, but I was told that all quad's have low blood pressure.........

Mine's 85 over 60....... Most nurses look at me, like I should be dead......

Jim

Not that it gives you any answers but is a C8/T1 injury para or tetraplegia?

Like I said, it doesn't answer your question, I'm just curious!

Trinity X

ed:- Ok, just re read your post and you have clearly stated that you're paraplegic, your name should also have given it away coolparaguy!
Sorry
Trinity (should've gone to Specsavers) XXX

I have low BP and eat sea salt to keep it from going to low. They wanted to put me on BP meds but I did some research and found that salt will raise BP and the side effects are no where as bad as the meds. Oh the side effects of salt is it can raise your blood pressure.............OK then.

My injury is a little lower but I have always suffered from Low Blood Pressure, standing too fast, stretching or even letting my sugar get to low has always caused me to get light headed and eyes get all foggy and dark. Dealing with the transition to immobility has been a bitch for me. It took around 7 months before I stopped noticing the spells. My docs gave me some minadrin (not sure how to spell it) I never took it daily but always took it before therapy or activity. Eventually my blood pressure worked it out but it takes consistant activity and a healthy diet to maintain. If I sit around too long or eat like shit for a few days in a row the affects are obvious. Hope this helps.

Low blood pressure has always been a problem for me and was intensified after my injury. How long have you had your sci? The first few years after I was hurt, my blood pressure was really low, but as time went on, it increased on its own. To fight it, I make sure to eat natural sugar (fruit) earlier in the day and always have a piece of fruit with me in case I get dizzy. Also, drink lots of water. Hydration will help. For a long time I wore TEDs (those really tight socks) and a stomach binder to keep my blood pressure up. It worked, but was not always the most fashionable stuff. Support socks may be helpful to you though, helps with circulation which will help with your blood pressure.

As longhaul suggested, docs sometimes perscribe salt tablets, or just adding more salt to meals works. Also mentioned, if you're a new injury your body adjusts and the light-headed feeling goes away over time.

I still get that light-headed feeling after I eat due to the blood in my body going to help in digesting the food.

Excersise will help the blood flow.

mine's lower than jim's and the nurses do the same..they always think their cuff is too loose or somthing is wrong w/me...when mine gets too low, i just call one of my ex-wives

yes i have low BP, they can never a pulse on my finger so they have to used (hopefully) warm feet lol. I was told that its healther than high BP and though its a pain in the ar*s the passing out, usually on my own in the house, is somthing ill have to get used to. so i sit here with a cold compress on my hip from recent faint on the stairs while i read a letter from my local council saying my housing needs are low proity...*sigh*. not much help to you i know but at least your not on your oneses.

In rehab they made us wear abdominal binders so we wouldn't pass out. I used to almost pass out on the tilt tabe above 60 degrees! Now I stay hydrated and use the motorized tilt and recline if I'm in the wheelchair when my BP drops. In bed I lower the head of the hospital bed to flat. That helps the dizziness pass.

It's a bit strang but I have higher blood pressure. My doc tells me it's because of the pain I am in. I think it's related to the medications.

I was just hospitalized for a severe kidney infection and my blood pressure dropped down to 54/21 and they put me ICU for a few days till it came back up. The doctors don't know why it dropped down so low and I can tell you it scared the crap outa me but I was also to sick to really care at the time.

I know that the doctors say the sometimes if you suffer from dyreflexia (not sure how to spell it) you can have drops in blood pressure, also if you have retention problems with your bladder or bowels.

I pretty much passed out constantly for the first 2 years post injury! BP even down to 58/38 (not alive) I did the salt thing, wore ted hose, had my legs wrapped in a figure 8 with ace bandageds, wore ab binder, got up slow n the morning, lifted my legs when feeling dizzy...........I tried everything---nothing took it away! The Doc's said all SCI's get this and it will go away in a few months! Not for me. I was frustrated & didn't know how I could function forever that way! Occasionally they said that some people have the hypotention longer ...some peoples bodies take longer to adjust -- especially if you are thin.

For SCI people this is called Orthostatic Hypotention
http://www.disaboom.com/Health/spinalcordi...ypotension.aspx

Then my Doc prescribed a med - midodrine/proamatine -
http://www.apparelyzed.com/forums/index.ph...f=56&t=6951

It raised my blood pressure just enough to function. No other side effects! After a few years on the med i was able to wean completely off of it. I occationally get my bp a little low but no passing out not as low as b4 - and can get right outa bed in the morning feeling ok!

I was miserable and just thought I'd be dizzy forever! Now I go to grad school and drive and push my chair very well without light headedness. it was a combination of time for my body to adjust to the new BP and and injured body with the BP elevator to help it along!

Emily


DISABOOM:
"Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Condition Orthostatic Hypotension

Hypotension most often occurs in individuals with spinal cord injuries from C1 to T6, which includes tetraplegics and mid to high paraplegics. This is thought to occur because of a significant loss of the sympathetic nervous system effect on the blood vessels and heart. Normally the sympathetic nervous system would stimulate the blood vessels to contract and maintain a normal blood pressure. After a spinal cord injury at the T6 or above, the absent or limited sympathetic nervous system input to the blood vessels leads to blood vessel dilation (vasodilation). This vasodilation leads to a drop in blood pressure to potentially dangerous levels. Treatment may include intravenous fluids and medications called “vasopressors,” which cause contraction of blood vessels and increase heart rate.

Orthostatic hypotension was described earlier. Please see that section for an explanation of what this condition is and why it occurs after spinal cord injury.

This condition is usually present to some degree during the initial stages of inpatient rehabilitation. Healthcare professionals taking care of spinal cord injured patients are aware of this condition and make every effort to limit its effect on the rehabilitation process.

If the management of orthostatic hypotension was started in the intensive care unit then these measures are usually continued. This includes an abdominal binder and elastic stockings to prevent excessive blood from pooling in the lower extremities. Blood rapidly pooling in the lower extremities can cause a decrease in blood perfusion (flow) to the brain which may lead to dizziness or fainting. In addition, the continued attempts to put the patient in a more upright position will continue with sitting on the edge of the bed for prolonged periods of time with support or a padded tilt-table if needed. Blood pressure must be intermittently monitored and the patient should be watched closely for any signs or symptoms of dizziness or fainting. If this does occur the patient is immediately lowered from the upright position to a more flat (lying down) position and/or the legs can be elevated above the heart. This technique usually results in reversal of symptoms within seconds to minutes. During the rehabilitation process, the patient may be upright or even sitting for several minutes or more when the symptom of dizziness starts. In this situation the patient should be tilted backwards in the wheelchair with assistance or reclined in a power wheelchair until the symptoms have resolved.

Most of the above compensatory techniques are performed while waiting for the patient to emerge out of spinal shock. As the patient comes out of a spinal shock he begins to develop more appropriate blood vessel contraction in the upright position, eventually eliminating the need for the abdominal binder or elastic stockings.

In some cases all of the above interventions are unable to prevent dizziness and fainting related to orthostatic hypotension and this interferes with the rehabilitation process. In these situations it is common for the attending physician to prescribe medications to aid in maintaining an appropriate blood pressure and preventing a rapid drop. Salt tablets are often used initially if there are no medical reasons why this should not be used. Fludrocortisone (Florinef) is a steroid that encourages salt retention. Both salt tablets and fludrocortisone helped to maintain blood pressure by causing the body to hold onto water in the bloodstream which helps to “keep the tank full of fluid.”

Another frequently used medication is midodrine hydrochloride. It causes a contraction of the blood vessel, which helps to prevent it from expanding and pooling with blood. All of these medications need to be used carefully or avoided in individuals who have any heart problems such as congestive heart failure. These medications also have a tendency to raise blood pressure when the patient is lying flat and therefore blood pressure should be evaluated in this position. Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride also need to be periodically monitored. Individuals who have experienced Autonomic Dysreflexia (described below) should also be evaluated for an increase in blood pressure.

Orthostatic hypotension usually begins to resolve during rehabilitation as the patient emerges from spinal shock and with the appropriate use of the above techniques and medications. Once the blood pressure has remained stable for several days, the above techniques and medications can be gradually withdrawn."