How Low Does Your Blood Pressure Go?

[Machair]

Having low blood pressure is something I have got used to since getting CFS 15 years ago. The mornings are the worst -80/63 this morning and I also have NMH which causes even lower readings when I stand. I do all the usual things to bring it up like salt and fluids but just wonder how many others have very low blood pressure associated with CFS?

 

[justy]

Hi Machair. i have had low blood pressure most of my life -but then ive also had M.E for most of my adult life! I dont have NMH etc but when i was pregnant my blood pressure would drop to 100/50. its usually 110/60 which is low but normal low.
I know that meditation lowers blood pressure and after i meditate i have to get up very very slowly as i get whooshing and pounding in my ears and get dizzy for a bit after. Not sure if this is a side effect of meditation that i need!

 

[3CFIDS@ourhouse]

I think most of us do and it seems that low blood volume and low anti-diuretic hormone are part of the problem. When I feel the worst, my bp is the lowest. Sometimes it's been as low as 79/46.

 

[Cali]

Mine tends to hover in the 80's on a "typical" day, though the variation from hour to hour even can be pretty extreme. The highest I can seem to get it in my best moments is around 100. It was 79/55 a couple of days ago, 73/61 a week or two ago. Used to be 120/80 every single time somebody measured it before crashing out with CFS. ...And yet, some doctors are still trying to tell me that it must be normal for me. ARGH!

By the way, sorry for not introducing myself properly. Will try when I'm able - just am really not well right now and typing is a big deal. Need this outlet, though.

 

[Deatheye]

I got more problems with to high blood presure. Still no answer what I got.
Highest was around 260/240 blood pressure and 130 puls while sitting.
Sometimes my puls drops below 70 and I'm getting extremmly tiered. lowest was 50.

 

[Carola]

Pre-ME/CFS my lowest readings were right around 115/70, though readings were often higher. Now readings are right around 100/60.

 

[TinyT]

Pre- relapse 'normal' BP for me was 110/60 in sitting.

Now my morning BP is about 85/55 (bad day) or 95/58 (good day). I can manage to get it up to 100/60 on a good day with lots of fluid & salt by the nighttime.

My BP seems to fluctuate very quickly with postural change too.

 

[Machair]

Tes TinyT this describes me completely. A bad day starts with lower pressures and I can raise my BP as you do with fluids and salt during the day.This low BP causes headaches and lots of other symptoms and is at the heart of what makes me feel so ill. I agree too that it also fluctuates abnormally with postural change.

I also find Clif Shot powder, Nuun Tablets or Vita Coco (coconut water) all raise BP a little, and are worth trying especially in hot weather. I don't know if you can buy these in Australia, but all are available in the US, and in the UK the first two are available from Amazon and other places such as Waitrose and Holland and Barrett stock the coconut water.

Thank you to everyone who has replied so far- it is appreciated so much. xxx

 

[Valentijn]

My problem is more a low (narrow) pulse pressure. Usually drops under 18 when standing, though can't tell exactly how low since it can't pick up my pulse anymore when it's that low.

 

[Tulip]

I have had low blood pressure problems since I was a child, years before coming down with ME at 18. I was constantly fainting, but it became chronic when I turned 16.

Makes you wonder about the whole heart theory and ME and if we were all destined to get ME.

 

[alex3619]

Hi, I answered NO to the poll question but its more complicated than that. I have high bp not low, but I also have NMH. I have passed out a lot on stairs or standing up at various times, particularly when I am tired. During my tilt table test, by blood pressure hit ZERO (not sure of this, foggy memory) - my heart had stopped. Bye, Alex

 

[taniaaust1]

I couldnt answer the poll as I had low blood pressure since a child (long before I got ME), I used to have faints if I stood too fast due to the low BP.
Now that Ive got ME.. my BP swings between 156/138 and 80/58 (without BP meds). One elderly ME/CFS specialist/endocrinolgist told me Ive got the most dysregulated BP he's ever seen.

 

[Machair]

Yes Valentijn- I have the narrow pulse pressure you describe when I stand up too, and also have the inability to tell how low as the machine can't register it either.