Aa
Low blood pressure
Me, again! Sorry, I pose so many questions, but with so many symptoms it is impossible ( even with 2 hr appts) to cover everything during a dr visit.
Update to cover previous posts: I have a neuro opthamologist appt tomorrow. Appt with vasculitis clinic is being set up (though, I don't propose anything will come of it). LLMD is calling me back regarding the addition of LDN to my daily pile of pills and for permission to step up doxy to at least 200 a day. I am also still pondering getting an opinion from another LLMD. Made an appt with dermatologist regarding ACA possibility from "back surgery" post.
Today's question is about my chronic low blood pressure. It gets so low that it usually sets off the bells and whistles of the expensive Bp machines and when a nurse is manually taking it, it's so low that they take it several times to be sure they've done it right. Lately, it's been about in the 80/50-ish mark. Considering that I was a smoker and eat mainly a fatty/high sodium diet, it concerns me, as those things should have me in a higher range. I get very dizzy and black out nearly every time I stand. The drs solution was "get up slower", but that doesn't make a difference. I believe a lot of my dizziness, fatigue, shakiness, weakness, and heart skipping beats issues to be due to the low blood pressure, but doctors seem only concerned with high Bp values and have no recommendations for me. Does anyone know if Lyme affects Bp or does anyone else suffer from low Bp and have a recommendation? I think low Bp should be taken more seriously if symptoms are bothersome, so I'm frustrated that drs aren't investigating.
Thanks, in advance!
Update to cover previous posts: I have a neuro opthamologist appt tomorrow. Appt with vasculitis clinic is being set up (though, I don't propose anything will come of it). LLMD is calling me back regarding the addition of LDN to my daily pile of pills and for permission to step up doxy to at least 200 a day. I am also still pondering getting an opinion from another LLMD. Made an appt with dermatologist regarding ACA possibility from "back surgery" post.
Today's question is about my chronic low blood pressure. It gets so low that it usually sets off the bells and whistles of the expensive Bp machines and when a nurse is manually taking it, it's so low that they take it several times to be sure they've done it right. Lately, it's been about in the 80/50-ish mark. Considering that I was a smoker and eat mainly a fatty/high sodium diet, it concerns me, as those things should have me in a higher range. I get very dizzy and black out nearly every time I stand. The drs solution was "get up slower", but that doesn't make a difference. I believe a lot of my dizziness, fatigue, shakiness, weakness, and heart skipping beats issues to be due to the low blood pressure, but doctors seem only concerned with high Bp values and have no recommendations for me. Does anyone know if Lyme affects Bp or does anyone else suffer from low Bp and have a recommendation? I think low Bp should be taken more seriously if symptoms are bothersome, so I'm frustrated that drs aren't investigating.
Thanks, in advance!
There is a term called POTS which sounds similar to what you describe with low blood pressure and dizziness, especially on standing. People with POTS often faint when they stand up. This is dangerous and it could results in a nasty head injury.
POTS seems pretty common with Lyme. I don't know if there's a whole lot you can do with it other than treating the Lyme, but it's worth researching. A good LLMD should know how to help.
I had the opposite problem of high BP and tachycardia. Mine was treated fairly well with a beta blocker, which I'm still on. Good healthy food is really important for getting your body back in balance and arming your immune system for the long fight ahead. I truly feel worse when I eat something I shouldn't. I recently got a juicer and it's helping me up my intake of veggies. I like it a lot more than I thought I would. I always hated V8, but as long as I don't add tomatoes to my juice, I've found I like it with some fruit added in for sweetness.
Youvegot... thanks for the mention of adrenal fatigue. I think I've had adrenal fatigue for a while. I finally did a 24 hour saliva test to check. Wish I'd done this over a year ago. My doc's ND said they give very small doses of Cortef for low cortisol. It's not enough to suppress the immune system, but it is enough to help a patient feel better. I'm still struggling with morning sluggishness, and then I perk up in the evenings. I even have moments of clarity at night where I feel for a few minutes that I don't have any brain fog at all. Gives me glimpses of wellness!!
POTS seems pretty common with Lyme. I don't know if there's a whole lot you can do with it other than treating the Lyme, but it's worth researching. A good LLMD should know how to help.
I had the opposite problem of high BP and tachycardia. Mine was treated fairly well with a beta blocker, which I'm still on. Good healthy food is really important for getting your body back in balance and arming your immune system for the long fight ahead. I truly feel worse when I eat something I shouldn't. I recently got a juicer and it's helping me up my intake of veggies. I like it a lot more than I thought I would. I always hated V8, but as long as I don't add tomatoes to my juice, I've found I like it with some fruit added in for sweetness.
Youvegot... thanks for the mention of adrenal fatigue. I think I've had adrenal fatigue for a while. I finally did a 24 hour saliva test to check. Wish I'd done this over a year ago. My doc's ND said they give very small doses of Cortef for low cortisol. It's not enough to suppress the immune system, but it is enough to help a patient feel better. I'm still struggling with morning sluggishness, and then I perk up in the evenings. I even have moments of clarity at night where I feel for a few minutes that I don't have any brain fog at all. Gives me glimpses of wellness!!
About the feeling drowsy until evening .... I've just figured out that my sluggishness/drowsiness until midafternoon was from the morning's installment of magnesium. Who knew.
I was taking some in the morning and some in the evening, so down now to just evening until I figure out a better way. fwiw.
I was taking some in the morning and some in the evening, so down now to just evening until I figure out a better way. fwiw.
VERY interesting. Maybe it's too relaxing. Without it my chest gets tight and I'm working too hard to breath. I am improving, though, so hopefully a little longer and I can try take it only in the evening.
I'm a lightweight when it comes to anything .... can't even drink a beer because it puts me under the table. So not surprising me that the Mg plays tricks too. :)
I just did the saliva adrenal test, too. However, I was having a "good day" when I took it, so I'm frustrated the results won't accurately reflect my usual fatigue. Frustrating! I don't know if it's going to be a bad day until around mid morning and I had already started the testing. We'll see! Like you all state mornings are sluggish and then around noon to mid afternoon when I can't avoid a nap. The fatigue gets so bad I actually am curled up in the fetal position with nausea:(. Then, like you, at night I perk up with a few hours of a very clear head. I almost feel normal in that moment.
Update: neuro opthamologist appt was a wash. He said I don't have Lyme bc I only had one band (#23, and still waiting on Igenex results). He said I have a rare autoimmune disease and need to see another rheumatologist. But this time instead of getting upset, I rolled my eyes at him and nodded. I recognized his ignorance and didn't bother to protest. It doesn't matter anymore to me what the mainstream docs think. Though, not fully satisfied with my LLMD's non-aggressive protocol I think she is the most accurate doctor as she stated "even if Igenex testing comes back completely neg, which I don't think it will, and it is an autoimmune disease, your body just doesn't decide to destroy itself for no reason. There must be an underlying infection that sparked it and that is what we must treat." THIS has been my personal mantra since she spoke to me after the Hopkins suggestion of vasculitis. I trust this theory more than any other that has been proposed to me and I adore her for making me aware.
Also, my double vision was clarified to me by neuro opthamologist that it is actually "ghost vision"
Update: neuro opthamologist appt was a wash. He said I don't have Lyme bc I only had one band (#23, and still waiting on Igenex results). He said I have a rare autoimmune disease and need to see another rheumatologist. But this time instead of getting upset, I rolled my eyes at him and nodded. I recognized his ignorance and didn't bother to protest. It doesn't matter anymore to me what the mainstream docs think. Though, not fully satisfied with my LLMD's non-aggressive protocol I think she is the most accurate doctor as she stated "even if Igenex testing comes back completely neg, which I don't think it will, and it is an autoimmune disease, your body just doesn't decide to destroy itself for no reason. There must be an underlying infection that sparked it and that is what we must treat." THIS has been my personal mantra since she spoke to me after the Hopkins suggestion of vasculitis. I trust this theory more than any other that has been proposed to me and I adore her for making me aware.
Also, my double vision was clarified to me by neuro opthamologist that it is actually "ghost vision"
Also, LDN worked wonders last night!!!! Hopkins doc called today to check on my pain and to ask if the morphine was more tolerable now. I told him that my ND ( whom Hopkins doc says "is not a real doctor") gave me LDN and for the first time in a year, I slept without pain last night and had no adverse side affects. He was shocked, saying "I've never heard of anyone taking that for pain. Huh? Well, I'm glad it worked." Seems other doctors could learn a lot about alternative treatments from ND's and LLMD's. quite a shame that they don't take them more seriously. So far everything dr. Bloem, holistic md/ ND, has said and done for me has been precisely beneficial. If you live in the DC area, I strongly recommend him!
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