Yup. I regret this.

[mousecat88 2,279]

3 hours ago, FluffyChix said:

Yep yep yep. What everyone said! Mostly you need to know your numbers--what are your present electrolyte numbers and chemistries along with vitamin/mineral numbers--including your Iron status.

Then talk with PCP about a plan to naturally up your fluids and your minerals if needed (i.e. sodium/trace minerals/and if indicated--potassium). This isn't something you monkey around with. But by upping the minerals it should help get rid of the dizziness.

I had that when weaning off my bp meds and had low potassium. Now my bp is fine. I added back Pink Himalayan Sea Salt and every now and then if I feel week or crampy, I will also take a Magnesium Citrate and a pinch of NoSalt for the potassium. But I do it cuz I know my numbers!

I just had all of my labs run at the ER. Nothing is off. I also take Mag Citrate (for constipation). Potassium is perfect, sodium is just one point below normal, Calcium, D, everything is fine. I am MORE than on top of my labs and other tests. It's just that everything is coming back normal. So everyone is like "I dunnoooo. Sorry you feel this way. Good luck." For the last 4 days I have been dumping so much salt into my Powerade it tastes like the ocean. Not helping. And I know salt should have an almost immediate impact on BP, which is why people with hypertension need to avoid it. I ordered some sodium chloride tablets so I don't have to douse everything in salt. But hopefully I will get midodrine tomorrow and I won't need it.

Edited March 4, 2019 by mousecat88

[mousecat88 2,279]

16 hours ago, froufrou said:

Do you think maybe it's worth visiting your GP and talking to them about your low blood pressure and maybe talk to them about how you are feeling?

I have an appointment with my primary care tomorrow at 2PM. I am more of an advocate than anyone else I know. I literally harass the crap out of my bariatric surgeon's office. I talk to them 3-4 times a week. I also talk to my psychiatrist. I ALSO talk to my primary care. All of my labs and every test they run come back normal so right now they're just like "drink more". I drink A LOT. The whole thing is bullshit, tbh. I am requesting to be put on ephendrine or midodrine tomorrow. I also called a cardiologist, but they can't see me until June, so the bariatric office is putting in a special referral for another place if my primary care refuses to prescribe me anything.

I honestly just want this reversed. I do not give a crap if I gain 60lbs back. I can lose it on my own on Atkins. This was not worth this. I'm sure once the BP is resolved something else horrific will happen.

The bariatric surgeon just told me "it'll get better in a year". Great. I'll just continue to pass out for the next 8-12 months.

[mousecat88 2,279]

15 hours ago, redlipstick said:

Yes advocate for yourself. It's hard when your in pain to keep on top. But you have too.
I agree to see you family doctor also. Keep family doctor informed. For me personally I thought my surgeon knew everything. And that wasn't the case. My family doctor was helpful.
Also is your Iron low? Anemic? Ask to see hematologist.
The 1st yr is tough , tougher for some people then others. I do hope you get better. Hang in there. You are strong

Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using BariatricPal mobile app

Had my Iron checked - completely normal. RBC and WBC, etc all fine. They said I had orthostatic hypotension and it's from rapid weight loss and my autonomic system failing and that "it should resolve within the first year".

[mousecat88 2,279]

3 hours ago, Nhope said:

I'm sorry things are so rough. I don't blame you for feeling discouraged!!

Low blood pressure is something I've struggled to manage since my bypass surgery 18 months ago. I needed to drink more Water and also not shy away from salt. But one of the docs explained to me that it takes awhile for even your vascular system to reset after surgery and weight loss, and I've noticed it's getting better.

I hope you find some light at the end of the tunnel soon.

This is what I was told, too. That it could take a year or more for my system to start regulating my blood pressure properly. I'm sorry but I can't black out daily for a year. lol. And I get super confused - I work with millions of dollars in County funds and I can't mess stuff up because my brain has derped out. I am PRAYING that tomorrow they will give me BP medicine to raise it and that will solve the problem.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

16 minutes ago, mousecat88 said:

I just had all of my labs run at the ER. Nothing is off. I also take Mag Citrate (for constipation). Potassium is perfect, sodium is just one point below normal, Calcium, D, everything is fine. I am MORE than on top of my labs and other tests. It's just that everything is coming back normal. So everyone is like "I dunnoooo. Sorry you feel this way. Good luck." For the last 4 days I have been dumping so much salt into my Powerade it tastes like the ocean. Not helping. And I know salt should have an almost immediate impact on BP, which is why people with hypertension need to avoid it.

Ok, so then start by adding pink sea salt to all your stuff. I make sure to get in between 1/4-3/4 teaspoon per day and make sure I'm getting 100oz of fluids per day. You can even suck on a pink himalayan salt rock (like the one you grate in a salt grinder)--I measure it out in 1gram portions into a little cup so I know how much sodium I'm getting. Really helps with hypotension.

You can also start drinking some Pickle Juice, or eating pickles, olives, and pickled veg.

[mousecat88 2,279]

1 minute ago, FluffyChix said:

Ok, so then start by adding pink sea salt to all your stuff. I make sure to get in between 1/4-3/4 teaspoon per day and make sure I'm getting 100oz of fluids per day. You can even suck on a pink himalayan salt rock (like the one you grate in a salt grinder)--I measure it out in 1gram portions into a little cup so I know how much sodium I'm getting. Really helps with hypotension.

You can also start drinking some pickle juice, or eating pickles, olives, and pickled veg.

The sodium chloride I ordered is 1g per tablet, so I am going to take those. I've been adding two TABLESPOONS of table salt to my Powerade and nothing. BUT, like I said, I SHOULD be getting a prescription tomorrow from my primary care for low BP. Or else. lol.

[froufrou 678]

25 minutes ago, mousecat88 said:

I have an appointment with my primary care tomorrow at 2PM. I am more of an advocate than anyone else I know. I literally harass the crap out of my bariatric surgeon's office. I talk to them 3-4 times a week. I also talk to my psychiatrist. I ALSO talk to my primary care. All of my labs and every test they run come back normal so right now they're just like "drink more". I drink A LOT. The whole thing is bullshit, tbh. I am requesting to be put on ephendrine or midodrine tomorrow. I also called a cardiologist, but they can't see me until June, so the bariatric office is putting in a special referral for another place if my primary care refuses to prescribe me anything.

I honestly just want this reversed. I do not give a crap if I gain 60lbs back. I can lose it on my own on Atkins. This was not worth this. I'm sure once the BP is resolved something else horrific will happen.

The bariatric surgeon just told me "it'll get better in a year". Great. I'll just continue to pass out for the next 8-12 months.

Maybe just see what your GP can do first. I'd also let them know how you are feeling mentally... this can really take a great toll on some people. There have been studies done on the gut/brain connection and since we have a lot of the gut bypassed, there can be some issues with mood.

I'm just saying... see how you feel after your BP is doing on some meds. You might feel a lot better mentally. Take one thing at a time and let your body do some healing.

I think RNY can be reversed but I don't know how easy a surgery it is.

Let us know how your GP session goes - I really hope that they can come up with some things to help you feel better.

[summerset 5,261]

Did you have blood pressure issues before? Just how high/low was your BP before surgery and how high/low is it now? Did you already have a 24 h measurement of BP taken?

The cardiologist might be the right one to talk to, not your surgeon.

[mousecat88 2,279]

18 minutes ago, summerset said:

Did you have blood pressure issues before? Just how high/low was your BP before surgery and how high/low is it now? Did you already have a 24 h measurement of BP taken?

The cardiologist might be the right one to talk to, not your surgeon.

No, I never had blood pressure problems. My blood pressure has always been fantastic.. usually low 100s over 70s. Was never on BP meds or anything like that. Now, when I stand up, it drops to the 80s/40's. I am hoping the primary care can take care of it. The local cardiologist can't see me until June; I told them about the urgency of it but nothing. Hoping it can be resolved.

[summerset 5,261]

A weight loss of 68 lbs in 4 months can mess up a already rather low blood pressure. It's pretty normal to have blood pressure going down when the weight drops fast.

Anyway, 80/40 is definitely too low and June is a long time to wait. Does your GP 24 h measures?

[ttj3mom 34]

23 hours ago, mousecat88 said:

I have gone back and forth the last 4 months whether or not I felt the complications were worth the results, and today, after blacking out in Walmart and having to sit on the floor to regroup numerous times throughout the day so I could do simple tasks like pick something up off the floor, I have officially decided I made a terrible decision. I am happy for those of you who have seen benefits of this surgery, but I am just... existing... day by day. I have lost no weight in 2 months (stalling at the same weight I did on Atkins, but with a crapload more complications). I feel awful. I could deal with an ulcer and the gallbladder and the hernia, but this low blood pressure is actually ruining my life - not to be dramatic. I have gotten lightheaded and confused at work during important meetings, I can hardly exercise without having to sit or lay down and I already paid for a trainer... I can't even lift a basket of laundry without falling on my butt. I sent a desperate email to my surgeon to try a prescription to raise my BP. I'm ending up on far more pills than I ever was pre-op. Losing 60 stupid pounds is not worth this. And I have no one I can vent to because my mother "told me" I always have problems with surgery and I'd regret this and I do. So I feel very alone. Someone please tell me this gets better....

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Try getting Iv therapy, I did and it helped the blood pressure. I thought I was getting enough hydration and I really wasn't, I did that for about 2 month and was fine after. I added Vitamins to it as well. Iron too

[KateBruin 344]

On 03/03/2019 at 18:03, notmyname said:

We had surgery around the same time (edited to clarify - I had the sleeve) and I've been feeling the same way. I'm sorry for all you're going through. I am getting more reflux and more nauseated by the day. I could deal with the reflux, but I HATE being nauseous. And I feel like I spend all of my energy trying not to throw up. I am nauseated about 90% of my day every day. I feel SO much worse than I did before. I cry every day. I can eat less today than I could when I started solids 3 months ago. I can hardly drink because I'm so nauseous, and I can't drink within 1.5-2 hours of eating because I hurt so much. The couple times I've talked to my nurse (mostly crying), she's told me that I need to remember that "this is not my life." They said they'll work on figuring all out. That said, I'm not in a position where I feel like I believe her. I regret this mightily. I've even lost a significant amount of weight, and it is still not worth it. I broke down crying at my therapy group this weekend. So, not much help - but just know that you're not alone. I'm trying to look through the fog to see that maybe I'll feel better one day. Because that's what I have to try to believe since this isn't reversible.

Their current proposal is to convert to bypass, even though they're not sure what's wrong other than a hernia. Um, no thanks - you have no idea why I'm nauseated. And they are concerned enough about malnutrition and dehydration to be monitoring me closely to see if I need a PICC line. So, if they don't know what is causing the nausea, and the bypass doesn't fix it and I continue to be nauseous, then I really will be malnourished between the inability to eat and the malabsorption caused by the bypass. Nope. No thank you, ma'am.

Try scopolamine Patches. I’ve had bad complications and the patches save my ass nausea wise. Small dot behind the ear and lasts 3 days at a time.

[Avery's Mom 315]

19 hours ago, mousecat88 said:

Yes, they were just checked last month and this past Friday. All my electrolytes/vitamins are normal. It's just my BP that is plummeting.

My doc had me cut my BP meds in half immediately after my surgery (sleeve) and took me off at my 6 month checkup. I did end up in hospital a week after surgery for low BP and potassium. PLEASE don't give up. see your GP and keep pushing to get some answers!

[Sheribear68 3,200]

Another thought might be to increase your calories in by a couple hundred calories per day.
Since our bodies love homeostasis, your bp drop might be related to the corresponding slowing down of your metabolism.
Maybe try this for a week or two and see if your bp rises?

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

20 hours ago, summerset said:

Does your GP 24 h measures?

@summerset

sorry bud - what does that mean??

kathy