Low Blood Pressure and causes/remedies

[*_Vicki Z_*]

Have any of you experienced low blood pressure post-treatment? I was at the onc. yesterday for my three-month check-up and the nurse said it was rather low, but the onc. didn't seem perturbed by it, because I don't have any symptoms. It was in the afternoon, about 3 p.m., and I know blood pressures fluctate, but I'm concerned enough to ask my friends on this board. My onc. said my ejection fraction was 65% from my last echo, so that appears to be fine. Thanks for your input. Vicki Z

[*_Barbara_*]

Vicki:

I had low blood pressure during and the first couple months after treatment. Sometimes it would get as low as 85/53. About three months after treatment my blood pressure was normal again and then it became slightly high as it had been before treatment so I went back on my blood pressure medication. Many of the chemo drugs cause hypotension and I lost 20 pounds also during the 13 weeks of treatment

[*_Vicki Z_*]

Fluctuate -- apologies, I hate misspelling words. Thanks, Barbara, for your experiences with this. I am small and generally run low, but I thought was a bit too low. I'll keep monitoring it. Be well, my friend. Vicki Z

[jojo]

Hi Vicki,

My blood pressure is low on the normal range, but I could easily get dizzy and pass out, if it went ANY lower than that. While I was on Taxol in the beginning, I passed out once, and I did not even know it! My father woke me up on the floor, and I was like "what happened?" very puzzled. Nobody could figure out what was the cause of it.

'Low' blood pressure runs in my family. Even my mom fainted once while being pregnant with me! So, anytime we feel our blood pressure possibly lower, we just drink something, and eat a substantial snack, and be sure we rested a bit before moving on.

I find it ironic that I am pre-diabetic.... and you know that people with high blood pressure usually catch diabetes. I am almost sure that chemo initiated my pre-D.

Good luck ~ JO.

[StephN]

Vicki -
I took your question to the nurses when I had my infusions today. They say that BP on the lower side is normally not a worry (especially if your heart is checking out OK). Mine runs on the low side and was 102 over 68 today. While on chemo for all those months for my mets I often had something in the 90's or even 80's. I also fainted like Jojo.
For my hubby we have a blood pressure monitor, but I use it more than he does since starting with chemo almost 5 years ago. I find my pressure varies a lot and when I feel a little chilled I check it or when I am working around the house and gardens and get a little winded I check it. While on the Decadron it was the highest ever - once hit 145 over something.

Jojo -
I was warned that my dose of Decadron could put me into a diabetic state - not real likely, but could happen. If you never had this problem in the past, ask if it is the Decadron.

[jojo]

Hi Steph N,

It is true that Decadron could cause diabetes, but I was trying to explain that I think that my chemo INITIATED my pre-D rise, cuz I was already feeling quite funny within my body, just only one month out. I then decided to have it checked out, as I had NEVER felt this particular kind of fatigue ever in my whole life -- not even like the chemo fatigue. I was tested just one digit away from the pre-D range. Later on, after my long, stupid affair with Decadron, this simply elevated my blood glucose level, officially putting me into the pre-D group, right in the middle. (Diabetes do NOT run in my family, at least to my knowledge.)

Take good care ~ JO.

[StephN]

Hi Jojo -
Oh - so you have the pre-diabetes as a complication from more than one source. Normally the diabetes from the Decadron is not permanent and one can eventually wean off the pills that control the blood sugar. At least you do not need the pills yet! So, let's pray that things will stay that way!

(Maybe we need to start another thread with this topic?)

[jojo]

Blooper alert! I meant to say that I was already in the pre-D range, just one digit away from the normal side, when I was one month out -- not the other way around.