Changes in Blood Pressure

[Richard1030]

I am still waiting for my neurology appointment next Tuesday.  But I have been still checking my BP twice a day.  I've noticed that in the past week or so, my BP has been all over the place, sometimes normal, sometimes high.  After I stand for 3 minutes and retake it, it usually is lower than sitting but not always.  A few times it has actually been higher standing which is a change from the prior two weeks.

My pulse, on the other hand, is still usually higher standing and usually 15 - 30 points higher but sometimes less.

I still feel pretty lousy and standing and walking is a big drain.  Just typing on the computer is pretty tiring.  So this is probably a silly question.  Could these BP results mean I could be getting better?  I like to be optimistic and it would certainly be nice if this whole problem would just run its course and be gone.  I am trying not to make any assumptions until after my neurology appointment.

Thanks.

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[CHRISTYDRAKE]

For my son, when I monitored him in the past, sometimes his bp/hr were normal and his symptoms were at their worst.  While other times his hr/bp were extremely high and he was not very symptomatic.  It is all over the board and I've found no rhyme or reason to his symptoms and how they relate to his bp/hr.

Everyone is different though, so I don't want to make any assumptions on your progress based on your hr/bp numbers.  Keep being optimistic as it is not as draining on your system as being negative.  I try to keep hoping for the best and that this will all just clear up soon for him.

[LivingInHope]

When your pulse is usually normally lower standing than sitting, they call it an orthostatic drop in blood pressure and it is not normal.  One of the things the doctors are quick to suspect when they see this is dehydration from lack of enough fluid intake.  A drop in blood pressure can make your heart speed up to try to prevent you from passing out.  

If you have it go up by 30 plus beats as minute and you don't have dehydration, they might want to conduct a tilt table test to see if you have a form of orthostatic intolerance called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome or P.O.T.S..  Sometimes, the adrenals can over-react and over-compensate for when a person standing up causing a spike in blood pressure.

[LivingInHope]

Oops, I meant when your blood pressure is normally lower standing than sitting, not your pulse!  Sorry about that!  I hope you can take a chart of your blood pressures in to show to the doctor.