Is It Common With Pots To Have Low B/p Upon Standing

[mae]

Hey hey hey,

It is common to have Low B/P upon standing with POTS or from what you all know is that another form of dysautonomia?

When laying B/P is perfect 102/80 sitting 98/78 standing 80/60 I haven't had it tested for standing longer than them just taking it you know like after 5 or ten minutes so I don't know if it regulates itself or drops lower???.... Also does anyone have POTS with CFS, and could that be the cause of the drop in pressure?

Mae

[flop]

Hi Mae,

what you are describing with your BP numbers is something called "postural hypotension" or "orthostatic hypotension" or "neurally mediated hypotension" (all three terms are used to mean the same thing - low BP on standing). Low BP on standing is a form of "orthostatic intolerance" and part of "dysautonomia", it can be part of POTS (but not for everyone with POTS).

The main feature of POTS is the fast heart rate on standing. People have different bloodpressure responses - some have low BP on standing, some have high BP on standing, some have normal BP and some have problems such that their BP swings both high and low. With dysautonomia and BP it is pretty much "anything goes"!

There are probably lots of different causes for POTS and the BP may depend on what "type" of POTS you have (POTS and CFS do go together). Unfortunately the reasearch on POTS hasn't come up with all the informaiton yet - there are different doctors with different ideas on the causes and types of POTS but no definitive answers yet.

I hope this makes sense, I do wish doctors would all use the same terms instead of so many different names for everything!

Flop

[mae]

Thanks Flop, yes thats what I was trying to say I've read so many opinions and nothings just straight out direct, but thanks for replying I ask alot of random questions here and everyones is so helpful. I know my husband is so tired of me talking about health problems so this is my outlet.

Mae

[ajw4790]

Hi,

I second what Flop said. Also, I know that there are people on here with a CFS diagnosis and others that probably have it, but their drs. don't believe in it as a diagnosis (like mine). But, I don't think that the blood pressure drop is associated as much with CFS as dysautonomia (NCS, OH, PH) like Flop said. Not sure if that helps? I am a wee bit foggy brained!

[mae]

Thanks to you too AJ , I see you both take heart meds doesn't that affect your B/P? I was worrying about that since I have the high heart rate along with the low B/P standing wish I just had one or the other LOL

[Sophia3]

Actually CFS IS a major ANS issue in many. The CFIDS Chronicle confused me in the early years saying CFS TTT showed NMH (Neurally mediated hypotension!) Never mentioned POTS or OI for years. SO yes many CFS pts have ANS issues but many do NOT.

Many with ANS do not have CFS. Confused yet?

My doc has always used the term "Autonomic dysfunction" which covers them all. Only dr. Grubb called what I had "Obvious POTS" due to HR jumping 55 bpm first minute on TTT but my BP did not drop...my BP is often low Supine and in mornings..the low bp in mornings very common in those with "autonomic dysfunction"

p.s. My old CFS EXPERT doc never addressed the tachycardia. It was an internal med doc that had a major concern with that back in 1990. Had me wear a 24 monitor. He flipped out at my HR when exercising but just shrugged it off. If ONLY back then a TTT was more available..instead of waiting until 1998...but I've had mild ANS junk my whole life so wouldn't have mattered really

[ajw4790]

Hi,

The atenolol has little affect on me. I could probably not take it. My drs. don't believe me. I don't tend to have low BP anymore or less I have started new med or something that has me all messed up. I tend to pretty much run around 120/80. The other day when I felt bad it did go a little high for me... 136/82 or something... Not really high.

As far as the CFS, I really don't have any idea. From my formal education and drs. I have dealt with they all pretty much don't recognize it as a diagnosis... So, my point of view is skewed...

[DancingLight]

Originally patients with CFS were not separated into separate groups in terms of autonomic issues.

In 1990 (?) a groundbreaking study was done that separated those with CFS into two groups--those with NMH (based on positive TTTs) and those without NMH (negative TTTs).

My doctor is a CFS specialist who also deals with a LOT of ANS issues b/c they so often overlap. They are very often co-morbid conditions.

Also, lots of us have NMH and POTS together. So, HR shoots up when standing and BP plummets causing us to faint (or have episodes of near-syncope if we are not fainters).