Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...

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PaulaLB 10/01/2008

I went to one of my specialist and he ordered a tilt table test, I did it a couple weeks ago and tested positive. A tilt table test is a medical procedure often used to diagnose dysautonomia or syncope. Patients with symptoms of dizziness or lightheadedness, with or without a loss of consciousness (fainting), suspected to be associated with a drop in blood pressure are good candidates for this test.

He prescribed Fludrocortisone Acetate 0.1mg, which is used to help control the amount of sodium and fluids in your body. It is used to treat Addison's disease and syndromes where excessive amounts of sodium are lost in the urine. It works by decreasing the amount of sodium that is lost (excreted) in your urine. This medication increases your blood pressure.

He told me to increase my salt intake and drink lots of fluid. He also told me to wear compression stockings. The gravity causes blood to settle in the veins in the legs, so less blood reaches the heart for pumping, and as a result the blood pressure drops.

Just curious if anyone has been told the same thing.

deleted_user 10/01/2008

I have had these symptoms since the onset of my illness. Low BP, dizziness, frequent urination, drinking fluids excessively feeling dehydrated and research states that this is definitely a part of CFS and the vasopression that occurs.

deleted_user 10/02/2008

Oh yeah ... major low blood pressure. When I first got sick I think I probably drank 6 liters a day of wtaer ... just wildly thirsty.

Ali5tair 10/02/2008

Yes my blood pulse pressure drops by 24.2 % as soon as I stand up and it stays at that lower pressure level for as long as I stand up. Coincidently my heart rate increases by 33.9% when I stand up and it doesn't retrace. These values were measured by Dr Lewis who said that as my Pulse Pressure drops and my Heart rate rises and neither value returns to its origin while I am standing up that its a classic example of someone suffering from CFS. Its most likley being caused by a Nitric Oxide imballance that is inducing Vasodilation. The test conducted was called the 20 minute standing change in pulse pressure and change in Heart Rate test.Your not aloud to move your body. You are aloud to talk during the test.a nurse measures Systolic, Diastolic, Blood oxygen level and Heart rate every 2 minutes for 20 minutes then a recovery lying down for 6 minutes or until the two perametres return to the origin. The resting heart rate is measured prior to comencement of the test.Its done by lying in a quiet dark room, no talking for 20 miutes, focusing on relaxing only.
Al

deleted_user 10/02/2008

I also have a history of very low blood pressure. I was treated with fludrocortisone and another cortisone for adrenal dysfunction so extreme it was almost complete failure. In my case, it was used also to mitigate reactions due to my chemical sensitivities.In the past two years, however, I have gained some weight and my blood pressure has gone up into more normal range.

deleted_user 10/04/2008

Thank you for your post. I thought it was just me.
I have always had good low blood pressure.
Lately, I have been having a feeling like I am going to faint. It happens every other day now.
I thought it might be low blood sugar?
My CFS has been going on for 18 months now.
I do push myself to try to get things done around the house, but it is sooo hard.
Regards Di

Zanobia 10/04/2008

I have had low blood pressure for years, and sometimes have that stars in your eyes effect, have fainted a couple of times but this hasn't happened for ages, and once when I had an operation, my blood pressure was so low that I ended up in ACU for a few days with tubes stuck up my nose for oxygen...as a result they thought I was bleeding internally as my heart beat was only a mimer..

thanks for posting this as I am curious as to why I have been so fatigued mainly over the past 4-5 years..I feel I really need to start paying more attention to what is going on with my body instead of just assuming it is nothing...however if you do not know of these things how is one to learn..

namaste, and blessings to all
Z

PaulaLB 10/04/2008

Thanks alot guys for your responses. It's nice to know I'm not the only one experiencing low blood pressure. Hopefully my specialist's suggestions will help somewhat.

WhiteDolphin 10/04/2008

YES. I had the tilt table test and it was positive also.
Doc prescribed ProAmatine, but I haven't taken it yet.

WhiteDolphin 10/04/2008

The only difference with me is that I have high blood pressure but when I stand it drops dramatically and heart race increases and I feel faint.
I had an episode just 3 days ago.

julesd 10/07/2008

Same for me...told to eat a little sea salt...

deleted_user 10/07/2008

paula, I have such low blood pressure! The nurse at my surgery even commented on how worried she was about it...when I ask my family doctor she gives me the same response each time "low blood pressure is good' or 'eat more salt'!!! What a moron! I did have a really bad problem with feeling faint when I stand up..I wonder if I should ask for the test you had! My sister has the same problem as well and so I think it is linked to CFS.

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