Random Symptons or Related to Blood Pressure

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Hello all...I'll try to keep this brief. I'm a thirty-year-old female in relatively good health...only issues are high blood pressure and irritable bowel. I'm 5'10" and quite overweight, but I've been working on that and have lost 74 pounds since April. (Dieting...not surgery)

A couple of months ago I started getting very light headed after standing up. Given the weight loss, I called my doctor and asked if we could start reducing the BP meds. (I was taking two). We've been working on a gradual reduction and I'm down to one medication (Lisinopril/HCTZ) and the dosage is quite low. The light headed feeling has been getting worse to the point that I passed out at work this past Monday. That evening, I was starting to feel really bad on the drive home. (No, I wasn't the one driving). By the time we got to my house I was feeling really weak, shaky and could feel my heart pounding. I figured the BP was going to low and took a reading on my portable monitor to confirm this. I got a reading of 132/85 with a pulse of 122. The next day, I was starting to get the same "really not feeling well" sense and took another reading. This time it was 133/106 with a pulse of 114.

Questions are these...what's happening with the BP readings? I thought it was time to reduce the medication since the lightheadedness was getting worse yet, I'm getting high readings that aren't supporting my theory. Also, hard to explain, but I continue getting periods of time when I just don't feel well. Not sure how to describe, but my head is really foggy, I'm shaky and it's soooo hard to concentrate. (Basically a really intense sensation of I don
 
When dieting, you run the risk of getting low blood sugar and low iron (especially given your age and that you are female).

I would suggest you either borrow a glucose monitor or go to the doctor to have your blood sugar taken (especially when you start feeling the tingling, weakness and like you are going to pass out). To prevent it from happening, you should eat something high in protein such as cheese and crackers. Avoid carbohydrates as your first meal of the day as this will cause a spike that will cause you to drop later on. I am not sure what meal plan you are on for your diet, but I would juggle things around to keep an even protein level throughout the day and most of your protein early in the day.

Anemia can also make you weak and shaky. Often people on diets tend to not get enough iron rich foods. You will likely need to have a doctor check this as well but a home test you can do is to look in the mirror at the outsides of your ears. Are they pale? Pale ears indicate the likelihood of anemia.

Drastic reduction of certain foods in dieting can wreak havoc with our bodies but I do want to congratulate you on your substantial weight loss. You just may need to supplement or switch things around a bit.

Take care and let us know how it goes!

Lindaru ;)
 
I, like lindaru, suspect it has to do with your diet. I think she offered some sound advice regarding your blood sugar.

I would also suggest you evaluate your diet...dietary deficiencies can impact blood pressure big time. Although I was on blood pressure medication, my pressures went up...and I suspect it had to do with an electrolyte imbalance caused by my water pill and the fact that I was ingesting too much calcium and not enough magnesium. I am now off bp meds, despite a weight gain, and I can attribute much of this to a diet (not supplements) high in the nutrients I have mentioned.

Weak, shakey feelings, a pounding heart, and high blood pressure can be in indication that your body's potassium, magnesium, and calcium balances are out of whack...and from what I understand, a mag shortage doesn't show up on the lab reports so you can't assume that because your blood work is fine, your mag level is normal.

Good luck, and congratulations with the weight loss!

Bethsheba

PS I'm not that familiar with IBS but I can't help but wonder if it may interfere with your body's ability to absorb the necessary nutrients...you might want to work with a dietician regarding this.
 
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