Orthostatic Hypotension

Erin T.
on 3/23/17 12:02 pm
VSG on 01/17/17

Is it just one of those things I need to file in the "Small price to pay..." category? It started out it was happening just when getting out of bed in the morning. I now make sure to sit first and pump my legs before getting up and that's mostly ok. But I've also noticed recently it will happen after a period of sitting at my desk at work.

I'm not on BP meds and haven't ever been except during pregnancy.

I did change MFP to show me my sodium consumption and realized maybe I'm getting too little? I don't salt my food generally (except fresh cucumbers, popcorn and corn on the cob! Sadly two of those things aren't in my diet anymore and the 3rd won't be for some more months). I figured with jerky, smoked salmon and deli meat a few times per week I was getting plenty. MFP says daily target is 2,500mg and I'm getting about 1,000-1,500mg.

P.S. No worries, I know that adding more calories isn't the solution here

VSG: 1/17/17

5'7" HW: 283 SW: 229 CW: 135-140 GW: 145

Pre-op: 53 M1: 22 M2: 12 M3: 12 M4: 8 M5: 10 M6: 11 M7: 5 M8: 6 M9-M13: 15-ish

LBL/BL w/ Fat Transfer 1/29/18

emelar
on 3/23/17 12:06 pm - TX

Drink more. Although some people deal with this long term, for most it's just another phase of your body adjusting.

Erin T.
on 3/23/17 12:07 pm
VSG on 01/17/17

I don't think water consumption is a problem. I always get my 64oz and often times more than that.

VSG: 1/17/17

5'7" HW: 283 SW: 229 CW: 135-140 GW: 145

Pre-op: 53 M1: 22 M2: 12 M3: 12 M4: 8 M5: 10 M6: 11 M7: 5 M8: 6 M9-M13: 15-ish

LBL/BL w/ Fat Transfer 1/29/18

heidikat72
on 3/23/17 1:53 pm - PA
VSG on 06/17/16

That sodium target in MFP is a maximum - meaning you shouldn't go over that and not a recommended daily amount that you should target reaching. Plus I generally don't pay attention to the "targets" that MFP sets anymore as they aren't designed for people who have had weightloss surgery.

The orthostatic hypotension is mainly because your body is trying to adjust as you are rapidly losing weight. For many people it resolves itself as your weight levels off.

I would say that if you are having episodes where you are getting really dizzy and risk passing out, you should discuss with your doctor.

In the mean time, I would suggest when getting up from a seated position, do similarly as to what you are doing before getting out of bed. Pump your legs and stand up slowly.

High Weight at Consultation December 8, 2015 - 442lbs

VSG Surgery Weight June 17, 2016 - 364lbs

White Dove
on 3/23/17 3:10 pm - Warren, OH

Your heart is a pump. It pumped harder for a bigger body. Now it is getting lazy because it does not have to work so hard. When you sit or lie down the blood pools in your legs. Pumping your legs gets it flowing again so it goes up to your head and stops the dizziness.

This usually ends after the third month. For now pump your legs before standing on them.

Real life begins where your comfort zone ends

happyteacher
on 3/23/17 5:21 pm

The salt was a major contributor for me. Once I upped the salt intake, the episodes diminished almost completely. I drank Powerade Zero which helped, but eventually took a salt pill. One every couple of weeks did the trick. Once the salt levels climbed back up into the normal range I stopped doing the salt pill thing. Now if I start to have symptoms, I can just increase salt for a couple of days to take care of it. I think for a lot of us when we switch over to the new eating plan it is primarily fresh whole food, and we lose all the salt from the processed crap we used to eat.

Surgeon: Chengelis  Surgery on 12/19/2011  A little less carb eating compared to my weight loss phase loose sleever here!

1Mo: -21  2Mo: -16  3Mo: -12  4MO - 13  5MO: -11 6MO: -10 7MO: -10.3 8MO: -6  Goal in 8 months 4 days!!   6' 2''  EWL 103%  Starting size 28 or 4x (tight) now size 12 or large, shoe size 12 w to 10.5   150+ pounds lost  

Join the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker group for recipes and tips! Click here to join!

Erin T.
on 3/23/17 6:15 pm
VSG on 01/17/17

I did the Powerade Zero, Gatorade G2 and the Mio + Electrolytes for the first few weeks when water was hard to tolerate. Now I can't stand them for some reason. No flavor tastes good. I track on MFP so it'd be nice to know if there is a sodium consumption that is "enough without being too much".

VSG: 1/17/17

5'7" HW: 283 SW: 229 CW: 135-140 GW: 145

Pre-op: 53 M1: 22 M2: 12 M3: 12 M4: 8 M5: 10 M6: 11 M7: 5 M8: 6 M9-M13: 15-ish

LBL/BL w/ Fat Transfer 1/29/18

happyteacher
on 3/27/17 6:15 pm

I also use MFP and aim to keep the daily sodium intake within normal parameters. On the fresh/whole food path I gravitate toward it can get very low consistently without really thinking about working it into the diet.

Surgeon: Chengelis  Surgery on 12/19/2011  A little less carb eating compared to my weight loss phase loose sleever here!

1Mo: -21  2Mo: -16  3Mo: -12  4MO - 13  5MO: -11 6MO: -10 7MO: -10.3 8MO: -6  Goal in 8 months 4 days!!   6' 2''  EWL 103%  Starting size 28 or 4x (tight) now size 12 or large, shoe size 12 w to 10.5   150+ pounds lost  

Join the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker group for recipes and tips! Click here to join!

AggieMae
on 3/23/17 6:08 pm
VSG on 10/25/16

I have had many minor and three sever episodes of orthostatic HBO in the past few days. I get plenty of salt. I find that elevating my legs for half an hour really helps. My NO has been so like that my home machine can't read it. It was 88/?? manually on saturday. I will see my PC about this next week

Erin T.
on 3/23/17 6:17 pm
VSG on 01/17/17

I have it every morning when I get out of bed and several times it's been bad enough for me to see spots as I'm stumbling back to bed to lay down, but I have recovered very quickly. I haven't taken my BP while it happens but at the doctors during normal everyday activity it's been mid-range normal. The episodes mid-day have been minor and haven't required me to sit back down, it's just "there".

VSG: 1/17/17

5'7" HW: 283 SW: 229 CW: 135-140 GW: 145

Pre-op: 53 M1: 22 M2: 12 M3: 12 M4: 8 M5: 10 M6: 11 M7: 5 M8: 6 M9-M13: 15-ish

LBL/BL w/ Fat Transfer 1/29/18

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