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Is Low Diastolic Blood Pressure common with Stage 3 or 4 CKD?
Bill has CKD. Has been on Atenolol for decades and it has keep his BP at a great range. However, we recently noticed that his BP has been dropping really low sometimes during the day, especially the diastolic (in 50s, 40s, and one day 34 diastolic. Then later it will go back to fairly normal or at least 114/60. Is this common with Stage 3 or 4 CKD? He has also been suffering from chronic diarrhea lately (once or twice a day a couple of times a week). He is 88. Doesn't want to go to doctor and have more meds as he is already on 8 prescriptions and several OTC. Has been suffering from fatigue for several years that doctors indicate they can't do anything for. Has an enlarged prostate (which coud have brought on the kidney problem along with old age?).
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Thank you - I followed up on your suggestion.
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2 ReactionsRecent changes connected with his CKD? For years Bill's blood pressure has been kept at 120/80 with meds. Within the past year it seems to be all over the place going from 144/60 down to 90/55 and sometimes in the 120/80 range. Haven't established a pattern for it. Also in the past year his Cholesterol went from normal/good range to the point a year ago where the doctor put him on medications (hasn't been checked since so no idea if meds working). Before he had never had a cholesterol problem - doctors loved his Cholesterol figures!
My uneducated guess would be that in the past year his CKD has most likely caused these problems? Or just aging? Last time his GFR was checked (beginning of Oct)) he had just dropped into Stage 3b.
Family doesn't think anything is wrong as he can put on a really good act (either with them or with me - not sure which). And the on going family joke is he has never met a med he hasn't liked - he also has a very low tolerance for pain. Which makes it hard to determine what is really serious. He will have a leg cramp and is screaming in agony - where I'll have one and simply get up and walk it off. His is as real as mine - just such different degrees.
What a great approach " He will have a leg cramp and is screaming in agony – where I'll have one and simply get up and walk it off. His is as real as mine – just such different degrees." I think we all know people like this - I struggle every day when I hear "I can't today, my ______ hurts" as I stretch and exercise so I can keep moving....
Hang in there!
Sue
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1 ReactionHe stopped going places some years ago. A doctor once told him that if you 'sit you rust' - he is really rusted. He would get angry when I would go places and leave him home (like grandkid's weddings, Christmas concerts, shopping, etc.). I learned to ignore him but it would tend to spoil things knowing there would be a few hours of 'hurt feelings' when I got home. At least, for the most part, he has gotten over that. His mother and sister were the same way - only wanting to stay home. Not a good thing to my way of thinking.
Way to go on your stretching and exercise - I think it not only makes one live longer but also lets you enjoy life!
Hi julie . Blood pressure and cholesterol does fluctuate with CKD . Hope hes on low salt and hardly any red meat . Both are nasty for CKD .
Wish you both a very happy new year
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1 ReactionHe put himself on a sugar diet! Worse diet in the world. Hardly ever wants to eat normal food. Used to like steak but now won't eat it, says it tastes 'funny' - presume CKD taste..
He has an upcoming eye appointment, which he previously said to cancel. Now he is talking about going in order to give the doctor a hard time for doing a wrong eye glass prescription a year ago (he got the prescription filled at Costco). Costco said not their problem. Doctor said to come in and they would recheck the prescription. Bill refused (that was about a year ago). His cognitive problems have gotten worse and I'm not sure an appointment would even be of benefit at this point. My thinking was to take him to near by Walmart - get prescription and inexpensive (easily replaced) glasses. He dithers on what he wants to do. I'm not sure which is best. Regular doctor is an hour drive and usually wait time. Walmart is a few miles drive. Some days he is 'clearer' than other days. Today isn't one of his better ones.
He had me call his doctor's office as he wanted a prescription for a sleeping medication. Dr. N's response was that it wouldn't be good for him and no, OTC and/or medications he sees advertised on TV are not a good match for him with CKD. Yeah! But Bill will forget quickly that Dr N told him that. But turns out Dr N wanted to see him in 3 months so he is now scheduled for next week. I'm guessing he might want to run blood tests again and I'll ask about urine as that hasn't been done in a while. He has promised me he won't do the 'macho' thing and will actually admit to the problems he is having. I have typed up a 'cheat sheet' in case he forgets things. Just took his BP (127/60 60) - his systolic number is usually good but diastolic is usually lower than normal. The day he fell it was at 100/57 56 (noontime). I took it after the fall. Bill also had me order urinary test strips (10). So now I need to research how to read them correctly!
Julie, I wanted to let you know that you are not alone caring for someone who is experiencing cognitive decline. I want to invite you to the caregivers group where you can meet others facing similar situations as you describe in this discussion, like Bill perhaps not making the wisest decisions for his health.
- Caregivers: Dementia group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/caregivers-dementia/
I also think you'll find reading the current and past blog posts in this blog useful. The blog is written by the directors of the mild cognitive impairment clinics at Mayo (called HABIT).
- Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/living-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-mci/
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1 ReactionComplete loss of energy - said he almost feels like he is going to pass out on the way back from the bathroom to his recliner. He wants to sign up for Balance of Nature. Doctor keeps telling him buying such things off the TV ads and/or Internet are not good for him. Of course he doesn't remember being told that - or being reminded every time he sees the ad on TV (which is a lot). He has been on B12 pills for about 12 years (no noticeable improvement at any point. He gave up golf in 2009 as he couldn't make it around the golf course with even being allowed to take his cart onto the green. So has been long standing. My feeling it is just his Thyroid (in the beginning) and then the CKD jumping in as well. At 88 with his health conditions I can't believe that there is going to be a magic pill or supplement that will suddenly give him energy. He can't even sit at a table to eat dinner. He goes from bed to recliner - and bathroom trips of course. And even then he has a hard time making it.
But I could be wrong - maybe there is a magic pill out there and Balance of Nature is all that it alleges to be. Of course if he bought everything he sees and wants there wouldn't be room for us in the house lol.