Guest guest Posted May 10, 2002 Report Share Posted May 10, 2002 Goodmorning Pam- They did test Jerry on a tilt table when they diagnosed MSA and he did have BP drop along with other autonomic symptoms. However, no one has ever checked it since dx. Obviously, I would need a group of men to assist me in keeping Jerry in a standing position for the 3 min. since I don't have a tilt table. So how important is it is retest? If he doesn't complain should it just be ignored? I imagine he would complain if he were dizzy. Of course, he doesn't complain about much of anything, just smiles and says he is fine. Sometimes he is just too agreeable. He told me he was okay before he went into Respiratory failure. I'll try raising the head of the bed....back to finding the group of men to lift the bed... Jan > Hi Jan, > > I don't know if you've seen the " MSA bible " yet at > http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic671.htm but in there it talks about the > criteria for determining " possible " and " probable " MSA. > > One defining feature is Orthostatic Hypotension (low blood pressure). > > To test for orthostatic hypotension(OH) you need to take blood pressure(BP) > 3 times... sitting, standing and then standing after 3 minutes. > > > If BP drops by these amounts within 3 minutes of standing then OH exists. > Orthostatic hypotension > - a drop of 20 Hg systolic and > - a drop of 10 Hg diastolic > within 3 min of standing > > > OH is pretty much the hallmark symptom of MSA when there is alot of > autonomic nervous system involvement. As you've said though Jerry's > symptoms are primarily cerebellar and he has the sleep apnea.... very > similar to my mother-in-law. She did have a lower than normal blood > pressure but it wasn't severe OH like many people report here. > > Others do report high blood pressure when lying down. If this is a concern > (ask his doctor to check it) it can be alleviated by raising the head of the > bed while sleeping and/or with medications. > > Hugs, > Pam > > More BP questions > > > With all the talk of BP problems I decided to check Jerry's even > though he does not complain of being dizzy (one symptom we seemed to > miss, thank goodness). BP is normal, 120ish over 70ish, but pulse is > 100 when he is sitting in his wheelchair. Then into bed and it begins > to rise. When he falls into a sound sleep it is up to > 140/100,,,,,159/98''''''138/96.....150/98......(pulse is usually in > the 90's) and the BP and pulse stay there for over and hour and I get > too tired to continue to monitor. In the morning before he gets up I > take it again and it is 128/84.....my question, I guess, is: Is > there anything I should be doing for this? His neurologist has never > even taken his BP and the PCP takes it when he is sitting in the > wheelchair and it is just fine. To worry or not to worry. And you > are right Deborah, I won't ask for strength just lots of patience to > deal with what ever comes my way, day by day. > Thanks, Jan > > > > If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may > unsubscribe by sending a blank email to > > shydrager-unsubscribe@y... > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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