Post surgery low blood pressure - how long should it last?

May 9, 2013 2:00 AM

You are not my doctor, I'm just looking for personal experiences here (and yes, I understand anything medical will vary a lot between individuals). I had surgery a week ago and stayed in hospital overnight. I've been recovering well but still feel quite dizzy, usually when I bend over/stand up but also when walking slowly on a level surface.

I am drinking plenty of fluids. I am exercising mildly (short walks, brief and slow stint on the exercise bike) and getting plenty of rest. Up until last night I was wearing compression stockings though I didn't notice them making any difference. I'm eating mostly normally, probably a bit less/less regularly than usual. I did come down with diarrhea today, but this may have been due to excessive consumption of grapes last night (they're so tasty!)

I've seen the surgeon twice since the operation, most recently on Monday. I'm due to go back in again on Monday and will definitely mention it. But in the meantime I am hoping for some anecdotal experience to counteract the horrifying predictions brought up by Google. Surgery isn't a common experience for me and I've got no idea how long this kind of thing normally happens.

posted by Athanassiel to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

Best answer: In the interests of providing anecdata: I had very low blood pressure after surgery. It was related to blood loss during surgery, and blood transfusions brought up the BP post surgery. I don't know how much BP is related to what you are eating [Iamnotadoctor] but it may be due to blood loss during the surgery - something to consider and raise with your surgeon?
posted by honey-barbara at 3:05 AM on May 9, 2013

Best answer: Surgery is really hard on the body. That probably kinda goes without saying, but while IANAD I once had to have two fairly major orthopedic surgeries back to back, or at least that was the plan and the first surgery depleted things like electrolytes so badly they had to put off the second surgery for over a week. You didn't say what the surgery was (and that's okay), but even just having my wisdom teeth out as a teenager and having a vasectomy in my 30s had me sleeping a lot for a few days.

IANAD but your symptoms sound normal to me. Just mention it to your doctor on Monday. The things that would have me going sooner or calling the office would be blood coming out of any orifice unexpectedly, increases in swelling, and/or if the dizziness or your energy level got markedly WORSE. Mainly you should worry about signs of internal bleeding or infection.
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:13 AM on May 9, 2013

Best answer: When I had my FESS done, I was pretty weak for 2-3 weeks from blood loss and trauma. The first week in particular was very difficult, and it took about 8 weeks to get fully back to normal.

Other surgeries were less problematic - the hip arthroscopy I had done last year was so easy, I was back at work in two days.

So, I guess it depends on the nature of your surgery and bunch of other factors. Mention it to your doctor, but your experience doesn't seem necessarily atypical to me.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 5:16 AM on May 9, 2013

Best answer: Have you taken your blood pressure? So you know for sure that it's low? If it's not actually low, I had a virus recently that made me dizzy. It went away on its own in about a week. Combined with the diarrhea, it could be that? Drink LOTS of fluids; I also get dizzy if I'm dehydrated.

I've had lots of surgeries and I generally feel like shit for a few weeks afterwards. Absent other symptoms, I think you'll be okay until Monday. You can call the nurse today and ask if they want you to come in, though.

(I am not any sort of medical professional.)
posted by desjardins at 5:18 AM on May 9, 2013

Best answer: Anecdotes:

My father had surgery in February and lost more blood than they were expecting. He was very weak and dizzy for a week after, and they ended up transfusing him to get his blood pressure back up. My understanding is that transfusions are a last choice, they prefer you to try to get better without it.

I had surgery a couple years ago, and other than being a little loopy from the drugs, experienced no dizziness post-surgery.
posted by looli at 6:30 AM on May 9, 2013

Response by poster: Thanks all for the anecdata, it does help! I also took my temperature after being first cold, then hot and turns out I have a mild fever. Given the diarrhea, seems likely I have picked up a stomach bug and that's contributing, but will be ringing the doctor in the morning anyway. In the meantime, fluids, panadol, sleep. Thanks again; nothing like illness to inhibit rational thought!
posted by Athanassiel at 6:36 AM on May 9, 2013

Gosh, I've been easily dizzy and weak for about a week just from donating blood, in the absence of any additional trauma. Just as another data point for you!

That said, it is of course worth discussing any continuing or new symptoms with your doctor. Feel better soon!
posted by Andrhia at 8:11 AM on May 9, 2013

I've never lost enough blood (due to either surgery or injury) at any given time to actually result in hypovolemia-induced hypotension -- but I *have* noticed that my BP tends to sort of suddenly drop much more easily than usual for the first few days after any sort of procedure. (I also become temporarily a lot more squeamish and sensitive to the merest mention of anything bloody or gross.)

I have not yet found any real documentation of what might be causing this, and am not even sure if it's A Thing that others experience commonly. But my current suspicion is that even if only a trivial amount of blood is actually lost, pretty much any nontrivial trauma to the body can result in a sort of temporary global physiological disruption. Your body doesn't know the difference between "medical procedure done to enhance health and well-being" and "ACK I'VE BEEN STABBED!", and reacts accordingly until everything settles back down.
posted by aecorwin at 1:05 PM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]