Anybody have a problem with LOW blood pressure?

Dehydration is one known cause. But sometimes they don't know what can cause it.

I have posterial hypotension. Had it for at least 8-9 years, so I know mine is totally unrelated to WLS. I've actually stood up and passed out twice because of it. They ran a whole battery of tests, including the tilt table (I hated that one) and yet, they still don't know why I have it or why my blood pressure is low. Mine has been as low as 90/40. Actually, I have had fewer sypmtoms of it since I had surgery.

A number of medications can also cause postural hypotension, particularly drugs used to treat high blood pressure — diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors — as well as antidepressants and drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease and erectile dysfunction.

Check your prescription drugs if on any for all sypmtoms and make sure low blood pressure isn't listed...if it is, talk to your doctor about an alternative that doesn't affect you.

If it's not clear what's causing low blood pressure or no effective treatment exists, the goal is to raise your blood pressure and reduce signs and symptoms. Depending on your age, health status and the type of low blood pressure you have, you can do this in several ways:

• Use more salt. Experts usually recommend limiting the amount of salt in your diet because sodium can raise blood pressure, sometimes dramatically. For people with low blood pressure, that can be a good thing. But because excess sodium can lead to heart failure, especially in older adults, it's important to check with your doctor before increasing the salt in your diet.
• Drink more water. Although nearly everyone can benefit from drinking enough water, this is especially true if you have low blood pressure. Fluids increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration, both of which are important in treating hypotension.
• Wear compression stockings. The same elastic stockings commonly used to relieve the pain and swelling of varicose veins may help reduce the pooling of blood in your legs.
• Medications. Several medications, either used alone or together, can be used to treat low blood pressure that occurs when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension). For example, the drug fludrocortisone is often used to treat this form of low blood pressure. This drug helps boost your blood volume, which raises blood pressure. Doctors often use the drug midodrine (Orvaten, Proamatine) to raise standing blood pressure levels in people with chronic orthostatic hypotension. It works by restricting the ability of your blood vessels to expand, which raises blood pressure.

Fludrocortisone: Side effects listed here
Can't find Midodrine as Orvaten but found Proamatine (which has a black box warning and discouraged from use) Side effects here

Here is another site on low blood pressure, it's causes, etc: Hypotension (PubMed)
And another by Heart.org: Low Blood Pressure

So while adding gaterade is an excellent idea, you also might want to find out why it's happening. :)

Liz