Hi Beadbabe,
sorry to hear you're having to deal with this. I too have been worried about my low BP as I couldn't understand why it was so low but RLR's explanation from your previous post helped a lot as I didn't realise that anxiety lowers BP, I always thought it made it high!
Anyway, the last 4 readings I've had were 90 something over 60 something & the nurse took it today & it was 95/60. So I think you'll find there are lots of people walking round with low BP, I guess if you keep feeling faint then you could check it with your doctor but I think there are lots of normal reasons for it to be low.
Sorry I can't really answer any of your questions, just wanted you to know that I have a similar reading, it may just be normal for you at the moment so try not to worry about it too much.
Hope you feel abit more relaxed about it after RLR's explanation.
Seffie xx

Okay, your perspective on this issue is a bit in reverse and although a common situation, I will endeavor to set the matter on a proper course. You should never use the internet as a resource to determine whether a doctor's visit is necessary. Because I have no way to directly evaluate or examine you, I cannot prudently tell you whether your blood pressure represents a condition that warrants evaluation.

If your BP is a departure from normal and you are experiencing symptoms, then my recommendation is to present yourself to your primary care physician for evaluation.

Best regards and Good Health

When someone has already been evaluated by their primary care doctor or specialist and is purely seeking reassurance because they either don't understand the implications of the doctor's prognosis or they are seeking a second opinion, I have often responded to address such matters.

By contrast, when anyone is experiencing symptoms and plainly asks whether I think they should be seen by their doctor, my answer will invariably be that I cannot make such a decision for them. This is necessary from both a legal and practical standpoint.

To address your statement "I just want someone who has seen me and examined me to tell me nothing is wrong. This is the problem... you are often telling me nothing is wrong without seeing me, but at the same time you can't say if something is worth seeing a doctor about." When I suggest to anyone on this forum that "nothing is wrong," it is based upon both their description of the symptoms and the outcome of previous diagnostic tests. People often tend to discredit the outcome of diagnostic tests because they are not aware of its actual implications and because their symptoms persist.

You stated that you were seen by your cardiologist today and walked away with a question about whether his response was a good thing or a bad thing. You must confront your healthcare physicians regarding any information that you don't understand or are unable to differentiate and remain vigilent until you are satisfied.

Tilt table testing is designed to evaluate how your body regulates blood pressure in response to some very simple stresses. Blood pressure is regulated by a set of nerves which operate continuously and subconsciously and are part of the autonomic nervous system. This set of nerves detects certain bodily needs and they respond by causing the appropriate changes in blood pressure. The purpose of this part of the autonomic nervous system is to insure that there is always enough blood going to the brain, and to distribute blood to other organs according to their needs. For example, during exercise, blood is delivered preferentially to the muscles, whereas during eating blood is delivered preferentially to the intestines. These changes in blood pressure are accomplished by making changes in the way the heart beats and by making changes in the caliber or size of certain blood vessels.

At times, the nerves which control blood pressure may not operate properly and may cause a reaction which paradoxically causes the blood pressure to drop suddenly. This reaction may produce a fainting spell or a number of symptoms including severe lightheadedness. Tilt table testing is designed to determine the likelihood that a patient is susceptible to this type of reaction.

My point to many issues facing both you and many others on this forum is that you believe something is physically wrong with you, despite diagnostic tests to the contrary. Like many others, you are of the steadfast personal opinion that all physical symptoms equate directly with physical disease. As long as you stubbornly retain this perspective, you will continue to present yourself to the doctor in search of a physical cause. Doctors will continue to rule out a variety of possible causes until the list is exhausted or until the insurance carrier capitates further testing. I have also suggested to many persons on the forum that evaluation and treatment for anxiety/panic disorder can be very beneficial and could represent a souce of assistance in your case as well if you haven't already done so.

Lastly, you must realize that my ability to assist visitors to this site is limited in many ways. I simply can't tell you whether a visit to your doctor is "worth it" or not. There are implications for such questions and if you'll search over the history of my postings, you'll see that I gave similar responses to persons seeking what would be construed as the practice of medicine. As far as the forum is concerned, I will gladly explain symptoms, the outcome of diagnostic tests and general questions about their condition. I am unable to provide reassurance by determining whether you should seek medical attention or not.

Best regards and Good Health

Several points to be made here. Firstly, I can understand your frustration and have observed it frequently.

It's important to understand your perspective as it's portrayed in your posting. You stated that you don't know of anyone who has your symptoms without physical disease as well. That's a very isolated thinking pattern since your exposure is limited to persons within your awareness. Problems with digestion are also far more common in persons without disease than with it, so it doesn't point to a cause at all but rather additional symptoms.

You state that you don't like the term "mental" but use it. This is the primary reason that many people refuse to accept their problem to be cognitive in origin. If the term mental is objectionable, then don't use it. People have been socially trained to believe that experiencing a cognitive disorder is unacceptable and to be shunned. To the affected individual, it is a sign of failure and inability to demonstrate emotional strength. These disorders are very real indeed and are, in fact, a type of physical disorder because they represent an imbalance in neurochemistry of the brain, which is an organ just like the liver, or lungs, or heart.

You should remember that the brain is the control center for the entire nervous system and if the brain and nervous system are capable of making things work correctly, they are also capable of making that very same physiology experience dysfunction as well.

As for the No More Panic website, I would not place my confidence in this internet source as being correct. I visited that website at the request of several members on this forum and even attempted to address a number of medical questions posed by visitors and members there. I resigned from further participation because my responses were literally smothered by non-physician members attempting to answer medical questions as though they possessed the actual formal training and experience to do so. It was not only reckless, but they even defended their right to do so. So my suggestion where that website is concerned is to take it solely on the level of ability by those expressing what they believe to be factual but actually is but mere opinion.

Regarding the aspect of fainting, you need to realize that vagal tone is responsible for steep changes in blood pressure. I feel certain that you've either heard about, or even know someone personally, who fainted in the presence of an extremely frightening situation or traumatic experience. Surely you know of people who faint at the sight of blood. Does that mean that these people have a disease? Certainly not. Disturbances to the autonomic nervous system can swiftly result in fainting episodes and frequently does, and a vaso-vagal reaction is responsible for near-fainting or fainting. I can tell you of countless medical students who regularly fall to the ground during their first exposure to surgery or other graphic intervention. They are all very healthy individuals otherwise.  

I'm also here to tell you that anxiety and panic disorder can regularly be accompanied by fainting episodes, depending upon the physiology of the individual affected. Lack of sleep can actually exacerbate symptoms as well, so if you're not sleeping well then it could explain quite a lot.

If you're bored of seeing doctors and constantly receiving negative results, then maybe you should reflect upon this more thoroughly. If evidence does not support your contention that "something is wrong" with you physically, then it's time to possibly re-think your approach. You should also be thankful that you don't have a physical disease of some type, which in some cases may represent something that you can't treat or cure. Think of how you might feel if that were to be the case.

You'll be fine.

Best regards and Good Health

thanks Stu and thanks RLR.
I'm sorry I have put such long postings but actually putting my thoughts into words here and having a debate or discussion about them actually helps A LOT. I also enjoy trying to help others here too by trying to support them especially if I recognise and sympathise with the symptoms they are having.
I am infinitely thankful I don't have a physical disease but constantly surprised and disheartened and scared that I have a 'brain problem' that leads to all this. I have a lot of work to do to get better, but it is quite isolating feeling like this.
Thanks to everyone for their help and RLR for having such patience with me!
beadbabe