Pls pls help: any nurses with hypotension issues?

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Hi....I am currently a nursing student and will graduate in less than two months...and am realizing that I have a problem that is scaring the hell out of me...

What I am finding is that if I stand in place for any length of time, that I get really hypotensive to the point where I feel like I am going to pass out... I am in really good shape and could go out and walk ten miles this afternoon without thinking about it, but stand in one place for more than ten minutes or so at a time and I start to have a problem....start to feel very sick, nauseous, dizzy...and then have to sit for about a good ten minutes or so after...

I have on and off had issues with this throughout my life - I will add that I am in my 40's and this is a second career... but I can vividly recall having similar 'episodes' in my twenties...I share that because I do not feel this has anything to do with my age...and again - I can walk and walk, no problem, but stand still a lot and I start to have issues...

I have gone on several occasions to a dr re this in the past and have repeatedly been told - without any testing being done - 'sounds like you are hypoglycemic'....and the symptoms sound exactly like those for hypoglycemia. (I did not put together until very recently that it only happens when I have been standing in one spot for a while...) I have been checking my BG the last couple of times that this has happened and BG is like 95 - 105...not low sugar land...

I am asking this question because am wondering / HOPING that there are other nurses who have experienced this and can tell me if there is anything that they are doing to help themselves, if there is anything that you do that you feel works... do compression stockings, garments work...do you find that electrolyte fluids like gatorade help ....are there are pharmacological interventions that have helped you...I am open to anything and everything...

I am in tears realizing this because I am terrified that this career is over with before it is even getting off the ground...

Any and all advice is deeply appreciated...

Thanks in advance...Ann B.

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Monitor your blood pressure and take this info to your doctor. Other than advising you to see a doctor, we can not give medical advoce on this site. Hope you can get some help with this problem.

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Ok, I completely hear what you are saying... I guess my bigger question then is, are there any nurses dealing with this and doing floor nursing...I guess in a perfect world I would love to hear that there are nurses out there who have a similar issue and are currently working at the bedside - which is all I really want to do...and if it makes sense, if someone wants to email me offline, again it would be very much appreciated...

Thank you again - Ann B

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