What does low blood pressure and pulse also unable to wake up mean?

Question

My grandmother 88 yrs old.Had a amputation yesterday. Now she has low blood pressure and pulse. My aunts and uncles can't get her to wake up.

She is still in the hospital. She is a DNR and so the nurses arent giving a lot of details about what is going on they have called the physician in. But no details other than that yet.

she had an above the knee amputation done. No there wan't a lot of blood loss. She has not ran a fever.. She did break out into a sweat around midnight last night but they linked that to the morphine.Her stats were very good after sx and then this morning the started declining around 1000 this morning.

Answer 1

Okay, so it's an above-knee amputation. I'm guessing that your grandmother is diabetic? Has she had any heart trouble? Does she have a history of stroke? If she is sedated or has been given a significant dose of pain medication (usually an opiate or opioid), then the decrease in blood pressure and heart rate may be (at least in part) a side effect of the drugs.

On the reference website below, search for "hypotensive effect." This is from that webpage: "Morphine sulfate extended-release tablets, like all opioid analgesics, should be administered with caution to patients in circulatory shock, since vasodilation produced by the drug may further reduce cardiac output and blood pressure."

Answer 2

I naturally have low blood pressure and unless it is dangerously low or you feel faint what is normal for you is okay. Mine is often 90/70. The doctor will be monitoring your grandmother so don't worry about it until they say it is a problem. Low is always better than high.
Added details: A lot of people have a DNR in place to prevent life continuing when one is beyond the point of help or brain dead. No reputable doctor will interfere if life is possible. Please try not to worry. This is not an indication that she is going to die nor is it uncommon after the procedure she has had done. I always sign a DNR regardless of the procedure. It is only there in the event of something catastrophic occurring where life is no longer medically advised.

Answer 3

You are in peak physical condition as stated by you. A slow pulse with a normal BP is good as you find it only in athletes. Athletes have a slow pulse rate something like 60. This is due to presence of a good cardiac reserve.

Answer 4

I'm not a doctor, but your grandmother has been through a lot and that's very difficult for her age. Her body is under stress and she might be in depression. No one here can diagnose her. I strongly suggest that you take her to a doctor.

Answer 5

the Dr's more than likely have her heavily sedated and most likely on heldol that's what they did to my grammie when she broke her hip then she got a blood clot, and they had to amputate her leg:( good luck to you grammie i hope things turn out better for her:)
i just saw you addition if you can i would go say good bye if you can:( just incase. she has had a long life, go be with her!

Answer 6

maybe she needs a blood transfusion. potassium or iron levels are low. shock.? low blood sugar.something low in the blood ,low calcium or magnesium? Did she have an amputation due to diabetes? check her blood sugar levels. ummm a lot of people are sensitive to morphine.

Answer 7

I'm not sure you should be asking this question on here because there are some very heartless people in this world. I would talk to your grandmothers doctor, they will explain it to you. Everyones bloodpressure stats are different. My thoughts are with you.

Answer 8

Your 88 year-old grandmother had an amputation yesterday and she's already at home today?

I think not.

But.....did ya' ever think of calling 911?

Answer 9

I hope that they have called a physician for she may be in a coma or perhaps dead... God Forbid. I will pray for your granny hun and Good Luck.

Answer 10

My condolences. If she can't wake up, she probly doesn't have much time left.