High Blood Pressure (1 Viewer)

[siffoin]

Another ####ty day. Got up this morning, expecting to go to work (a little later than normal) I took my amlopidine around 7:30 and by 9am I started feeling out of sorts. 10 minutes later I had another migraine felt dizzy. It isn't so much a dizzy feeling, as it feels like I'm wearing a pair of glasses that aren't my prescription. Reading or driving is not possible. I've slept most of the rest of today. I have a followup with my doctor Friday. At this point, I'm pretty scared with what is going on. Two different BP medicines in a week and same reaction by both. My BP reading a few minutes ago was 152/98. 

At this point, Vegas might not happen at all, much less having a cocktail. 

So I'm not a doctor but this is concerning and I had similar symptoms a couple of years ago - high blood pressure was an issue as well. Feeling just like you migraine - dizzy, weird vision - feeling weird in general. 

I had a dissected carotid artery - and had a stroke and lost the vision in my left eye.  Dissected carotid arteries are rare.  But I'd ask your doctor about it - or see if they would talk to a neuro-vascular surgeon. They can do an MRA (angiogram) to check.

Again I'm not a doctor and the dissected carotid is really rare - just relaying my own personal experience.

 

[Warrior]

So I'm not a doctor but this is concerning and I had similar symptoms a couple of years ago - high blood pressure was an issue as well. Feeling just like you migraine - dizzy, weird vision - feeling weird in general. 

I had a dissected carotid artery - and had a stroke and lost the vision in my left eye.  Dissected carotid arteries are rare.  But I'd ask your doctor about it - or see if they would talk to a neuro-vascular surgeon. They can do an MRA (angiogram) to check.

Again I'm not a doctor and the dissected carotid is really rare - just relaying my own personal experience.

It's more likely just a reaction to the meds. I had the same symptoms when I took a simple migraine medication.

 

[3C's]

It's certainly possible that something neurological is going on (though you've had CT/MRI). My wife had elevated BP (which she never had before), intense headaches, and other symptoms. Went to her doc who immediately sent her for a CT. She had had a brain hemorrhage. By the time of the CT the pain/pressure in her head was decreasing which would seem to indicate to us that the vessel had burst not too long before. She had complained a few years prior about weird/bad headaches and they did an MRI at that time which found nothing. After she had the hemorrhage the radiologist went back to the old MRI and could see something very tiny in the area at issue.

 

[KCitons]

Saw the doc this morning. He wouldn't say that the meds are what's causing the symptoms. He did recommend that I go without taking any meds for a week or two to see how my BP looks. I've lost 10 lbs since my visit a few weeks back and been eating a lot better. Also trying to exercise, but that's hard to do from a hospital bed or holed up in a dark room with a blinding headache. 

So, no BP meds since yesterday morning and no symptoms of disorientation or migraine. I took my BP machine with me to their office and my readings are about 10 pts higher than theirs. For now I'm going to head to Vegas with my BP monitor in tow (how cool am I ?) and keep an eye on things a few times a day. Won't be drinking, except maybe a glass of red wine (again, how cool am I ?) Food should be the biggest issue, I have a few places that I look forward to every trip. I'm going to try to limit the portion and go for a small doses of quality over massive quantities. Lucky for Vegas, there are no restrictions on my gambling. The other positive is that I like to walk a lot while there, so that will help. 

Siffoin - Sorry to hear about your issues. I had a carotid sonogram last week and it came back clear. Not sure if this would catch a dissected artery?

 

[lod001]

So I'm not a doctor but this is concerning and I had similar symptoms a couple of years ago - high blood pressure was an issue as well. Feeling just like you migraine - dizzy, weird vision - feeling weird in general. 

I had a dissected carotid artery - and had a stroke and lost the vision in my left eye.  Dissected carotid arteries are rare.  But I'd ask your doctor about it - or see if they would talk to a neuro-vascular surgeon. They can do an MRA (angiogram) to check.

Again I'm not a doctor and the dissected carotid is really rare - just relaying my own personal experience.

My dad had an eye exam and the eye doc said that his carotid artery was close to 100% closed and sure enough, he went th the doc and they had to stent it. They can now determine that with an eye exam.

 

[Chemical X]

been struggling recently with an awful bronchitis and I have been pretty sick.  taking more meds on top of my BP meds seems to have created ups and downs with my health recently. 

flushing, dizziness, listless.........been scared that I may be fighting something worse, since 6 weeks on a bronchitis run is long, even for me. 

I have started to feel better the last 2-3 days and have been determining that my BP meds may be the source of my ups and downs.  I have noticed the BP meds have had side effects, but I think they are getting worse.  this, even after my hyzaar was reduced due to a decent weight loss.  gonna have another conversation with my doctor, but was curious if those of you on the hyzaar, novarsc, 81mg aspirin regiment have similar side effects like me?  I have not taken my meds the last 2 days and feel like myself.  I don't want to just stop cold turkey on my own, but I don't think I can hack the side effects anymore.

 

[CurlyNight]

been struggling recently with an awful bronchitis and I have been pretty sick.  taking more meds on top of my BP meds seems to have created ups and downs with my health recently. 

flushing, dizziness, listless.........been scared that I may be fighting something worse, since 6 weeks on a bronchitis run is long, even for me. 

I have started to feel better the last 2-3 days and have been determining that my BP meds may be the source of my ups and downs.  I have noticed the BP meds have had side effects, but I think they are getting worse.  this, even after my hyzaar was reduced due to a decent weight loss.  gonna have another conversation with my doctor, but was curious if those of you on the hyzaar, novarsc, 81mg aspirin regiment have similar side effects like me?  I have not taken my meds the last 2 days and feel like myself.  I don't want to just stop cold turkey on my own, but I don't think I can hack the side effects anymore.

Meds most certainly can cause more harm than good, and I don't just mean side effects. I'd get in asap to your doc. Are you taking your bp at home daily? Maybe you don't need it anymore? Some people are able to go off the bp meds. Or if there's nothing else to try, you may have to make a decision between taking them or not, as in quality of life. GL and best wishes.

 

[higgins]

I absolutely believe in unsweetened raw cacao powder, eat an avocado every day, eat an apple a day, eat beans every day, eat nuts every day. Stay away from almost all processed food, all flours and most carbs except fruit. Eat wild salmon pan fried in olive oil at least 3 times a week.

My morning and evening shake consists of 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, 1 heaping tablespoon of unsweetened raw cacao powder, 1 half of a small avocado,1 banana, a s

 

[higgins]

HBP runs in my family and I was borderline high a couple of years ago. Now 4-5 days a week I eat steel cut outs with crushed almonds and flax for breakfast..put a scoop of protein powder and blueberries in as well. (add double the water for the extra ingredients ) Added 4-5 avocados a week to my diet in salads or whatever. The rest of my diet was always pretty good and no meds. Last week my BP was 122/70 It used to be a steady 145/150 over 90/95. Resting pulse was 55.

 

[KCitons]

I head back to the doctor tomorrow afternoon. I've been off BP meds for 6 weeks. I've stuck to a pretty strict diet. So far I'm down 20 lbs, but my BP is still borderline on good days. My best was 118/75, my worst 193/112, mean is 146/93. Last week was a rough week at work (even for a short week). That's when I hit the worst reading.

I'm not looking forward to going on meds again. 

 

[KCitons]

Doc put me on 25mg of Metoprolol. Took the first pill a about an hour ago with dinner.

If things go horribly wrong, give my screen name to Sconch. 

 

[KCitons]

Had my physical this morning because it had been a year and Dr wouldn't renew my script without the visit. (they also said that I now have to have full physical every six months since I am on BP medicine. State requires it?)

I've been monitoring my BP at home and it usually runs between 130-145 or 70-85. I'm now taking 100mg of Metoprolol. 

I hate going to the Dr and usually am pretty stressed about the whole thing before I arrive. As soon as I get in the examining room, the nurse takes my blood and I can feel myself stressing. Immediately after they take my blood pressure. Of course it's high 160/90. The Dr comes in and checks everything out. Says that my BP is kind of high. I told him nothing personal, but I don't really like going to the Dr. He says they will check it again at the end of the appointment. Fast forward to the end and he does a prostate check and two minutes later the nurse comes in and checks my BP again. Now I'm 170/100. What do they expect?  Stupid Drs.

Cliffs Notes: Stick a needle in my arm = BP goes up.  Stick a finger in my ### = BP skyrockets. I don't need a medical degree to figure that out. 

 

[D_House]

White coat hypertension is really common. Your home readings are more accurate. What’s your PCP’s goal for your BP?

 

[KCitons]

White coat hypertension is really common. Your home readings are more accurate. What’s your PCP’s goal for your BP?

He said 140/85 is the target. My BP monitor targets 135/85. 

 

[KCitons]

Dr added 25mg of Hydrochlorothiazide to my metoprolol. Started taking it two days ago and haven't had a BP reading above 125/85 since. 

 

[Chemical X]

Dr added 25mg of Hydrochlorothiazide to my metoprolol. Started taking it two days ago and haven't had a BP reading above 125/85 since. 

my combo is Norvasc and Cozaar, work well but my joints ache, especially my Achilles tendons.  slip in an 81 mg aspirin daily too.

 

[shadyridr]

Really nervous. My wife has high bp and has been taking meds for a few years now and her numbers have been fine. All of a sudden her bp has been VERY high the last few visits. Doctor upped her meds twice, sent her for echocardiogram, and now she is starting to watch her diet. Yes she's overweight but is it common for meds to stop working?

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Had my physical this morning because it had been a year and Dr wouldn't renew my script without the visit. (they also said that I now have to have full physical every six months since I am on BP medicine. State requires it?)

I've been monitoring my BP at home and it usually runs between 130-145 or 70-85. I'm now taking 100mg of Metoprolol. 

I hate going to the Dr and usually am pretty stressed about the whole thing before I arrive. As soon as I get in the examining room, the nurse takes my blood and I can feel myself stressing. Immediately after they take my blood pressure. Of course it's high 160/90. The Dr comes in and checks everything out. Says that my BP is kind of high. I told him nothing personal, but I don't really like going to the Dr. He says they will check it again at the end of the appointment. Fast forward to the end and he does a prostate check and two minutes later the nurse comes in and checks my BP again. Now I'm 170/100. What do they expect?  Stupid Drs.

Cliffs Notes: Stick a needle in my arm = BP goes up.  Stick a finger in my ### = BP skyrockets. I don't need a medical degree to figure that out. 

I know this is like 100 years too late but I have the same issue and I tracked my bro every day for a few years and showed the doc the data and also brought in my machine to see if it matched the higher reading and it did, so based on that, she was satisfied that it was cool.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Really nervous. My wife has high bp and has been taking meds for a few years now and her numbers have been fine. All of a sudden her bp has been VERY high the last few visits. Doctor upped her meds twice, sent her for echocardiogram, and now she is starting to watch her diet. Yes she's overweight but is it common for meds to stop working?

I can’t really speak to the meds question but changing diet should really help.  If she was only relying on the meds that it is not necessarily surprising that the bp would still go up imo.  Whole grains, leafy greens, lo saturated fat and omega 3s/fish oil are some of the keys.  Good luck, I hope there’s are no bigger issues at play

also, what kind of exercise does she do?  Thirty minutes of cardio per day is also very important.

 

[shadyridr]

I can’t really speak to the meds question but changing diet should really help.  If she was only relying on the meds that it is not necessarily surprising that the bp would still go up imo.  Whole grains, leafy greens, lo saturated fat and omega 3s/fish oil are some of the keys.  Good luck, I hope there’s are no bigger issues at play

also, what kind of exercise does she do?  Thirty minutes of cardio per day is also very important.

She does the elliptical. Her diet is horrible. Hopefully she starts taking it seriously now. 

 

[D_House]

The AHA recommends the DASH diet as part of their lifestyle recommendations for hypertension. Original article here.

 

[KCitons]

I know this is like 100 years too late but I have the same issue and I tracked my bro every day for a few years and showed the doc the data and also brought in my machine to see if it matched the higher reading and it did, so based on that, she was satisfied that it was cool.

Dr sticking his finger in your backside? Or high bp reading at the Dr's office?

 

[AAABatteries]

Shady - I’ll echo what others have said - diet can help tremendously.  Good luck!

 

[Guest]

Adding raw cacao to your diet is great for your health. Eating raw cacao reduce the risk of heart strokes and improve blood pressure also. You can add raw cacao powder to your daily diet if you're suffering from diabetes or high blood pressure issue.