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Dynarider
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 04:11 pm: |
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Been seeing my Dr for the last couple weeks..been monitoring the bloodpressure. I have always been low on that, usually in the 118/80 range. Well now all of a sudden it has skyrocketed to 148/94. Taking readings a week apart to see if it drops & its actually increased. Gave me some Carvedilol to take, have to slowly up the dosage over a period of weeks. Anyone here on this stuff & any weird side effects to watch out for? Not real happy about this but what can you do? Take it or dont & pay a visit to the grim reaper sooner than you want. |
Mikej
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 04:16 pm: |
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Dyna, Go to the webmd.com site and do some rummaging around. There is a small handheld blood pressure reader you can get that takes a reading off your finger. You can get a reading before you get up for the day, and during the day, and right before bedtime, and before and after meals, and so forth. Not extremely accurate, but does a fair job and it fits in a coat pocket. I can get the name of it later if needed. Any major changes to your diet or food or fluid intake in the last month or so? Are you possibly slightly dehydrated due to the weather change and being indoors more? |
Mrs_bads1
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 04:33 pm: |
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Dyna the Web Md is a good place to go, but the pharmacy where you got your meds should have given you an insert on the meds. 148/94 is what they call minimal High blood pressure and you are "considered" to be on meds for this. 94 is a high diastolic pressure and should be lower than that the doc likes to see 60-90 for the "bottom" number. Take the med and watch what you eat, get some exersize ( I don't like to lecture but you asked). You should see an improvement. Carvetalol is what they call a beta blocker an the doc likes to start on that type on med initally and it may not work might need to try someother med. I personally do not like the "finger" BP I like the wrist ones for the "lay " people but of course being the nurse that I am I like the ones that go around your arm.They are more accurate. Take your BP and compare it to when you are relaxed and when you have been up an around ... then compare.The "jump" /difference in your BP may be the cause of stress ,diet, or just "being at the Dr. Office". Some of the side effects include dizziness thats the big one. But go to the WEB MD site |
Dynarider
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 04:36 pm: |
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Food & fluids havent changed at all. Dr doesnt think its weather related at all. I asked about possible stress issues causing it. Grandson in the hospital..still there...other daughter ready to have her baby any day now, due date is today. My ongoing X1 saga, etc etc. Was told it jumped up too high to be any stress related deal. |
Mrs_bads1
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 04:39 pm: |
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Have you gained any weight over the last few months???? That could be a factor and Dyna please do not take this the wrong way but age plays a role in it as well as heredity as well your parents or siblings do they have high blood pressure??? |
Mikej
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 04:40 pm: |
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My angle on the weather is that many people get dehydrated when they start spending more time indoors in heated rooms. Outside you know it's hot and drink, inside you don't, so outside in the summer you might drink a certain amount during the day, in the winter that could drop to half. Mrs.Bads, Could the increase be due to the stressors coupled with an early onset of the flu or other virus or bug setting in? |
Mrs_bads1
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 04:45 pm: |
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Usually your blood pressure may fluctate if you are sick...I have never really heard too much on the "weather" idea . I know people get dehydrated more in the summer months. Your Kidney are the culpret for the most part of regulating your blood pressure when it comes to hydration. |
Buckinfubba
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 04:50 pm: |
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I would say something but... take care of that my brother has high blood pressure and it ain't no laughing matter. hell we need ya around here...even tho your a pain sometimes. take care of yourself ..... and most of all don't get worked up |
Dynarider
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 04:57 pm: |
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Mrs Bad...I know about the age deal & thats the factor the Dr said. On my moms side there isnt a history & on my dads I dont know...havent had any contact with the man except for 1 day in the last 36 years. No weight gain either, actually dropped about 14 lbs. Havent been sick at all. And yes I knew it was on the lower end of whats considered High, but the dr was more concerend about the fact that it jumped up 25% for no apparent reason. |
Bads1
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 05:01 pm: |
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Dyna look what ya did.You got my wife talking about her work.Then ya never get her quiet.But on the flip side if you wind up in the hospital with a heart related problem she might just be the nurse that takes care of ya. |
Dynarider
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 05:06 pm: |
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Already been thru all the stress tests, the treadmill and all that fun stuff, came out clean except for a leaky mitral valve which they said is no big deal. The Dr wants me to go in for another stress echo test next week. And is the wife at work or do you 2 take turns signing on & off at home? |
Mrs_bads1
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 05:11 pm: |
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Wife at home on Dana's desktop..HEHE switching back and forth. I just woke up worked last night.I sent you email but from Dana's email address. |
Mrs_bads1
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 05:13 pm: |
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Gotta leaky valve??? Take care of the blood Pressure and do what he says other wise I will be taking care of you at the United Hospital |
Csg_inc
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 05:33 pm: |
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when you start monitoring your blood pressure be sure to take it on both arms one right after the other and start charting it when you get up first thing in the am, then mid day then end of your work day and then bed time. Chart it till you get a pattern to discuss with the dr. Good luck and best wishes DAVE (been there done that) |
Csg_inc
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 05:36 pm: |
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Some time regular tread mills do not show the true picture and they are not predictive. So you may need to go in for a nuclear treadmill test still not predictive but does give a very good picture of your current condition. DAVE |
Dynarider
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 05:46 pm: |
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Aint got time for that...daughter just called & she is off to the hospital to have her first baby. Later. |
Hans
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 05:50 pm: |
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Dynarider, chill out a little bit. 150/95 Just at the beginning of the slope. Nothing special. Too high. Just that. Good chance that when you have been some time on medication and you have it regulated you can again without any medication for some years. But you have to keep it under control from now on. Hereditary factors are most important. Smoking and much coffee has a bad influence. Stress is NOT very important. There are some other causes for high blood pressure, as a stricture of a artery of the kidneys, hormonal disorders, hypercholesterolaemia: Some simple blood tests are commonly prescribed, but in 85 % it is an essential hypertension and that is now very well to control. And that should be done: The difference in life expectancy between persons with a normal blood pressure (also medical regulated) and those with a too high blood pressure (from marginally too high, till sky high) is SEVENTEEN years. Beta blockers have some slight side effects: Slower pulse, calming down somewhat, Less sweating, colder hands and feet, higher viscosity of body fluids as saliva and tears (sometimes problems with contact lenses), and yes: Some reducing of sexual functions. (But it makes never a gelding out of a stud: you can be sure of that). Ideal is 120-125 or below for systolic but that reading is very variable and for the diastolic pressure below 85. In fact the diastolic pressure is which your doctor will look at. In short: Live you live, work hard, don`t forget muscle work, eat and drink what you like (but reduce coffee, stop smoking, be moderate with alcohol, but don`t stop any intake, salt reduction is not necessary, unless you are somebody who grabs the salt already before having tasted the food.) Make much pleasure and let the modern medicines take care of the rest. Hans |
Tripper
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 07:19 pm: |
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Don't argue with Blake? |
Spiderman
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 08:27 pm: |
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just before impact yes. Sorry to hear bro hope ya feel better! |
Ray_maines
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 10:04 pm: |
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Hans: Another side effect is that you're tied to the drug company to the tune of $100 - $200 per month for the rest of your life. Dyna: Do ANYTHING you need to do to lower the pressure so that you don't need the meds. Change your diet, change your ways, whatever it takes. Don't do drugs! |
Henrik
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 10:42 pm: |
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Dyna; many have given good advice about the physical side of this. I'd recommend you deal with it from the mental aspect as well. Not to go all metaphysical on you here (I'm pretty earth-bound myself) but I've been pretty impressed by the results of meditation and bio-feedback. In short, modern meditation (no religious content) teaches you to focus on the moment and on what is going on in your body. Bio-feedback is a way of trying to gain control of body functions (heart rate and blood pressure) that usually is beyond your mental control. Both can help you assist modern medical science in controlling your blood pressure. And frankly, meditation has helped me tremendously in calming down (de-stressing) and putting things in perspective. As I read this I realize I'm not explaining it very well. But shoot me a mail if you're interested, and I can recommend a good book and self-teaching program to work from. Henrik |
Phillyblast
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 11:12 pm: |
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Henrik, If you get a chance could you shoot me that email, too? I'm in the same boat as Dyna, only (sorry Dyna) quite a bit younger. Mitral Valve Prolapse, BP that varies from slightly elevated to perfectly normal depending on when it's measured (I have white coat syndrome, apparently). I turn 34 in a couple of weeks, and suddenly realized I'm mid-thirties, and maybe, just maybe, I oughta take care of myself a little better. thanks David |
Nevco1
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 11:30 pm: |
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Dyna...Hans, Henrik and Andrea all are steering you in the right direction. Read all you can about diet, exercise, meditation/stress relief, etc. Trust me. I am a survivor. |
Dynarider
| Posted on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 11:55 pm: |
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Mitral Valve Prolapse Yep..same damn thing. At work right now. Daughter in hospital, water broke, etc etc. Contractions started & the eased up & now nothing for a couple hrs, so i came into work. I only work 5 minutes from the hospital & i have the cell on me. i think its gonna be a long night & morning for her. Oh yea not really worried about the blood pressure deal, just kinda weird that after years of being low now it jumps up quite a bit. |
Blake
| Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - 03:02 am: |
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Sex is great for relieving hypertension. |
Daves
| Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - 05:58 am: |
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Dyna, I don't know anything about high blood pressure(that's Penny's dept) Hope all is well with you and your daughter having the baby. Going to be able to have both your grandkids around for Xmas? Ride to the edge! Watch your blood pressure Dave Iowa HD/Buell (Buell Cycle Center) |
Crusty
| Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - 06:12 am: |
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Dyna, take care of the blood pressure. It's a silent killer. I want to be able to show you around Massachusetts next summer. On a more positive note, I hope your Daughter has a quick and fairly trouble free delivery. What a neat Christmas present a Grandchild will be! |
Mikej
| Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - 08:36 am: |
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Henrik, What's the book? Post or ping, thanks. |
Newfie_buell
| Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - 08:56 am: |
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Dyna, A year or so ago I was at the doctor for a checkup and when he took my blood pressure it was 140/110 and this was roughly that for a number of weeks. Every damm time I went to him it was high, now if someone else took it or I used one of those arm cuff machines at the pharmacies it was back to about 120/80 and there abouts. I discussed this with him and he told me I was probably stressed out from being in the doctors office. I was also told my resting heartrate was high when there as well and when I'd check it at home I'd be back to normal. He wanted to put me on meds but I refused and controlled it with diet and exercise. Take care of yourself and best of luck with the grandkids!!! |
Dynarider
| Posted on Tuesday, December 23, 2003 - 09:05 am: |
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Long assed night is over. She started going into labor on & off about 1am, then about 4:30 it started getting more serious. The baby was finally born at 7:01am. Little boy, 6.6 lbs. Its my first biological grandson, but the feelings are exactly the same for both of em. Mom & baby wont probably get out until christmas morning, my other grandson is still in the hospital. The wife just left from this birth to go see him. |
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