I know nobody [except for the real doctors] is a doctor and so forth =)
So, way back in the spring, when I got admitted for heinous high BP [210/190] they gave me a shot of something that dropped it like a stone to more or less normal. I have been fighting with my meds ever since then.
Is there some reason they wont let me shoot up with it instead of jerking around batches of pills that just wont manage to keep my BP low? I know how to shoot up, I have been shooting myself up with byetta or insulin for 3 years now …
I am a nurse, and the danger of dropping your blood pressure too low, or too fast is a major consideration. Too low and you may pass out, or drop too low, which would affect blood flow to your kidneys and brain. Your body becomes tolerant of hypertension and sometimes just bringing it down to a classic 120/80 could be to low for some people.
With a BP of 210/190 it sounds like you were in a hypertensive emergency. There are a whole bunch of hypertensive drugs that we can administer to bring down a blood pressure really quick in cases like that. The advantages of them is that they work really fast. However, the disadvantages of them can be significant.
One of the main things that keep many of them from being prescribed for normal hypertensive control is the half life. Many of these drugs only have a 5 minute to 30 minute half life, so the drug works fast, but wears off even faster. This is acceptable (and even desired) in cases of hypertensive emergency at a hospital, but is not something you would want to take regularly. Many other drugs might have toxic side effects that require close monitoring. This is something that is possible in a clinical setting, but not at all at home.
One example of a good drug for hypertensive emergencies, that you would never be seen given outside a hospital, is Sodium nitroprusside. The onset of action for this drug is about two minutes, and it has a half life of about 4 minutes. So, it works fast, and wears off fast. Plus, it has a toxic metabolite, cyanide, that needs to be closely monitored.
I’m guessing the drug they gave you was nitroprusside. It degrades to a cyanide relative. It can’t be used long term. Not to mention the fact that it needs to be titrated to the nanogram to keep from causing outright shock.
Take your anti-hypertensives, keep up with any exercise your doctor has recomended and eat right.
As a grown-up, surely you understand, nothing is ever easy.
sigh I do maintain my diet, and am taking my meds, it is just that I hork down a handfull of pills 4 times a day and I am getting tired of it …
Another dumb question. So I can figure out why I did the hypertensive crisis … bowel prep + severe dehydration+9 hours of intense give me a gun so i can blow my brains out to stop the pain migraine with vomiting of bile from empty stomach = 210/190 when I finally got into pre-op.
Why the hell did I not go back to my pre-op normal 130/80 BP? If I am totally unmedicated I tend to run 190/110. How can I possibly get my body to go back to normal? And I can tell when my dia is over 100 by feeling [dizzy, disconnected and sluggish] is it that unusual to be able to feel how one’s BP is doing?
You mentioned that you are a diabetic, how well is your blood sugar controlled? High blood sugar, over time can damage the elasticity of your blood vessels. As can lifestyle etc. Some people become hypertensive because of a stenosis in one of their renal arteries, a problem that usually can be solved with an angioplasty/stent placement. I’m not saying that that is your problem, it is just that our bodies change and problems develop.
Quite well controlled =) I was dx in 1980, and I still have hair on my toes =)
it runs 94-110, and my endo is very happy about it. [I use metformin and januvia]
Honestly, I was a very steady 130ish/80ish [obviously allowing a bit of wiggle room for daily variance] for years. One instance of intense dehydration combined with one of the worst migraines of my life and bam… 210/190 and admission. It seems that that one instance did some sort of kozmic reset on whatever controls my BP … :smack: I would love to get it to somehow reset back to normal. I am an admitted salt addict, and coffee addict but I have not added extra salt nor had more than one coffee or tea a day in over 6 months [because I have been trying to lower my BP and I know that these can contribute to it]
My doc wants me to go in for a sleep study for apnea, though mrAru says he hasn’t heard me not breath at night when he has been awake so I am waiting for the appointment. I do suffer from what appears to be segmented sleep [as mentioned in a different thread, thanks for the reference] however since I do not work, I can sleep at any time I am sleepy without seriously disrupting my day so I don’t think it is sleep deprivation. I do add omega3 gelcaps and lots of garlic and real food instead of premade junk foods [and a combo of fresh and frozen veggies] and keep well hydrated. I live a very boring and healthy life =(
I recommend you get a home BP cuff. Make sure the cuff is large enough to fit your arm properly, and check your pressure several times throughout the day. I’m also assuming that they checked the BP on both of your arms to make sure there is no significant difference. I also recommend a cardiologist if your BP doesn’t get controlled with some simple meds. It’s probably a good idea for a diabetic to have a relationship with a cardiologist anyway. Ask people you know for recommendations. I know the thought of another doctor visit isn’t really appealing, and sometimes we worry about offending our regular physician, but I can assure you that he’d be happy to have someone else dealing with your bp if it a consistent problem.
Yep. I’ve been taking Atenolol for years. This past summer, I accidentally took a second pill (forgot I’d already taken it) as I rushed to leave the house for a day of kayaking the Youghiogheny River. In addition, I skipped breakfast and drank many beers while on the river. Many. And I paddled hard.
Later in the day I ended up in an ambulance and spent 24 hours hospitalized with a “hypotensive crisis”. On the bright side, I felt great other than the fact that I couldn’t stand up or speak sensibly.
My brother, the one I gave a kidney to, had persistent hypertension for many years and was accused by his primary MD of not following his instructions.
long story short, when he changed MD’s he was put on another med that worked on him much more effectively.
I know that this isn’t the norm, but a change of MD’s can in some instances help.
Have you had any investigations for possible causes of your hypertension? There a few possible conditions which can cause high blood pressure. They are pretty rare compared to run-of-the-mill hypertension with no specific cause, but they are treatable, so worth looking for.
