So, I Have Hypertension....

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Jesus. I just got back from the doctor, first visit in 15 years or more (outside a couple ER visits for strep throat) and my freaking blood pressure is 162/102, which is classified as Stage II Hypertension.

I had originally gone to see a doctor to get a physical, I needed one anyway, and I was hoping to get the OK to get a scrip for Chantix to help me quit smoking.

But, as I admitted to the doc, my 6-8 beers a night for the last 20 years present a more immediate issue, namely, my skyrocketing blood pressure.

He advised that I tackle alcohol first, and he strongly advised against me quitting outright for fear of DT’s, which he claims has around a 10% mortality rate (!!!).

So, I am supposed to wean myself down over the course of the next couple weeks at about a drink per night until I am down to one or none when I see him again in early May.

I also have been prescribed Lisinopril to lower my BP, 30mg a pill. I need to buy a BP measuring device and chart my BP twice a day over the next two weeks in order to measure my progress with the drug.

So anyway, I now have goals for this. I am only 39 years old, and I need to quit drinking, stop smoking, eat better and exercise more (according to doc) in that order. He strongly advised against me trying to quit smoking immediately too under the auspices of “one thing at a time”.

Wish me luck. I hope I don’t stroke out before then. I had no idea my BP was that damn high.

Any tips, advice, etc from the teeming millions is appreciated.

Thanks!

2

I just took my first dose of Lisinopril about an hour ago. I think I can feel the difference in my BP in the sense that I can breathe easier and I feel a lot less tense and worrisome than I normally do.

Now I need to purchase a BP monitoring device so I can record my levels for the doctor over the course of the next two weeks. Any suggestions?

Keep 'em coming guys…at this rate my PM box will overflow with sympathetic suggestions…

:wink:

3

If you go in for blood tests, like cholesterol checks, please take (unless directed not to) your medication as directed. I’ve had two patients in a study I’m working on disregard this advice and almost have us send them to the ER with how high their BP shot up with them off the medication.

4

You know, I meant to complain to the doctor that I have never had my cholesterol checked. And I do mean NEVER. But in light of my BP readings and everything else I need to do in order to live twice as long as I’ve been alive, it got lost in the menusha.

I do need to get that checked though. I bet it’s really high.

5

My husband had been complaining for a while about feeling tired, and I finally told him I was worried about him and he needed to see a doctor. High BP, high cholesterol, and a change in diet didn’t work - but he’s got a family history of both problems. These days he’s on lisinopril and Lipitor, and things are more or less in control - sometimes the dose of one or the other gets adjusted. He also feels a lot better and has more energy.

6

You may develop a persistent cough. Watch out - most doctors assume it’s allergies (especailly this time of year) but it could be the lisinopril.

7

If you cut down on your alcohol consumption you may start to loose weight, which will help. I currently take Trandolapril, and have taken Lisinopril. The only noticable side effect I have had is the cough, which is very annoying and accompanied both. It went away after several months.

I never really got a dramatic drop in BP with either drug, but then my BP was not as high and the does was lower. Going from 185 to 160 pounds seemed to help more.

8

Meditation is well known for lowering blood pressure. It doesn’t have to be officially transcendental or religious to be beneficial. There are several simple variations of meditation that can be used once or twice a day with good results.

9

Exactly what I was going to say. I was diagnosed with hypertension in August, and started on Lisinopril but had to switch because of the damned cough – which was very weird for me, because I hardly ever experience side effects. The doctor and I waited 3 months to make sure it wasn’t just a cold or allergies or something. Of course not everyone will experience that side effect, but it’s common with that type of drug (ACE inhibitors). I’m on Diovan now, which is more expensive but doesn’t make me cough.

10

I took my first dose of Lisinopril yesterday evening, and I must say a couple hours later I felt very relaxed and felt I could breathe easier. The doctor told me that the main source of my high stress and mild anxiety was due to my blood pressure being so high.

So, yesterday at the doc’s office, my BP was a staggering 162/102. Admittedly I was pretty nervous as I hadn’t been to the doctor in so long, so that may have driven that number up a little.

I just took my first BP reading a moment ago (and I haven’t taken my second dose yet) and my BP is 149/95. That shit works!

Awesome! I can’t wait to see what my BP is right before I go to bed when I am most relaxed.

11

I wish my doctor would give me a blood pressure monitor. I’ve been on Labetalol (it’s a Beta blocker, and no one has ever heard of it, apparently…) and now he’s added Lisinopril…162/102 is chump change for me! Though after a week on the extra meds, it did drop to 148/something…he wasn’t happy, but I was. I’ve had elevated blood pressure for years…I really felt no improvement by adding meds. I got dizzy, and fatigued, and tummy troubles as they warn about. I didn’t see anything about cough ion the Patient Advisory sheet…I’ll have to reread it.

12

Ta da…no doctor needed!

I’ve never seen a doc write a script for a BP monitor, but they aren’t that expensive.

Labetalol is a fairly common beta-blocker. It has a variety of trade names, so maybe that’s the problem.

13

Just to clarify, I had to buy the monitor, he strongly suggested I get one and how he wanted me to track my BP over the course of the following two weeks before my next appt…in conjunction with my gradual reduction in alcohol intake.

Last BP reading as of an hour ago is 127/83. WOOT!

14

That’s great. I hope it stays down where it belongs. And I really hope that losing the alcohol will make a good bit of difference. It’s always better to do it without the medicine if you can. But however you do it, it’s good.

Now get him to do the rest of the blood tests. Maybe you should ask about having that done before your next appointment. Might save you one trip at least.