blood pressure rant

**pop goes the weasel** · 01-27-2010, 01:42 PM

I know the the thread name is an oxymoron. The dr started me on a blood pressure medicine in November. I have tried to be careful but over the holidays I slipped. I had it checked Saturday and it was higher than before. I have been reading labels, rinsing anything that I have to buy to rinse off the salt. (Our veggies didn't do very well last year) cut back on caffiene and since last week I have gotten myself down to 1/2 a pack of cigarettes from 2+ a day. I have been checking it but it still isn't moving. I know it won't change over night but when you read labels and get things that are so called healthy only to find out that there is a million mgs of sodium in them you just want to sit and eat a jar of dill pickles. I haven't even taken my pain meds because they will affect pressure. Hopefully after my appointment tomorrow they will be able to tell me something. Witht he stress we have here I don't know if watching what I eat and quitting smoking will even help. Thanks for listening

**TigerGirl1226** · 01-27-2010, 01:47 PM

They may need to adjust your dosage. DH is on BP meds and they put his too high at first and if he moved to fast he got woozy. It took a couple months, but they got it straightened out.

Good luck!

**Palooka** · 01-27-2010, 02:04 PM

I hear ya! My blood pressure is high and has been on and off since 2005. I stopped smoking even.

It's impossible to not consume salt one way or another.

**imagine** · 01-27-2010, 02:08 PM

pain also increases blood pressure. as well as stress

It is hard figuring what works. There are many reason for high blood pressure. Hubby and I have to take diffrent kinds of bllod pressure meds.

I'm sure the appointment with your doc will help. Our doc had us come in a month or so after starting the meds then we go back every 6 months to check and see if the meds needs to be adjusted.

**mama2James** · 01-27-2010, 02:30 PM

I'm glad you are seeing a doc about your BP. If you aren't treating your pain, that could be the reason your BP is still high, it definitely can increase BP. Are you cooking from scratch much? That will be the best way to decrease your sodium, also when it comes to veggies, frozen ones should be free of added salt so you won't have to worry about rinsing those.
I'm sure stress is a huge factor in your BP reading too. Are you able to exercise? Even small amounts of exercise can decrease both BP and stress, also a small weight loss can help more than you would imagine.
Way to go on the decrease in smoking, you are helping yourself so much by doing that!

**frugalfranny** · 01-27-2010, 02:37 PM

Good luck at your Dr. appt. Be sure to let him know what you have tried - he might suggest something else.

Sorry you are going through this.......health issues suck!!

**mauimagic** · 01-27-2010, 02:49 PM

Rant all you want - it is very frustrating and that in itself makes our BP rise!!

Please let us know what your results are and what your Dr. says.

I'm treating mine and my recent diabetes as a mystery - which I am going to solve with exercise and diet.

All we can do is the best we can!!

Take care.

**pop goes the weasel** · 01-27-2010, 02:59 PM

Well I just checked it for today. I'm going tohave to ask the dr if I'm doing it right. I followed the directions but I always get a higher reading than the drs. If this one is right I should probably be on the floor unconsious.(sp) 179/200 I waited a little bit and it was168/106. I'ts a new machine but maybe I'm not doing something right. Doesn't give me much of a boost that's for sure. I did find out that my meds are parat of it and everyonein my family has high blood pressure. I have already lived longer than my mother. She had a stroke when she was 45 and passed away shortly after. Thanks for all the support. I"m gonna need it. lol

**nancycg56** · 01-27-2010, 03:12 PM

It can take quite awhile to get the medications just right for you. I take 3 different blood pressure medications a day to get mine where it should be and it took my doctor a long time to hit on the right combination. Also, using the right size cuff for your BP machine is important, too. Too small and it will read your pressure as high and vice versa.

Talk to your doctor about it.

**MaryCarney** · 01-27-2010, 03:32 PM

OK - home BP monitoring is EXTREMELY unreliable for some people - esp. if you are stressed/ in pain. TAKE YOUR PAIN MEDS - pain INCREASES BP!!!!!

When you go to the doctor, take your BP machine and have them calibrate it for you (have them take your BP at the same time the machine does and compare)

Some people (my dad included) have what's called "White Coat Syndrome". They start thinking about health stuff/see a white coat/ get nervous at the doctor's and their BP shoots up beyond their normal, resting level. From the tone of your post, I think this is contributing to your problem.

And just an FYI - salt is just a part of the BP picture. Not everyone has that sensitivity to salt, so be reasonable, but don't make yourself miserable 'cause that just makes you more stressed.

Keep us posted!!!

**pop goes the weasel** · 01-27-2010, 03:33 PM

For some reason the rest of my post didn't post. I cook everything from scratch unless we have a day that we have to grab and go but that's not often. I bake alot of stuff but very rarely eat any of it. I really don't care for that kind of stuff. My main downfall is ham. I love it but I have cut it out quite a bit. I would get out and walk but with all the ice we have I really don't want to fall and break a hip on top of everything else. I did check it before going to the dr and they were close but I do get worked up easy. I get stressed really easy anymore. The salt thing....I really don't care for it. I eat everything unsalted anyway. Unless someone else cooks. If I cook and add salt dh and sd add enough salt for the whole county. I did have to break down and take a pain med for my hips and shoulders Sunday. The dr I saw ( not my regular, he wasn't there said that I shouldn't take it but didn't say I couldn't if I had to. I have arthritis in my hips, back and shoulder and it gets pretty bad when the weather is crappy.

**imagine** · 01-27-2010, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by pop goes the weasel

Well I just checked it for today. I'm going tohave to ask the dr if I'm doing it right. I followed the directions but I always get a higher reading than the drs. If this one is right I should probably be on the floor unconsious.(sp) 179/200 I waited a little bit and it was168/106. I'ts a new machine but maybe I'm not doing something right. Doesn't give me much of a boost that's for sure. I did find out that my meds are parat of it and everyonein my family has high blood pressure. I have already lived longer than my mother. She had a stroke when she was 45 and passed away shortly after. Thanks for all the support. I"m gonna need it. lol

You could take it with you to the doc's and see if you are using it right. We checked our right there after the nurse checked it.