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Advice Please

5 replies

boyscomingoutofmyears · 10/03/2011 12:46

Sorry if this is long but I want to give the whole story.

I gave birth 13 weeks ago, I developed pre-eclampsia the day after delivery and ended up spending a week in the hospital. I was prescribed enalapril 5mg to lower my blood pressure and it worked fine until approx 6 weeks post-natal when I began feeling really ill. My symptoms were headache, shortness of breath, blurred vision, dizziness and tingling in my hands. These symptoms were not constant, the best way I can descibe them is that they're like attacks that occured once or twice a day. Despite numerous visits to my GP, he did nothing to help. My BP went up when I was having them but was generally okay and that was all he seemed to see.

Eventually the symptoms got so bad my DH insisted I went to A&E to get checked over. They gave me an ECG and blood tests which were fine and said I was experiencing nasty side effects from my medication. So I went back to my GP and told him what the hospital said and he took me off the pills completely. A week later my BP was sky high so he prescribed me Bendroflumethiazide (2.5mg). I was feeling much better taking these until a few days ago, I now keep having "attacks" of headache, dehydration and blurred vision, although not as severe as before. My GP still insists there is nothing wrong with me and I think he thinks i'm becoming a hypochondriac to be honest. I'm absolutely not, these symptoms are very real and I have rarely suffered illnesses before and very very rarely go to the doctors with anything.

So, what could be wrong and how do I get my GP to help me?

TIA x

OP posts:
lizzy49 · 10/03/2011 13:36

Bendroflumathiazide is just a diuretic which makes you pee a lot, thus making you dehydrated, dropping your blood pressure, giving you headaches etc. Unless you have fluid retention, it is probably the wrong medication. It is also very cheap!
Keep going back to your Dr and don't let him intimidate you. If your blood pressure really needs treating, there are many more sophisticated drugs he could try, or he could refer you to a hospital physician, who will know what he is talking about. And you have a right to ask for a referal

boyscomingoutofmyears · 10/03/2011 13:43

Thanks Lizzy. I do not have fluid retention, my GP insisted this was the medication for me if I was having bad side-effects from the enalapril.

Feeling like this is really getting me down, I have 3 children to care for and I can't function properly for an hour or so a couple of times a day. I feel like i'm hitting my head against a brick wall with my GP, I have asked for a referral but he keeps saying there is no need as I'm absolutley fine. I have a long family history of hypertension too and it feels like he's working on the assumption that the medications that worked for my Mum and Grandma when they were in their 20's will obviously work for me.

OP posts:
TaffetasCatCameBack · 10/03/2011 20:29

boys - is there another GP you can see , maybe book an appointment for his day off? I got a referral a few years ago on my 10th visit to the GP as a locum was standing in.

Nagoo · 10/03/2011 20:33

When i had Ds i went to the doctor as i was getting symptoms of low blood pressure, similar to what you describe, but more of a 'tunnel vision' thing than blurred. I felt faint if i stood up and dizzy.

My GP diagnosed me with PND and I was Shock. I didn't have any negative feelings about / towards the baby at all. Anyway, she prescribed me flouroxetine (sp? anyway generic prozac) and I got better.

boyscomingoutofmyears · 10/03/2011 21:06

He's the only GP at the practice but I am considering moving to another surgery. He's been my doctor my whole life and been fab in thepast, but maybe that's because I've never created much work for him before!

I'm going back tomorrow and am just going to beg for a referral I think. Thanks for the replies Smile

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