Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

High Blood Pressure

21 replies

CountessDracula · 11/03/2004 12:59

Have had a couple of high readings 140/92 in the last couple of weeks.

The doc said that it could just be because I was under the weather with my Glandular Fever. They are going to monitor it and test me for cholestoral, diabetes and give me and ECG

Am worried because my father developed type II diabetes and had high BP, ended up with a quad heart bypass a couple of years ago. He is now fine.

I am only 37, don't want to be ill AGAIN. I wonder if it could be anything to do with the fact that my lifestyle is SO sedentary since I have had GF (nearly 5 months) and before I used to cycle, walk etc lots and lots and was pretty fit.

Does anyone have any experience of this.

I don't smoke, am not on the pill, don't eat a lot of salt or fatty food and don't (usually!) drink to excess ie half a bottle of wine 4 times a week, 2 straight nights off every week and if we go out on a Sat sometimes I might drink a bottle of wine (the doc has assured me that this is moderate!) I have in my time been a filthy caner, maybe it's all coming back to haunt me now.

OP posts:
PandaBear · 11/03/2004 13:17

Unfortunately sometimes High blood pressure is just one of those things. I was first diagnosed with high blood pressure 6 years ago, and have been on medication ever since. I'm only 28 now and am not particularly overweight, was always active (before DD, now I'm a bot of a lazy moo!!), and have always tried not to eat too much.

They did loads of tests on me, but in the end it all came down to a "sorry it's hereditary". Fingers crossed this is either a temporary blip for you, or that it's the same story for you. At least they are monitoring you, so if anything does show up, it can be treated early!

Take care.

polly28 · 11/03/2004 13:20

HI CD,I too have high blood pressure sometimes.I had it just after I had my ds 18 months ago.I think mine is all to do with being overweight .I am on a diet at the moment ( seem to be on a diet all my life).I am doing the south beach diet which is basically just healthy eating ,no bad carbs or sweeet things.So far I've lost a stone but need to start exercising to shift the pounds.

My father is also diabetic with high bp ,all controlled by drugs.I do think that diet/exercise plays a huge part in the onset of high blood pressure and diabetes.

I would recommend the south beach diet book as it goes into explaining it all really well.
I have come to the conclusion that I am just not cut out to beable to eat crap food and get away with it,boring as it is.

sorry this is so long hope it helps

Original poster
CountessDracula · 11/03/2004 13:22

Thanks PandaBear - how high was yours then? I don't really know what is high, but remember them freaking when I was pg and it was this sort of level (as they thought could be pre-eclampsia)

Do you have a family history then? I am my father's build and look like him so it's likely I guess.

The doc I saw this morning was a different one to the one I saw last week and they both said it can be a blip so fingers crossed.

OP posts:
Original poster
CountessDracula · 11/03/2004 13:24

Polly I am overweight (could easily lose 3st and not fade away!) and am finding it difficult to do anything about it as (a) can't exercise at the moment due to G. Fever (b) am pig and (c) every time I lose weight it goes back on when I have to go on steriods for my Crohn's Disease Gets a bit depressing. I am trying though, am sort of doing Slimming World diet but only lost 3lbs in 2 weeks due to (a) and (b) above I suspect!

Will keep at it. Will also check out this S. Beach thing.

OP posts:
PandaBear · 11/03/2004 13:33

My BP was in the region of 170/110 at it's highest. Now on the tablets (just 1 a day), it's back down to a normal 140(ish)/80 (ish) and I can honestly say that it doesn't affect me at all.

High BP runs in the family - my Mum's got it and her Mum had it. I guess we''re just lucky

polly28 · 11/03/2004 13:39

high blood pressure aslo makes you feel really tired and lethargic.
When I was put on adalat after having baby I felt amazingly energetic!.
You've reminded me to go and get myself checked out as I feel permanently knackered,ta.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 11/03/2004 19:47

really, that's interesting as I thought I was feeling better from my glandular fever, then started getting terrible headaches and a week later they said I had high bp, then again today.

I have had awful headaches now every day for 3 weeks. Also eyes very "jumpy" iykwim. Did you all get headaches and jumpy eyes too?

OP posts:
polly28 · 12/03/2004 00:25

yes,I got headaches at the top of my head and saw flashing lights.this was when I spiked a dangerously high bp 4 days after giving birth.Sort of pre eclampsia but after the birth iyswim.Apparently not that uncommon.
Now I'd say I get tired and lethargic with slight headaches.
And yes I have noticed jumpy eyes,Almost like looking through a heat wave type thingy (very scientific this innit)

by the way what's a filthy caner?the mind boggles

Original poster
CountessDracula · 12/03/2004 11:13

LOL - someone who partys a lot!

OP posts:
noddy5 · 12/03/2004 11:26

I have had high bp for years and am now on a low dose ace inhibitor they have virtually no side effects compared to the old bp drugs but are expensive so you have to ask for them or youll be fobbed off with beta blockers which make you knackered and fat!

Original poster
CountessDracula · 12/03/2004 11:42

Oh god I'm already knackered and fat! Will def ask for those if I need medication - could you tell me what they are called?

OP posts:
dinny · 14/03/2004 13:20

I started a thread about this last year, CountessD - I'd just returned to work, tried to join the work gym and been told to see GP as BP high. Saw GP a couple of times and it was still high - I go to the gym about 5-6 times a week, am slim, vegetarian, non-smoker, drink a bit. I was about to ask for 24-hour ambulatory monitoring as I get sooo stressed having BP taken. Maybe you should do that before taking medication? I'm pregnant at the moment and BP is quite low. tbh I will probably avoid doctor completely after baby stuff all over - I think this obsession with BP is a bit of a fad. Irresponsible, I know....I just think a couple of readings at a GP surgery don't give a clear picture of circulatory health. Hence need for 24 hour monitor. Good luck.

dinny · 14/03/2004 13:22

I started a thread about this last year, CountessD - I'd just returned to work, tried to join the work gym and been told to see GP as BP high. Saw GP a couple of times and it was still high - I go to the gym about 5-6 times a week, am slim, vegetarian, non-smoker, drink a bit. I was about to ask for 24-hour ambulatory monitoring as I get sooo stressed having BP taken. Maybe you should do that before taking medication? I just think a couple of readings at a GP surgery don't give a clear picture of circulatory health. Hence need for 24 hour monitoring. Good luck.

dinny · 14/03/2004 13:23

Whoops - had`decided to take out avoiding the doctor bit as didn't want to tempt fate!

noddy5 · 14/03/2004 17:35

I would advise anyone with high bp to go to the doctor if lifestyle changes dont work.High blood pressure damages every organ in your body eventually.I have had 2 kidney transplants both kidneys scarred by high bp!
CD the pills are called ramipril

dinny · 15/03/2004 08:16

Oh, God, Noddy5 - how terrible. How high is high enough to damage organs? Mine was 140/85. (Is much lower at the mo as pregnant though. Pregnancy can make it lower, can't it?) Better retract my foolish earlier statement about avoiding my GP.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 15/03/2004 09:32

noddy that is awful Am def not avoiding the GP! Went for a few tests last week ie cholestoral, glucose etc and have an ECG on Weds.

Still getting terrible headaches in the afternoon/evening. Wish I could go and take some exercise as I'm sure this would help.

OP posts:
Original poster
CountessDracula · 18/03/2004 09:57

ECG and Glucose fine, have slightly high cholestoral so will address that. BP still high for no apparant reason, 125/90 yesterday.

OP posts:
Croak · 18/03/2004 15:02

Aww CD, know how you feel as pretty much sums up my reaction every time I get my BP measured. I don't think 125/90 is that high though its good that they're keeping an eye on it (thats what I telll myself anyway). My GP told me that 140/85 was average. Mine's not too high now (about 140/87 usually) but it went mad at end of pg and was about 160/135 (no symptoms - I felt great) when they decided to do C/S. Don't blame yourself for it either - I'm young and quite thin and still prone to it - you can't do anything about your genes (annoying phrase that every doctor I see seems to trot out )
If you feel very stressed when they measure it then its def worth having a 24 hour ambulatory monitor as mine was much lower on that and apparently i have "white coat hypertension" as well as a tendency to the real thing. If your pulse rate is very high when its measured then thats a give away of this
Also I took beta blockers after ds and didn't get fat at all and neither does my mum who takes them. I was knackered at the time but blame ds's sleeping for that and it certainly didn't improve when I stopped taking bbs. Ace inhibitors didn't work for my mum but glad they work for you noddy5 and hope things are going welll for you now healthwise

Croak · 18/03/2004 15:15

Just reread my message and certainly didn't want to imply that you are either old or fat - no idea wht you look like but when reading your posts I always imagine you young and lovely, if a bit pale and blood stained . Hate the feeling that I've put my foot in it online and not knowing if the other person can see that I didn't mean it like that at all. You've made me paranoid too though, as I could probably have been described as a "bit of a caner" in the past as well

Original poster
CountessDracula · 21/03/2004 22:45

croak that's so sweet! Being thought of as old and fat is nothing compared to someone who said the other day that they thought I might be like Maggie Thatcher!!!

Thanks for your very comforting post!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page