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Original poster

Anyone suffer from hypertension??

26 replies

Reece · 14/08/2006 22:15

No problems with blood pressure before I had a child and no problems during pregnancy.

As soon as I delivered DS1 (now 2.9) my blood pressure went sky high and I have been on medication ever since.

When I was pregnant with DS2 my P dropped mid trimester so I came off medication. As soon as I delivered up went the BP and I have been on pills ever since.

Has this happened to anyone else due to child birth? I am mid thirties, not overweight and am fairly active.

OP posts:
MarsLady · 14/08/2006 22:23

Me too... though my GP said that pregnancy simply uncovered what was already there.

saltire · 14/08/2006 22:53

I never had high blood pressure at all in pregnancy. However iwas at GP last week for depo injection. blood pressure was something like 165/112! Went back today,have to go everyday for a week to see if ti comes down.
it probably won't if the rest of the week is like today. I had six kids with me- 2 DSs, 4 mindees. The waiting room was packed, all men, not one of them got up to give me a seat, despite the fact i was holding the baby i mind, who was screaming cos i'd to waken him to take him in the surgery. had to take all 6 into consulting room. Nurse took one look at BP reading, then looked at kids and said
"no wonder".
Sorry, moan over

I must admit though i am a bit worried about it being high, especially since i've had an on/off headache for a week now!!

MarsLady · 14/08/2006 23:05

keep an eye on it babe and go back for your checks.

High bp is known as the silent killer cos of the damage it does to your internal organs.

Losing weight, yoga and less salt help.

Don't mean to worry you, just want you to keep your appointments.

Elibean · 14/08/2006 23:06

Yes, I had high/normal bp during first trimester with dd (but that was put down to needing steroids for first 12 weeks) then normal in second, then high/normal in third, then sky high a few days postpartum. I was told it was PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension) but not pre-eclampsia, as I never had any of the other symptoms/problems. OB and GP both said pregnancy just revealed what was already a built in tendency.
Mine went down after six weeks on meds, and I had a normal to high/normal reading whenever it was checked afterwards. Now I'm pregnant with dd2, and know I'm going to go through the same thing soon (am 23 weeks) and not looking forward to it. Apparently, if its going to stabilize it does so within about six weeks postpartum...otherwise, it stays that way.
Even though mine went back to normal last time, no guarantees this time and GP has warned me that I'm likely to be on meds by the time I'm 60 at the latest....my father and uncle have both been on meds for over ten years, and they're in their 70s now.
I'm not overweight at all (neither are they) and we're all quite fit...though I'm an older Mum, mid forties. Nor do any of us smoke, or eat much salt - its just genetics and bad luck.

Original poster
Reece · 15/08/2006 08:15

Thanks everyone. Interesting to see that you were told pregnancy uncovered what was already lying in limbo.
Saltire keep up the appts. Its so important as 112 is high. Really important to keep an eye on it. Fingers crossed it goes down for you.
Elibean - Did your hypertension disappear for a while then between prenancies? This never happened to me. It just stayed and I have been on medication since I was 32!!!!!! This just seems to be far too young to be on meds for life. I am concerned about what what other affects this medication will have on me long term.

OP posts:
Original poster
Reece · 15/08/2006 08:20

I was so fed up having to go to the Dr's all the time (with kidies in tow)to get BP checked that he recommended I buy a BP monitor. So I did and now I monitor myself and keep popping the pills. DH is annoyed as he thinks the doctors should do more. I really don't think they can.

I went to see a specialist last year as I was getting chest pains (on the medication!). I had chest xrays, my heart was checked etc. They told me I had a common condition that affected the tissue around my chest and that it was nothing to worry about.

My chest pains always seem to occur about 30 mins after taking my meds. I read the side effects and they state that if you have this sie effect you shoul stop taking the meds. I told the consultant this and he just shrugged it off! We paid a lot of money for these checks and it seemed a waste of time.
Still getting chest pains. Going to go back to GP soon enough an discuss changing meds I think.

OP posts:
saltire · 15/08/2006 09:50

I have been getting headaches which i thought were due to the HBP, but i'm not sure any more as someone (can't remember who) said on another thread that they had headaches at the back of their neck. mine are like that.
I'm back on Wednesday for another BP check, so will see how it goes

shewhoneverdusts · 15/08/2006 09:54

Have any of you had tests to check for any underlying conditions that may cause the raised b.p.?
I had pre-eclampsia in 2nd pregnancy and delivered by c.section at 30 weeks. The docs assumed it would cure the raised bp, but when it didn't I was put on meds, I was 28 at the time. After 6 weeks I was sent for a kidney scan and they found lots of cysts and eventually after MRI's and CT scans I got a firm diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease, which means I am on bp meds for the rest of my life too. Do keep up with the check ups!!!

fairyjay · 15/08/2006 10:14

Reece - what drug are you on? There has been some advice recently about taking patients off Atenolol (which I am on), because of side effects. My GP seems fairly laid back about it though! My BP soared at the end of both pregnancies - I was hospitalised for the last six weeks of my second pregnancy. After fighting against having drugs, I have now been taking Atenolol for around 10 years, and to be fair, it seems to do the job, and I don't have any side effects that I'm aware of.

Mercy · 15/08/2006 10:36

Reece, my blood pressure went sky high immediately after giving birth too (2nd child). I had no BP problems during either pregnancy. It was never followed up but was picked up again during a routine check 3 months ago. It was so high I was put on Atenolol straight away and then sent for blood tests.

GP says he will review in a year's time but I suspect I will be on them for life. Am almost 43 btw which is probably a factor in my case.

Original poster
Reece · 15/08/2006 14:55

I had quite a few tests done to see what was going on but they all came back negative. My heart was healthy and I had a chest Xray which came back ok. My bloods were normal etc. The next time I am in with my GP I am going to ask to have a look at the consultants notes and see if my kidney's were/can be checked. (The consultants here don't give the patient the notes direct which is annoying especially seeing as we are the ones paying)!

The medication I have been taking all along is Adalat Retard 20mg. I have to take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening. I have never heard of Atenolol.

My god we go through enough during pregnancy and child birth that we really should be given a break afterwards!

OP posts:
Iklboo · 15/08/2006 14:58

I had HBP before, during & after pregnancy. I was on atenalol prior to getting pg. Switched to Labetalol when we were trying to get pregnant and have been on it ever since.

macwoozy · 15/08/2006 15:12

I'm on Atenolol as well, I have been for 10 years now, I had to take it throughout my pregnancy too. I've not heard of the recent advice about coming off this drug although I've never had a problem with side effects.

shewhoneverdusts · 15/08/2006 16:19

hi Reece
my kidneys were the first thing they checked when bp would not go back down after delivery. They were doing it to rule out any renal problems, but hit the nail on the head with the first check! I just had an ultrasound scan at first and as it was inconclusive they then moved onto bigger and better scanners LOL.
Good luck, hope you get it sorted.

Mercy · 15/08/2006 16:32

Reece, forgot to say when I had ds and BP was sky high I was told it was a form of pre-eclampsia which was believed to be something to do with chemical changes?/hormones? in the placenta during labour and immediately after delivery. The Dr was very apologetic and said very little research had been done in this area.

How did you feel after you had ds1?

Original poster
Reece · 15/08/2006 22:56

Thats interesting Mercy. Everyones comments are really making me think.

After DS1 was born I was obviously exhausted (13hrs labour/1.5 pushing) but what I clearly remember were the sharp chest pains I complained about "immediatley" after giving birth. No-one seemed to be too concerned about it. It certainly didn't feel right to me.They took my BP. It was sky high. Unbeknown to me they told DH I was at risk of having fits due to the BP!{shock}. Glad he didn't pass on this info. I would have panicked. I have been on meds since.

How did you feel Mercy? Did you get these chest pains?

The nurses etc kept an eye on my BP every hour which was a nuisance as I couldn't get any sleep.

OP posts:
MarsLady · 15/08/2006 23:04

I had flashing lights after the DTs were born. The midwife hit the panic button the registrar came running. My sister said... oh I get that when I turn my head.... sigh......

Elibean · 15/08/2006 23:06

Reece, yes, my bp went down six weeks after dd was born. I was put on Adalat Retard 20mg (aka Niphedipine - tried 10mg first, not enough) from about seven days postpartum till six weeks later. I never had chest pains, or headaches (except from the Adalat at first!) or any other symptoms - I think my highest bp was about 180/110, but most were a bit lower. I was admitted to hospital (with my week old dd) to start the meds and stayed there for a few days till they were happy my bp was stable.
I'm 46 (aargh!) and was 43 when dd was born...

brimfull · 15/08/2006 23:10

My BP shot up after my emergency cs.I too was told it was a form of pre-eclampsia .I had the flashing lights and collapsed on the ward .I was on adalat for about 3 weeks .My bp now ,4 yrs on ,is 140/85.I am 44 ,so it's being checked regularly.

Original poster
Reece · 15/08/2006 23:22

Ggirl - Are you not on medication for your BP now? It seems quite high.
My reading on meds are about 110/73 which is normal. Without meds they were around 160/120!!!

OP posts:
brimfull · 16/08/2006 00:13

I know reece,I asked the gp this and she said they don't treat bp lower than 150/90.

fairyjay · 16/08/2006 10:25

macwoozy
Within the last couple of months there has been a report saying that patients taking Atenolol and several other drugs of it's type should be re-assessed at their next gp appointment.
Both of my PIL and my Aunt take the drug - as well as me - and they have all mentioned it to their GP, and had a very laid back response.
So I'm taking it from that not to worry about it, but just check it up on my next appointment.

Elibean · 16/08/2006 16:49

ggirl, my gp said the same thing. She also did a 24 hour trace, and there were a few really high spikes - but she wasn't worried, as the average bp was within normal limits. But they will keep an eye on me over the years.

Does anyone know if there's more risk of it NOT coming down again after a second pregnancy? And three years older?!

Mercy · 16/08/2006 17:09

Reece, no I don't recall any chest pains and certainly haven't had them since.

But like Marslady and gggirl I had flashing lights, my head hurt and my ears were ringing. I felt truly awful - even though I was only in labour for about 3.5 hours.

saltire · 16/08/2006 17:18

My readings today were 153/118! nurse says that if it's still high on friday i will be fitted with a bp monitor next week!
Mind you, it's no bloody wonder mine is high, i'm at the end of my tether with the Dss, and can't wait for Tuesday when they are back at school. They are constnatly bickering and whinging
"mum, he turned the tv over"
"mum, he did this, that or the other"
"Mum he hit my bike"
etc
etc, add to that 4 childminding kids, three of whom are under 5, one of whom has hellish tantrums cos she can't get her own way, and you get the picture