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Original poster

Anyone with high BP

21 replies

saltire · 15/03/2007 13:58

Last year i got a couple of high blood pressure reading (which, in my defence were taken after 25 minutes of standing up in a crowded waiting room with my 2 DSs and 4 childminding children). Then i had to wear a BP monitor overnight, and it had some high readings, but i kept being told they "weren't high enough to be overly worried".
I then had a discussin in December with my GP when i went for my depo injection. She advised me to try walking more - I have a pain syndrome, yet to be diagnosed, which can make exercise difficult - and to lose some weight. She agreed to see me in 3 months time. fast forward three months, i wnet for my depo last week, and had to see a different GP. She took my BP and it was high, can't remeber what the reading was, but bottom number 106. She wants me to start on medication straight away and says i need an ECG, even though she admits that she isn't worried about the high BP, ans i have a lot of stress with moving, minding , illness etc.
I tried explaining what my usual GP had said, but she just ignored me completley and said i had to have the treatment and that i would be on it for the rest of my life.
I'm not happy about this, i feel she is railroading me into getting started on this treatment, and i'm not really sure what to do.
I wonder if the BP reading are high because of the pain i'm often in!

OP posts:
Iklboo · 15/03/2007 14:02

I've had HBP for about 7 years or so. I take Labetalol - it's quite a mild tablet & a low dose. I feel so much better. Beta blockers can help with stress so it stops the vicious circle of getting wound up/getting hbp

Original poster
saltire · 15/03/2007 14:09

Do you mind if i ask how old you are? I'm 36, and i really feel as though i don't want to start on these now, as i may never come off them.
I currently take Amitryptiline, which is an AD, and Tylex, both for pain relief. My GP upped my AD dose to 30mg, as he felt i was getting stressed with the move which was causing pain flare ups. I think i'm just worried about having high BP, but worried at the same time about taking meds forever

OP posts:
bundle · 15/03/2007 14:12

saltire, you really shouldn't be put on medication from just one reading. I suggest you give the ambulatory one another go to get a more accurate picture of your bp. and ask your GP about pain management programmes - things like cognitive behavioural therapy can work, and the fear of pain can have a big impact on your life.

bundle · 15/03/2007 14:12

also - family history of heart disease etc needs to be taken into account

Fauve · 15/03/2007 14:15

Saltire, amitryptiline can cause high blood pressure, as can loads of other meds. You can argue that you'll use lifestyle changes to bring it down - GPs are supposed to give you a chance to do that. I think they may get bonuses for putting people on BP meds. There's a yahoo group for avoiding meds for hypertension which is very active. I'll see if I can do a link.

Mercy · 15/03/2007 14:16

Saltire - sorry this will have to be quick, I'll try to come back later.

A reading of 106 is high - you won't necessarily be on meds for the rest of your life, especially as this may be a one-off in view of yrou current situation - but many of us with high BP will be.

bundle · 15/03/2007 14:17

also teh british hypertension website has a list of good machines you can use yourself at home to measure bp

Fauve · 15/03/2007 14:17

Here - hypertension yahoo group.

Iklboo · 15/03/2007 14:18

saltire I'm 37. Ask for a 24 hour bp monitor so it takes a reading all through the day, with everything you do. It maight give a better picture.

expatinscotland · 15/03/2007 14:20

I would STOP the Depo. My doctor refused it to me because I was on ADs - it intensifies depression, apparently.

Ivor · 15/03/2007 14:20

I also have HBP and have had for about 8 years, I'm on Hyzaar now but was on Labetalol during my pg and BF phase. I don't like beta blockers as I feel washed out with them, make me very tierd and am glad to be back onto my original medication.

I find my BP is very connected to my weight and level of fitness. I have been told that salt can also be a factor.
Nobody knows what causes HBP and it must be diffenerent from one person to the next as I know skinny people who have it.

Try not to stress yourself about it, It'll only raise your BP even higher!
Is there anything you can do to address your pain?

expatinscotland · 15/03/2007 14:22

I'm thin and have elevated BP myself.

It's rampant in my family.

bundle · 15/03/2007 14:22

greater than 140/90 generally considered the "trigger" point for starting meds but one reading isn't good enough, imo

recent programme on bp

Original poster
saltire · 15/03/2007 14:22

Right family history, My mum, is on BP meds and has been for about 15 years. My younger bother(31) has been on them for almost 6 years , but his high BP is due to diabetes. My late grandad also had high BP. MY dad's sister also has hgih BP and is on meds and has been since she was about 50 (30 years).

I really don't want to if i cna help it, however I feel there are so many other factors that she should be considering before putting me on meds. She just took the reading because i was due my depo, and decided that meds was the way to go

OP posts:
bundle · 15/03/2007 14:24

she'll be keen to do that because of your strong family history but suggest the take-home machine again, it can't hurt

expatinscotland · 15/03/2007 14:24

I'd get OFF that depo.

Original poster
saltire · 15/03/2007 14:25

Expat - I take the depo because I have fibroids. If i stop them i go back to the very heavy painful bleeding - which was so bad i was crawling on my hands and knees!

Ivor - I'm at the rheumatologist today. I personally think all the pain is due to Fibromyalgia, but previous Rheumatologists won't accept it. The AD's and painkillers i take are to manage the pain and help with sleep (something to do with the deep sleep part of our sleep cycle)

I admit I am overweight, but because of the pain i suffer (which is more frequent now) i can't do aerobic type exercise. I do go for long walks every day with the mindees and do try and watch what i eat.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 15/03/2007 14:35

I control mine through lifestyle changes, but that's getting increasingly difficult.

My last two readings were high. I was at an emergency out of hours appointment and they told my GP, who's been pestering me to come in .

Ivor · 15/03/2007 14:37

Could you try to go swimming? It's a fab way to burn calories and your weightless

expatinscotland · 15/03/2007 14:38

Can they offer you endometrial ablation?

This is what my sister had for her fibroids because she, too, has hypertension.

Her US gynaecologists ruled her out for Depo or progesten-based contraceptive devices because their androgen-type qualities exacerbate hypertension, in her experience.

So my sister was approved for ablation, which sorted her problem entirely.

She is past childbearing, however (age 40 and has two children age 10 and 12).

She had the ablation done in a day surgery centre, was in and out w/i hours and has been pain-free ever since.

expatinscotland · 15/03/2007 14:43

A very common side effect of Depo is weight gain, too, and inability to lose it.

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