High blood pressure dropping

[KatyMac]

I've always had lowish blood pressure around 90/55 but over the last couple of years it got quite high maybe 150/90

So after ignoring it for a bit because my life was a bit complicated I tested and over the last week or so it's down to 110/55-61

So what's going on, do I tell my gp or ignore it

GP wanted me to go on BP meds but I felt it was to do with low thyroid

How often are you checking as BP can change a lot?

Well I did 3 weeks morning and night for the gp at the start of the year I think

& I've checked maybe 4 morning and 5 evenings this week

Can you do an online consultation? Then they ring you to discuss it?Do you feel OK?

It’s important your GP knows that your BP has apparently dropped back down towards your normal.

They might want you to monitor it for longer/take readings during the day/arrange a 24h/72h continuous BP monitor for you so a fully informed decision can be made as to whether you’d benefit from medication or can keep going as you are.

If your low thyroid’s successfully being treated it might well be that it was hypertension due to hypothyroidism & this resolution of symptoms is the natural outcome. It’s important, though, that that goes in your records.

(Am really pleased for you that things have improved 🙂)

I feel OK I'm not very well generally but I dont think I had any high BP symptoms

My thyroid is not undercontrol; but its subclinical so the gp will only give me 50 as my tsh is 2.6.

I think I'll montior it for 3 weeks same way as before and tell the gp if it's maintained

Glad you feel OK.

Ach KatyMac, sorry you’re stuck in that “subclinical” place 🙁

FWIW I think your plan sounds very sensible: obviously it’s important to medicate high BP if necessary - but only if necessary; even minimal polypharmacy bringing its own set of problems.

Yes love "polypharmacy" is that a thing?

GP and I fell out over a new brand of levothyroxine (as I had a bad reaction/allergy to the previous one) plus high blood pressure meds and statins all being started at once!

I was fussing apparently its fine to do 3 new meds at once; even if you have loads of allergies already & when fibromyalgia and being female mean statins aren't always ideal

Get your GP to give you a 24hr home monitoring device

Polypharmacy is a very real & big thing that your GP should be alert to: bopping them over the head with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s info page wouldn’t be inappropriate, really. The British Journal of General Practice covered it in 2011 - & there are now entire e-learning modules on it.

Sometimes starting multiple new drugs at once is unavoidable, but in your circumstances there are additional reasons to avoid it if at all possible 🤦🏻‍♀️

I mean on a pure allergy basis I don't try 2 new foods close together and as for make-up toiletries & jewellery I gave up years ago

New supplements need significant planning to ensure everything else is consistent

I know I have to have drugs - looking very hard at my hrt patch which caused a panic attack over the idea of glue/adhesive but which turned out fine! But I'm careful

My second lot of levothyroxine (Mercury)was a nightmare but wockhardt is fine 🙄 my body!!