Blood pressure, Ramerpril

[Sina-6491]

Hiya my friends,

My blood pressure has been playing up last couple of weeks.

I was meant to go for an eye test today due to the high blood pressure.

I thought just last night about the previous couple of days. That the blurred vision and dizziness had subsided quite alot. Also my sleeping times between the usual waking through the night, had extended.

So I was beginning to feel like the slightly higher dose of ramerpril that I was given from the out of hours Gp a couple of weeks ago, from 2.5 - 5mg was now beginning to work.

I am far to dizzy to travel evan the shortest distance, therefore had to change appointment. Thankfully the girl on the phone was really obliging. I have got the next one on Sat morning, so my fella can take me and supervise my safety lol....

I spoke to a doctor on the phone a little while ago. Too dizzy to be there within the hour, so got an appointment 2moz. I have a blood pressure unit, therefore can monitor it from home. I told him I know the high BP can sometimes be a case of the WCS when one is feeling a little stressed or anxious. But how does this account for the head pressure, headaches, cloggy earaches and dizziness? It can't all be in my mind for the last couple of weeks.

I was admitted for a few hours to the BRI last week with these same issues. But because I also told them breathing was a struggle and I was getting throbbing chest pains, tinnitus, palpations as well. I think they were just consontrating on my heart issues. Evan though they didn't do the usual blood tests they do when they suspect heart issues.

No the blood they did take were the usual kidney, liver and whatever else they look for bloods that they do for everyone.

Evan though every blood pressure reading they did was high. The registrar said there was noughing showing up in the bloods. Therefore there was nothing wrong with me. She was explaining what she felt the issue was. I said so what, are you trying to say it is a case of white coat cindrun. She said it's a possibility. That I should monitor my diet and more exorcise.

My diet is pretty good on the whole, I walk a lot of miles and I keep pretty busy around the house. Obviously not enough I guess.

Got to take blood pressure on the hour every hour, untill I see this yet another new doctor. Hmmmm...

If you have managed to read through this long message guys, well done.

So my friends what I wondered was, with high or low blood pressure, do you guys have simula simptons.

Sorry I forgot, apparently there are no simptons with blood pressure issues?

So I will put that question another way.

When you are suffering high or low BP, do you find that sometimes you also seem to be suffering one or more of the above?

Simptons from above:

Throbbing chest pains,

Tinnitus,

Palpations,

Breathing issues,

Head pressure,

Headache,

Earache,

Blurred vision,

Giddy/dizzy,

Because I am sure that these are all simptons that get worse when blood pressure is up or down.

Maybe I am wrong, maybe it is all in my mind? Hmmmm....

Thanks in advance Jo 😊

[Sina-6491]

Sorry reading back I have realised I didn't say. Evan though just last night I thought it was getting better.

Today is the dizzest I have felt yet. Laying in bed now as I keep feeling like I am going to fall over or black out.

Therefore can't do eye test today.

Got Gp 2moz as I can't go for emergency appointment today.

Got to monitor BP on the hour every hour until I see him 2moz😊

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi Jo,

I hope you get some answers tomorrow at the GP, Ramipril will make you blood pressure lower but with dizziness as a possible side effect.

take care

Mark

[Sina-6491 in reply to skid112]

Thanks Mark,

I've been on Ramipril for 3.5years and of course had to have the dose changed a couple of times.

This last couple of weeks have been a pain with the blurred vision and dizziness.

But yesterday was the worst, it doesn't seem to be lowering it so far. Apparently it can take four weeks to settle when dose is changed. So let's hope that is the issue ☺

[stevejb1810]

Hello Jo

You consistent high blood pressure may be 'white coat syndrome', it is remarkably common. You must have had your BP measured by 'white coats' in the past - how have you reacted then - do you have history here?

So, to your questions and symptoms. I normally advise people not to use Google but it can be useful sometimes. So, symptoms from very high bp may include: Severe headache, Fatigue or confusion, Vision problems, Chest pain, Difficulty breathing, Irregular heartbeat, Blood in the urine, Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears.

My advise would be to see your GP - if you have to get them to come to you. Ramipril should lower you bp, but as with all meds, some work better than others, some work for a while and then stop. It might be worth discussing you drug cocktail and seeing if there are other combinations that will work better for you.

Good luck

Steve

[Sina-6491 in reply to stevejb1810]

Thanks Steve,

Yes I have been doing this for a while now and don't tend to google my Simpsons. You've only got to look at the info that comes with the packaging of each med to see that each med causes every symptom in the world lol.

No it's when you talk to the medical profession, they say BP doesn't have symptoms, but I disagree.

I know sometimes we can all be a bit stressed or anxious and our BP can yoyo and go through the roof.

But as I have been having my BP taken quite often for around four years now. And I just take it in my stride, it doesn't bother or worry me at all. I don't somehow think WCS, is the issue here. Especially as it doesn't normally go through the roof like it is at the moment.

Also, the dizziness, tinnitus, palpatations, headaches, earache etc, etc...

Na I think it is high blood pressure that just needs to settle down so I can do my walking again. While not feeling like I am going to blackout and fall over.

I have got an appointment with the doc 2moz thanks Steve. Maybe Ramipril needs to be an evan higher dose, who knows, ha 😊

[Howardl]

Hi

I tried to take 5mg of ramipril but my blood pressure dropped to low and I got aches and pains in my muscles and joints. The effect of the extra ramipril was awesome I was mixing concrete, it was brilliant. If I missed a dose of the ramipril the aches and pains went away. Everything was fine then for about 10 days before the side effects came back. I would have put up with the side effects because of the extra power the higher dose gave. The doctor changed me to Candesartan which had the same side effects so I am now on Candesartan at a low 2mg dose. This is fine, I still get the odd dizzy spell, mainly while walking, I have been told that this is due to the body moving blood from the head to the legs where it’s needed but having heart failure we don’t have an efficient amount of blood available. Ideally the Doctors would like anybody with heart failure to take the maximum amount of ramipril or similar drug, it’s supposed to prolong life. But in reality the drug does have some bad side effects one being dizzy spells with low blood pressure which means like myself I can only take a small amount. Just one final note not all my dizzy spells were due to low blood pressure while I was on ramipril.

Good luck

[Sina-6491 in reply to Howardl]

Hiya Howard,

Hmmm....I hear what you are saying. It is odd that I am getting the dizziness with high BP most of the time. As far as I was aware it is like you have said, when the BP is low.

The only thing I can think is different of late. Is that my recent packs of ramipril is made by a new manufacture.

The pharmacist said the ingreedeance will be the same. However they use different ingreedeance to make the coating.

Anyway sitting in a very busy reception waiting for my appointment.

Ha, and guess what? Still got tinnitus, headache and earache. But no dizziness at all so far today. Would you Adam and Eve it?

Glad to hear yours is behaving it's self at the moment.

Lets hope it's not long before mine is doing the same. So much easier to walk when you're not dizzy isn't it 😕😊

[Ethel13]

Hi Jo,

I am so sorry to hear you are having all these problems and can’t get to the bottom of it all. When my high blood pressure was first diagnosed I had whooshing noises in my ears and problems with my sight. I take Enalapril and once settled on it the symptoms went away. Read into this what you will but I would say that there are symptoms associated with BP problems. Mine is quite low at the moment even though Enalapril has been reduced and I am intolerant to cold and dizzy at times.

I agree with Steve, you need to discuss this with your GP. Write a list of your symptoms and concerns. I usually do a blood pressure monitoring chart for a few days before as well; I take my blood pressure three times then average out the reading.

Good luck with your GP appointment, chin up,

Dory x💕

[Sina-6491 in reply to Ethel13]

Thanks love, yes the doc said to take readings on the hour every hour until 20:00 last night.

Then the same this morning.

Also the usual urine sample. I exspect they look for diabeaties, & proteen, amongst other things.

I do feel totally different again today. No dizziness?

So I can't help feeling this appointment this morning may be a bit of a waste of time 😕😊

[Ethel13 in reply to Sina-6491]

It is strange how the symptoms come and go isn’t it? Explain everything to your GP, together with the tests you will get to the bottom of the problem. Good luck at your appointment. Dory x💕

[Sina-6491 in reply to Ethel13]

Hopefully getting somewhere now. We'll see in the next couple weeks ha. Thanks honey 😊😊

[Ethel13 in reply to Sina-6491]

That is good news, fingers crossed xxx💕

[Prada47]

Heart and Ear problems go hand in hand so it is very possible your hearing and dizziness can be coming from your Heart. It is very difficult when we are given a set of meds to overcome one thing and they then give you another problem. It is all a balance -) which can take months rather than weeks to sort out. Hang on in there did the ECG when you was in in A & E not point to Heart Beat/Rate problem rather than BP.

Regards

Prada

[Sina-6491 in reply to Prada47]

Hey Prada,

Yes ECG, was fine. But then again it was fine when I was in the middle of my heart attack. It didn't show up until the second or third one. Sorry I can't remember which?

Two years ago which was a year after my HA, they said I had a very slow HB naturally.

So they took me off of bisoprsol.

However they put me back on it a year later after my bypass. So my heartbeat is generally between 45/60.

A couple of readings the last couple of days have been in the 70s.

Anyway just been in with doc. He said he isn't poticually worried with BP. He has upped my ramipril to 10mg and I have to go back in two weeks.

So thingers crossed it settles down

😊😊

[Sina-6491]

Forgot to say, the doc said the headaches and high BP could still be exsiten symptoms from the norovirus I had a few weeks ago.

I did get it pretty bad though.

Also, when I went to the pharmacy to collect the extra ramipril. The pharmacist said asprin can also cause dizziness etc. I thought that was interesting, I haven't heard that one before 😕😊

[SarahNeale]

I hope you are feels big better now? Xx

[Sina-6491]

Hi Sarah,

Yes thank you, feeling much better now. Bp still quite high but Hp isn't concerned unless it is regularly over 145 top line and 85 bottom line. I am meant to be monitoring it, but to be honest unless I feel light headed or dizzy, I tend to forget.

As you probs know, when your Bp meds are adjusted, it can take weeks to settle down.

Still exstremly tired, the odd headache, but I can live with that. So all in all, the higher dose seems to be working.

Hope you are well, take care now, Jo 😊