Family and my own bp

[Lydia_1]

Recently discovered thanks to a pill review I have high blood pressure, it’s scared me a little as figures getting high. I’m young and fit but have a terrible family history. The docs have spoken to me about alcohol and food. Which I’m trying to be good with. Had a heart tracing done and put on ramipril. Still trying to get bottom figure below 100.

This with also discovering my close uncle has got aortic aneurysm has scared me a little. He declined surgery a few years ago due to being scared and now is in process of arranging to go on list with surgeon. This has scared me quite a lot. I’m just after advice support or anything as sorting my own health but also looking after my uncle.

[080311]

Hello Lydia_1

Welcome to the forum, I know it’s a scary place you have found yourself in but there is things to be done.

Diet lots of us here on the forum follow the Mediterranean diet recommended by BHF it’s not a diet as such just a healthy way of eating. Look on the BHF web site and you will find lots of recipes and tips.

Alcohol, try to cut it right back it’s not a help when we are trying to get our blood pressure under control.

Medication take your pills on time and try not too miss any.

As for your uncle, I had my Aortic valve replaced and bypass done 5 years ago, I was very sick before hand and was in hospital for 7 weeks before being moved to the specialist heart hospital for my surgery. I am living my life again and grateful every day to the medical team that gave me a second chance. If you have any questions about the surgery just post and someone will be along to help. What I will say is it’s nothing like our imagination makes it, you are so cared for have no pain, they make sure of that and as long as he follows all the instructions he will be given, then recovery comes .

I am sure your aware getting anxious makes our blood pressure raise so try to not worry. I know easier said than done 😂

Best wishes Pauline

[Lydia_1 in reply to 080311]

Thank you for your reply.With alcohol I have cut back massively and have at least 3 days a week off it now. Like most I like a few glasses of wine in evening, unfortunately I do worry a lot as suffer from mental health issues. Both sides of my family suffer from heart issues so has scared me.

My uncle has learning difficulties in mild form so got freaked out by the surgery. I’m glad he’s changed his mind as always watching him like a hawk. I think seeing the letter to the surgeon today made me wake up a little. Knowing it’s already quite big. He’s got a valve issue so expect it to be a bypass of some kind.

[080311 in reply to Lydia_1]

Hi,

If he as a valve issue it will be a replacement valve either biological or mechanical. His surgeon will talk him through which one he recommends. I have a biological one, if he as mechanical then he will have to be on warfarin for life, which means blood tests to check on his numbers every few weeks.

I was 68 when had mine replaced and went with what my surgeon recommended, the thing with this sort there is a shelf life.

Pauline

[RufusScamp]

It is frightening to find this sort of problem. Just remember, treatment is so much advanced over even a few years ago. Follow dietary and exercise advice and it will not be so bad. Best wishes to you all.

[Juliet1960]

I have had high blood pressure for years as there is a family history of it. I have been receiving drugs for about 20 years but also had problems through both my pregnancies. Keeping my weight down helps keep it low and I am very fit as I do a lot of coastal path walking for 10-12 miles at a time usually so I think that helps to keep me healthy. What I will say is ramipril gave me a dry cough so I got switched to a different medication and am now on Amlodipine.

My 62 year old husband ironically enough who never had high BP had heart valve disease so badly he needed open heart surgery 10 days ago as an emergency and had both his mitral valve and tricuspid valve repaired. He is now on ramipril as standard after heart surgery.

Good luck on getting your BP stabilised and I am sure your uncle will be fine after the surgery. My husband came home after 5 days and is doing well.

[Lydia_1]

Thank you for all replies. The blood pressure scared me as in my 30s no longer the size 6 I was when I was 21. Had a wake up. I love going to gym when I get it back in my system which I’ve pushed this past few weeks. Also getting my mental health under control. They took me off contraceptive pill when it came to light so that’s helped.I think once my uncle has his surgery I will relax more. His aneurysm is over 5.5cm I know that referral was sent back to surgeon this week. So hoping once he’s seen him won’t take long.

[Cliff_G]

Hi Lydia, with your Uncle having an aneurysm, his doctors should consider scanning his first degree relatives (sibling, children, parents if still alive) for aortic enlargement. If they have concerns, then 2nd degree relatives could be considered, which includes yourself.

Good BP control is important.

Aortic surgery has become much safer over the years, and your Uncle will benefit by having such surgery planned, and much better than an emergency operation.