struggling

After a suffering a tia 17 months ago at age just 52 I now have discovered to my shock that from before lockdown being fit and healthy I have high blood pressure.I’ve started ramipril 4 weeks ago but it’s not getting the bp down.Why are all the bad things happening I’m scared that I won’t get it down and have another stroke.It’s so stressful wish I hadn’t started taking them.

[Happyrosie]

there’s lots you can do to get the blood pressure down. Have a look at the website of Blood Pressure UK and see if you can follow their advice on diet and exercise. When you’ve absorbed that, do come back to us here if you’ve got specific questions, or there’s a Blood Pressure forum here on Health Unlocked which you might prefer.

[Hidden in reply to Happyrosie]

I’ve lost 3 stone and gym 3 times a week diet and exercise havent brought it down and neither are meds it’s higher than I was on nothing Thank you

[Happyrosie in reply to Hidden]

Well done to lose that amount of weight!

Is your weight now within the guidelines for your height? You are already following the diet recommendations made on the website I mentioned?

You may have noticed, from the Blood Pressure UK website, that often one type of medication isn’t enough to keep your hypertension under control and that may well be the case - so it’s back to the doctor. In any case you should be seeing the doctor once you have been on blood pressure tablets for three months.

It can take a little while for your body to get used to the medication.

[princesspeachuk]

Could it be stress causing it? Maybe have a look into meditation and relaxation techniques like mindfulness and yoga.

[Hidden in reply to princesspeachuk]

Maybe I’m terrified I’m gonna have another stroke so yeah.Trying so hard to get it down.

[nextadventure]

High blood pressure is not all about lifestyle. Many people need medication, no matter how healthily they are living. So don't kick yourself! We are fortunate we have treatments and when they work they can prevent things like stroke. As HappyRosie said, VERY OFTEN people require more than one medication to bring down blood pressure, partly due to the body's ability to 'compensate' for changes produced by one medication. In addition, your kidney function may need to be re-checked, so go back to your doctor and get it further sorted. You haven't done anything wrong.

[Hidden in reply to nextadventure]

Awww thank you so much yes I do blame myself for it and my stroke deep down I think it’s genetics and can’t change that.

[Turnipgirl in reply to nextadventure]

I know someone who is slim and supposedly healthy by society's standards but still has high blood pressure so no it doesn't discriminate!

[Henry20]

You have been doing the right things, particularly in loosing weight. You don't mention your pulse rate? There are a number of drugs that reduce blood pressure and control pulse rate if that is needed; at the moment that applies to 3 of the meds I take. No single pill seems to work for me. I suggest you ask your GP for help, as others have suggested.

I am wondering just how much you are worrying, mental state can also raise your BP. So, I wonder if you have heard of NHS Talking Therapies? They can help by teaching you techniques to control your anxiety. (It takes time and commitment).

Good luck

Henry

[Hidden in reply to Henry20]

Pulse rate about 55 going to be a bit more forceful with the gp all our bodies are different and if I have to keep adjusting meds then I WILL it’s my life and my body need to start sticking up for myself.It’s my right to get care the gp needs to pull their finger out.Bp was 200/110 yesterday (came down to 155) gp said absolutely nothing bar ok just keep popping the pills theirs a good girl …..seriously

[Henry20 in reply to Hidden]

Hmm.. not at all helpful Sorry, I hope your BP comes down soon

[Jedi14]

What does your GP say?

[Hidden in reply to Jedi14]

Can’t keep changing my meds about .He’s very set in his ways and has a 1 size fits all attitude told me to basically put up with awful side effects basically he’s not supportive at all.

[Turnipgirl in reply to Hidden]

Thing is the GPs are there to help and support those who are unwell and that's not acceptable saying to put up with it!

Put in a complaint and change your gp!

[Hidden in reply to Turnipgirl]

I certainly did I am quite a fiery half Ramsbottom half polish woman so he came off lightly

[nextadventure]

OMG change your GP!!! Your blood pressure is too high, especially for someone who is young and has had a TIA!! You should be on additional treatment!! Do not risk your future!!

[Hidden in reply to nextadventure]

Yep I know that .Keeps saying it’s anxiety err no anxiety causes temporary spikes not high readings after I’ve taken wonder cure meds.Felt so in my own hence I joined here/My stroke hasn’t affected my brain but drs think I’m stupid….I know I’m not just deserve better care that the nhs are failing on .Said I hadn’t had a stroke for months mri said I had 2 silent and a tia.Sound like a drama Queen but it has ruined my life.Sorry for going on but more empathy on here than I ever got x

[AnnaHow1]

Hi. So sorry to hear that you’re suffering with your BP at the moment. I had a scare with my BP last year and woke up one night with a pounding heart and the room spinning and I was terrified. 111 said to go to A&E where they diagnosed high BP - out of nowhere with figures similar to what you mentioned. I was given Amdolipine which didn’t help then Ramipril which didn’t help my BP reading but made me feel absolutely terrified. Don’t know if this was the medication or my state of mind at the time!!

My GP surgery were unhelpful and didn’t do much to help my anxiety. I paid privately to see a cardiologist who made me feel a lot better when I spoke to him, He ran tests and I had a 72 hour holter test to look at the blood pressure through the day/night. He also changed my BP meds to Valsartan and I have been on them since May 2023 with none of the issues I had on the other two medications as I think they are a different type of medication and work in the body differently.

I have to say that I still feel anxious at times. I did notice your age on the thread and we are about the same age and when your female around perimenopause/menopause the lack of oestrogen effects arteries and BP considerably. I feel that has had an impact on me personally.

I hope you feel better soon, x

[Qualipop]

If a Lancashire lass can't get through to a GP with that attitude, change GP. Is there anyone else in the practice you could see? 4 weeks should be long enough for side effects to be easing off and you should by now be seeing a bit of a change in your BP. Has the G P even booked you a holter monitor to see what's going on to cause the high BP or referred you to t he stroke dept at the hospital because of the T IA? If not, ask why not. You are obviously well aware of the effect of anxiety on BP and can see when that happens but some GPs still have the mindset that female, menopausal must mean anxiety. Their attitude alone is enough to put your BP Up. Stand your ground with him- you deserve better. It might help to write him a letter calmly explaining your concerns or even send a letter to the practice manager.

[Hidden in reply to Qualipop]

I had a holter monitor at Christmas for 3 days it found nothing untoward.Had echocardiograph too again everything fine.Tia clinic discharged me in March infact they never did anything for me and the hospital left me for 12 hrs before ct and 3 months formrisnd cartoid artery scan.My tia was inconclusive yrs blamed on anxiety not even high bp.Oh to be normal then didn’t have to burden the gp or hospital.Thank you for understanding.Means a lot x

[Qualipop in reply to Hidden]

Oh that blaming everything on anxiety drives me crazy. It's just so wrong. Anxiety does NOT cause a TIA. My mother in law had one while she was visiting us; scared us half to death. Her G P refused to come out t o see her. My own GP did c ome and just said "Let her sleep it off." This was when GPs still did house visits. Didn't even suggest an ambulance and nothing was ever done. We found out 2 years later , when she started having blackouts, that she'd been medicated for high BP for over 20 years when she never had high BP. Her then GP had diagnosed after just one reading. The hospital took her off EVERYTHING and she lived to 94. You are not a burden to the GP or the NHS. That's what they are there for and should be sorting this out. I can guess which hospital it was where you waited so long. I have to use the same one. After my HA it was 5 hours before anyone even checked my BP or gave me aspirin and 12 hours before I even saw a doctor. I went in by ambulance with suspected HA at 10pm and was admitted at3pm next day. Treatment after that was wonderful but A&E was hell.

[Hidden in reply to Qualipop]

The hospital trust manages or so they say 4 hospitals my local one without naming begins with F ends in d is dibolical given me ptsd probably why bp high as I know if I get I’ll I have to go here.I hope you are doing ok now? I have a appointment on Tuesday afternoon female and I did a letter to practice manager last week.Unfortunately for them my hubby is on holidays from work he will definitely be demanding they sort it out.I’ve never ever asked the nhs for anything bad having my 2 kids and day case surgery 2 notmhch in almost 5; yrs I didn’t ask for tia and would do anything for it never to happened….but it did.They don’t need to blame me I do that every single day! But like I said I am strong I’m here for a reason just deserve many more yrs

[Qualipop in reply to Hidden]

Ah, different hospital. I had to go to BB...n. Don't! Best of luck at your appointment. Good idea to send that letter. I'm fine now thanks; heart at least. HA was now 6 yrs ago. Just wish they'd do something about my spine. Apparently it's not bad enough even though I have to use a wheelchair/mobility scooter and highest dose of opiate no longer works. Been waiting 8 months now for pain clinic at Preston.

[Hidden in reply to Qualipop]

Yep I’m home to a world famous market and black pudding infact they had the comp last week were us nutters thrown black puddings to knock off Yorkshire puddings off a high platform crazy yeah.I’m lucky the tia left no physical symptoms just a bit with balance at gym but I do cardio and its quite intense body attack supposedly good for me but gp says my bp too high to do it …Oh we’ll live once I’m going tomorrow 9.30 I enjoy it the hospital says more the better .Theg confuse me do they not communicate with the gp…obviously not.Hope the pain clinic helps you but they need to speed up your long wait fingers crossed for you.Your a lovely person who has cheered me up millions !

[Qualipop in reply to Hidden]

Just send me a black pudding as thanks LOL.Pain clinic said last time the only thing they could now suggest was CBD but after a heart attack they were afraid to prescribe it. Go get 'em at that appointment.