Well I’m new to BP meds having started on the 21/03 due to a hypertension crisis that took me to the emergency room and it scared the life out of me. I am now on 5 mg ramipril and 5 mg amlodipine as well as metoprolol.
It seemed to be going well and my readings dropped to between 115 ( morning ) and 135 ( evening ).
However, since the weekend it has gone up to 138/79 ( I measure at home ) when measured in the morning which has freaked me out again, so much so that I’m scared to measure it! I am struggling with stress and anxiety at the moment due to the current Corona situation and I’m not managing that very well. DR says to try and calm down and the readings will improve again but I can feel myself getting so worked up even before I have to take a measurement. Sometimes my heart is racing like crazy too which adds to the anxiety and stress. This is also interfering with sleep patterns.
I’m new to this and have never had panic attacks before but the DR seems to think that I am now experiencing them. I am 46 and overweight but have managed to lose over a stone so far since starting meds ( long way to go though! )
If anyone has had same experiences as me or any advice or encouraging words then it would be reassuring to hear from you .
Thanks for taking time to read ( and respond )
It’s good to not feel alone x
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JLT1974
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Hi JLT. Have you told your doctor what your BP readings are? Are you in the UK? You must try not to panic as that won't help so try to do some deep breathing exercises or listen to some meditation videos - you can google them, look for guided meditation videos. Do you live alone? Put the radio on during the day and listen to some nice relaxing music or read a book if you can - anything to take your mind off your BP. It will sort itself out, just give it a chance. Let us know how you get on but please try not to worry. Good luck.
Thx for the reply. I am British but living in Berlin. DR aware of all readings and said I shouldn’t be concerned about the blip but I am terrified of that makes sense ?
I am scared it’s going up and not down as it was / this makes me even more anxious
JLT, honestly if your doctor isn't worried then there is no need for you to be. It is, as he/she says, a blip but I have to say that if my readings were the same as yours, I would be pleased. Stay in contact with your doctor, take care and don't worry. Do the guided meditation and relax. xx
Thx again for coming back so quickly . I know that many would be happy with my readings but the issue for me is that they were much lower and this weekend I had a terrible panic attack and they shot up! I hope they come down again x do u have any recommendations for relaxation ?
Meditation is a good thing to do for stress. If you google guided meditation, you should get a few sites up. You can also go onto You Tube and type in Yoga Nidra - there are some guided meditation videos there too, just sit back, close your eyes and listen. Good relaxing videos or voice videos would be good if you are uptight. As I said, you could always read a book or listen to a radio station with some nice relaxing music on. Give it a go and don't worry. xx
Did your doctor advise you of the level your blood pressure should be with the treatment? The recording you've mentioned is pretty good for someone with a history of Hypertensive crisis.
Like you I get anxious when my blood pressure is slightly higher than it normally is, anxiety doesn't help.
I would contact the Dr and ask what they want your BP to be.
I'm in UK, I take Ramipril 1.25mg & Amlodipine 5mg daily. I was initially prescribed just Ramipril but the Amlodipine was added after an anxious episode in the emergency department.
I was advised by my GP that my BP should be around 135/85mmHg which is a little lower than guidelines here but I have a single kidney-congenital. My blood pressure can range between 98-140 systolic(top no) and 72-83.diastolic.(bottom no).
You've done brilliantly to lose weight, that will help). I guess the most important thing is not to worry about the occasional higher than average(for you) recording but if the recordings are persistently higher than average /significantly higher than your doctor has advised then get in touch with the doctor.
Thanks for the good words - I really think it’s all stress related as it’s come down a bit again today - this morning was 135/79 but heart rate was crazy ! I also didn’t sleep well so I will try to catch up with the doctor again - she seems
To be happy if my readings are around 130/140 over 80 so hopefully losing more weight will help the situation even more.
Hi, I had a hypertensive crisis nearly a year ago, very worrying time so I can sympathise greatly. My highest readings were off chart and I was probably moments from having a stroke or HA. All good now though and I take four meds all at higher doses than you.
Even now my BP does tend to fluctuate and especially with anxiety, this is my driver and I have had to find ways to deal with this as this perhaps is the most important thing. The pathological and physical causes of high BP can be managed easily via the meds/weight-loss/diet etc but the mind is also as important and it is imperative you look to resolve the anxiety.
I have since trained as an NLP Practitioner, and this has helped immensely, the mind is the most powerful organ in our body and we have been inflicted with our ancestors genes that gives us the fight or flight response to anxiety and fear, it is this that drives up the BP. If you can control this your BP will be fine. So number 1 don't worry about it, your doctors advice is the best. BP can fluctuate at all times and a BP of 138/79 is way within limits. So you are fine and have zero to worry about. I can go from 106/65 when 100% relaxed to 160/100 when anxious, as soon as I relax BP drops like a stone. Number 2, don't worry about the numbers, they are a guide and should not be obsessed about, the more you obsess the more it will rise. Trust me I have done it!
As the other posters have mentioned find ways to relax, I use the calm app which is amazing and also listen to podcasts and distract my mind. Have a look into NLP, you will be amazed at it.
Thank u so much for your tips! I will give it a go - don’t know why stress has gone up so high over the last days because readings were so much lower last week and it’s all v frustrating .
Excellent , Happy Birthday to her! I am sure she'll have a great day, and as 18th's go it will be one to remember! This will be over soon enough and she can have multiple celebrations with friends and family. Have a fab day!
Just reading this string for the first time, JLT1974. I concur with what everyone else has said about relaxation. Remember that BP goes up and down anyway through the day depending on what you are doing and a reading should only be taken when you have sat down and breathed quietly for ten minutes.
No one has mentioned cutting down on salt: you do need to be aware of salt intake as it puts your BP up. Salt is ‘hidden’ away when you don’t think it’s there, like in bread.
Don’t worry it will settle down try not to take your bp too often once a week is good and do it twice writing down the second reading. Eat beetroot or juice if you can get it, cut down on salt. Enjoy life the crisis is over. I take your first 2 medicines but now take ramipril at night and amlodipine in the morning. See what your doctor says.
Sorry I didn't see this before.Yes my experience is very like yours except I went into hospital with eye watering bp out of the blue on 22nd March last year.I was also given ramipril and amlodipine and, more recently propanolol to treat my palpitations and anxiety.
I was very stressed after my diagnosis and this had an affect on my bp.I found taking my own bp stressed me out so now my husband does it and keeps a record.My bp is well controlled now.I also had CBT to help with the anxiety, arranged by my GP which helped a lot.
Of course I didn't have the lockdown to cope with luckily.Try to be patient with yourself.Hypertensive crisis is really traumatic and it takes time to deal with.Are you going to have any follow up tests?I've had quite a few but that's quite reassuring in itself.
I lost around five stone by revamping my diet completely and giving up meat.Well done for losing a stone already!It sounds like you are doing all the right things.Keep it up and you will start to feel better.😃
Thank u so much - it seems things are settling down and I think the crisis was due to an incredible amount of stress at the time - I feel myself getting worked up when I have to take my readings but they were better today and I did three and they came right down after I calmed down so maybe it’s me pushing it up by getting worked up! Glad things are going well for u x
Hi, I’m late to this thread, but this is what I’ve worked out from checking my BP. First, I get whitecoat effect in the doctor’s office and at home, which is insane but I see from this thread that I’m not alone. (I’m sure it goes up even if I think about taking a reading).
I try to calm myself down with a few deep breaths and sitting still. I usually take the reading twice, a couple of minutes apart, sometimes even 3 times, and that helps. Lately I’ve noticed that my readings are lower and I attribute that to exercise, something I’ve always avoided but I’ve been participating in a class 3 times a week for more than a year and I think it’s now having an effect. (I’m now doing it on zoom).
And, finally, your readings are fine. Nothing to worry about.
Thanks for the reply! It’s been a worry and I, like u, start getting wound up even when I see the cuff at home! My pulse shoots up from a normal 80/85 for me to around 97 plus!!!
I’ve measure this morning as instructed by the doctor - she has advised once a day, other wise am gonna go bonkers! My reading today was a very positive 123/75 which I am chuffed about ( as long as I can keep it like that then I will be a happy chap! )
Occasional 140/90 readings are also not to worry about. It’s constant high that is the issue.
138/78 by no means is high for your age group. I would be more than happy to have that number 🙂
My readings are shooting up as high as - 150/100 these days and doctors have attributed it to stress but if it stays like this high for more than couple of weeks , I will surely get medication.
I had it monitored last year and it was fine with proper dips in night time. Stress really shoots my bp up.
Hope I manage to calm myself and get it lowered like yours
Well the BP you listing is not that high and certainly no where near a crisis so I think you are working yourself up too much over it. My highest BP was 230/120!! I was terrified!! But I am still here. I got onto amlodipine 10mg and it now sits around 130ish/85ish Sometimes more sometimes less. I could use another med to assist. As for panic attacks, its possible, but some BP meds can cause this as a side effect. I had this issue on Coversyl at max dose of 8 mg. I got massive palpitations out of the blue with shortness of breath and I thought I was going die!! I had to come off it. No issue with amlodipine. Are these 'panic attacks' new? You are on 3 different meds right now so check their side effects. Palpitations could be listed
Now im really worried for the past 2 years my bp has been 145 at the lowest / 1120 & 197/153 highest and my gp for the first year only checked my bp once sent my prescription out monthly in post since operation in march due to consultation before op date nursee concerned that I told her my bp was always high im finally getting a bp check up next month, but i dont know why im on these but for past few years ive been sent out Lisinopril, bisoprolol, & amitriptyline. Yet they never invite me for check ups.
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