So so confused.

[Butchga62]

Ok met with Doc. She agreed the /triamterene

Could have caused a false reading. My blood pressure has been 135/77 sometimes 144/78

I am not taking anything and keeping a long. So I have no diuretic but my ankles are really swelled this afternoon. Did I eat salt this afternoon , probably. I’m trying to see what is truly happening.

Any suggestions. My goal is to not take blood pressure meds if I don’t need them. Having a kidney ultrasound tomorrow and will meet kidney doc next week. So far my blood work looks good?

[nonna70]

Hi, It sounds like you may need some kind of BP meds esp. with swollen ankles.

[nonna70]

It sounds like you may need some kind of BP med esp. with swollen ankles. I've had a lot of changes in BP myself and may have more. It appears to be a lot of trial and error. Good luck.

[Butchga62 in reply to nonna70]

Well I am trying to get off blood pressure meds. I ate more salt than usual yesterday? Blood pressure 136/77. Not that bad I guess. I am watching it the next week to see what is in fact causing it. Hopefully my blood work will reveal.

[RickHow]

Why are you obsessed with getting off blood pressure medications???? I understand avoiding diuretics but nothing wrong with taking bp meds. They in fact are helpful to your kidneys. Now your bp is a bit on the high side 136/77 but certainly NOT terrible at all. Now having some salt , as you said you did, is NOT going to make your ankles swell so immediately. Have some salt in the afternoon is not going to produce swollen ankles in the early evening. So what do we have here? Your bp slightly high, and you finding swollen ankles in the evening. You come here for opinion and other peoples experiences. I would say to you, don't be obsessed with avoiding bp meds. They will NOT harm you. And you likely only need a low dose of something like Lisinopril to get it down just a little bit, and also be helpful to your kidneys. The ankle swelling I would do the following (when I was caring for my father the doctor had me do this to help understand what to do): 2 times a day (or 3 if you wish), take a tape measure and measure three spots. One just above the ankle bone. The 2nd spot around the arch of your foot, near the heal. The third around the area where your toes meet your foot. Do this for both feet. You just wrap the tape measure around the area and write down the result. Do this for about a week. Do it at about the same time each day. It is NOT unusual for the measurement you take in the evening to be a bit larger than those you take in the morning and afternoon. This will help your doctor to see if this "condition" (if there is one) is getting worse, if it is only at a particular time (such as in the evenings), etc.There are many things that can cause swollen ankles. Heart, liver, or kidney problems. Veins in the legs being "clogged". Protein deficiency.

Stop fighting to get off bp meds. Provide some measurements for your doctor. See what the ultrasound reveals.

[WYOAnne]

Please understand that swollen ankles can also be related to your heart and BP.Before my transplant, when I was first diagnosed with CKD, my BP was not under good control for a short period of time.

Today, I have scarring in my heart due to the high BP

You need to be on BP meds. There are many new, good ones that are safe for your kidneys. Don't be afraid to take medication! It is there for a very good reason. I have a friend that had a heart attack when her BP was 155/92. Why take the chance? NOT ME!

[Butchga62]

Thank Y’all I just got home from having a ultrasound. I will see Dr next week. I guess I am just scared. I saw my sister in kidney failure and also watched her literally die. I just thought I could have changed everything by eating healthy walking etc. I do appreciate everyone’s post no matter how you word it. That’s why I reached out. Thanks to everyone. ❤️