B/P monitoring

[muddledme]

24 hour Blood pressure monitoring.

I have Normal Tension Glaucoma and repeated disc bleeds.

Has anyone had their B/P monitored all night to see if the reading dips in the early morning ? If so, what was the remedy ? I should be very interested to hear.

I already sleep propped up and try to sleep on my back.

Thank you

[JanD236]

My mum had a 24 hour blood pressure monitor. I think that it showed that her BP is generally low but fortunately didn’t drop even further in the night.

I don’t think there’s much that can be done about low BP although the consultant suggested my mum could put on some weight.

[muddledme in reply to JanD236]

Thank you so much, very interesting to hear that your Mum had a 24 hr B/P monitor . Now I know they can be done for glaucoma. Some research has suggested that doing exercise before bed or drinking more water may help but I do not think they are sure. As you say maybe putting on weight may help but perhaps cause other problems .I have been the same weight since age 15 yrs , now I am 71 !

[JanD236 in reply to muddledme]

Well done on maintaining your weight! My mum who’s 84 (and myself) are the same.

The eye consultant wrote to my mum’s GP asking them to organise the BP test, which they did.

I think the other useful test is to do an all day (every 2 hours but not overnight) eye pressure test to see if that throws up any anomalies. My mum also had this and it was carried out at the eye hospital.

Both tests were suggested by mum’s private consultant (things haven’t been going well for her on the nhs recently and I suggested she obtains a 2nd opinion privately).

I also have normal tension glaucoma and low blood pressure and my private consultant at Moorfields has mentioned me getting both tests my mum has had but hasn’t suggested it happens yet as my sight is stable at the moment.

Salt and fluids increase BP so a packet of crisps and pint of lager at bedtime might help but would no doubt create more problems than they solve. I’ve stopped trying to be ‘healthy’ by denying myself salt and try to keep well hydrated. I understand that V8 vegetable juice might be good for helping increase our BP.

[muddledme in reply to JanD236]

Thank you, so interesting to hear two consultants agree on B/P monitoring.

I have a home monitor and have recently been checking my pressure before bed and on waking, for the last 2 days I have excercised on a static bike and taken a small drink of saline about 1/2 hr before bed but the diastolic has been even lower..

Interesting to hear about the vegetable juice. Tommorow I am seeing the Optometrist who specialises in Glaucoma , so it will be interesting to hear what he thinks .He also works at the opthalmic out patients and has always been very helpful. He says he picks up the pieces when the busy OPD is in too much demand!

My sister has NTG and my mother had it for many years, she had two Trabeculectomies many years ago which seemed to work well and she lived to 90.

Did you hear any of the Glaucoma U.K digital support group webinars ? I listened to four , all excellent. I think you can still hear them on the charitie's website. The director of Moorfields gave one lecture, and we were able to ask questions.

[eyesong in reply to muddledme]

Interesting about the Low BP, I have it but never been asked about it with my Glaucoma. I love this website and the messages from this group, which must be mainly from UK but some are from elsewhere, as for myself, Texas, USA. It looks like the NH system there uses surgery as the first line of defense a lot but here it is mainly RX drops and meds, but that is changing some as more of the Stints are being pushed. I have had Primary Open Angle Glaucoma for 30 years and had laser treatment that did not work, and about 5 years ago had SLT laser that did not work. After Cataract lens replacement both eyes I had a detached retina on one eye which was fixed by a top Retina Dr. here and I see him every 3 months, he is my best source of information. In fact he referred me to see a top Glaucoma guy at UTSW Med Cntr in Dallas and I like him. He is working to avoid future surgery for me and I am on Cosopt 2 x a day, Zioptan nitely both are preservative free, also I take 2 x a day 50mg of Methazolamide tablets. My Retina Dr. says to avoid surgery as I have too much scar tissue. My IOP has always been high 19/18 etc. sometimes lower, but as long as reports and test remain constant and I get good checkups I am lucky. I am watching for the future of Stem Cell for Glaucoma cure. Thanks for all your inputs, and good luck to all. Eyesong in Texas