Extra meds now - for blood pressure

[Doraflora]

Good evening - or morning to those who live wherever in the world.

I’m Getting much closer now to reaching the big ‘70’ and today my GP has said I should go on blood pressure meds (in addition to everything else!). My recent readings averaged at 153/91. Scary stuff! But so be it.

I’d read a lot about steroids can increase blood pressure but my GP today says not. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

And to think until being diagnosed with PMR in March 2020 I didn’t take anything! And with this new BP med - that’ll take me to,the grand total of 7 things (including 2 lots of eye drops). Am I the champion in that amount?🤣

[piglette]

Can you suggest to your doctor that you will control your BP with diet? By the way he is wrong saying that steroids do not affect blood pressure. What other drugs has it been suggested you take as that is a lot to add in a year? Don't bother to reply if you think I am being intrusive.

[Doraflora in reply to piglette]

He never mentioned diet, piglette, but tbh we do have a good diet: no fried/processed food/little red meat, we have plenty of fruit & vegs, unsalted nuts etc. Yes, my weakness is cake - and wine - but we have to have some pleasures.

My exercise regime has gone out the window since we moved house but that will be reinstated as soon as, as I do enjoy exercising. Yes, really!🤣

[piglette in reply to Doraflora]

Doctors are very keen on tablets, nutrition seems a bit above a lot of them! I worked with the pharmaceutical industry for over thirty years and we did a lot with BP products. It did seem that 160/90 was the point they felt something should be done, although nowadays it seems they want us to have a lower and lower BP.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Were those readings taken at home yourself in peace and quiet? Or at the appointment with the doctor or nurse?I had this conversation last week - my BP was high at the hospital appointment and I said to her that was way above what it ever is at home. And so it has turned out, I've been checking at various times of day and my BP is running at well below 120/80 with only the occasional spike. At the hospital it was 135/95 I think.

[winfong in reply to PMRpro]

"White coat fever," I believe they call it. Everyone I've ever worked always said to go with the lowest - typically beginning & ending of each day for me.

[mgrogers99 in reply to winfong]

White coat syndrome!

[Doraflora in reply to PMRpro]

I took those readings at home, PMRpro, but since we moved house 3 months ago we’ve had a lot of stress with the house. Things are sorted now so I’ll check my readings again very soon.

But yes, I have a big white coat syndrome at hospitals etc, so my BP always shoots up then.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Doraflora]

Don't give in to a diagnosis made on the basis of WCS ...

[mgrogers99 in reply to Doraflora]

When you take your BP at home, make certain both feet are flat on the floor and do not talk while taking it. Do not take it repeatedly either....some patients will take their BP every five minutes and wonder why it keeps going up!!!

[Doraflora in reply to mgrogers99]

Ha, you’re talking about me spot on there, mgrogers99🤣.

No, seriously, I might do the best of three sometimes & then get wound up if thr last one is higher!

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

When I went to the hospital for an echocardiogram we had to park a distance away so hurried along to the entrance, walked up the stairs as only one out of three lifts was working, continued along myriad corridors to the department, sat down and was immediately called, stripped to the waist, climbed on to the treatment table and before my head was down the blood pressure monitor was applied with the physiologist talking all the time. I was asked, "Is your blood pressure normally high?" Turned out to be 200/130 something! I laughed with whatever breath I had left. The physiologist said that the monitor she'd used was not always accurate...how helpful!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 123-go]

Luckily we have an underground carpark, lift to the front door and the medicine outpatients is on the ground floor! And they are rarely on time!

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

I am green with envy!

[123-go]

I agree with Piglette that it may be a good thing to try to control your blood pressure naturally. Have you seen this?

bloodpressureuk.org/your-bl...

If you decide to go down this route keep a daily diary for your own record.

Hopefully your GP will support you.

[Doraflora in reply to 123-go]

Thanks 123-go. I’ll check that article out.

I would just add that I don’t have any weight issue, quite the opposite as I can’t put a pound on, which is frustrating but then my GP said yesterday I was lucky.

[123-go in reply to Doraflora]

It's good that you don't have a weight issue and to learn from your reply to Piglette that you have a healthy diet. It's very likely that once you resume exercising you will find your BP drops.

[winfong]

Got you beat! 10 prescriptions & 6 over the counter meds

[Nextoneplease]

Ummm……nine regular prescribed meds plus three supplements added by myself….🙄xx

I thought I was bad, but winfong, I think you may take the prize!

[Jayveedee]

I used to take my bp at home occasionally but my doctor asked me to keep a record after starting me on Prednisolone so I know it is much higher now than it was. Strangely it is always better in the evening after a glass of wine!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jayveedee]

The glass of wine leads to vasodilation - less pressure created in a wider pipe ...

[herdysheep in reply to PMRpro]

I knew there had to something good. 🍷🍸

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to herdysheep]

It was the same for me pre-pred - my evening glass of wine was the only simple way I got any relief. Getting up early and staggering to the gym and an aquaaerobics class was really good too - but very impractical!!!

[Pixix]

As you asked…I have 14 drugs on prescription, but down from 30 tablets a day to 22 atm, then there’s Magnesium, Vit C & eye drops for blepharitis not included! But I have high blood pressure, familial high cholesterol, fibromyalgia, PMR, a benign tumour on my spine, sciatica, osteoarthritis in hands & feet, blepharitis, snapping hip syndrome, residual car crash injuries & lung issues (for which I take antibiotics for six months of every year)! I’m allergic to 44 things (tested)….but no partridge in a pear tree…yet! Referred to neurology 7 months ago as I now have a bad hand & arm tremor. Keep trying to cut the meds down..do better in summer than winter, but new things do tend to develop! Doctor says I’m ‘complex’, medically speaking.

[Doraflora in reply to Pixix]

Wow pixix, is there anything you haven’t got🤣. Crikey, my issues are nothing compared to yours!

[Pixix in reply to Doraflora]

One if my friends says I’m just ‘plain greedy’, but when I offer her one of the diseases, she turns me down! Some friend, LOL!! I’m lucky, I live a very full life & enjoy it!

[mgrogers99]

If that reading is an average it is my opinion as an RN that you take the medication. You can change your diet and exercise then possibly lower your medication down the road. You do not want to wait until you have higher readings or wait until a catastrophic event occurs. webmd.com/hypertension-high...

[Doraflora in reply to mgrogers99]

Thanks mgrogers99, I’m definitely going to take the meds. Who knows, one day, maybe one day, I’ll be off the pred. 🤞

[mgrogers99 in reply to Doraflora]

Good...I am relieved....you don't want to let the elevated pressure go without treatment. It is not horribly high but you don't want to wait until it is. Heredity also plays a part.

[AyJayBass]

Sorry Dora, you are not the champion. I am on 16 different prescription meds per day plus 1 injected subcutaneously weekly plus 5 supplements! It takes me about 45 mins each week to (very carefully) fill my 5 dosette boxes. My surgery dishes out 2 months worth at a time so when I collect my repeat prescriptions I come away with a carrier bag full.

[Sharitone in reply to AyJayBass]

Looks like you're the champ, so here you are: 🏆 !

[herdysheep]

My initial response was "join the clan". I negotiated with my GP over high BP and high cholesterol to see what I could do diet wise and activity wise. I already had reasonable diet and walked 3 miles daily. Didn't make any difference so I gave in. It was perversely comforting to blame the steroids and think I had done what I can!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to herdysheep]

I think it is what it is for some people…for others more exercise and changing diet helps. My mother had raised BP, so do I, so does son….so in a bit of catch 22 situation….was off meds for about a year after it went very low following operation, but it seems to have crept back up over last year…on smallest dose of Candesarten so no great issue!

[Koalajane]

When I was diagnosed my blood pressure was 180/80 always at the doctors. I was put on medication and it still stayed at that. My doctor looked bemused and asked if I tested at home. I got an Omron and yes my bp was actually about 120/ 55. When I go for my diabetic review I take 5 days of readings( 3 times a day). My readings have gone lower so I have had to reduce my meds. So a definite case of white coat syndrome! I went for a procedure at hospital recently and when the nurse said I am just going to do your blood pressure I started to panic as he said it had to be a certain reading to have the eye drops. Fortunately it was only 1 over so drops were allowed.

[Doraflora]

Thank you all for your replies. They’ve all meant a lot for me. What a wonderful site this is: there’s always support, advice and encouragement. Thank you all.

I’m a born worrier....but, hey ho!😁