Hypertension and prednisolone

[Raewynne]

Hi I have just had another hypertensive episode.Settled down now.I am reducing off prednisolone for temporal arteritis.I am having an operation for prednisolone induced cataracts and glaucoma in 3 weeks.My vision is dreadful.I am on 4.5mg .I fluctuate between 5 and 4.I am concerned because my blood pressure medication doesn't seem to be keeping me stable.Stable is 120/85Unstable 190/110

It is a bit of of worry.

[piglette]

What does your doctor say about your changes in blood pressure?

[Raewynne in reply to piglette]

He changed my meds.It settled briefly but it's not holding.Im seeing A Dr tomorrow about it.

[piglette in reply to Raewynne]

It does sound as if the new meds may be affecting your blood pressure. Hopefully you will find out when you see your doctor tomorrow. I hope things go well.

[Blearyeyed]

Definitely sounds as though it is the medication and dose for your hypertension that needs re-evaluating but they also need to take the precautions of sending you for an ECG and other heart tests like a Holter test. If they don't suggest further tests tomorrow ask about them yourself.Although hypertension can be made worse on higher doses of Pred you are on doses of 4-5 mg so you would have expected your hypertension to have improved by now if it was being caused by the steroids rather than getting worse.

The people whom are doing your operation will want to have the hypertension well controlled before the operation because uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause more complications to the eye.

Do you have hypertension alone, or do you have any other cardiac or health conditions which cause the hypertension?

Are you on any other medications that could also be affecting your blood pressure?

I think your GP certainly needs to be exploring all the options and not just putting down your current hypertension to steroids or the conditions you have been diagnosed with, even if it just means that they can rule things out.

Take care and pace yourself carefully , Bee

[Raewynne in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thanks

[Raewynne in reply to Blearyeyed]

Yes those are the things I'm concerned about.Im definitely pacing myself atm.

[PoolePerson]

Sorry no experience of your problems. My only advice is to reduce st snail pace. That worked for me xx

[waltztherapy]

I'm afraid I'm not really qualified to give advice here, but there are many on this excellent forum who are. However, it's good to read of other's experiences isn't it.I am continuing to reduce prednisolone by 0.5 mg per month, crrently just down to 7mg. Flare ups seem to be worse at this lower level, but seem to follow a pattern of two weeks out of the four with much less pain. Still keep moving throughout but at a reduced level in the bad times, plus more sleep/rest needed. Bloods all normal so safe to continue tapering I believe, though waiting for rheumatologists report after recent brief appointment time. We need to follow medical advice on all medical issues don't we. I had cataract surgery about 8 weeks ago and will have the second eye done in 4 weeks time. The improvement is amazing, Really hope it will be the same for you!

Good luck, there is light at the end of the tunnel (pun intended).

[Raewynne in reply to waltztherapy]

Haha.Yes I'm looking forward to the eye surgery.Im getting stents put in for the glaucoma too.Why are they taking so long to do your second eye?

[waltztherapy in reply to Raewynne]

We have to wait for a slot, and it's good to give time for the first surgery to settle down for me - not everyone's view.Btw I'm also having problems with my BP, it seems to fluctulate like yours- work in progress...

[Raewynne in reply to waltztherapy]

Yes I don't like mine fluctuating like it is.A friend suggested to me yesterday trying some cayenne pepper if it goes high.Might give it a go.Just half a tsp in water.I think you can put a bit of lemon juice with it.I would sip slowly to make sure I wasn't having any reaction.

[waltztherapy]

Think it's best to do it under the GP's supervision. They adjust my hypertensive medication.

[Maryis80]

Sorry to hear of your problems. I have been on varyingdoses of Prednisone since may 2018 now at half mg and rheumatologist bwants me completely off before I see him in December. No real problems except for bruising and cuts if I hit anything, I only had to look at a door handle to get a bruise!It's been a long haul but hopefully nearly there. Where are you in Oz? My daughter lives in Adelaide so we visit there from time to time