high blood pressure…

[OudMood]

Hi there everyone,

I have recently started monitoring my BP again as I finally managed to get a large cuff.

I have tested often in the past 1-2 weeks and have been consistently getting readings like 140/106

Or 138/109.

Google says that might be quite serious, however, I would prefer avoid invasive meds and I’m concerned on what to do.

(I am 29 by the way..)

I will obviously be making an appt with a GP but wanted to see if any medication or therapy is more recommended over another?

P.S.

the readings have been double checked, taken in an ideal way, the machine is reliable and I was in absolute calm.

I have PCOS and hypothyroidism and I have had elevated blood pressure for many years prior (but not this high usually 130/90) and was recommended Ramipril in the past (at 24) but I thought I could make it better with diet and exercise as I knew PCOS elevates BP and cholesterol.

However, pregnancy is in the cards and I’m concerned..

ignore the steroid part as I got confused! 🤭

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you still only on 75mcg levothyroxine

Request/insist on new thyroid test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[OudMood in reply to SlowDragon]

I am now on 100mcg and I’ve actually done a recent blood test myself. (17/10/2022)

TSH - 2.0 (0.27-4.2)

FT3 - 5 (3.1-6.8)

FT4 - 17.9 (12-22)

For reference, prior blood test at 75mcg of Levo was: (31/05/2022)

TSH - 5.19 (0.27-4.2)

FT3 - 5.9 (3.1-6.8)

FT4 - 14.9 (12-22)

HOWEVER, I had run out of Levo for about 10days and was away from home about 5 weeks before the test so I have a feeling my values are actually slightly better than the test I did. (I’m referring to the most recent test)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to OudMood]

so test was invalid

It takes several weeks/months to recover from no levothyroxine for 10 days.

Might account for blood pressure issues too.

Wait at least 6-8 weeks before retesting

[OudMood in reply to SlowDragon]

omg… I didn’t know that it may take that long.

I have the GP pushing for a new blood test and I have one booked for mid November.. should I cancel it? 🤔

I had an appt in the hospital in August and BP was 158/100 approximately and that was before the Levo hiatus..

But I think that was a mixture of me running to reach the hospital and white coat syndrome 🫣

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to OudMood]

What date did you get back on 100mcg levothyroxine

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

Vitamin levels likely to have dropped when not on levothyroxine

Are you on gluten free, dairy free or low carb diet

[OudMood in reply to SlowDragon]

I went back on Levo around 29/09 more or less.

I changed pharmacies so they played around with Levo but on I’m on accord I believe.

Ehm.. I’m 127Kg 🫣🫣

I take a lot of supplements for vitamins, so I assumed I was safe… unless they weren’t being absorbed.. 😱😱

I am not on GF nor DF.

I’ve tried it in the past but didn’t see much benefit (although on a normal month I rarely eat glutinous food as I try to eat very low carb.

Currently had to increase carb due to personal circumstances, otherwise eat no more than 50g of carbs per day.

[OudMood in reply to OudMood]

just wanted to add that I’m still attempting to loose this weight that I’ve gained and dairy allows me to add calories in as I struggle with under eating severely (remains of everyone telling me I eat too much hence I’m piling on weight, so I kept reducing until I only ate maybe 800-1,00 calories a day. 😭🫣 when I snapped out of it I would forget about food and couldn’t eat enough.

I’m working now with a health coach to try and be consistent about eating food! 😩😩)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Oud Mood

Steroids aren't a treatment for high blood pressure.

I suggest that you read this NHS page about high BP and it's treatments:

nhs.uk/conditions/high-bloo...

[OudMood in reply to SeasideSusie]

I think I got confused between BP and cholesterol! 🙊

My bad!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to OudMood]

Steroids aren't a treatment for cholesterol either, statins are given for high cholesterol.

Steroids are anti inflammatory and tend to be given for arthritis, asthma and other lung conditions, allergies and other inflammatory conditions.

[radd]

Oudmood,

Steroids aren't a treatment for hypertension but there are several different types of treatment.

Last year I suffered a stroke and hypertension, so was medicated on Amlodipine which is a calcium-channel blocker, and Losartan that works by keeping blood vessels from narrowing, so lowering BP by improved blood flow.

I now drink pure beetroot juice or Active Cherry Juice both scientifically researched to lower BP and it works. My readings are generally around 125/85. Easy peasy 😃

[OudMood in reply to radd]

I might edit that statin/steroid part as I got completely confused! 🫣

HOWEVER!!! Can you tell me more about betroot and active cherry juice?

I would trying anything more natural instead of medication.

I also take Berberine, CoQ10 and Omega 3 with high EPA/DHA which should all help improve overall hearth health so just waiting so see if BP levels out a bit (the supplements are recent additions).

[OudMood in reply to radd]

Just to add..

what I wanted to know specifically was do you buy these juices or do you make them at home?

If you make them.. how?

If you buy, any brand in specific?

[radd in reply to OudMood]

OudMood,

Just shop bought juices.

Beetroot Juice jameswhite.co.uk/brand/beet...

Cherry Active Juice active-edge.co.uk/collectio...

Montmorency Cherry Reduces elevated BP active-edge.co.uk/blogs/wel...

Beetroot reduces elevated BP aktiia.com/uk/beetroot-juic...

[Hidden in reply to radd]

Hi Radd

With the cherry concentrate how much do you have and when please?

I have been having spikes in my BP but want to avoid any further medication.

Thank you 🦋

[radd in reply to Hidden]

Butterfly1942

If you buy from Dolphin Fitness you can get a bottle pump, and I have three pumps in a pint of water any time of day. Sometimes I have more as I really like it 😄. I also have the pomegranate juice from same brand that is yummy. Apparently there are several juices with the same properties that lower BP.

dolphinfitness.co.uk/en/che...

[Hidden in reply to radd]

Thanks Radd I’ve just ordered but forgot the pump 🙈 I’ll go back in a get that too. Thanks so much x

[radd in reply to Hidden]

Butterfly1942

Yeh, the pump is worth it coz the product is gloopy and makes a real mess if you try pouring it out.

[Karen_lee in reply to OudMood]

I had high blood pressure on my machine I take 125mg thyroxine, started drinking pure cranberry juice a little bit every day and what a difference this has made to my readings. Its called POM

[Hashiboy]

Hi there OudMood  my BP is up and down too, tends be it's when I do regular walking exercise, avoid alcohol and coffee and follow a low sodium high fibre diet like DASH. I've still had take meds at times. But absolutely speak to your GP the high BP could be sign dinner other issue.

[Skylane2]

you really need to lower your blood pressure.I’ve been dealing with elevated blood pressure since I had a hysterectomy at age 41. I’m 83 now. That’s 42 years of hypertension or high blood pressure. I gone through every catagory of blood pressure medicine there is available in the States. Finally I got ahold of Catapres! I worked wonderfully ( although very expensive) for probably 7 years. Then the laboratory stoped making it so I had to go to Clonidine.(The generic)I’ve had some problems with hives and other allergic symptoms but it does lower my blood pressure. It’s really cheap but depending on the lab that makes it, I can have 0 side effects or an allergic reaction. I’ve found if I can get tables without dyes and take one 0.2 mg, 3 time a day I can keep my blood pressure down to 130/ 80 which is a good reading.. high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and diabetes amongst other things and especially if you’re planning on a pregnancy you will want to be in good health. Beet Root ( capsules) can help to bring your blood pressure down , limit your salt( sodium and sugar. I hope this helps. I’ll pray for you.😘

[Digitalbluecat in reply to Skylane2]

be aware that clonidine is known for a rebound effect between doses. I've been on it for 30 years and my nephrologist and I have gone round and round on this but it is what is. I just keep to a scheduled dose but may finally go to the patch.

[Partner20]

When taking your BP, as I'm sure you know, make sure your arm is in the correct position and disregard the first reading. Also, take readings at different times of the day, to find a true average. Thinking outside the box, look at the Wim Hof breathing method. You may think he is a rather extreme character, but following this simple method, so quick and easy to do, eliminated the need for my partner's BP tablets, and his readings are now excellent! Well worth a try, and it costs nothing.🙂

[Brightness14]

When my BP started to elevate back in May this year because of an Ear Tumour I visited the GP for something else and he put me onto medication. It never suited me and after some investigation I started on a natural Hawthorn extract. Although I live in France they don't like anything natural here. In Germany the GP's use this for high BP. this morning for instance mine was 122/74. I have been taking it for three months now at two a day. It has been used for hundreds of years. It's good for the kidney's too.

[silverbelle51]

yes, concerning to be sure. Avoid starting pregnancy if possible until BP is lowered. Levo will elevate BP documented in Mayo Clinic Literature. All forms of soy should be avoided. Soy is in darn near every thing. Reseach it you will be shocked. Recommend Critical Care site as it has sound dietary guidelines generally. They sell a line of expensive supplements which I AM NOT PROMOTING or endorsing sadly they link the two which is unfortunate, but their guidelines are the best I have seen, but the Soy Thing is also vitally important. I hope you are able to get healthy and able to have a beautiful pregnancy.

[Holiday12345 in reply to silverbelle51]

does Levothyroxine raise blood pressure?

[silverbelle51 in reply to Holiday12345]

Yes, it is right on the Mayo Clinic web sight, not information my doctor imparted to me when he carelessly put me on Levo and not even after my BP went up over the next year . He simply wrote 2 RX cause Oh I had elevated BP when I had had an athletes BP and never even close to elevated! !

[Brightness14]

Tinned Grapefruit it's cheap and will lower your BP. In it's own juice of course. Everyday after breakfast, brilliant.

[RedApple in reply to Brightness14]

You may already be aware of this, but in case not, and for others reading here.

Some fruit juices and fruits can interact with numerous drugs, in many cases causing adverse effects.[1] The effect was first discovered accidentally, when a test of drug interactions with alcohol used grapefruit juice to hide the taste of the ethanol. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grape...

[Brightness14 in reply to RedApple]

Yes it always good to check first.

[OudMood in reply to Brightness14]

where do you get yours? I don’t think I’ve ever seen tinned grapefruit 🤔

[Brightness14 in reply to OudMood]

If you live in the UK any supermarket. All the main ones stock it.

[Batty1]

Steroids can increase blood pressure and weight this drug is a monster.

[lovelab]

maybe make sure there is no hidden licorice in herbal teas. etc. This can give you high BP and quite severely.