worryworttx
09-09-2004, 01:18 PM
I have a question for you guy's and gal's. My husband for over the last couple of years has had high blood pressure and is a little over weight...he went to the doctor last year because he called me with chest pain and blood pressure being up. They put him on medication and he NEVER takes it ... oh he will take it for a month and then doesn't get it refilled. Well he hasn't had it in about 2 months now and the doc will not refill until he is seen....he keeps putting it off and his b/p readings have been anywhere from 145/112 to 150/112 ish area.
What should I do? His father passed away last year with a massive heart attack, but before that had quadrupal bypass as well as his mother having the same surgery...I have given up...I have tried the loving approach, the mean approach and now I don't care approach...
How dangerous is this? I know that it has been untreated for at least 2 months now and in between before...
What do I do?
Thanks I know that you alway's have good advice...I on the other hand have very low blood pressure.
Thanks,
Bec
What should I do? His father passed away last year with a massive heart attack, but before that had quadrupal bypass as well as his mother having the same surgery...I have given up...I have tried the loving approach, the mean approach and now I don't care approach...
How dangerous is this? I know that it has been untreated for at least 2 months now and in between before...
What do I do?
Thanks I know that you alway's have good advice...I on the other hand have very low blood pressure.
Thanks,
Bec
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zuzu8
09-09-2004, 02:35 PM
Bec,
Oh my dear, I realize how upsetting and frustrating this must be for you.
Your husband's blood pressure, if sustained like this, is pretty darn high and he definitely needs to see the doctor ASAP and get back onto meds. Particularly since he's experienced chest pain in the past.
One of the most difficult things to deal with is what they call "patient non-compliance".
Is one of the reasons he doesn't want to take pills because of side effects?
If so, tell him there are many other options, and not all medication is the same and there are drugs (particularly some of the relatively newer ones in a class called ARBS -angiotensin 2 receptor blockers) that are virtually side-effect free.
zuzu xx
Oh my dear, I realize how upsetting and frustrating this must be for you.
Your husband's blood pressure, if sustained like this, is pretty darn high and he definitely needs to see the doctor ASAP and get back onto meds. Particularly since he's experienced chest pain in the past.
One of the most difficult things to deal with is what they call "patient non-compliance".
Is one of the reasons he doesn't want to take pills because of side effects?
If so, tell him there are many other options, and not all medication is the same and there are drugs (particularly some of the relatively newer ones in a class called ARBS -angiotensin 2 receptor blockers) that are virtually side-effect free.
zuzu xx
worryworttx
09-09-2004, 03:11 PM
ZuZu,
I knew that you would help me...no he doesn't have any side effects, he is just in denial or something...I don't know, we have been married for 16 years and he is just acting kuku right now...I just don't know what to do...his face is alway's red and I know that his blood pressure is high...it never goes down past 147/97 ever....
How dangerous is this if he just keeps putting this off?
Thank you so much...
Bec
I knew that you would help me...no he doesn't have any side effects, he is just in denial or something...I don't know, we have been married for 16 years and he is just acting kuku right now...I just don't know what to do...his face is alway's red and I know that his blood pressure is high...it never goes down past 147/97 ever....
How dangerous is this if he just keeps putting this off?
Thank you so much...
Bec
kevm
09-09-2004, 04:03 PM
Bec,
In reading through your messages, the /112 bothers me the most. I am by no means an expert, having been recently diagnosed with high BP myself. I was just put on meds at 160/90. My personal opinion is that this may have been a bit too early, since it had come down from 180 / 100 six weeks ago. However, for what its worth, I decided to follow the doctors orders and allow the meds to bring the BP down to normal (hopefully)
I think it is better to investigate your options at a time when your pressure is down. Maybe you should duscuss with your husband the possibility of getting back on his meds at least until he can make some changes that may improve his blood pressure naturally. Make hm let his doctor know that he is making changes and getting informed on his condition. Discuss with his doctor the possibility of reducing the meds as positive changes in lifestyle are introduced.
In reading through your messages, the /112 bothers me the most. I am by no means an expert, having been recently diagnosed with high BP myself. I was just put on meds at 160/90. My personal opinion is that this may have been a bit too early, since it had come down from 180 / 100 six weeks ago. However, for what its worth, I decided to follow the doctors orders and allow the meds to bring the BP down to normal (hopefully)
I think it is better to investigate your options at a time when your pressure is down. Maybe you should duscuss with your husband the possibility of getting back on his meds at least until he can make some changes that may improve his blood pressure naturally. Make hm let his doctor know that he is making changes and getting informed on his condition. Discuss with his doctor the possibility of reducing the meds as positive changes in lifestyle are introduced.
zuzu8
09-09-2004, 04:21 PM
Bec,
I do understand the denial thing. I myself went into it when I got my very first elevated blood pressure reading at an annual physical. "Who ME? But...but..but....doc, my blood pressure has always been NORMAL!@**!!!"
If 147/97 is the lowest your husband's BP ever gets, and is sustained over time, he's at high risk for cardiovascular disease , stroke etc. down the road.
Looks like genetics are playing a big part in this, given the history of both his parents. I'm not saying he HAS heart disease at this time, but with his family history he may indeed be headed for big-time trouble.
Again, we're talking about risk factors here. So far, we know he has 3: overweight, hypertension and family history. The more risk factors, the worse the future scenario may become.
He can't do anything about his genes but he CAN do something about the blood pressure and weight.
You've probably said this to him already, but ask him if he wants to go through what his folks have? And tell him it's absolutely not too late to head things off at the pass by taking care of this now.
Ask him...if he were a diabetic, would he not take insulin?
If he had glaucoma, would he not take the meds indicated to avoid the possibility of blindness?
If he had asthma, would he refuse to take the drugs to control it?
Tell him hypertension, like the above, is a controllable condition. The beauty of having medication available to us is that it, (along with lifestyle changes) can PREVENT future illness.
I wish I could help more. Do you have any other family members, or even better, children, who could gang upon him?
zuzu xxx
I do understand the denial thing. I myself went into it when I got my very first elevated blood pressure reading at an annual physical. "Who ME? But...but..but....doc, my blood pressure has always been NORMAL!@**!!!"
If 147/97 is the lowest your husband's BP ever gets, and is sustained over time, he's at high risk for cardiovascular disease , stroke etc. down the road.
Looks like genetics are playing a big part in this, given the history of both his parents. I'm not saying he HAS heart disease at this time, but with his family history he may indeed be headed for big-time trouble.
Again, we're talking about risk factors here. So far, we know he has 3: overweight, hypertension and family history. The more risk factors, the worse the future scenario may become.
He can't do anything about his genes but he CAN do something about the blood pressure and weight.
You've probably said this to him already, but ask him if he wants to go through what his folks have? And tell him it's absolutely not too late to head things off at the pass by taking care of this now.
Ask him...if he were a diabetic, would he not take insulin?
If he had glaucoma, would he not take the meds indicated to avoid the possibility of blindness?
If he had asthma, would he refuse to take the drugs to control it?
Tell him hypertension, like the above, is a controllable condition. The beauty of having medication available to us is that it, (along with lifestyle changes) can PREVENT future illness.
I wish I could help more. Do you have any other family members, or even better, children, who could gang upon him?
zuzu xxx
zuzu8
09-09-2004, 04:30 PM
P.S. I love what kevm suggested also, about discussing with the doctor (and your husband) the possibility of reducing (maybe even eliminating) the meds as positive changes in lifestyle are introduced.
For someone in denial, the hope that this may not be forever can be quite seductive!
zuzu xx
For someone in denial, the hope that this may not be forever can be quite seductive!
zuzu xx
Sandra49
09-09-2004, 06:37 PM
With his history he is probably frighten as to what the doctor might find. Remind him how far cardiovascular medicine has come. Quintuple By pass surgeries, which were unheard of is now common, and mostly always successful. Despite Bp medicines still having some side effects not all do and it is my understanding they are much less severe than they use to be (probably in his parents day).
Probably worrying about his genes is pushing his pressure higher. Tell him to break the cycle, and get treated! Tell him treatment will not kill him, but not getting treated will.
Probably worrying about his genes is pushing his pressure higher. Tell him to break the cycle, and get treated! Tell him treatment will not kill him, but not getting treated will.
worryworttx
09-09-2004, 09:15 PM
Just a little update...I have a wrist monitor that we used on my Mom before her death...it is generally pretty acurate (sp?) I have taken it to the doc's office and almost right on the $$$...
Tonight I took his pressure 3 times...
Readings are as follows:
156/111
169/122
154/125
I am going to take it in a little bit and see what it is...he promises that he will go to the doc next Thursday...go figure...I asked him to just go to the doctor tomorrow because I feel like it is a serious issue now and he promised that he would go next week...I know my husband...something will come up, as he is an engineer and very busy at work...engineer...that is probably the problem right there :) gotta love um..
What should I do?
Bec
Tonight I took his pressure 3 times...
Readings are as follows:
156/111
169/122
154/125
I am going to take it in a little bit and see what it is...he promises that he will go to the doc next Thursday...go figure...I asked him to just go to the doctor tomorrow because I feel like it is a serious issue now and he promised that he would go next week...I know my husband...something will come up, as he is an engineer and very busy at work...engineer...that is probably the problem right there :) gotta love um..
What should I do?
Bec