The Next Logical Step??? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

Random2 · 11-11-2004, 11:15 AM

Advice on where to go from here would be appreciated. I have white-coat, that is obvious. I just don't understand doctors who forget what meds. you are on & the fact that they discount white-coat when it is obvious that it is white-coat (even he said that I had white-coat months ago). He said that people with white-coat have high heart rates... well not when you are on Atenolol 100 MGS. He says that side-effects like upset stomach when I wake up is anxiety. It just seems that he is clueless & has no idea what he is doing. I brought in my 20 months of readings & he took a 3 second glance at it & said that I am healthy. He said that they do blood tests once a year for people on B/P meds. I asked to test for Glucose & Cholesterol & he said no, for kidney function. Well I just had a blood test in his office in May & my kidney function was fine. Where do I go from here??? I want off of these meds., Atenolol 100 MGS & Lotrel 5/20, but I want to see a professional... not an amateur. I have been to 3 docs. & 1 specialist in 20 months. All 3 docs. I didn't feel comfortable with. Advice please.

CASSIEBEL · 11-11-2004, 03:39 PM

Hi Ax,
Sorry the appt. didn't go any better. I know you are very disappointed.
As for the dr. It sure sounds like he lacks skills in communicating with his patients.

Where to go from here? I would say try to get off the Atenolol by yourself. If you go down to 50mgs I am sure you will barely notice any difference. I did it before I even knew it could cause a problem. If you do all right on the 50 and still have problems then go down to 25 and see what happens. Geting off a beta blocker is not a strict science if you go down to 50 and have a problem like a spike in BP or palps then take another 50 and you'll be right back where you were. It's really not that difficult.

Now the stomach problems. I really don't think they are caused by the atenolol. Why? because you said you wake up with a bad stomach. You haven't even taken the atenolol yet. What you took the day before is almost gone. If you got stomach problems after taking your meds then I would be more inclined to blame the medication. It sounds as though you have most of your meals at night. It is possible that could be a reason you wake up with an upset stomach.

You mentioned anxiety and I know a lot of people with HBP have a problem with anxiety (me included) I have seen a psychiatrist and undergone therapy for just that problem. I got no results. All she wanted to do was give me Paxil and ativan. You already know what you get with these types of drugs. As for the therapy, that guy tried to teach me how to chill out when I started to worry about my BP. That does't work either cause I sometimes don't realize I am upset. And yes I too have "white coat" My BP at the dr has been as high as 220/110. I thought he was going to need medication himself that day he was so freaked out. Sitting in a dr.s office for an hour or so and wondering what kind of BP reading you will get is all it takes to send my BP
WAY UP.

I do wish you the best. I hope you can soon find the right answer. Maybe you are right and don't need any meds at all. I certainly believe you need less than what you are on now.

Cass

naes · 11-11-2004, 04:38 PM

Axe, you post a lot :|

I wouldn't freakin' worry about it. Your BP is almost always normal for how long now? You want off the meds? Get off the meds. Watch your BP during the process, if it goes way up, get back on em. JMO.

Everytime I test I get normal readings. Sometimes they are somewhat elevated, but they go down EVERYTIME... I am thinking about breaking my BP monitor or something to keep my from freakin' testing all the stupid freakin' time. ****in' me off.

I've tested my BP nearly everyday for almost a year. If anything, it's gotten lower. But of course, when I see the doctor next time, i'm sure it will be elevated again. Oh well, it's normal everywhere else. It's anxiety. Pure and simple.

jtu91952 · 11-11-2004, 04:50 PM

Axe, i agree with naes. Just stop taking the meds, i did. When my bp shot up, then i knew i had to go back to the zestoretic, at least until i see the cardio. You're going to worry yourself sick over this. Then you'll have another illness to worry about.

Just stop the meds and see what happens. Nobody have more of a reason to be on bp meds than me, but i know what hurst me and what doesn't. Right now im on the estoretic for the 4th or 5th time. I'll probably stop it tomorrow for a couple of days, and then half the pill Mon. thru Wed. and then stop. I will do this until i see the cardio on 11/23. Only YOU can stop this nightmare with your meds. In my not so humble opinion, even if your bp goes to 140/80ish, you won't die. My bp has gone as high as 225/120 quite a few times and im still here.

naes · 11-11-2004, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtu91952

Axe, i agree with naes. Just stop taking the meds, i did. When my bp shot up, then i knew i had to go back to the zestoretic, at least until i see the cardio. You're going to worry yourself sick over this. Then you'll have another illness to worry about.

Just stop the meds and see what happens. Nobody have more of a reason to be on bp meds than me, but i know what hurst me and what doesn't. Right now im on the estoretic for the 4th or 5th time. I'll probably stop it tomorrow for a couple of days, and then half the pill Mon. thru Wed. and then stop. I will do this until i see the cardio on 11/23. Only YOU can stop this nightmare with your meds. In my not so humble opinion, even if your bp goes to 140/80ish, you won't die. My bp has gone as high as 225/120 quite a few times and im still here.

Heh, 140/80ish is FAR from dying

My (healthy) friend had that high after walking down the stairs. :P

I still wonder WHY ppls BP is high with no apparent reason... must be diet? It just seems odd. If it's high, maybe it _needs_ to be high to properly nurture your body? Since when did our bodies just become dumb and just start making the heart pound out of the chest?

If you go to [url]www.calorierestriction.org[/url] and look at the user profiles section they have their user's enter their BP and most everyone on there have <120/80 at any age. Some very very low. Interesting diet.