I'm asking the posters here for their experience in choosing a BP doctor. What type of doctor have you acheived the best success with?
Cardiologist?
Internist?
Family Doc?
Other?
Eager to know, R.R
But personally I have always had DREADFUL GP's and EXCELLENT specialists, but for BP management, most insurance companies demand that your PCP (primary care physician) tend your BP.
Become your own best BP specialist. It really is just is a matter of guaranteeing to yourself that you really NEED any drug at all, that you truly have hypertension, and if you determine the answer is yes, you've got to work through them to find the one that is LEAST AWFUL and gives you the numbers YOU are happy with.
A good question to ask your practitioner is "Do you have hypertension?"
If he answers YES, ask how he treats it.
If he answers NO, then you know you have a doctor who hasn't CLUE ONE about the side effects from these drugs other than the glowing brochures he reads from the drug companies. You will have to wend your way through the maze of side effects alone, with him thinking you are a hypochondriac every time you tell him: "Well, THIS one stinks too.!"
Unfortunately we don't have enough trained seals in our health system. Never-the-less I got a chuckle from your response!
I've noticed that some "trained" health assistants, at a doctor's office, almost ALWAYS record "120/80" when reading a patient's blood pressure, even if the reading is higher. I've wondered why?
Quote:
Become your own best BP specialist. It really is just is a matter of guaranteeing to yourself that you really NEED any drug at all, that you truly have hypertension, and if you determine the answer is yes, you've got to work through them to find the one that is LEAST AWFUL and gives you the numbers YOU are happy with.
I agree. Patients should be more pro-active with their blood pressure problems, and not only question the meds that they are put on, but also monitor their own blood pressure.
And...... besides taking medicines for high blood pressure, eating high fiber, reasonable portion meals; and doing regular exercise can do wonders at lowering the blood pressure.
Internal Medicine, or Family Practice. Then your doc will refer you to Cardiology if needed. I tried not to take the last post too seriousely, but for some reason when I have checked patients BP it truly is 120/80 and it was the reading I got accurately. Remember, BP can fluctuate. I know mine does. When I go see my doc I am sometimes 90/60--another time at home it could be 138/90. I agree with taking the meds you are suppose to and eating healthfully, and exercise (exercise after seeing the doc).
Personally, I think having your own BP kit is great and to check BP every now and then (not all the time.)
Have a good day!
Be your own advocate, read all you can about hypertension, and ask plenty of questions of the medical professionals.
As for which type of doctor is best, that depends on a lot of things. Hypertension doesn't all stem from the same root cause. Some may come from heart problems, some from kidney problems and some from endocrine problems. A heart specialist may not be of much help if your root cause is kidney function. A savvy gp may be the best at directing you to the right course of action.
I think what is most important is finding a doctor who you trust and you can talk to, no matter what they specialize in. My gp doesn't know everything, but I trust her judgement, and I feel a whole lot better about her than the heart specialist I saw one time and will never go back to.
Be your own expert. GP's seem to just give the tests and then prescribe based upon your readings in their office, which are usually skewed at times, because of white-coat. A Hypertension Specialist or Nephrologist is usually much more in tune with current drugs & would be more likely to give you a 24 hour test to see if you truly do have Hypertertension. I was going to go to a specialist again, but my primary didn't think that it was necessary. Weaning off of the Atenolol this week. Drank too much on Saturday.... way too much. Never doing that again. I can't. I still feel the effects. Horrible.
Hypertension Specialist...... They will give you the 24 hour test to determine if it is white-coat or not. In addition they are more up to date with meds.....They are typically nephrologists as well, but they do both....
My gp doesn't know everything, but I trust her judgement, and I feel a whole lot better about her than the heart specialist I saw one time and will never go back to.
I so agree. At least my GP listens to me and admits he doesn't know it all and then there's my cardiologist who thinks she knows it all and told me to "just stop taking the atenolol". I'll take a good GP any day.
Cass
My GP listens to me, but keeps me on the same routine. Maybe he isn't listening. I tell him that the Atenolol causes all of these side-effects like my stomach+ & he won't recommend another med. or to wean off of it. He'll just say that you look great and these meds. make you younger inside than 90% of 34 year olds.... Atenolol at 100 MGS & Lotrel at 5/20 is tough. I will slowly wean off of the Atenolol. 121/71 today..... Not thrilled with those numbers, but I did it to myself this weekend. No more. When we play a show, I always tend to do that with the rest of my band. Not smart. I paid for it yesterday and today isn't 100% either........ It would normally be 113-116 over 66 on the meds.....
My 1st doc. that I went to 2 years ago was one of the top cardiologists in my area for a long time. He started me on Altace and Toprol. I felt horrible the next day. He switched the Altace to Lotrel and referred me to a Hypertension Specialist/nephrologist. My 2nd doc. ran a CBC last May & a metabolic panel. Everything was fine. She switched the Toprol to 100 MGS of Atenolol. My stomach has gotten worse ever since I have been on the Atenolol. She left the practice. My 3rd doctor is a DO. He keeps me on the Atenolol and Lotrel & says that the stomach issues in the morning are anxiety when I wake up. I also take 2 mgs of Xanax. I know that the xanax doesn't cause the stomach issues, because I take them through the day. I wish that I had a solution. I really think that it's the Atenolol.
I don't understand. You say that you ask your doctor to wean you and all he does is say that they are good meds, your numbers are good and to stay on them. Why can't you just point blank ask him why it is that he refuses to wean you? Have you every done this or do you always accept his usual reply? If he has a good reason, let's hear it.
He said that on meds. that 116/66 isn't low enough to wean. Everything else was perfect. In his office I have white-coat. Last time it ran 130/74, which isn't too horrible. He is just afraid that it will shoot up too much if I wean. It doesn't make sense to me. Outside of his office it is 14 points lower on the Systolic & 8 points lower on the Diastolic....
In that case, I can't see why you can't try weaning and if need be, be put right back on. After I had my parathyroid surgery my numbers seemed better. I asked to be weaned off so many meds. The beta blocker (metoprolol) was the first to go and by the time I got off two of the meds, my pressure was very high and unable to control. Back I went on all four and my pressure is now at a good level. My doctor was very cooperative and I guess I am just lucky to have him. At least I now know that I must take the meds that I am on and have no alternative. I wish you could find some answers.
R.R
