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Very Unhappy · 05-31-2006, 02:53 AM

Hey there guys

Since my last post titled 'Atenolol should be banned' I am doing loads better. I have been seeing a traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor and have been receving acupuncture and taking Chinese herbs to help my BP. I have lost over 6 kilos in weight and I am doing well. I am going to join Weight Watchers just to get that extra support for my diet. The acupuncture is soooo relaxing and afterwards I feel like I am floating!!!!!

I saw my doctor today and I told him I wouldn't be taking any more antihypertensive medications due to the way Atenolol made me feel. I told him I was going to lose weight and try to bring it down the healthy way and see this Chinese doctor. I did ask him what my typical BP reading was prior to being put on Atenolol (he never told me this before btw) and he told me it was:

133/88 to 136/89

Is this very high? The figures mean very little to me and websites just give out varying details. I would be very grateful if someone could help me!!!!

Have a nice day.

Christine
XXXX

p.s. forgot to add: I have also bought myself a wee BP machine to monitor my BP at home and I am getting back to university in February of next year.

Lenin · 05-31-2006, 04:17 AM

I'm glad you are doing well Christine. That 13 pound weight loss probably has a lot to do with your better pressure.
No your numbers weren't very high and I think your choice to forego drugs is a good one.

Life is better without atenolol isn't it?

Very Unhappy · 05-31-2006, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenin

I'm glad you are doing well Christine. That 13 pound weight loss probably has a lot to do with your better pressure.
No your numbers weren't very high and I think your choice to forego drugs is a good one.

Life is better without atenolol isn't it?

Hi there Lenin

Cheers for your comments. Yeah, life is sweet since being off Atenolol. I really do feel like my old self now and I have so much more energy and no longer feel depressed.

The readings I gave in my post are the readings I had when the doctor prescribed me Atenolol. I don't know what my blood pressure is at the moment as he didn't take it (he was too busy trying to convince me to take Ramipril). I had a feeling my readings weren't too high so I don't understand why he had the urgency to get me onto Atenolol when they weren't too bad. The thing that bugs me is that I virtually begged with him to let me try to lose the final stone, exercise more and cut coffee/tea out of my diet to see if that could bring the numbers down but he told me that my readings were just too high and required treatment.

But it's in the past now. I need to move forward but I do feel angry

cos I feel I was taking something that probably wasn't really necessary. I mean, was my life in danger????

I hope you are well and it is nice to come here and chat.

Christine
X

pulltab · 05-31-2006, 07:11 AM

I felt the same way about atenonol, so my doctor switched me over to apo-hydro. I haven't tried any natural ways, but i felt the same way, but really if your b.p is high than it is high, and your doctor is just taking preventative measures. My doctor allowed me to try to bring it down on my own for 3 or 4 months before medicating me, when that didn't work that is when I got put on atenonol. The apo hydro doesn't seem to be working as well for lowering my readings. I generally have readings around 135/85 or so, I am more in the pre-hypertension range, it seems like that is where you are too. Let me know how your traditional chinese medicine works.

Very Unhappy · 05-31-2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pulltab

I felt the same way about atenonol, so my doctor switched me over to apo-hydro. I haven't tried any natural ways, but i felt the same way, but really if your b.p is high than it is high, and your doctor is just taking preventative measures. My doctor allowed me to try to bring it down on my own for 3 or 4 months before medicating me, when that didn't work that is when I got put on atenonol. The apo hydro doesn't seem to be working as well for lowering my readings. I generally have readings around 135/85 or so, I am more in the pre-hypertension range, it seems like that is where you are too. Let me know how your traditional chinese medicine works.

I will do. I am expecting my BP monitor to arrive any day so I will take recordings 2 a day and put them up on this board. I haven't had my BP taken since about March time and that was just before I took myself of Atenolol so it will be interesting to see what it is!!!

The reason I am so angry with the doctor is because I got no opportunity to try natural ways first (considering at the time I was overweight and not exercising a lot and drinking too much coffee!!!). I believe a good doctor what try that avenue first before medicating such a young person with a powerful Betablocker.

Anyway, I will let you know how my Chinese meds are going when I get my BP monitor. The acupuncture is certainly very relaxing - I haven't slept so well in years!!!

XXX

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