How is one diagnosed? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

linda1962 · 12-06-2007, 03:12 PM

I had an episode almost 2 years ago where I had what I thought was a heart attack. However, it turned out not to be that. In the mean time, the first cardiologist said that I "probably" have HBP. He put me on atenylol the first night of my hospital stay and it made me sick. I had a severe headache and tossed my cookies

- they said that my BP was too low so they were reducing the dosage to 5MG. 2 weeks later I went for a follow-up with this cardiologist who said he didn't know why I had a heart attack "sometimes we just don't know what causes these things" and then I said well are you sure I have high blood pressure because I've never had it before and asked how it's determined. He said well your blood pressure is in "normal ranges" now and your taking HBP medicine so I must have it.

After that I went to another cardiologist who changed my prescription, diagnosed me with a condition referred to as Broken Heart Syndrome AKA myocardial stunning. Said I had no heart damage and probably don't have high blood pressure but lets wait and see.

My BP when I take it at home is almost always 110/63 - pulse is usually in the 50 to 60 range. My current meds are 5mg Norvasc and 25 MG of Toporal. I reduced the Toporal myself from 50 to 25 MG because I woke up one morning with my BP at 105/52 and just felt like I couldn't get out of bed.

SO - with all this in mind - how the heck could I have HBP? Is there long term affects for taking the meds if you actually don't have it? It really does affect my ability to get up and go like I used to and so I want to go off it but should I push my cardiologist on this or not? When I asked him last year he said it wasn't hurting me to keep me on it so lets just keep it this way. What do you think?

chablis3 · 12-13-2007, 06:10 PM

Hi...when you thought you had a heart attack 2 years ago, how was your blood pressure numbers at that time? Was it considered high when you were in the hospital? I can't see why you were put on blood pressure medication at that time unless your bp readings were running high. Usually a doctor will have a person check his readings over a period of time, and if the readings are always above the normal range, then the doc will put you on medication. At least that is how my doctor determined my need for meds. I think sometimes a doctor will put a person on blood pressure pills if they have heart problems, but since you didn't have a heart attack, I can't understand why you were put on the meds in the first place. However, I don't know what "Broken Heart Syndrome" is, so I am not sure if that is why your cardiologist is teling you to stay on the pills. Your readings of 110/63 are excellent, but I would be concerned if it dropped any lower. I think you should definitely question your doctor on that real low reading and tell him how bad you felt. Try to take your readings every day and keep a chart before you go see him.....that way you will have a good picture of how your doing on the meds. I am not sure if the meds could harm you if you don't really have high bp, but I wouldn't want to take them if I didn't need them. Just my opinion, but please discuss your concerns with your cardiologist; that would be the best thing to do, especially if your feeling tired and think your pressure is too low. Best of luck to you.

Judy

bethsheba · 12-14-2007, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linda1962

.... He said well your blood pressure is in "normal ranges" now and your taking HBP medicine so I must have it.

I don't believe what he told you is true..first of all, it takes time for some of these meds to become effective (1-2 weeks for atenolol and as much as 4-6 weeks for other meds), and if all bp meds were effective, it wouldn't be necessary to change meds providing the side effects were tolerable. I'm not quite clear on the timeline of your medication but it sounds like your pressures dropped the day after taking atenolol and I doubt very much that the drug had anything to do it.
.

Quote:

My BP when I take it at home is almost always 110/63 - pulse is usually in the 50 to 60 range. My current meds are 5mg Norvasc and 25 MG of Toporal. I reduced the Toporal myself from 50 to 25 MG because I woke up one morning with my BP at 105/52 and just felt like I couldn't get out of bed.

SO - with all this in mind - how the heck could I have HBP? Is there long term affects for taking the meds if you actually don't have it? It really does affect my ability to get up and go like I used to and so I want to go off it but should I push my cardiologist on this or not? When I asked him last year he said it wasn't hurting me to keep me on it so lets just keep it this way. What do you think?

I would question whether you actually have high blood pressure.

I think that the use of medication is risky/dangerous and should only be done as a last resort. Whether it be short term or long term all drugs have health risks.

I think you should work with your health care providers (doctor and pharmacist) to reduce and eliminate your medication.

And by the way, did anyone even discuss lifestyle changes???

Bethsheba

flowergirl2day · 12-14-2007, 09:31 AM

Hi,

I'll add one more thing to the previous posts. The slightest indication of a previous MI calls for extreme caution. Cardiologists often disagree on the diagnosis and treatment options. They also interpret test results differently. I could give you a good example from my own experience. If you have been advised to remain on medication, please do so. In the event you had indeed suffered a heart attack in the recent past you need this medication to help you heal and prevent another.
Instead of dying completely, some of the myocardial cells sustain damage during an MI and become stunned. There's a name for this which I can't remember right now. When this happens, it is a good thing, because these damaged cells stand a good chance of making a recovery, given time and just the right conditions.
Why not ask your cardiologist about this? If you have any doubt about your diagnosis at all and feel you need more diagnostic tests done, go for it. It's your health.

flowergirl

bethsheba · 12-14-2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linda1962

...I reduced the Toporal myself from 50 to 25 MG because I woke up one morning with my BP at 105/52 and just felt like I couldn't get out of bed....

Linda,

It just occurred to me that toprol is a beta blocker and one usually needs to wean off of those gradually to avoid rebound hypertension, and possibly angina and heart problems.

Did you reduce your dose recently? If so, I would strongly advise you to contact your pharmacist for more info.

And just for the record, if possible, I would encourage you to research the medication thoroughly before filling the prescription and taking the medication. Do not assume your doctor knows what s/he is doing....too many of us on these boards have learned that doctors don't know everything, doctors make mistakes, and doctors aren't always honest with their patients.

Bethsheba