Does anyone have a clue what'd going on with bP? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

sadsally · 12-17-2007, 09:29 PM

I sure home some one can relate. During last two weeks on March my legs and feet became swollen and I was having extreme fatigue and exhaustion. My Doctor said I believe your med are making you sick ( tiazac, avalide) but did not take me off them. About a week later I thought I was having a heart attack because I felt like I just had to sit down and was breathing heavily and felt like my heart was in distress (no pain but distress). Took two asprian on way to emeregency room. Was given more asprain and told I did not have heart attack but should rest and see heart doctor. Heart doctor said I belive your meds are making you sick and took me off all but 1/2 dose of avalide. Over time I felt better. My primary doctor knows this and just recently put me on same dose as originally of avalide and cardizem. Blood pressure which was under control in pass for years. Has been all over the place since meds changed in March. Went to gyn and reading was 140/86 ten minutes later 115/50. Nurse was shocked! Since then went to two different fire station. Pressure started out 120/70 and 3 hours later 130/77 and 3 minutes yes you read correcly was 111/50.
Primary doc knows I am all over the place but seems unconcerned. Said if pressure is under 120/80 don't take meds. It changes from minutes to minutes so I can't really go by that. Can anyone relate.

bethsheba · 12-18-2007, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sadsally

...
My primary doctor knows this and just recently put me on same dose as originally of avalide and cardizem. Blood pressure which was under control in pass for years. Has been all over the place since meds changed in March. Went to gyn and reading was 140/86 ten minutes later 115/50. Nurse was shocked! Since then went to two different fire station. Pressure started out 120/70 and 3 hours later 130/77 and 3 minutes yes you read correcly was 111/50.
Primary doc knows I am all over the place but seems unconcerned. Said if pressure is under 120/80 don't take meds. It changes from minutes to minutes so I can't really go by that. Can anyone relate.

Normal blood pressure fluctuates minute by minute...that's why there's a criteria for taking it so you can compare pressures "apples to apples" so to speak. You need to wait 30 after excercising (the gym, grin) to take your pressures...so it is not surprising that your pressures dropped from 140/86 and went to 115/50 (the 115/50 may be too low, especially if you have symptoms of weakness, lightheadedness, etc). Even if you haven't exercised, you should sit/relax for 15 minutes before taking your pressures... when you went to the fire stations did you zip in/zip out without winding down for 15 minutes before the readings were taken? If so, that would explain the drop...but again, your readings are very low and to me that would be a concern...any dehydration or iron deficiency and you could put yourself in danger of passing out or otherwise hurting yourself.

The 120/80 reading is "ideal" but is only a resting pressure but depending on other health conditons it might be lower/higher. It sounds like you are well under that in resting conditions so I would really question your needs for meds, especially given your doctor's comment about not needing them if your are under 120/80.

Bethsheba

sadsally · 12-21-2007, 12:51 AM

Thanks for your reply. I will wait as you say. I am just a little confused because when my primary doctor did check my pressure she checked lying down, standing, as well as sitting and was concerned that it was different in all cases. She said the meds were making me sick. The heart doctor said exactly the same words, "I think your meds are making you sick". I have read that some blood pressure meds can cause av heart blocks. So I am scared. Doctor seems unconcerned. Even with the meds I am looking at my hands and seeing a bubble of fluid on the back of both my hands. My legs/feet are puffy and swollen. I can see a big swelling of fluid on the top of both feet. My kidneys were checked and are well within normal limits. Heart doctor says heart is ok. I have had extensive test of heart. I think I will just take avalide and forget the cardizem. I was wondering if cardizem is dangerous

Thanks in advance for any comments

flowergirl2day · 12-21-2007, 09:41 AM

Sally,

I have been on a calcium channel blocker for some time. I am not happy about it. Why do your doctors insist that you take it? There are other very effective blood pressure medications that do not adversely affect the conductive system of the heart and have less unpleasant side effects in general.
Unfortuantelly, the swellings are just one side effect of calcium channel blockers. They can get much worse than what you are experiencing. You should ask your doctor to change your medication, unless the calcium channel blockers are indicated. By the way, most medications have side effects. Some are not as bad as others.

Good luck,
flowergirl

sadsally · 12-21-2007, 07:05 PM

jlawman2

Thank you so much for your response. I am watching my salt intke and trying to eat more veggies beans and fruit. I am afraid to do much excercising right now being breathless a lot. I used to walk twice a day. Then I had laser gallbladder surgery and 3 days later for the first time in my life I developed the symptoms of Tourettes and have been on all kinds of meds which none I might add were effective. It got so bad what with the body movements and the screaming I stopped walking and have been going thru a bad depression so my exercise has been in spurts at best. Hard to walk around in the neighborhood screaming and jerking so I bought some exercise tapes but have not been regular using them like I should. So thanks for the reminder about the salt and oily foods. I realize I am going to have to take matters in my own hands as far as what I can do. I am just afraid of the meds. I notice that my doctor's office used to be wall to wall patients all the time now I see there are at the most 3-4 patients when I come but there are all manner of drug reps there every time I come. I hope I am not the victim of an experiment