My husband has had chronic hypertension since the age of 18. He's now almost 60 and is probably very, very lucky to have not had a stroke by now. He is on 8 different BP meds and most of them twice a day and one of them 3 times a day. If you figure it out correctly, he's having to take a BP pill approximately every 2 hours around the clock.
Over the past three days, it's been running 200/100 and higher. Then, yesterday, only after going to ER due to pain, he got IV pain meds and it dropped some......by the time we left 3 hrs later, it was still 143/113. I was shocked they still let him go BUT he screwed himself with pain meds over the years (multiple drugs and pharmacies due to the pain from a completely torn rotator and much needed shoulder replacement surgery. You can't fake that but you CAN want out of pain soooooo much that you'll do anything) and the doctor just told him to handle it with his primary care doctor.
They didn't have to give him more pain medication but like I said, I was surprised they released him.
My question: Is there anybody else out there that has had chronic hypertension this many years AND is on this many BP meds and the BP is STILL not completely under control???? He's been cleared by the nephrologist, too....kidneys are good still. Oh, and his heart is good. I'm just afraid he's going to stroke out any time now. He wakes with pounding headaches and vomiting due to headaches and because of all the BP pills that he's on, is barely able to work.
Yes, he has a Bi-pap machine for 'severe sleep apnea' (which I believe is his main cause as to why he can't get his BP down) but it is set sooooooo high that it dries him out within 5 minutes like sandpaper. I kid you not. I felt his mouth and it was like sandpaper after just 5 minutes. OH, and yes, he's overweight but it's due to all the BP pills! He was never overweight until the meds were all added in. And being on all of these BP meds makes it impossible to lose weight. Any suggestions? Any ideas? All bloodtests are coming back normal, too. With the exception of a fasting glucose.....he's pre diabetic. Ugh.....this man is a mess.
Thanks, guys!
Last edited by Shadowsmom42; 05-12-2012 at 03:39 AM.
I had difficult to treat, chronic high blood pressure. No matter how many medications I took and no matter what I did, my blood pressure still soared until I went to a very small meal, frequent eating, low calorie, low carb diet in 2005 and my blood pressure got much better.
My brother could not get his blood pressure under control and he suffered a stroke which has put him in a wheel chair with limited physical functions. I wish that he had gone on a diet similar to mine, but he didn't.
A stroke not only badly effects the victim, but everyone else in the family.
I've documented my diet at the following thread, if you would like to know more about what completely reversed my chronic high blood pressure. My blood pressure is now at very healthy levels 24 hours per day:
Health Issue: High & Low Blood Pressure.
Thread: My diet- most effective "medication" for my Blood Pressure, CHF & Insulin Resistance!
I suggest seeing a hypertension specialist who is best qualified to look at his medication list and optimize.
Has he been appropriately screened for secondary causes of hypertension?
There are invasive procedures now in trials for patients such as your husband, the most promising of which (IMO) is renal nerve ablation via radiofrequency. Take a look. Another is the placement of carotid sinus stimulating devices.
Thank you for the info! We've asked about 'hypertension specialists' but there really aren't any doctors that specialize in just that. Especially when you have a crappy HMO! LOL. Yes, he's been looked at every which way, inside and out, LOL. I think he'd get it down if he could just use the Bi-Pap machine but: take a blow dryer, turn it on high, and put it about 1 foot from your face. That's how strong his is set. It's awful. Even with the humidifier that comes with it it's either too drying or too wet, sprinkling water to the back of his throat.
Yes, he's been checked for secondary hypertension. Just can't find a darn thing, though.
How in the world, too, do you lose weight when you're on soooooo many hypertension pills?? You know? LOL.
Well, he's pretty much screwed himself, not taking care of himself and such. I can only do so much for him...
Thanks, again, for the info! Take care.....
