Effective Mgmt of BP Med Side Effects?

[WYSIWYG]

Hi, I'm new to these boards and newly back on BP meds due to a spiking pattern that led to a retinal bleed and a medical "intervention." I read so many of your stories last night about the side effects of BP meds-- it was like a flashback to the years my BP and my meds were totally mismanaged medically and it almost killed me. It was so bad back then that I seriously meant it when I told my doc at the time that I would rather stroke out that same day, than continue on the path she had me on. 'Nuff said.... But thanks to your stories, I felt a sense of not being alone with my legitimate fears of what the new meds will do to me. I'm very grateful for all the stories shared.

Boards like this didn't exist last time around. I woke up this morning thinking, "So the side effects are a barrier to overcome. How do I do that?" I know you're not all sitting around home all day not working or living your lives-- you must know something I don't about how to manage and/or live with the side effects. It was then that I realized how powerful a resource this board could be-- beyond moral support, maybe.

My current concern is, how will the effects of the meds (Diovan HCT) affect my exercise program, and how will I deal with that? The program consists of aquatic forms of:

• Tai Chi and Yoga
• Jogging
• Strength Training

Let's use this thread to focus just on the potential positives, OK?

~Susan

[WYSIWYG]

Lead Legs
Hm, at least so far, the lead legs are pretty nicely helped by the aquatics. Oh, I don't feel like working out. In fact I felt pretty nauseated last night in addition to lead legs. But it was amazing how much better I felt the moment I was in the water, and what a great, long workout I had. I think I know why.

In aquatic exercise, you're vertical. I've heard that swimming (horizontal) is actually much harder for hypertensives (and far less beneficial to BP), than staying vertical. The hydrostatic pressure is higher as you go deeper in the water, so there is more water pressure at the feet and legs than at the upper body-- like wearing a giant and very comfy pressure stocking from the toes all the way up. The movements (jogging and aquatic Tai Chi) also benefit blood flow but are gentle enough not to raise the BP too intensely.


IBS
I have had a BAD time with this, on and off, for years. (Yes, the meds brought on a fresh challenge.) So far, increasing the daily intake of oat bread has worked well. When the IBS is worst, it takes a LOT of oat bread on a daily basis to rebuild the gut's response to dietary or environmental stressors, and once that's improved you can cut back on the soluble fibers quite a bit and actually re-introduce some of the food items that used to be instant triggers. What I did was increase the soluble fibers BEFORE the gut got out of control, and that has actually worked so far.

~S~

[Lenin]

Susan,

I don't think you'll have much trouble with side effects from Diovan HCT if you get the BP control you need.

What you need to watch out for is any discrepancies in mineral balance from the thiazide. Have your serum potassium and serum sodium measured regularly. Thiazide has a serious ability to lower one's serum sodium and then combined with a sweat inducing workout, dehydration can too readily occur. Most of the hype is about loss of potassium but I firsthand experienced that a lowered sodium can be FAR more dire. I chose to go the Lasix route after YEARS of running chronically low sodium levels on HCTZ. Lasix doesn't seem to lower sodium too much if at all but CAN readily lower potassium...so I take daily potassium.

DON'T restrict your salt while taking the HCTZ!

Side effects from Diovan aren't common but they do occur.

Have you tried daily legumes for that IBS...the amounts of soluble fiber in most beans is staggering.

[WYSIWYG]

Originally Posted by Lenin

Susan,

What you need to watch out for is any discrepancies in mineral balance from the thiazide. Have your serum potassium and serum sodium measured regularly. Thiazide has a serious ability to lower one's serum sodium and then combined with a sweat inducing workout, dehydration can too readily occur.
Side effects from Diovan aren't common but they do occur.

Have you tried daily legumes for that IBS...the amounts of soluble fiber in most beans is staggering.

Thanks for the encouragement! That was new onfo, about the sodium. Might explain some of the past experiences. And legumes, yes.

What I'm worrying about on the side effects is that the doc will almost surely want to add an additional BP med, but my prior experience was that they made me so sick that back then, I couldn't work out at all-- ended up confined to the recliner till I quit the whole shebang and got into the water. So this time, I am re-establishing the aquatic program before they start adding stuff, in the hope the exercise will bring down the BP those several additional points I know they'll push for, and/or help ameliorate the side effects more meds will probably cause (from past experience).

I drink a lot of water while working out-- say a quart an hour-- as the pool alone can mask sweating; you do sweat in the pool but you don't notice it. I dunno if the tests you mentioned are in the battery they're running tomorrow, but I'll look into that and be sure the doc is keeping an eye out there as well.

Apologies in advance for any typos-- the retinal bleed has caused a blind spot in my vision and I am going to quit edting and re-editing everywhere I go!

~Susan

[violet312s]

I too am on Diovan (not HCT though) and just starting to get back into an exercise regimen after many months of trial and error on various BP meds.

I've been having my blood tested regularly and am consistently testing very low on most electrolytes. Doctor recommended that I drink fluids other than water. It's made a huge difference. Have you had your blood tested recently?

So, when you say you are drinking a quart of water during a session...you might want to try something other than water. Gatorade, caffeine free tea (one bag per cup of hot water...makes great iced tea), fruit juices. The tough part is balancing out the calories. In general, drink less not more.

Also, think of taking a multi-vitamin or something that supplements your magnesium and calcium levels.

After many months of no exercise I'm going to have to gradually work myself back into health. The key is listening to what your body is saying. It will take time.