Scared to tears..

Storm Moon · 07-24-2007, 06:41 PM

Let's see, how to begin. I'm 29, have had high blood pressure for a few years. It started out at 210/140 about 3 years ago. I've been on Atenolol, Norvasc, Paxil, Lexapro, and occasional Zyrtec for allergies.

Atenolol I stopped because it was making me too drowsy after about 3 months. Norvasc I had to stop because it made my legs swell, after about another 3 months. I stopped Paxil because it just wasn't helping, and I changed to Lexapro. That stuff is too expensive, so I had to cut that too.

But as of recently, I noticed that my blood pressure was going up since I moved in with my bf, and I was basically changed from Dyazide (37.5/25) to Lisinopril/HCTZ (20 - 25 mg) about 2 and a half weeks ago. Well, I noticed that about a week into taking it, I would feel my heart beating funny, and I couldn't sleep because of it. I missed over a week of school because of this. I called my doctor, that I recently just got, and asked if the med would be causing it, and he said no.

BTW, this was after I had decided to go to the hospital on Saturday morning because the heart rate had increased and I didn't sleep at all. I also had burning in my chest, primarily on the left upper side, and had some pretty bad heartburn. I guess the White Castles I had that night didn't help either. Anyway, they did a chest x-ray, EKG, and blood tests and told me I was fine. Well, if I was fine, why did the doctor up there have me wear a holter monitor for 24 hours?

I have been incredibly stressed as of late, and my bf doesn't really help either. He constantly stresses me about finding a job. I go to school every day of the week, and I just feel like I can't keep up with looking for a job and studying to stay caught up. I tried working and going to school full-time, but I just can't handle it.

My doctor got the results of the Holter monitor test in today and is now referring me to a cardiologist, saying that I do have some arrhythmia every now and then, but my heart is pretty normal, as he said. Despite his saying that it is fairly normal is scaring the crap out of me, and I don't know what to do. Could these abnormal rhythms be stress-related or do I now have heart problems, at only 29?? I used to smoke, but I quit about 3 years ago. I am overweight, weighing in at 211 lbs. My diet is, well, iffy. My bf refuses to go to the store and buy groceries and insists on eating out every day. I cannot do that anymore, as I have told him, and he whines on incessantly that he can't afford to buy groceries. I just feel so scared that I don't know what to do. Please help if you can. Thank you.

jaguar63122 · 07-25-2007, 10:41 AM

Storm....What you probably are experiencing are PVC's or PAC's. They are pretty normal and in a healthy heart should not cause any problems. You need to go to the cardiologist to make sure what they are though. I have had them everyday for over 7 years now. Like you they used to scared me to death, but now Im so accustom to them I don't hardly pay them any attention anymore. You do need to get your bloodpressure under control, and Ill tell you why........I am 38 and have heart disease. I have no family history or not really overweight. My cholesterol was good. The only contributing factor that I had was high blood pressure. I have had it since I was about 30 and have had a hard time controlling it. This is the only risk factor that I have...so it had to have alot to do with my disease. You have to take care of yourself and never stop taking your meds unless you discuss with your Dr. first. Stay on top of your bloodpressure...mine will be good for severeal months, and then it is like the meds quit working and I have to add something else or up doses???? I didn't pay that much attention before...but trust me I do now. Best of Luck.

Lenin · 07-25-2007, 11:23 AM

Storm, If you think the lisinopril is causing your symptoms, then stop taking it and go back on your Dyazide. A LOT of people cannot take lisinopril...usually because of coughing, but there are many other side effects.
If the Dyazide makes you feel better, then you've got your answer.

Quote:

My bf refuses to go to the store and buy groceries and insists on eating out every day. I cannot do that anymore, as I have told him, and he whines on incessantly that he can't afford to buy groceries.

Does he have some sort of plausible reason why he thinks it is cheaper to eat out every night than to buy groceries and eat IN? My experience is that eating out costs AT LEAST 4 times as much.

Never use a spouse or friend as an excuse for being overweight; only WE jam the food into our own mouths and only WE gain the pounds...thus only WE can lose them. Lose 50 of those pounds and your blood pressure will most likely resolve itself.

The Holter is purely precautionary becasue your doctor heard some rhythm irregularity...most of us get them some times.

Good Luck to you.

Storm Moon · 07-26-2007, 12:18 AM

Thanks jaguar for your reply. On a side note, I am also from Bowling Green and living up here in Louisville now. I love it. But yeah, my blood pressure was probably high for years and I didn't know it. It took a trip to the ER back in '04 to get me to get it in control. It usually runs around 130/80 but I noticed a few months ago I started feeling dizzy again, so it's why I had to get a new doctor and change medicines. I haven't had any chance to go get it checked regularly, and I should.

To Lenin: I talked him into going to the store tomorrow or sometime this week. I calculated how much he's spending, and it is well over 400 a month on fast food. I told him that this has to stop because it is killing me, and no doubt causing him some health concerns as well. So he agreed, and I told him that we didn't have to spend too much to keep food in the house. We went out to eat tonight and got caesar salads, which were awesome. But that was probably the last time we'll eat out for awhile.

I do know that on the day I wore the monitor, I had no sleep and we drove to Bowling Green to see my dad. Finally getting some sleep that night, I've noticed that they're not as bad as they were; I'm not getting that skipping sensation in my chest. I DO notice that I seem to get them when I worry about something. I've also been having some other problems that need to be in another forum, however.

Thank you both for your replies

lylone · 07-26-2007, 08:46 AM

Storm,

Its great that your bf was open to changing your eating out habits. You can still eat out on occassion, but do some homework before you go. Instead of those white castles(and yes I love them too) check out some other places too go. We don't have them here in GA, but they are close to Krystal and are usually bad on the nutritional side. I always look up restaurants on the web and look at nutritional info. Try to keep the sodium and fat to a minimum and also try to get some exercise in 4 days a week if not every day.
Exercise does wonders for blood pressure and stress.
Try to get the bf to go walking with you. Mine is stubborn about walking, but he loves to go to the pool and that way I can do laps.
Just anything to get that heart pumping helps.

good luck,
lyl