My days seem to be numbered

[lillypaddle]

seriously, blood pressure through the roof, even though I'm now on meds, hasn't changed. Both parents died of heart attacks 2 years younger than I am.

My main concern is my doggies. I might write more later about this for advice. But for now,

Do I clean my apartment so that the EMT people arriving don't talk about what a lousy housekeeper I am behind my dead back??? Or do I say "fuck it," it won't be my problem anymore, who cares?

Just wondering what you think.

[redwitch]

1. Do everything you can do to lower the blood pressure.

What does your doctor say? :hug:

[lillypaddle]

3. I'm on a beta-blocker, 50 mg twice a day

cutting back on salt - no smoking, cf course - he's advised me not to excercise at this time. Have been on the meds a week & a half, but it just doesn't seem to get any better. He told me to keep monitoring it for another 3 weeks.

[Raven]

13. I had the same problem years ago. Beta blocker seemed to

stop working. My Doc added a small amount of a diuretic to the BB and it has worked like a charm ever since. Ask you Doc about this.

[Crystal Clarity]

18. I've been on atenolol (beta blocker) 100 mg's for 21 years now

Since I was 23 years old. I only weighed about 110 at the time too and not much more then that now. So it is definitely a genetic thing with me. 3 of my four grandparents died before the age of 60 from heart attacks (and strokes- related to their heart problems)... My maternal grandmother was only 41 when her stroke killed her. But I do everything I can to limit my risks and the atenolol does keep my BP pretty much under control.

Your beta blocker may just take some time before it kicks in... What has your doctor said about it? If your BP continues to stay elevated, there are plenty other BP meds that your doctor can try you on. Certainly do all you can to keep the risks at a minimum and stay vigilant with plenty of doctor visits, but try not to worry too much. For about the first five years after going on meds, I did a whole lot of worrying, but it helped nothing and likely even aggravated my BP.

So try not to worry and stay positive. With your doctor's help you'll likely be ok and able to keep it under control. :hug:

[femmocrat]

2. I think you are probably overwhelmed right now....

Please take care of yourself, lilypaddle. Follow doctor's orders about exercise, diet, etc. Maybe another medicine would help you--- there are a lot of b.p. meds and sometimes it takes awhile to find the best one for you.

Do you have family or someone to talk to about all of this? :hug:

[lillypaddle]

4. Thanks for the hug

I've tried to maintain a positive attitude, but as days go by and the BP is still 170 or more with few exceptions, it's harder & harder. I have a son & his wife in Lexington, KY (Im in Atlanta), and I do talk to him, but he just worries. I'm probably over reacting, but I can't help but think it would be good to get things in order, if you know what I mean.

Biggest worry: 2 rescue doggies, one about 8 years old, and the other about 6 years old. My kid has a dog already and they kept my two when I was recovering from a broken ankle last year - didn't work out very well for all of them, but bless them for trying their hardest!

HATE the thought that these dogs would wind up back in the pound.

[femmocrat]

6. A positive attitude is very important.

If it would put your mind at ease, then get "things" in order. (I do know what you mean.) All that worrying is very stressful and could be affecting your health, as well.

Keep us posted, OK? There are a lot of good-hearted people here at DU who could offer advice about your dogs.

I don't want to see this thread get locked because of the medical part.

Another :hug: and best wishes to you.

[hippywife]

5. It took trying

no lie, about 12 different meds to get mine under control. Don't give up, sweetie. :hug:

[lillypaddle]

7. Thanks everyone

already I feel better :)

[WillParkinson]

8. Stress isn't helping, either, I'm sure...

Try a nice relaxing bath with some scented candles and perhaps a glass of wine.

[Mr. Ected]

9. 3 weeks is not enough to significantly reduce your blood pressure

When I was first diagnosed with hypertension, my BP was 220/170. I had no idea that I was even afflicted; I was only 10 pounds overweight and my diet was pretty balanced. I was 45 years old and hypertension runs in my family.

Over the course of 6 months, my doctor altered my medications, and I made a few lifestyle changes. It seemed that my BP was stuck at 160/120 forever. Finally, we came upon a combination of medications (Enalapril and Atenonol) that stabilized my condition. I'm constantly hovering between 120-125/70-80 and my apprehensions have been erased.

Keep moving, walk at least 30 minutes a day, stay away from fried foods, watch your cholesterol, and keep the faith with your medications. Daily meditation also helps to de-stress. I HATE chemicals and wanted to do this using only natural remedies, but nothing was effective. In this case, allow your doctor to experiment until a personally-tailored solution is arrived at.

And clean up your apartment, for God's sake! ;)

[Kali]

10. it takes time for meds to get worked out

but there is nothing wrong with having "things in order" no matter what the situation
as for cleaning house? meh - only a little at a time and only IF it helps your mood somehow. Don't stress about it!

[Brickbat]

11. I went through a period several years ago when I was having panic attacks at night, and I would lie

in bed and think about how messy my entryway was, and if my panic attack turned into a heart attack (like it always felt like it was doing), I would 911 and they would come and see my entryway, and they would be so grossed out that they would call social services and take my kids away.

So, I know how you're thinking. :hug:

(All of it was highly unlikely, of course...the entryway was messy, sure, but that's because that was where the dog slept. It was more dog room than entryway.)

It sounds like you've gotten some good advice on this thread. Live how you want to live, and remember that all of our days are numbered.

[Avalux]

12. It may take a little longer and an adjustment to your meds.

There are a plethora of BP meds out there and you may need to try different combinations to find a regimen that works for you. A consideration is to see a second doc for opinion. In fact, I'd strongly recommend it.

In the mean time, have you tried meditation or other relaxation techniques? Stress worrying over your doggies and the condition of your apartment will only exacerbate your BP. Eating fresh foods (unprocessed = no added salts) and losing weight will also help (of course I have no idea if weight is a factor in your case).

May I ask what your BP readings are on the meds?

[lillypaddle]

20. BP Readings on the meds ...

7/19 166/86 5:15am - 171/86 2:23 pm

7/20 151/78 5:31 sm - 156/83 2:22 pm

7/21 162/87 5:08 am - 167/83 2:22 pm

7/22 167/79 & 173/78

7/23 174/95 & 165/86

7/24 194/88 & 168/85

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. Here's my take:

I'm a retired RN, and I'm used to reading BP's.

The top number is the systolic, and those are high. That number shows the pressure inside your heart during the beat. It will take time to get it down; listen to your MD. There's a lot of good advice here in this thread too.

The bottom number is the diastolic, and those are all GOOD. (Well, except the 95, and that's just one.) The diastolic is very important. The reason why it is? This is the pressure inside your heart between the beats. And this tiny moment is when your coronary arteries get their blood. When the pressure inside your heart is too high, then your coronary arteries have trouble getting enough blood, and also enough oxygen. But your pressures are all OK.

Your heart is getting enough oxygen.

Relax. You are doing all right.

:hug:

[lillypaddle]

32. My Dear Peggy

Thank you.

[MrMickeysMom]

37. Salute...

(from an RRT to RN) That was a very good explanation. :patriot:

[MiddleFingerMom]

14. I started working for a company around the turn of the century...

.
.
.
.
(GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!)...where, on a routine b/p check,
they found it to be so high as to cause the company nurse
to advise me to go to the ER IMMEDIATELY (she told me
later she wouldn't have been surprised if I had had a stroke
on the way in).
.
Couldn't. My health insurance didn't kick in for (maybe) 30
days -- If I could last 'til then, I could live AND survive.
Monitored me closely, stopped by daily and made me recite
what would send me to the ER without hesitation (besides the
b/p -- actual signs of a heart attack or stroke).
.
When I finally got treated -- it took some time to drop the
B/P with meds and diet (ain't it HARD to find stuff low in
sodium?) -- but now, even though my weight is still too high
(STILL down 50 pounds from those days), my b/p is a glorious
120/75 or thereabouts.
.
Somebody mentioned a diuretic (what's normally called a
"water pill"). A cheap (a dime a day) drug that can work
wonders -- although I do call it my "YOUGONOW" pill.
Talk to your doctor (BIG THING -- TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR
RATHER THAN US).
.
OK, talk to us -- but ONLY for suggestions on what to talk
to your doctor about -- and general lifestyle suggestions
and changes that have proven successful for others (like if
you don't know how to read food labels well -- GET SOME HELP
WITH THAT -- lowering sodium is a biggie... and you'll be
amazed at its "secret sources").
.
.
MOST people have easily controllable high b/p -- but it sounds
like you're expecting results yesterday. Might be PART of the
problem -- relax... breathe... breathe again... breathe DEEP.
You'd be surprised how much a little thing like breathing and
just plain r-e-l-a-x-i-n-g can help your physical well-being.
.
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR.
.
.
And relax -- stressing about it may be one of THE most
counterproductive things you can do.
.
AND BACK AWAY FROM THAT SALT LICK!!!!!
.
.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. I went through the same thing a couple years ago. Felt much like you are at first.

240/130 at the doctor's office (my first trip to the dr in a decade and it was for something completely different). It took trying a lot of meds over several months but we eventually settled on a cocktail that got it down to generally @120-ish / 80-ish.
In the meantime I was feeling pretty depressed about the whole thing so I have a pretty good idea how you feel.
Hang in there and keep working with your doctor(s). They'll find something that works for you. Most of the time they never know what's causing the high BP so treating it correctly can be hit or miss for a while.

[Haole Girl]

16. How old are you?

You've got to be more stubborn than that, you know! ;-) :hug:

[lillypaddle]

21. 62 big ones :)

[Haole Girl]

30. You are not old enough to be talking like that!

I'm going to suggest something & I hope you'll keep an open mind about it.

When I first started taking blood pressure medicine (December 2008) the doctor prescribed a beta-blocker. It sent me straight into a depressive state. The nurse, at my doctor's office, didn't believe me and wanted me to "try it another 3 weeks." I'd already had a month of it & I was fed up. I was crying when I raised my voice and told that nurse, "You ARE going to tell me how to wean myself off of this crap, or I'm just going to stop taking it & take my chances with a stroke." She then said, "I think you are having a depressive episode..." Well, D'uh, I thought!

After I saw a new (and more qualified) internist, I was prescribed a calcium channel blocker (instead of the beta blocker) and have never gone back. As an added bonus, the calcium channel blocker helped eliminate headaches I'd been having for a long time.

You might ask your doctor to switch you off of beta blockers & try one of the other types of bp meds. It's worth a shot.

Don't give up. You can never give up. As dark as today may seem, remember this: It is always darkest before the dawn.

Ok. That is the end of my lecture. lol Hold on... ok? :hug:

[backwoodsbob]

17. if you are worried about the doggies

send them here...of course we all you are full of shit

[DebJ]

19. I've spent the last 6 weeks cleaning up my place. U will feel

much better and more relaxed! Forget the EMT's opinions, what about the family being stuck with it after you are gone? My dad is a real hoarder, and it's going to be hell for us when he goes. So I'm determined my kids will never face that.


I'm still working on my clean up, but the pressure relief is already kicking in. I just go and look at my 'new' almost cleaned up garage, basement, and office and my BP drops a few points!

I just started BP meds myself, and the flyer with it says it usually takes about 3 weeks to begin to have effect. I also read that exercise and life-style changes take 6 months to have an effect, pooh. Though just dropping 3 lbs made me feel better anyway, and feeling better lowers the BP too.

[cwydro]

22. Don't worry about the cleaning.

Think positive and try not to worry (easy to say I know).

Sending good vibes your way and a big hug as well!

[Roon]

24. My days are numbered too

Full blown aids, not taking my meds, drinking non-stop, and my liver is diseased with full blown diabetes..god bless you

[emilyg]

27. Hug.

[Roon]

31. Thanks emily, i will get better

I promise.

[lillypaddle]

33. Damn, Roon

You really know how to but things in persepective.

I am so, so sorry to hear that. I hope you aren't alone.

[applegrove]

25. My mom was referred to a blood pressure specialist at the hospital this past winter (she has low

blood pressure). The doctor had all sorts of ideas on how she could manage it all. See if you can't get your family doctor to make you a referral to a specialist.

[david13]

26. All of our days are numbered. It is known as the calendar.

You are a year older than me.
Some years ago my bp was in the 140/90 range, so I started bike riding, better diet, Salad, fruits and vegetables.
I stopped smoking 25 years ago along with alcohol.
Bp last week was 109/76.
Just now it's 112/76, pulse 70.
You can get yourself in order. You can make progress. You can get your health and your house in order. And now is the time to start doing so.
Cleaning house and cleaning health go hand in hand. We all need to be prepared for our last day. And we all have a day with our last number on it. So preparing ahead of time, and delaying the day is the best way to go.
You just slowly have to change one day at a time.
I cannot exercise, only walking or bike riding, and not up hills.
Walking is the best exercise.
dc

[MrMickeysMom]

28. I guess this would be my check-list...

What are the things you have been advised to do (besides beta blockers)?
Are you including any kind of exercise (not sure if weight is an issue, many people of normal weight are terribly hypertensive)?
Do you do things to enjoy life in general?

Your comment on cleaning your apartment took me by surprise. Are you really that sure you're that unhealthy or that you've done all you could to promote health?

I don't know what I'd do without animals to love... they calm me down.

[lillypaddle]

34. I think I'm over reacting a bit

because of family history. Paternal grandmother died in her fifties of heart attack, as did my aunt at about the same age. Both parents died, one at 60 and the other at 61 of heart attacks. I turn 63 in December. When I had breast cancer a few years back, and they would ask me about they cancer history in my family, I pretty much said, "who knows? They all died of heart attacks before cancer could be diagnosed." :)

[MrMickeysMom]

36. Maybe Atlanta, GA's getting to you?

I noticed you live there. Have you ever heard Mike Malloy go on about having to get away to the North GA mountains? Listen to MM and let him be your primal scream therapy!

Until then, think positively and cherish your 63 year old self! :hi:

[snailly]

29. First, walk this down...calm down and think

Arrange for someone to check on you and your dogs. It doesn't have to be a friend just a neighbor or someone you trust that you pay.
That will relieve most of your stress. Do you have a friend or a shelter that can take care of the dogs if you wind up in the hospital? You know as well as I do that EMT's don't give a flying fuck about how clean your house is! Settle down, tonight. Breathe.
You will be just fine.

[lillypaddle]

35. Thanks everyone

for the reasoned, good advice. I will check in and keep you posted along the way. I've appreciated your caring feedback more than you know. :grouphug:

[whistler162]

38. Yes your days are numbered... hopefully in the 7,000+ day

range!

Relax and take a deep breath and hold it till I tell you to release it....

talk to you in a month or three!

[zanana1]

39. I had six bypasses when I was 38.

I'm 58 now. You have every reason to believe you will live a long life, especially if you follow your doctor's orders. You just can't get away from us! (BTW, my father died of a heart attack at the age of 48).