HBP

Well, I was diagnosed with HBP today and am on a beta-blocker. The doctor did an EKG and found an abnormality that he believes may be a prior heart attack. Wonderful news. I have to go back on Monday for an Echo and go from there.

I keep yelling about stress at work and no one takes me seriously. I bet they still won't.

Sorry to hear Sandi. Will they be finding out for sure about the prior? Apparently women have different symptoms and it can be more subtle.

Do you have a home blood pressure monitor? I have a wrist one - I think it's reasonably accurate but maybe the arm cuffs are better.
Erica

Yeah, that's why I have to have the Echo on Monday. It will tell us more and if need be, I'll be referred to a cardiologist.

We have a home BP cuff, but it's too big for my arm - it's my husbands. I'm hoping the meds work quickly.

Sorry to hear this, Sandi! Please try and take it easy on yourself. Steven has HBP too and is on medication, I forget which one. It really does help him.

Good luck on Monday with the Echo and let us know how you make out. So, your doctor thinks you could have a heart attack in the near future?

Thats all you need Sandi, another to add to the list. Hope they can get it sorted quickly, take it easy at work, if you fall behind you fall behind, they might get the hint then.
Julia

Hope everything goes okay at your appointment and take it easy, i don't know what we would do without u here on the forum

well, how about that kick in the pants?! Another thing to add to the list! It's gonna be alright. Eventually!
He must be pretty confident about the abnormality to speak such a thing without further testing.
First thought about the work thing.....maybe yelling about the stress is contributing to it!
Love you Sandi.

Erica I was told the wrist and finger ones weren't as good as the cuff ones. Have you taken it to the doctor with you and had it checked - dr or nurse takes bp their way and then take it with your wrist machine to see if they match or are close?

Sandi the important thing right now is your high bp has been discovered and steps taken to get it under control. Get you own bp machine, take it a few times a week so you have a record of readings for when you next see the doctor - that way he can see how the beta blocker is treating you, whether you need an increase in dose and/or another med added.

Thanks, guys. I'm really not too worried at this point. I'll start worrying if I get bad news on Monday.

Cindy - he thinks I've already had a heart attack according to what he saw.

Gretchen - I don't really yell out loud, just in my head. I do mutter complaints which are ignored.

You are right - there is no reason to be worrying yourself, and if you get back news Monday you shouldn't worry yourself but work to take care of whatever it is.

However..........

You do need to be keeping track of your bp so the doctor knows if the beta blocker is working or not. I guess you could just wait and have it taken next time you go into the office for your check up but it would be helpful to him to see what your bp has been doing between visits [some people only have high bp when they are in the office and it is being taken].

Is your bp high or did he put on you the beta blocker because of what he saw on the EKG? My ex-brother-in-law the thoracic surgeon years ago told me that those who had a heart attack were sent home on a beta blocker [he had to have told me this at least 25 years ago].

Melinda - I knew it was getting high which was why I made the appointment in the first place. It has been borderline the past year - 142ish. I knew because of the way I'd been feeling. When I first got there, I was a wreck from work. I actually calmed down a bit in the waiting room and when they finally called me back and took it, it was 164/89. Not overly high, but probably lower than when I'd first gotten there. Not white coat syndrome.

He started with a lecture about ways to lower BP, cutting out caffeine, salt, etc. and was undecided about whether or not to start a beta blocker. He said we'd see what the EKG showed. When he came back in the room after that, he looked concerned and said we'd start the beta blocker that day, then told me what he found.

The weird thing is, my lipid panel is pretty good, so what is causing this? I'm not overweight, eat pretty well, etc. Don't know.

Sandy,
You should probably try to drink decaffienated coffee or drinks. I've been doing this for years--it's a start. Also, Amazon usually has some really good blood pressure monitors. I invested in one a couple of years ago and try to check my bp every other week. Mine is sometimes high when I go to the doctor--but in-between it is usually low. Don't forget about "exercise". This is really important to help keep the bp truely lower.

Before I retired--I used to travel 5 hours a day to work--did this for 8 1/2 years! This is probably why I ended up with ITP!

Dee Dee

my husband has hpb and he got a prescription from the doc for a cuff machine. Haven't gotten it yet though! Gotta do that.

That's what I thought Sandi.

All right - 142ish is not borderline per the Mayo Clinic it is Stage 1 Hypertension. And the 164/89 is Stage 2 Hypertension.
www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-pressure/HI00043

www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP_WhatIs.html

Cuff machines aren't expensive, can get at WalMart, Walgreen, Costco, Sam's.

What's causing this? Age, family history, anything. What would cause a 29 year old tall, thin, healthy eating male with good cholesterol to have high bp [friend's son]?

Prednisone causes high blood pressure. When I go up on prednisone (eg. 30 mg) my blood pressure goes up to 160/110 and that's on blood pressure medication. I take an ACE inhibitor and a diuretic and my BP is ok when I'm not taking so much pred. I'm currently taking 5 mg every other day.

I've tried cutting salt and exercising but it doesn't seem to help. I suspect that I'm not really cutting the salt as much as I should.

Lily

Lily,

I agree with you concerning Prednisone. When I've been on Prednisone, my bp goes up to a danger zone. For some reason, the Decadron doesn't effect me as severely--but maybe cause I don't take it every day.

Dee Dee

And then there is me - I had high bp & on med before going on prednisone and the 4 years I was on it my bp didn't go up. I guess as with everything, we all are different.

They make a good point though Sandi - prednisone or any other medications you take?

I'm not questioning the HBP. I understand that comes with age and expected it at some point. That I can handle. I'm questioning the reason I'd have had a heart attack.

Yes, I am on 10 -15 mg's of Prednisone a day. Have been for years.

Sorry Sandi - you made it sound like you were talking about the high blood pressure.

No. I know that's manageable.

Clearly you need to stop hanging around with me!

Best of luck on Monday. The good news is it sounds like they caught it early, so even if you did have a small heart attack (as if there is ever such a thing.....) the damage should be minimal at most. If they start talking about the treadmill test or a cath, let me know and I'll tell you all about it (not that bad, actually, just weird).

Say goodbye to salt and caffeine. I was a coffee fiend before my heart issues, even roasting my own beans, but I haven't had a cup for 3 years (no Diet Coke either -- nothing). I hate the decaf stuff -- yes, there is a taste difference. More recently, I've stopped eating beef and lamb (ohhhhh no more Lamb Vindaloo...the pain the pain!!), and I've cut my wine intake down to about 1 glass a week (I'm not supposed to drink any b/c of the meds, but, come on, what's life without a little vino). Haven't had a cocktail for over 5 years.

Anyway, you are tough and a survivor. You'll get through this. Hang in there my friend.

Sandi,
Here's your opportunity to cut back on anything that gives extra stress. You can tell friends, church committees, etc., "I've been ordered to lower my stress level and take walks. I don't have time to bake three dozen cupcakes (or call a list of twenty people, or all the other things folks ask us to do)." Julianne's ITP was my exit from a volunteer activity I loved but which was adding some load and stress to my already hectic life. I found less stressful outlets for that energy. Also, I'm sure you've been peppered with "home remedies" from friends, and there's no substitute for the meds, but pineapple juice is supposed to help with bp, and there's a pineapple tea you can make from the rind. (Wash it first, since there probably are chemicals and germs on it.) I don't remember the particulars, but you could google it. Pineapple has a high glycemic index, though, so, if you have blood sugar issues, beware of that. It also is said to help bruises resorb more quickly. Take care of yourself. The folks who count on you to do so much will have to realize they won't have you at all if you don't prioritize your health. (Easy to say, hard to do, from the one who doesn't take time for her own health because she's too busy doing it all for all.)
Norma

Norma - I haven't told family and friends yet. I want to wait and see what's going on. Stress at work won't get better, in fact, it's even worse. When I told my boss what was going on, he said, "stop with the excuses". That blew me away. I've never given any excuse for not being able to do my job, and if I have complained about the stress, he just tells me to "manage it".

Steve - I don't mind decaf coffee. My husband and I actually already drink a 1/2 decaffeinated blend already. We can switch, but I only drink a few cups a week anyway.

I don't think I like your boss, Sandi! That's just plain insensitive. Good luck tomorrow.

Wow. Your boss really isn't much of a people-person, huh?
How rude of him to say that.

stop with the excuses? humpffff......What a jerk! I'm thinking I wouldn't like to have your job! I'm afraid I'd have to tell him a thing or 2! I remember when you quit your job, for a day or two anyway! Ya know, there comes a time when "it" just isn't worth it anymore, no matter the consequences.

Ha - no health insurance isn't an option.

Sandi, I had a boss like that once when I was working; sorry to say, he was a "total jerk". He got paid back later when we had layoffs. His daughter got laid off; his sister also got laid off--and later on he got depromoted--and he sort of blamed it on me. I had to complain to "his boss" about some of the things he was doing. Isn't there someone you can talk to about him? He's taking his "temper" out on you.

I am lucky with my job, my bosses have been wonderful to me and always telling me to let them know if they can do anything for me.

My mom went through something similar Sandi, they say she's had a previous heart attack and she has absolutely no memory of having symptoms to support that. It's been years since the diagnosis and she does have to take HPB meds and monitor hers, but once she got they right combination of drugs she does well.

The one thing both she and my younger sister who has a tendancy to have HBP find that when it goes up itm may be a symptom that they need to have a TSH and get their thyroid meds adjusted. Once they do that the HBP will come back down.