Hi All,

I monitored my b/p for almost a week now. The results I have found made me call my GP for an appt. which I had this afternoon.

Kitt here is an example of how it depends on who takes the pressure. The medical assistant told me it was 110/70. "I said, it figures! It has been high all week and now it's normal!"
Well when the doctor took it he got 150/100. He did it with two different size cuffs and then requested I allow him to take it with the cuff she used. He wanted to be sure it was not broke. All three times 150/100.

I have to start Amlodipine 5 mgs. Has/does anyone take this?

He does seem to think that is the cause of my headaches. He also thought in the same direction I thought, I am going to have an ultrasound of my kidneys. I also have to have lab work done.

I went there with every intention of saying no meds. However, with the significant family history I have it occurred to me I was just being STUPID. Strokes and heart attacks all throughout my family. Whether I want to or not I'm taking the med until we get to the bottom of what is causing this.

If anyone had any others suggestions on testing please let me know.

Hopeful

Have you checked your thyroid numbers, you might be hyperthyroid from to much synthroid. High BP is a symptom.

Hi thanks for the idea. I did think of that I'm going to have blood work done tomorrow. I did have a thyroid work up recently though and it was normal.

Thanks again!

Per WebMD, its listed elsewhere too.

Infrequent side effects of Synthroid oral:

High Blood Pressure
Weight Loss

Sorry, I missed the second page and didn't see that the Synthyroid had already been suggested...

I don't want to be an alarmist but I developed neuropathy when I was taking Amlodipine (Norvasc), I don't know if it caused it because other meds trigger it too for me but it did get somewhat better when I stopped. If your neuropathy gets worse consider that it might be playing a role, its a listed rare side effect. Don't eat a bunch of grapefruit or drink a lot of the juice, it isn't supposed to affect the metabolism of that particular calcium channel blocker but I think it did for me.

judi

Thanks for that information. I will pay attention to whether my neuropathy gets any worse. This is a good thing to know.

This drug caused dependent edema for me years ago.
It was so severe I couldn't bend my knees!

Try to keep your feet elevated, and avoid alcohol...as a headache can come from this drug + alcohol.

Thanks Mrs. D I will watch for the edema. If it begins to occur I'll request something different.

My real hope is to find what is the cause of the HTN. I have a feeling it may be the IVIG. At my next appt with my rheumo I'm considering requesting putting my IVIG on hold for a month and see it the b/p comes down.

I realize it will be difficult to evaluate being on the Amlodipine but my thought is if my b/p lowers without the IVIG then it will be really low on the amlodipine. Then I'll know.

The issue is I'm not certain I would want to stop the IVIG since it works somewhat for me.

Hi Hopeful,

There are numerous causes for elevated BP and many times the cause is unknown. AND, of course, BP changes constantly so it is good that you took a good sampling and monitored it.

I wonder why it is treated so differently by so many doctors. I mean that in a curiosity manner of wonderment. Maybe someone on NT can explain it to me. Why do some doctors start you out on a calcium channel blocker, others on an ace inhibitor, others on a beta blocker, others on an angiotensin, etc. Why do some begin pharmaceuticals at a systolic of 140 of above or a diastolic of 90 or above yet others wait until it is higher?

Do they really take into account the degree of pain the patient is experiencing at the time?

I am on several BP meds but whenever I go to my pain mgt. doc, it is very elevated. With my other docs, it is not. I thought about "white coat syndrome" but I am never nervous with my pain mgt. doc and like him a lot so I have dismissed the white coat syndrome. If that were the case, I would get an elevated pressure with my other docs, too, especially the ones that "could" make me nervous. I am guessing that I am just in more pain when I am at my pain mgt. doc's office and that is why my BP is higher there than in other docs offices.

My entire family and all my ancestors have / had high BP. My mother was treated for years with poor control and constant change of meds until they finally discovered that her renal arteries were blocked. (Her kidney function labs were always OK.) After surgery, she was off all BP meds for a while but her hypertension came back.

I think elevated BP is a little like neuropathies in the sense that the cause may never be known and all we can hope for is adequate treatment and control.

Just keep a good watch on your BP and keep monitoring it. Wishing you the best.

Hopeless

Thanks Hopeless! I really don't know why each doctor uses different meds. Possibly they stick to the ones that they have had the most success with controlling their patients b/p as a whole. I think it is also due to what other medications the patient is taking.

My doctor told me he was starting with this because many of the others can cause a chronic cough.

As I have always had low b/p I did not know enough about the meds to question it. I use to be a cardiac care nurse but it was a while ago. I remember a lot about the procedures but not about the meds.

I can't say I would have started meds if my diastolic was only in the low 90's but
I do understand why it is done.

The diastolic pressure is the amount of pressure in your arteries while your heart is at rest. Another words it is the pressure on your arteries to get your blood back to your heart. It shouldn't have to work that hard. The systolic is the pressure your heart has to put out while it is beating. Again it is not good if the heart has to work to hard since the heart is a muscle and can grow.

It is best to keep it at a good level. I agree with you about the pain level changing the readings. That is why I monitored it for a while. It was high on high pain days and low pain days.

That is weird though that yours is always high at your pain doctor. I can't figure that out.

I do find it interesting that your mothers labs were always normal. How did they find the blocked renal arteries?

Thanks, hopeful

Hi Hopeful,

I just responded with a long story that was not really relevant and might cause some confusion to others that may read it so I deleted it. The renal blockages were discovered accidentally when investigating another problem. Bilateral renal artery bypass was performed. Knowing that uncontrolled hypertension can lead to renal failure and that part of the function of the kidneys is to regulate blood pressure caused me much concern when my mother's renal arteries were occluded

I think my elevated BP (with medication) only at my pain mgt. doc is because I am usually there when my pain is the worst. I guess it is the pain combined with the fact an assistant takes my pressure immediately after rushing me into the exam room before I can even get seated. My other docs personally take my BP after we have been talking for a bit, not upon rushing me into the room.

Whenever I get an elevated reading at the doc's office, I come home and check it to be sure it was a fluke and not a need to change or increase my BP meds.

As far as the different types of BP meds, I know that I was put on a beta blocker by my cardiologist because of my heart rate (tachycardia), not just my BP. I was already on other types of BP meds, the beta blocker was additional. I also know they consider the patient compliance factor especially with some men because of the side effects of some types of BP meds on them. I was just curious what factors determine which type of meds they prescribe for hypertension. I know some considerations but wonder about the other factors.

Sure hope you find the reason for your recent elevations. I don't need to tell you how important it is to control BP as you already know that and are taking all the right steps toward proper care of yourself. Sorry that your nursing background is now needed to care for yourself. Thanks for your postings.