New here - high BP, and other questions

[gadgetman]

I've had my Cholesterol level tested every six months (more often if a number suddenly changes). Last one was 8-13-04 (numbers in () are Recommended Levels:

Total Cholesterol: 124 (<200MG/DL)
HDL (Good Chol): 39 (>35MG/DL)
LDL (Bad Chol): 62 (<100MG/DL)
Triglycerides: 115 (<200MG/DL)

They also check my Liver Function which has stayed "Normal"

Haven't had the Creatinine level tested lately but the chart my Doc sends shows a .06-1.5 MEQ/L Recommended Level.

Not bad when thinking back a few years with Cholesterol levels above 400 and Triglycerides over 700.

Still not able to get my nights and days squared away, thus this posting at 2:58 AM (EST). Got my leg up, thank God they came out with the cordless keyboard....... Wife's Laptop gets too hot in my lap. It trying to tell me something??????

 

[Ross]

What do your other e-lytes look like? If you are having high potassium, phosphate, calcium levels then yes, your kidneys are not doing their job.

I'll know what the rest are when I get the results in the mail with the new lab order. Perhaps today, but most likely tomorrow.

 

[Ghosthunter]

gadgetman,

interesting that you mention liver enyzmes...for the past 5-6 years my liver enzymes has always been high, and they put me through every test, and eventually determined it was due to fatty liver, basically i think had an enlarged liver due to being overweight and not eating healthy.

The most ironic thing for me is this is the first blood test that came back where my liver enzymes are completely normal. I figured it would go up because I jsut recently went on Zoloft and it was raised the dosage..go figure...sometimes medicine just dont make sense to me...


perkicar,

I am not sure what my WBC differential is, i did not ask since i was not aware of it when my doc called me. But when I go back I will ask.

Drugs I takeon a daily basis:

Atenlol - 50mg / day
Zoloft - 150mg / day
Nexium - 40mg / day

Drugs I take when needed:

Fioricet - forgot dosage think it standard
Klonapin - when needed


But I have not taken firocet or klonapin in a while so that should not effect the blood test i dont think.


The odd thing and maybe it is zoloft that caused it but I dont know..my elevated White blood cells last time started about 2 months after starting zoloft. Dont know if that is a side effect, maybe I should mention that to my doctor and psychiatrist that prescribes it.

 

[gadgetman]

Ghosthunter,

Ever since I first started taking drugs for Cholesterol I've had my liver enyzmes tested at least every 6 months. My Doc seems to indicate that this is the most important area to monitor when trying to get the Cholesterol. Back in the days when my eyes glazed over every time I visited my Doc, I usually didn't ask (nor could understand) the numbers. I've become my Doc's own worse enemy now, I question everything. Most will work closely with you but some I've seen (military health care rotation of Docs) look at you like you are just wasting their time asking all these questions.

All my blood test above have required no food and fluids after midnight, except for enough water to get morning pills down.

Since I came back from the open heart surgery my pills have all changed. I'm now on:

Valsartan 60mg twice a day
Furosemide (Lasic) 40 mg
Zocor 40 mg
Potasium 20 meg
Amiodarone 200 mg twice a day
Coumadin as directed (said I would be on this for at least 4 weeks)

 

[Ghosthunter]

Here is an update -

I took an echocardiogram then did stress test then they took more pictures using echocardiogram.

The good news is, he said is my heart is very healthy, he said no problems with valves, no skipping beats, I forgot what else but he said as of now my heart is healthy and normal.


BUT, he said my blood pressure is still way too high. before i even started tests it was 150/100, he said during the exersice part my blood pressure was very high. I forgot what the numbers were.

So he bsaiclly said we really need to control the pressure, right now you are doing great, seems no internal damage from the high BP, but he said in time it evenutally will. I asked him about anueryism, he said nothing at all...I did not push for catscan at this time. I am not sure if i really should or not.


Right now he said to keep taking atenlol, but he put me on Norvasc 5mg. I hope Norvasc is a good drug. He wants to see me in a few weeks and see if it helps reduce my BP.

 

[Ross]

Well now, sounds like your still in the healty ballpark GH. Please get the meds you need and get that pressure down to some respectable numbers. They won't even consider doing any further testing because of what they've seen already. There is nothing showing or indicating anything else need be done.

Your salvagable man!

 

[hensylee]

I think my first bp med was Norvasc and it did a good job. Now it's Benicar and Atenolol. The Atenolol makes your heart beat a bit slower and quieter (not pound so hard). You sound like you are on a good road. The only other thing I might add is that you make a chart, keep track of your readings so that YOU will know how things are progressing. Take your bp morning, night, during the day, write it down. And do it often - not every day. Also, when you go to dr you might be having 'white coat' syndrome which is - "see the dr, bp rises". I used to have it every time I went. Sometimes, still do.

Congratulations on your good report. Now that the bad part is over, you can get back to what you were doing - and take your medicine. Report back, hear?

 

[Ghosthunter]

Thanks all,

I guess I lucked out...I know many others arent from the reading the stories here and that makes me sad.

I asked my Dr. which home BP machine I should get and I think he said something with Omniron, a large cuff, and make sure it not the wrist or finger one.

Everytime I have taken my BP always been in the evenings after work becuase that is when my dr appt usually are. I am really curious when I wake up in the AM what it is, as well just being home not doing anything and not stressed at all. Also curious when I get my headaches does my BP go up. I asked him if that can causes headaches, he said sometimes but he said it hard to tell because it could be the headache that causes it to rise and not the other way around.



But the biggest thing I know I have to do is exercise and get more active. He told me that I can do anything I want to do exercise and not worry about dropping dead. That was my biggest fear that kind of held me back from exercising...which is also part of OCD that I have..

 

[hensylee]

Many things can cause a rise in bp. I once came to a stop sign (on my way to dr) and lo and behold across the other side, also stopped, was my ex. When I got to dr I told him I had seen my ex and my bp would be high - it was 200 over something even higher! The dr knew my ex, didn't like him either, told me to move out of town. I did, eventually. Pain can cause it, food can cause it, laying down and then getting up can raise it a bit - that's why they sometimes take the measure with you lying flat and then make you stand and they take it again.

The reason you should take it at different times of the day is so that you can get a good AVERAGE. That's what you are looking for. Mornings may be higher. I once read about strokes because a dear one had a stroke very early a.m. The article said that most strokes happen in the morning when the patient is at rest. One would think they happen during exercise of some sort. Go figure. Interesting information.

Omniron is a good one - maybe best. I have had them and use one now. The arm one is always the best - and if your arm is big above the elbow, you may have to get the larger size cuff. The instruction booklet tells you how to take your measure. It also comes with a booklet to chart your readings. The machine also takes your pulse rate. The booklet also tells you what normal is.

You must stop worrying - it ain't helpin your bp. Just relax, do what you are sposed to do and it will help the bp.

Blessins.......

Good luck.

 

[gadgetman]

Ghosthunter,

Always good to read good news on this site. Sounds like they are working in the right direction. Your ticker looks in good shape, too. I started out 12 years ago with a little rise in BP. However, a stress test indicated some blockage around the heart. After a Cath they found I had two blockages on the left side of my heart (ALL THOSE HAMBURGERS AND FRIES). One was 100 per cent blocked but it had made it's own channels around the blockage. The other was about 70 per cent. Doc felt that because of my age (under 50 at the time) we would go the pill route for the time being. So I already knew I was facing by-pass surgery sometime in the future. Just didn't expect the valve to give up too.

With your good news, don't become a stranger. Keep us posted on your progress and check in every once in a while. And watch what you put in your mouth. I always told everyone my Doc had put me on a special diet "If it taste good, spit it out!!!" Stay on top of those meds and let the Doc know anytime you feel something different.

Best of luck.

 

[BionicBob]

Gadgetman's Comeback

Gadgetman's Comeback

Gadgetman,

I am just a week on this website, so if I am confused, please forgive me. But didn't I read in another thread somewhere that you were just very recently out of surgery? If so, all your posting to deal with the concerns of others is inspirational to me (and also a source of hope that I, too, will be able to bounce back after my mid-February surgery).

If I've got my times, dates, people all wrong, as I say, just ignore me. Thanks!

Bob

 

[Ghosthunter]

Thanks all!! I will stick around though reading too much is not good for me since i also have OCD...can make one go nuts when you start thinking you have everything and become obsessed..


My next step is to see my neurologist next week, hoping to get better medicine to reduce my migraines.

 

[Ross]

Thanks all!! I will stick around though reading too much is not good for me since i also have OCD...can make one go nuts when you start thinking you have everything and become obsessed..


My next step is to see my neurologist next week, hoping to get better medicine to reduce my migraines.

Nah, all you got is a bunch of friends that you didn't have before.

 

[Ghosthunter]

Nah, all you got is a bunch of friends that you didn't have before.

True Good point!! =)


Does anyone here have OCD? We can discuss that if you want...lol =) I never found a good board for that.

 

[gadgetman]

BionicBob,

Post two weeks as of today (surgery was Jan 21). As you can see from my "signature" I came out better than I went in. I've been surprised and pleased with my progress so far. I can't lift more than 10 lbs (so I stay away from my 130+ lb dogs) and my left leg, thanks to the removal of veins for the by-pass, are still sore and swollen.

I plan on going to Columbus tomorrow for the annual Heart Health get together. Never gave those things much thought before. Don't know if I will try to participate in the walk around the mall but I'll give it some thought.

As I've said before, none of us are alone in this journey. With sites like this and members that care, and help from the Guy above (I don't mean the noisy neighbors that live upstairs HA) we can face anything. May God bless you all.


Danny

 

[BionicBob]

To Gadgetman

To Gadgetman

Originally my surgical date was January 20, a day before yours, but the surgeon postponed it to February 16 to allow me time to get over the remnants of flu. So now I am in that long tedious countdown. It is really helpful to read posts like yours of folks who are getting back on their feet. Hope your recovery continues to go well.

Bob

 

[gadgetman]

BionicBob,

I started sweating when they "set the date" that I would get a bad cold or some infection and have to prolong the "Waiting Room". When I made my Tuesday visit for my Friday surgery date, Dr. McGiffin said I was too bad off because of the presures (heart/lung pressures should be >21, mine were <40 when they hooked me up). He told us later that if I hadn't gone ahead with the surgery I would not have lasted the year.

God bless you and your family in getting through the "bump in the road".

 

[McCln]

Ghosthunter,
Have you been tested for diabetes? Does anyone in your family have diabetes? High blood pressure? Never hurts to get tested and eliminate something. And you may want to cut down the fried foods and sodium(salt). it may help on the blood pressure front. Good luck.

 

[prttyprttyprncss]

Ocd

Ocd

Ghost,

A fellow OCD'r here! Do you take medication to control yours? I did for a very short time but the counterindications were terrifying to say the least so I asked my dr. to ween me off of 'em. I keep mine fairly under control with the aid of my family. I'm a counter and I have the cleanest house EVER. How does yours manifest? Even though I don't think I'll be a VR candidate anytime in the very near future, Ross will have to ban me to keep me from reading and posting!

Hmm... maybe since he's stuck with us he'd give us a small closet in the back?

Shelia

 

[Ghosthunter]

Ghosthunter,
Have you been tested for diabetes? Does anyone in your family have diabetes? High blood pressure? Never hurts to get tested and eliminate something. And you may want to cut down the fried foods and sodium(salt). it may help on the blood pressure front. Good luck.

My father has diabetes, he also has CHF and cardiomyoapathy (think I spelt that wrong), the good thing is my father has good blood pressure and good cholesterol.

Myself they tested last time I went and said everything good my blood sugar good. But I really need to watch myself I have all the prerequistes for it. In fact they believe diabetes is what caused my father heart problems.

I try to stay away from high sodium foods, but hard for me to elminate all...and yeah fried foods I dont even enjoy so I stay away from them.