4 medicines, all horrible side effects, advice sought

Why not a diuretic for the fluid retention?

GP seemed to think it was bad enough not to take it.  Just to stop immediately the offending drug. I had flown back from Dubai like it and had to cut my socks and trouser leg open on the plane - super embarrassing! 

 

Think I need to talk more frankly, the GP isn’t really discussing the conditions or the treatments just working down a list of medicines it’s seem.

Also thanks to you I have looked for referral centre, it turns out Manchester when I live is the EU centre of excellence, so shall me dropping them a note. 

I have posed this question and have been told there will be no underlying or systemic reason why I should have elevated BP. He keeps refereeing to lifestyle. I think I will push for a referral when I meet on Friday 

Him just saying death is a good enough reason to put up with the side effects is ludicrous. The side effects are interfering with my day to day living so I am mindful to stop and take the risk to be honest. 

Thanks for your post

Did they do any tests for underlying reasons?

None. Been told there wont be a reason for it. If I have had it this long other things would have presented. Medicated straight away. Not even a blood test. 

Do not just stop your medication that is simply fool hardy; discuss changes to your medication with your GP; there are many more drug therapies you have not yet tried. The last thing you want to deal with is a stroke, blood clot, kidney failure, aneurysm and more, all very real possibilities if your blood pressure remains unchecked. Unless there is a definitive cause that can be treated, there is no "cure" for high blood pressure, only management to reduce it with the aim of minimising the risks and potential damage.

 There are many drugs available for the management of high blood pressure, and many patients need to go through several before settling on treatment that suits them. Unfortunately, it takes time; there really is no way around it. I tried nine or so different medications and combinations of each before arriving at my current plan of four different drugs; from ACE inhibitors, through diuretics to alpha-blockers and it took 18 months or so of side effects and at times abject misery to get there.

 You appear alarmed or concerned that your doctor did not wait for blood tests before treating you. However, you should know your blood pressure was exceptionally high, between 181/111 - 230/140 is considered a hypertensive emergency often requiring hospital admission. I would imagine you were given a pretty hefty dose or combination to get blood pressure that high under some sort of control.

 It may also help you to know that some side effects are actually a result of your body adjusting to lower, healthier BP levels. This is particularly true if your blood pressure has been high for a protracted period, and those side effects generally pass with time. Knowing this, your doctor may be inclined to wait a while to see if some such as headaches will ease or disappear completely.

I’m glad there was no nasties in the brain. Googling now. 

I feel that my condition is being placated rather than treated.

At the practce where my BP was first diagnosed I asked to be referred to a blood pressure clinic. I was told if they did for for all of their BP patients that there would be a queue from here to the hospital.

At the next surgery I went to I was told that we don't really treat BP here. If we did we would not have time to see other patients. 

Have things improved any?

 

As Dr Sanjay Gupta says in his excellent Youtube talks, medications do not cure BP/AF etc. They mask the symptoms.

Yes it has frankly and it’s really getting me down. 

I am active through work, I travel widely and walk about 5k a day between meetings, walking airports, etc. It does mean I work / travel 60-80 hours a week mind you by the time you put at the international travel in. So if anything my work/life balance is wrong, but inevitable in my current position.

I am 14st and 6ft tall.

Sadly there is a history of BP in my family, my Grand Mother had 4 strokes the last one taking her life, and my Grand Father had 7 MI's again the last one taking his life in his early 70's 

My dad is reasonably healthy and shows no signs of hypertension. My mother is hypertensive, but she has been living with Hep C for 40+ years following a number of NHS blood transfusions. So her liver damage could account for that. 

No to home monitor wore a 24 hour monitor before medicating which revealed the constant high bp even when sleeping. 

I don't smoke and never had. 

 

I’ve had surgeries too in the past which I don’t think should affect me but as a result requires medication (checked for contra indications)  - Had a large chunk of small bowel removed when I was 13, I have quarterly injections of vB12 because I cant absorb it naturally. And at 21, helicobacter caused a large stomach ulcer, and I take a high dose of anti gastric daily due to damage done. Other than that fit and healthy.

 

Morning James. Thanks for your reply. Firstly, I am not a physician and secondly I can only offer advice that I found useful to me. Oh, and I tend not to "sugar coat" things.....sorry!

All meds have side effects. Some are obvious such as aching joints, swollen joints, dizziness etc etc. Other side effects are more subtle and require blood tests to check ie kidney damage etc. The perfect scenario is to find a way to control high bp without meds or minimal meds. Given your family history you are pre disposed towards hypertension. My dad died from a stroke as did his dad, and guess what I have high bp. No surprises there!

Having accepted that you need help thru medication let's explore how you might help minimise it.

I embarked on a "bodyshock" programme. Whilst not overweight I nevertheless lost a stone. You, at 6' and 14 stone are too big. Even if you are muscly (muscle of course weighs more than fat) you are still too heavy. Aim to reduce your weight to 12 stone. The faster you do this the better. Cut out all processed foods. Do not drink any alcohol. You can reintroduce a glass of red wine a day once weight is down. Avoid bread. No chips, crisps etc. No fast food at all. No coffee. Minimal tea. Water only and step up intake. Introduce more fresh fruit and veg. Eat garlic, beetroot and ginger when recipe allows. Definately no Indian or Chinese food. Your work/exercise balance is poor. Walking to meetings does NOT constitute exercise. Sorry. I agree that when you have got your bp under control it will help but at this stage it isn't really doing anything. You MUST find 30mins each day to walk briskly (swinging arms and looking a bit stupid!) You have to feel your heart pumping during this walk. Keep the water going down. Next bit will be difficult for you. Separate work life from private life. I spent 34 years working myself to a standstill cos I thought I was indespensible. When the redundancies came it took my employers 4 mins to give me my goodbye letter and package! You will be useless to them if you are taken ill. Find time to relax. Read, walk, draw or just sit and stare. It doesn't really matterit hat it is but you must find time for YOU. Buy a little cheap monitor from Tesco (mine was £12.99) and in a little book note date, weight and bp readings. Daily at first then every other day after a month.

Best to keep on the meds whilst doing this but see how you are in 4 weeks.

Get family and friends to support you. This is vital.

Good luck.......you can do it James

Hello Fisherman...I have just read your reply to James...over a year ago but it is greatbadvice that I am going to embark on now!  I am currently trying al  kinds of meds and suffering the side effects which are distresssing including dry cough and painful legs..and burning yet numb thigh skin..its all wierd but I am atributing it to the meds.  The healthynweight and diet I think is a great place tomstart,  thanks n regards Fiona.

 

hello Fisherman - I've been diagnosed with high blood pressure , put on calcium channel blockers 2 weeks ago - I  need to lose weight fast and I am adjusting my eating habits - cutting out any processed meals and eating fresh fruit/veg and walking every day - have lost a kilo in one week . Thankyou  for your brilliant advice, cutting  down of tea and replacing with water has been very helpful along with the other tips . I would add a comment about  beetroot - from vacuum packs, not pickled beetroot  - all pickles have loads of salt and should be cut out of the diet

You could try beetroot juice.

Do you swim? That is a good exercise for losing weight.