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Hypertension

Posted , 3 users are following.

mrcrow
mrcrow

hello, newbie here

i am 6' 1"

14 stone 10

75 years old

non smoker/drinker

but not very active

in september 2017 i had an endoscopy to explore the pain i was getting in my throat and stomach...hiatus hernia!

it was a job to get the tube down and i got very flustered as i choked but we got it down..the attendant nurse said my BP was up to 190 for a bit and i should check with my GP

which i did and took the 24 hour test, the average of which was 155..(sorry i dont know the bottom number) and the doctor put me on amplodomine 5mg

i then got the nurse at the practice to give me a test BP after 4 weeks and it was 140/145

my doctor said to continue and watch my salt intake and get excercise

its now around 3 months and i know i cant stop the drug without going for a BP test which means getting appointments for nurse then doctor...

i am thinking if i could monitor my BP with a home machine and when it gets under the 130/80 then get off this medication

i hope this sounds sensible and if so i would like to get some recommendations on what product to buy...i know i would use it even after going off the medication...if possible

i am not keen on drugs even though i have had prostate treatment for 6 years which has finished..

i am 75 years in january

cheers

geof

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey mrcrow

    Posted

    Mr Crow, do you really mean that after 4 weeks on Amlodipine your BP reading was 140/145. or is that a mistake.  The systolic (top figure) of 140 is fine but the diastolic (bottom figure) is way too high, if that is what you meant to type.  I feel sure that if the figure is correct, you would have been further investigated not just left for 3 months.

    As far as monitoring your own blood pressure with a home monitor is concerned, yes that sounds sensible especially in view of the 'white coat' effect that many people experience whilst at the surgery.

     

    • mrcrow
      mrcrow MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      yes that was a mistake...my memory!!

      i think the reading was 130/? and the second one 135/?

      silly me didnt know this/ reading is just as important...

      the doctor did suggest i keep on the medication then...

      now i have arranged a nurse bp test tomorrow 16 jan and i can discuss with her the question of buying a bp monitor and any advice as to which to buy if she can do that in her capacity as a practice nurse, to do my own checks for peace of mind and progress of the drug...at which time when the levels drop i will consult my gp with the information and see if i can be taken off the drugs..

      of course if the bp monitor is a good one and accurate, i will ask the nurse to give me a synchronising reading from her equipment which is hand operated, then ii can keep watch on my condition as i cut out salt, caffiene, sugar and do more walking exercise.

      i will get a mains operated bp monitor as from early investigations into the battery operated ones, the life of the battery isnt long and i conclude the readings will be suspect..

      i think i am looking at £50-60 for one which would do..

      i can keep you posted if you wish

      yours

       

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey mrcrow

      Posted

      Yes, both systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) are important for you to be aware of in the future.  Good luck with the diet and exercise plan.......and the BP!

  • mrcrow
    mrcrow

    Posted

    Thanks

    got my bp monitor...the same model the nurse uses at the practice

    i am getting better results at home...average so far

    127/84 with some really low readings at times, and high depending on the time of day

    i am doing morning and evening roughly 12 hours apart, taking 3 readings and logging the middle one

    what i am looking for really is a confirmation that a bp reading ..just the one can be a lottery...you can hit a high one and if you took another 5 mins later it could be lowish

    realistically though i dont want to give up the medication but now i can see its benefits...

    thanks for all your advice

     

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey mrcrow

      Posted

      You’re right   - our BP can fluctuate but of course this should be within the normal range.  If it continually spikes to very high figures then the question is Why?  A 24 hour monitor fitted at the surgery might be wise.  I was told to take three readings a few minutes apart and then record the average of the second and third readings.
    • mrcrow
      mrcrow MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      you are right..the big peak was when i was having an endoscopy and it didnt go well...the insertion of the tube

      it stressed me a bit and i went to my doctor for that 24 hour monitor check

      the tube kept coming out during the day regarding the tightness of the tube under my clothes and at night as i moved in bed...i stayed awake quite a lot.

      present myself with some historical data and she has offered to do a side by side comparison...just to see if both give identical readings under that slightly less quiet conditions...

      the home readings as you do with 3 a few minutes apart and then averaged are encouraging....if its the meds then so be it...at least they have dropped to the 120/85/60 pulse on the average so far

      there was a 135 the first time i used the instrument but since then...5 days ago i have been getting good readings.

      when i see the practice nurse again she will do a bp test using both the practice instrument and mine to see that they are in agreement..?

      i have an omron M6 AC which i can use on mains so that there is not question about battery strength...the batteries hold the memory thats all

      best wishes

       

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey mrcrow

      Posted

      Like you, I had great problems with the 24-hour BP monitor - it failed to record overnight and one specialist told me that was the most important time!

      I like the sound of the Omron that can be used on the mains - takes the worry out of whether or not the batteries are sound!

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