My blood pressure has been all over the place for years similar to the OP, and have taken many different meds for it. That being said, I recently had a couple of CT scans that have shown some growths on my left adrenal gland.

Seeing an endocrinologist now, and working with a clinical pharmacist to get off some meds that affect aldosterone readings, will have another test in a week or two for hyperaldosteronism. The endocrinologist thinks this might be the cause of my blood pressure issues. We will see, and if it is, maybe I can get off the ever changing BP meds and stop taking 4-5 pills a day for BP.


According to my PCP, the endocrinologist and Cardiac Doc, growths like what they found on my adrenal gland are typically not seen unless they show up in a CT scan for other issues.

We will see what happens with it.

Well, went to the PCP and he upped my meds, and I have to write down four times a day what my BP is and go back Friday. He did a Referral with the sleep doctor and they are going to call me for an appointment....

The Dick Smith appointment has been moved from Thursday to Tuesday so there's that.

ARman

Good luck, I’ve been through the sleep clinic as well, got the CPAP as a result. I sleep better but didn’t help the BP.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Salt vs blood pressure has been debunked many times over, plenty of sources to review on this.
High Blood Pressure is derived from many other factors and those are the important ones to examine.
However, too much salt is a big myth for the most part.

People need to keep in mind that salt too is very important for the body. I found out the hard way. For a while after a workout I would get dizzy, weak, and tired. I got home and took my BP and it would be like 88/55 or such. I don't add any salt to my diet out of habit over concerns a previous doctor had years ago about salt intake and my hypertension at the time. So I decided to take a half a teaspoon of salt about an hour or two before workout and bingo my problem went away and my BP was normal after a workout. I now add a half a teaspoon of salt in the morning with my daily creatine mixed in water. Of course eating a lot of salt can raise BP somewhat temporarily, especially with a potassium deficiency, but I agree with you there are other factors that probably need to be addressed for chronic hypertension. As always one should discuss any concerns with their doctor. I intake a lot of bananas, potatoes, milk, OJ, and some avocados to help with potassium.

Man, that sounds rough. I’ve had some struggles with blood pressure too. Sometimes, even with meds and lifestyle changes, it’s a matter of tweaking things until you find what works for you. Have you talked to your doc about any potential underlying issues or different medication combos?

Too much salt (sodium) can cause fluid retention in the body, which can increase blood pressure.

I have had a similar experience. My BP has always been on the higher end of the normal range (upper 130s/upper 80s), even when I was a child. When I turned 45 that was suddenly a problem and I had to be on BP meds. Started out with lisinopril. It initially brought it down some, but by the next yearly physical it was averaging in that 150/90 range so they doubled the dose - again it went down to 'normal' levels - next year at my physical it's up again. They then added Hydrochlorothiazide and it was back down. I started doing light workouts again a few months after and would feel like absolute garbage after. The docs were happy with my BP numbers and said it couldn't be that. I noticed that whenever I'd sweat a lot I would feel like I'm about to pass out and just felt like crap in general.

I started carrying my BP cuff around and would checked it at that time - it was ridiculously low 90/50 or even lower. It would take a couple days to get back in the 'normal range'. The doc isn't concerned, but I've almost fallen due to passing out and I've NEVER had that problem so I cut the meds in half (1 pill instead of 2). I feel a LOT better and of course my BP is 140-150 over high 80s to high 90s. I plan to discuss with my doc during my yearly physical in Nov and have been trying to walk more in hopes that will help some. I blame the Hydrochlorothiazide for feeling like garbage so hopefully they can figure something out there.

quote:

Originally posted by ARman:
So, I have been struggling with blood pressure problems for a few years now.

A little background, I have always had a steady blood pressure of 135/75 to 138/80, then one day taking my DOT physical, it was 141/80 and I failed my DOT physical, because it has to be 140/80 or under. Soooo I had to see my primary care physician and he put me on 5mg Amlodpine once a day and this "controlled" it for a short time. Then it was 5mg twice a day. Then 10mg once day, then it was that and 10mg hydrochlorothiazide with the Amlodpine once a day, then twice a day, then it was bumped up to 25mg. All this would "control" my BP for a while, then it would go haywire again, be all over the place, feeling like shit and all. Then the last was adding 50mg of Metoprolol on top of the previous, and then upping it to 100mg.

I lost weight, and need to lose more, but no matter what, my BP is "controlled" for a short period of time, then it gets WORSE.

Now, last Thursday I took my DOT physical, and failed, was sent to the ER with a BP of 190/110 and was told to go home, rest, take my meds but to take my Amlodpine twice a day until I can see my PCP which is tomorrow, check my BP four times a day and log it, my best has been 175/75 pulse 59 and everything else between that and 200/101 Pulse 62.

Because of this my medical card has been pulled and now I can't drive a school bus. Now I'm on sick days, until I (1) have to be put on medical leave, (2) or has to take medical disability. I'm getting paid, but I'm losing about 40% of my income, so that's not helping my situation.

Funny thing is, I feel better than I have in a long time.

Before my DOT physical I cut booze completely out, reduced salt of almost nothing, cut caffeine out, and added cinnamon to almost everything.

I'm 55 years old and fairly active, I walk minimum 1 mile twice a day, but more like 5 twice a day, depending upon weather, time and such. I play, ie. run, jump, throw balls with my aussies at least an hour a day, but more most days. I do some other light exercises and was swimming once or twice a week.

Yet, here I am. Blood pressure through the roof, medical card pulled and unable to work until or if I can get this fixed. I have worried about the future since Thursday.

ARman

Minimum Salt Diet, GOOD.

Time for the next stage. Now you need to go Processed Sugar free to the greatest extent possible. That will cut out the hormonal surges created by consuming a sugar that is way to easy to digest, greatly reduce the internal inflammation those hormone surges cause, darned near cure Arthritis, and you will likely drop about 10 lbs.

BTW, if you haven't done it yet, Pizza is a never ever food item. It is the Trifecta for a Heart Attack with overloads of Salt, Sugar, and Saturated Fat. One absolute change you will need to observe is to avoid highly process food to the greatest extent possible. This mean NO FAST FOODS at all.

Diner food can work but you have to be smart about what you order. First off NO pan fried or pot cooked foods, Grilled only. Because Grills typically have many many years of "seasoning" and are naturally non stick. As for items, dry grilled only, which means no fat or oil added to the food. My go to is scrambled eggs and dry grilled hash browns without any added salt at all.

The best food to eat are foods you have prepared for yourself, so get yourself a Salt Free Cookbook. I will also point out that you need to pay attention to the Nutrition label for every item you put in the shopping cart. The ONLY low processed sugar cereals I've found are Rice or Corn Chex.

Finally I've been there done that and it does work. Back in 2006 my BP was 160/85 and the new Primary I was seeing told me he should call an ambulance for me. Went on Lisenopril that day and went low salt that week. In 2015 I had an epiphany and started walking for exercise, worked up to 6 miles a day that summer and dropped 50 lbs. Went Low Fat after open heart surgery for a Mitral Valve repair and a triple bypass in 2018. Back in 2020 I went low sugar at the prompting of my Nephews wife and it has worked wonders for my Arthritis. More recently I've been having problems with AFIB for the past year and a half that has kept me from doing my walking it it's really pissimg me off. three years ago I could go out for a 10 mile walk and return home feeling fantastic. Now just 1.5 miles is a bit of a struggle. So next time I see my cardiologist we will be talking about Pulsed Wave Ablation. Because I am on a real overload of beta blockers and it makes it a bit painful to do any distance walking when I am not in AFIB. BTW, "Heart Attacks" killed my great grandfather at 64, my grandfather at 63, and my older brother at 59. So it is hereditary. Good news is that my Brother passing was a wake up call and I have been very attentive to heart issues. At present I'm 69 years old and plan on hanging around as long as possible.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:

Have you talked with your doctor about switching you from amlodipine to an ACE inhibitor like lisinopril, or an ARB, like losartan?

I had been taking Lisinopril for many years. Had a constant cough for all that time, and never made the connection until I read someplace (Can't recall where, maybe WebMD) that the cough was a fairly common side effect of Lisinopril. Sent my Primary Care Doc an email asking about it, he responded immediately, telling me to stop the Lisinopril, and he sent me an Rx for Losartan. The cough that I had had for many years disappeared within couple weeks.

Had something similar; I thought I was getting GERD or acid reflux. Started spending money on stuff like prebiotics and probiotics. Went to an ENT who asked me what i was taking. He identified Lisinoprol as the culprit. Primary doctor gave me something else and the trouble went away.

quote:

Pizza is a never ever food item

Unless you make everything yourself - dough, sauce, cheese blend and sauteed peppers & onions. Very little salt/sugar.

quote:

Rice or Corn Chex

High glycemic index for both (89/83). Go wheat (30).

quote:

Originally posted by sreding:
I have had a similar experience. My BP has always been on the higher end of the normal range (upper 130s/upper 80s), even when I was a child. When I turned 45 that was suddenly a problem and I had to be on BP meds. Started out with lisinopril. It initially brought it down some, but by the next yearly physical it was averaging in that 150/90 range so they doubled the dose - again it went down to 'normal' levels - next year at my physical it's up again. They then added Hydrochlorothiazide and it was back down. I started doing light workouts again a few months after and would feel like absolute garbage after. The docs were happy with my BP numbers and said it couldn't be that. I noticed that whenever I'd sweat a lot I would feel like I'm about to pass out and just felt like crap in general.

I started carrying my BP cuff around and would checked it at that time - it was ridiculously low 90/50 or even lower. It would take a couple days to get back in the 'normal range'. The doc isn't concerned, but I've almost fallen due to passing out and I've NEVER had that problem so I cut the meds in half (1 pill instead of 2). I feel a LOT better and of course my BP is 140-150 over high 80s to high 90s. I plan to discuss with my doc during my yearly physical in Nov and have been trying to walk more in hopes that will help some. I blame the Hydrochlorothiazide for feeling like garbage so hopefully they can figure something out there.

Consider taking some salt next time your BP is that low or taking some before a workout unless you are sure you get plenty of salt in your diet. Try maybe just a quarter teaspoon mixed in water and see how your workout goes. I used to almost pass out from being outside in the heat for a while before I added more salt to my diet. If you are hesitant contact your doctors office to discuss with him first. Most doctors offices have patient portals these days and doctors will answer questions. Seems odd though your doctor is not concerned about your BP going that low though. I almost passed out at the gym a couple times myself. It's important though that you have enough potassium in your diet too as being deficient in potassium can also cause such weakness. If you think you might need more potassium in your diet I like the Now potassium citrate powder. A quarter table spoon gives you 448mg of potassium. Most people are very likely to be low in potassium in their diet rather than salt (sodium).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G...prefix=now+potassium

I hate HCTZ as it gave me horrible cramps. It is effective but some nasty possible side affects including electrolyte imbalances. I was taking 3 BP medications but none anymore since I began working out regularly. I check my BP 3 times a day.

Good luck!

Losartin and Nifedepine. I was on Amlodapine and losartin initially and it did the same thing, my dr switched the amlodapine to Nifedepine and it has solved it and my BP has been stable the past 2 years. I would find a new DR if he hasn't switched out the amlodapine after all this time and issues.

So Amlodipine is a likely med to cause problems with otherwise ok BP control? I'm aware of the coughing problem with some, the Amlodipine has it's own issues?

Well, went back to the PCP today ( Friday ). My BP was still high ( as already known by my BP cuff ), but it had improved.

My left arm always runs higher, sometimes quite a bit higher. So they were 180/90 pause 59 on left arm. 160/80 pause 60 on right. Oxygen was 98.9.

Well, the doctor added another med. Hydralazine. I don't remember the dose and I haven't gotten it yet, as by time the Is prescription wasn't filled until almost closing time.

So now it's
Hydalazine
Metoprolol 200mg
Amlodpine 10mg
Hydrochlorothiazide 25mg

I go back to the PCP in two weeks.

I go to a sleep doctor Tuesday, see what they say.

So at best I won't get cleared to even go do my DOT physical for two more weeks


ARman

Well, my BP is mostly around 135/80 to140/80 enough to pass my DOT physical, but I still have where it's high, way high.

I go back to my PCP Thursday. The new medication is still making tired and fell " off ", but it has gotten better.

After a lot of calling, by me and one of the girls at work, inwhich she did most of the good work, and used the pull of the school district got me in to a sleep study for tonight ( 9/9 Monday)!

That's another piece of the puzzle/hoop to jump through before I can go back to the DOT physical.

Soooo, if I'm lucky and get cleared by my PCP, seen by the sleep doctor to read the data, I might be able to get in and do my DOT physical the end of next week, beginning of the week after!

Work has been able to get me in to work part time, and count it as a full day, so I don't have to burn up my sick time, go on medical leave and such. But I'm making about half of my pay.

So, here's to hoping that I can get this done ASAP!


ARman

Solid info here:

Well, after jumping through alot of hoops, and a metric shit ton of paperwork, and more hoop jumping, I was able after just under two months and losing a shit ton of income was able to take my DOT physical and get a 3 month medical card. That was on Thursday and I was driving that afternoon on a route that I haven't seen in 6 years. I had no idea where I was going!

Then back on it Friday, inwhich the morning run is almost completely different from the afternoon, so stumbleding around in the dark with no idea where the hell I was.

I still have to go to the sleep doctor at the end of the month and get more paperwork from her. I hate the cpap with a passion. I have had the absolutely worst sleep ever in my life on that torture machine!

I'm lucky now to get 3 hours of sleep in 8 hours of being in bed.

But hay, I'm jumping through da hoops....

Funny, spent all this time, drive a day and a half and now on fall break. I do have a couple of field trips, but I'm off work for a week.


My blood pressure is still wildly fucked up, but most of the time it's under the 140/80 mark. But it's worst in the morning, and gets better as the day goes by, with the best numbers right before I go to bed, and the worst just after waking up.


ARman

quote:

I still have to go to the sleep doctor at the end of the month and get more paperwork from her. I hate the cpap with a passion. I have had the absolutely worst sleep ever in my life on that torture machine!

I'm lucky now to get 3 hours of sleep in 8 hours of being in bed.

Medicare?

I had a sleep test last week. Tech told me that Medicare rule is, and I don't have this quite right, Medicare wants you on a CPAP 1st, even though it won't really help you.

Ask your sleep doc if you need a BiPAP.

I was on a CPAP at first and it did me no good, got switched to a BiPAP and it's all the difference in the world to me.

Best wishes to you.
.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:

quote:

I still have to go to the sleep doctor at the end of the month and get more paperwork from her. I hate the cpap with a passion. I have had the absolutely worst sleep ever in my life on that torture machine!

I'm lucky now to get 3 hours of sleep in 8 hours of being in bed.

Medicare?

I had a sleep test last week. Tech told me that Medicare rule is, and I don't have this quite right, Medicare wants you on a CPAP 1st, even though it won't really help you.

Ask your sleep doc if you need a BiPAP.

I was on a CPAP at first and it did me no good, got switched to a BiPAP and it's all the difference in the world to me.

Best wishes to you.
.

CDL. CDL school bus driver. To be in compliance, I have to have the torture machine on for at least 4 hours a night. I'm lucky if I can make it 3 hours.

The thing is it's set at 4-15, as I have moderate sleep apnea. But it was only one Incident that put me that high.

And a huge problem the torture machine makes me have to sleep on my back, and that in itself is a problem. I don't sleep well on my back, plus it makes my neck and back hurt. So besides shity sleep, now I have even more pain over all the other bullshit pain I'm usually in.

ARman