The Verdict: Okay, my BP is down a little from Tuesday, but not enough so the doctor wants me on meds. Here's my problem with that, I think that I should be able to try diet, exercise, and monitoring of my BP for at least a month before I start taking these pills which have a TON of negative side effects. I bought a monitor yesterday while I was getting my prescription filled and I took my BP last night and this morning--both times where significantly lower than they were in the office(systolic was down 30 points, diostolic was down 20)--putting me in the prehypertension range rather than the Stage 2 hypertension range. There is a condition called "white coat hypertension" where people get so stressed about the doctor that their BP skyrockets during office visits--I can totally see that as a potential problem of mine--I get stressed just thinking about going to the doctor.
I still have major questions about these meds and I plan on calling him on Tuesday with them--until that time I'm not taking them. He told me that people sometimes have high BP for years before they are diagnosed, this is my first instance with it so I think I am justified on taking a little time without meds. Anyhoo, that's where I am at with that.
Today's SBQ was suggested by Heather
(http://www.stitchsci.blogspot.com/) and is:
Comment on your comments (giving and receiving):
Do you love comments or hate them? I love getting comments.
Do you check them every day, never check them, or find them helpful? I check them everyday and they are usually very helpful and inspirational. I don't usually check back to blogs I have left comments on--I am not really sure of the etiquette on that. I guess I don't feel it's my business to read what others have said(although I do skim through the comments left before mine) and usually if the person has a reply to what I have said they get back to me.
And finally, are you convinced no one is reading your blog if you don't get any? No, sometimes I figure that no one has an opinion on something I have written. Sometimes a post isn't really geared toward comments--you read it and move on. Also, I figure that most people are like me and if they don't have anything to say they don't comment. I don't agree with commenting just for the sake of leaving a comment.
Booking Through Thursday
This week's question, suggested by Jeanne, is here by popular demand. Thank you, ladies!
- What is the most beautiful book you own? "A Gathering of Lace" and "The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe"
- In what way is it beautiful? Is it the illustrations, the binding, a combination of these, or something else? I think the pictures in "Gathering" are beautiful--I never get tired of looking at all the beautiful lace designs. Poe has nice binding and looks very formal.
- How often do you look at it, browse through it, read it? I look through "Gathering" all the time--hoping for inspiration. Poe I bring out when I want to study something.
10 comments:
I think trying some other options for lowering your blood pressure first seems very smart. Meditation? Biofeedback?
A good friend of mine decided
against the meds. He bought lots of books and read up on the problem and different solutions. My friend exercises and is on a very strict diet. He has lost 35lbs and his blood pressure is fine. Good luck!
I think since this is the first time you've gone in awhile and had hbp readings, I would look into some other options first too. Diet and exercise can really help to change that outlook and if it was moderately lower, it could also have been caused just by the stress of that visit.
We missed you last night at Tattered.
I think that your plan for diet and exercise before resorting to meds sounds more than reasonable. My dad was diagnosed with hypertension last year, and he talked to the doctor and was able to work out a similar compromise. His doc made my dad take the meds (his diastolic was significantly high), but after changing his diet and exercise (and maintaining lower BP) for 2 months, he was able to reduce and finally eliminate the meds. Keeping my fingers crossed for you that you're able to correct this without the meds. And I'm so happy to hear that Gathering of Lace is such a wonderful book- I just ordered it 2 days ago and am now more than excited than ever to receive my copy!! Best wishes and take care, Kim! :-)
Buy yarn. I did and am now off the wagon. But look at my blog and your blood pressure will go down instantly. I home you will feel better. Thanks, Mary
good decition!!If theres a lot of sideeffects, then it can't hurt a lot to wait, if you still see your doctor. Why add a lot to the problems, if your not sure it's necesarry. Or you could wait until after april first and see if I'm right:O)))I cross my fingers for you, and hope everything turns out for the best!!!
I have been totally behind in blogland, but I am in agreement with everyone else -- I think you were right to want to look at diet and exercise before jumping into medication. I think doctors are over-eager to medicate because that is what they know. Medical school doesn't teach a lot about behaviour modification. I know from personal experience that BP can be lowered significantly by dealing better with stress levels, improved diet, and exercise. When I was running three times a week, my blood pressure absolutely rocked -- my goal is to get back there again. Anyway, I think it's definitely best to avoid medicating if you don't have to.
Good luck with the BP! I also get stressed out over going to the doctor. I'm sure thinking about high BP probably contributes to high BP.
Hang in there, Kim! And take care!
Don't know how I missed this the first time around.
Feel better SOON!
Definitely worth a try to manage it vs medicate it.
K.
I agree with the ladies here. I think it's much better to start with a change of diet and exercise to manage your bp without meds first.
My mother's been on bp meds for years, but before they put her on them, they tried to figure out why her bp was so high (she's the high-strung, nervous type). Shock of the century (at least to her doctors), her bp dropped drastically when she retired. Funny thing, that. Not.
Hang in there, gf, and don't let your doctor bully you into taking meds that you're uncomfortable with. It might be time for a second opinion...
P.S. Thanks for letting me know about the HAED special the other day. I definitely liked the second freebie better than the first! :-)
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