How many of you are blood pressure meds ?

fastfredracing · 10-07-2016, 06:42 AM

Sucks coming to the conclusion that I am not 10 foot tall and bullet proof. I have always been pretty healthy, and have not been to the doctors in 20 years, but this past spring , started to feel off a little .
Went in, and was diagnosed with pre hypertension .
6 months in, and I have made a real effort to cut down on salts, fatty foods, 1 cup of coffee instead of the whole pot. I quit smoking 6 years ago . Trying to drop a little weight , etc. I am already fairly active, I work like a dog all day, and spend most weekends cutting firewood, working in the yard, digging ditches or whatever project I am into at that time .
I have been monitoring my bp, and it is still pretty much at the same place .
Im taking this seriously. Pap died at 54 from a massive stroke, and my father had 5 bypasses done at 55 years old. I plan on doing what the dr tells me , and taking better care of myself .
I go back in for checkup in a few weeks, and I am guessing they are going to put me on some meds .
I may have sleep apnea, but we will see.
Have the meds changed you life any? Do you still feel normal ?

Jim Richards · 10-07-2016, 06:50 AM

Yep, taking BP meds for a while now. It keeps my BP normal and I feel completely normal.

DaveE · 10-07-2016, 06:52 AM

Yeah I have a hereditary kidney issue that was discovered because of my blood pressure actually but the two are related in my case. I've had a kidney transplant and take BP medication. I don't believe I've ever felt normal...

Yorkie · Yorkie's Garage

I have been lisinopril for 4 years now and feel fine. They keep my BP under 120 whereas before I was sometimes hitting the 140s. Like you I am in my 50s, stay reasonably fit (run and bike a few times per week) and don't drink too much but I have a reasonably stressful job and the Doc says I need to change that if I want to get off the meds. I was advised to drop some weight so I lost 15lbs (now down to 190 at 6') but it did not affect my BP

J P Stein · 10-07-2016, 07:01 AM

Ayup, to the best of my recollection by BP is nearly the same as it's always been.
Having had 2 strokes, I'm more than willing to act on the doctor's reomndations......so I've been on BP meds for several years. "they" have just cut my dosage in half.......tho the test numbers look about the same. 150/80

No ill effects from the meds.

Evans, Marv · 07:22 AM

I'm on the same med as Yorkie, and my bp was also hitting in the 140's over 90's, but your bp supposedly tends to rise as you age - and now I'm in my mid 70's. Been on meds for three or so years. Took my bp right now & it's 105/68 with a pulse of 62. So Lisinopril has done a good job of keeping my bp in a normal range of 120's/60's, and my resting pulse is always in the 60's. The only problem - & I don't know if it's related to the medication is I experience episodes of low blood pressure. It has happened during the last couple of years when I'm out in warm weather exerting myself. The first time was pushing my mower up & down hill cutting the high grasses in my fire defense zone. I went to the ER July of last year after hiking up a mountain feeling bad all the way up. After I got home, my bp was 70/50 with a heart rate of 120's. Their diagnosis was dehydration, which my doctor later said was the usual diagnosis when they don't know the cause. I suppose I should consider myself lucky, since I only take a bp med & a cholesterol med - sofar.

berettafan · 10-07-2016, 07:20 AM

no bp meds here but I was briefly on a beta blocker which controlled heart rate and as a side function also lowered bp.

I almost miss it. my body seems to overreact to surprises (get too shaky) and the bb's took that away nicely.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Mine was "marginal" but did not wanna end up like JP, old and crusty....my company insisted on it when it when I got hired as an Engeneer at at the refinery.

ossiblue · 10-07-2016, 07:40 AM

Just started bp meds last year. Like Marv and Yorkie, I'm on lisinopril and my lifestyle is much like Yorkie as well, though I'm probably 15-20 years older. I know I have "white coat anxiety" and it shows up when I have a check at the Dr. When I monitor at home, it's well within the normal range.

The initial dosage was one pill/day. My bp came down immediately and I found, like Marv, that I suffered nearly "pass out" episodes--sometime when I simply get up from a chair. I would take my bp and it would be in the low 90s/60s or upper 80s/60s. After about six months, I cut my dosage to 1/2 pill (without Dr permission) and all is good. Bp is consistently under 120/75 and I don't have the light-headed episodes anymore. I'm certain if I lost a few pounds and increased my exercise I could stop the meds completely.

To the OP, I don't notice any significant physical effects from the meds.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

My last check up was 116/69. I have also gotten down to 170lbs. Now if my back would stop giving me fits......degenerative discs sucks balls.

J P Stein · 10-07-2016, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Mine was "marginal" but did not wanna end up like JP, old and crusty....my company insisted on it when it when I got hired as an Engeneer at at the refinery.

Sounds like ya got the "crusty" part handled.......Old?....with luck it's in reach.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Old, crusty, fart bag?

Oh Haha · 10-07-2016, 08:00 AM

Been on BP meds for about 10 years. A DOT physical was how I found out. No big deal. I take 5mg Lisinoporol once daily and it is works. Anytime I've checked the BP or been at the docs it has been near perfect. I also cut down on coffee, from at least 10 cups a day to just 3.

I always resisted taking meds because I don't want to be the one with a pill box full of stuff to take every day.

If I get to that point just throw me in front of a heavy vehicle of your choice.

Evans, Marv · 10-07-2016, 08:00 AM

Like I said, I have only experienced low bp episodes exerting myself outdoors on hot days. It's gotten to where I can perceive it coming on, and it only happens very infrequently. I read somewhere it could involve something about heart valve function. Another benefit of lowering your blood pressure is that high pressure impacts the kidneys, which tend to decline in function also with age. My kidney function is down to the 40% range, but my doctor tells me it's not what will kill me in the end.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

There are several types of BP meds. My son had high blood pressure in his 30s. They gave him some god-awful stuff with a serious side effect. I won't go into details but he said they should have named it Mydicksaflop.
When the doc told me he wanted me to take BP meds I fought it hard, lost weight, started running marathons - no help. He gave me amlodipine and the only side effect is a little dizziness right after I take it, so I take it at night - no problems. And Mrs. WD approves.

J P Stein · 10-07-2016, 08:05 AM

[QUOTE=Oh Haha;9309697]I always resisted taking meds because I don't want to be the one with a pill box full of stuff to take every day.

Heh....you ought to see the mess that I take daily. I have given up counting them.

sammyg2 · 10-07-2016, 10:28 AM

Metoprolol 100 mg once a day.

epbrown · 10-07-2016, 10:48 AM

I'm not on bp meds, but I recently found out that everyone else in the family is, and started at around 50 (I'm 53). An aunt of mine (70) was feeling whoozy and talking about changing her dose and everyone started chiming in. Apparently super common for African-Americans, and I'm being told I should have it checked.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 03:13 PM

No biggie. It is more of a psychological affront in the beginning than anything else. After time, you will think " no big deal"

Couple of things-1 the doc may tinker with several meds to get things under control. He started on me a cocktail of drugs incuding diuretics. That infuriated me as to the drug prescibing nature of our society. I didn't want to take fifty thousand meds every day, and I exercise vigorously, so the idea of water pills didn't sit well in my book. I expressed that concern. I ended up on lisinopril only. Different meds work better/worse for different people. Keep lines of communication open with doc about side effects.
2.Doc will probably start you off slow on meds and ramp up in dosage to avoid side effects such as orthostatic hypotension.

That' about all I can think of. Again- it is more of an issue on the "I thought I was immortal" front end of coming to terms with resigning yourself to a daily druggy drug drug, but it really isn't a big deal long term. Just be glad you are catching it earlier with your family history of issues.

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

Have been on bp pills for 10 years. Doc doubled dose to 300 mgs of isbesartan a few months ago. I declined the statins. Cholesterol I can control by what I eat.

At 70 what is normal? I like what the above says "I have never felt normal". I can somewhat relate to that.

Perhaps your doc Fred could suggest that you do some kind of exercise program such as walking?

Oh yes if I forget to take my bp meds I can feel it....I now mark it off on my calendar after I take them. I like the signs they have in the old folks home. Today is Friday, the next meal is supper......LOL It's a slippery slope!