Scott1 0 Posted October 12, 2021 I just went for my yearly checkup/blood work and of course I’ve been anxious for a few days for this appointment and I’m anxious now waiting for the lab results. But while I was there they checked my BP and if was 155/111 the first time abs 142/92 the next time and not I’m freaking out about that. My doctor has prescribed me and recommended I get on a beta blocker I forgot the name but it’s 50mg and slow release. The name starts with the letter M and now idk if I wanna be in another medication (I’m already on lexapro 10mg) I’m super stressed now waiting for the results and about the high BP reading Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doug97 19 Posted October 15, 2021 Every member of my family is on medication for hypertension, all my grandparents too when they were alive. Don't stress it, the worse that can happen is you feel a bit lightheaded if your dosing is too high - which is easily fixed of course. Medication for hypertension is incredibly safe and effective - if only all drugs were as good! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ironman 196 Posted October 15, 2021 I had an allergy issue five years ago that required an angiogram (sinus infection that was so severe, I burst a blood vessel and had a vitreous hemorrhage inside my eye). I had taken two decongestants that morning not knowing that it should have been an antihistamine....Anyway, they took my BP before the angiogram - 148/108. At the time, I was in the midst of ER visits as the hemorrhage happened and was sent to the ER for the third time in a week lol. The eye doctor panicked and thought I had a hemorrhagic stroke. I was told in the past week that I would be permanently blind in the one eye, too. Anyway, that trip to the ER - four hours, a CT scan, urinalysis, four vials of blood drawn, and an EKG...…..and the only thing they found was that my BP was 125/95 - the decongestants were wearing off LOL. This was July 2016----- my BP was consistently 120-125/90-95 until that one instance. I was on 20mg of Paxil at the time and they add 25mg of Losartan. I have the lightheadedness Doug97 mentioned.....I can black out if I get up too quickly from a kneeling position. lol My regular doctor who I have seen since then checks when I go in - every six months. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doug97 19 Posted October 15, 2021 Ironman if the lightheadness is a problem you could ask the doc to lower your dose a bit. My grandmother spent 6 months fainting before the doc finally tried reducing her dose and then she was fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ironman 196 Posted October 15, 2021 1 hour ago, Doug97 said: Ironman if the lightheadness is a problem you could ask the doc to lower your dose a bit. My grandmother spent 6 months fainting before the doc finally tried reducing her dose and then she was fine. It may eventually come to that. I do see my doctor twice a year for checkups. I did mention it...and they ended up having me do things and then repeatedly checking my BP to see what was happening. They said that I was fine at where I am. If I lose weight (which getting off of Paxil and onto Cymbalta should do), then I will have to have it reevaluated. I think there is a correlation there. Both of my parents have hypertension, so I was a shoe-in for this gift lol. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scott1 0 Posted October 15, 2021 I’ve been checking my BP twice a day (mornings and evenings) since Tuesday and it’s constantly 103/75 range the highest it’s been is 125/84 so I don’t even know if the beta blocker will make it too low. My BP is always high at the doctors and normal at home. Also, my labs came back and all was normal except my cholesterol levels were a little high and my liver enzymes were 65 abs they should be below 50 so that concerned me. My doctor things it’s diet related Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BrightPhoenix 78 Posted October 17, 2021 On 10/12/2021 at 9:16 AM, Scott1 said: I just went for my yearly checkup/blood work and of course I’ve been anxious for a few days for this appointment and I’m anxious now waiting for the lab results. But while I was there they checked my BP and if was 155/111 the first time abs 142/92 the next time and not I’m freaking out about that. My doctor has prescribed me and recommended I get on a beta blocker I forgot the name but it’s 50mg and slow release. The name starts with the letter M and now idk if I wanna be in another medication (I’m already on lexapro 10mg) I’m super stressed now waiting for the results and about the high BP reading He probably prescribed metoprolol. It's super safe and 50 mg is a very low dose (it's the introductory dose I think). I'm on it. Those numbers are SLIGHTLY above "normal" but the emphasis is on the words slightly, very very very slightly. It's diet related, very much controllable on your end by watching what you eat and exercising. You have to look at the whole picture, if everything is normal except for those two that is highly likely diet related. The high BP may be due to what is called "white coat" syndrome - where your BP skyrockets when you're at the doctor due to anxiety. I have that problem, I get like 150/100 or 160/100 numbers when I'm at the doctor and it "calms down" to around 130/85 if I'm not worried. I'm always anxious when I'm at the doctor and I have a hard time keeping it in check because of my health anxiety. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doug97 19 Posted October 17, 2021 I get white coat syndrome too, and my dad, very common. Years ago when my bp was only slightly up and the doc wanted me to start meds I got it under control through diet (low salt!) and exercise - managed to delay being put on them for a good few years. But it's so genetic in my family it was inevitable in the end. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
