Waaaaaaaa!!!!!!!! Blood Pressure Problems

[kraphti]

I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in November and have been on 2.5 mg of Altace. Over the past few weeks, my bp has steadily climbed back up. It's been anywhere between 140/92 to 150/103 <yikes>.
So my doctor is putting me on Lotrel 5/10 mg. Yeah, I need to lose weight (fat). My soduim intake is almost always under 2000mg. She was impressed by my eating habits (thank goodness for the internet and sparkpeople, we jumped on-line in her office to check it out)

But she told me I couldn't do any weight training or cardio that gets my heart rate above 55% or so until we get my bp regulated. I'm like, "No weight training?, No weight training?" She said "I mean none."
I started crying, and she's looked at me like I'm crazy. She said it's only until we get my bp under control and then I can start again.

Grrrrr....I think I'm just gonna quit the heathy lifestyle. I'm gonna curl up on the couch with a container of Turtle Track ice cream, A large Buffalo chicken pizza from Pizza Hut, two cases of Coke, some Vinegar and salt potato chips and I'll just swallow a couple of teaspoons of salt every other hour or so. Hey maybe I should cancel my pre-order and stock the pantry with Potato chips.

Sorry everyone, but I feeling sorry for myself right now. My cardio and muscle endurance is the best it has been in my adult years and I feel like I'm now standing on a muddy hill...one slide and I'm at the bottom. :-(

 

[melodygirl]

Hi Desi,

Just wanted to "talk" with you. I understand what you are saying. I don't have a weight problem, was a fitness/aerobic instructor for 12 years, sports & cheerleader in high school, active tomboy as a child, i.e. I have never NOT exercised in my life. I say that to make the point of how frustrated I was when 3 1/2 years ago when I was told my BP was 190/110 (& I didn't know this?), cholesterol way elevated (& I had already been on Lipitor 10mg for 1 year), & additionally told there was small percentage of plaque in my carotid arteries. Ok, how can this be with a skinny gal who has never stopped moving in her life and was practically grazing like a horse! GENETICS. My body does all that bad stuff no matter what lifestyle I lead, so does my sister's, & my mother's & so did my grandmother's.

I wanted to quit it all, go to Dunkin Donuts and crawl into a fetal position with my spoils. The Dr. calmed me down & said have you considered that if you were not living your lifestyle you would be dead now? Oh, maybe I hadn't thought of that.

My probably confusing attempt is to tell you to listen to you Dr., do what exercise you are permitted, and keep your diet in check. When it is determined what medication or medications will control you BP, you should be OK to get back to your w/o routine. Seldom does the first BP med turn out to be the perfect one & sometimes it takes a combination.

And you may be like me, hate the thought of being a slave to meds, but the alternative, in my case, isn't one I'd want! I have to take Diovan 80/12.5mg (has diuretic which I hate) for BP, Lipitor 20mg to keep cholesterol in check & 1 low dose aspirin daily. And by the way, it works and I feel great. My cholesterol is (darn I forget #'s) excellent HDL way up there, LDL & triglycerides minimal and BP perfect too. I have no limitations on what I can or what I can't do in life, & I feel so much better with everything in check.

It's ok to feel so bummed out right now. But it will get better. Please listen to your Dr., do whatever exercise is allowed, keep up a healthy diet, & put on cleats and start back up that muddy hill.


And keep posting; there are a lot of exercise alternatives posted here, very knowledgeable people with regard to diet and exercise, and most of all friendly "voices".

Good luck. {{{HUG}}} It seemed you needed one.



ETA: Please think about this: Stressing out WILL NOT help your BP!
It's all so tough ain't it?

 

[fit_fairy]

Desi,
Sorry to hear about your troubles. I know it's hard to take time off, but remember that your body and muscles have memory. You won't lose all that you have gained by taking a break. Hopefully it won't take long to get that BP back under control and you'll be back to lifting and stepping and whatever else you enjoy doing. As for the couch, pizza, coke, chips NO NO NO. Did I say it loud enough NO. JK BTW- I know you wouldn't do that anyway.

take care of yourself
Catherine

 

[kraphti]

Thanks Melody and Catherine.

Stress...there in lies what I believe is one of the biggest factors of my increasing blood pressure. Specificaly stress around my place of employment. At work or anytime I discuss what's happening there can may my bp go up 10 or more points. (I am in a serious hunt for another job.)

My rational mind understands that I need to follow the doctors order, however because I'm probably 75% irrational I'm just bummed over this.

BTW....I never made it to the store to get any junk food anyway. They were predicting snow here in Nashville and for some reason there's some natural phenomon makes all of Middle Tennesse go the store and buy milk and bread when they hear a prediction of snow.
Think of the lines at a super Walmart around Christmas, now put in a bunch of zombies chanting, "must...go...by...milk...and...bread." I just refuse to go to any store selling milk and bread during this frenzy. :7

 

[melodygirl]

Hey - I live in GA and it's snowed everyday for the last 6 days. I refuse to go to the store. Thank goodness I just stocked up 7 days ago. But with 3 boys & hubby in house it's going fast.

Keep smiling - don't stress - let us know how the BP goes.