High Blood Pressure

[Sharonimo]

At the start of my journey my blood pressure was out of control (due to my own fault NOT taking the Ramipril previously prescribed to me by my GP -- but I had a lot of side effects with the Ramipril so unilaterally had decided to simply "not take" it.)

When I had my first round of tests at the Whittington back in September, it gave me a wake up call to do something about it, as it suddenly dawned on me that I might not be "operable" if I still had stupidly high BP by the time of the op.

Since then (and a welcome change of medication!) my BP has dropped as follows:

-- 12 September 2011 ..... (at Whittington) ........... 205/108
-- 27 October 2011 ......... (measured by GP) ......... 167/98
-- 14 November 2011 ...... (measured by GP) ........ 157/68
-- 6 March 2012 .............. (at Whittington) ........... 147/75

The new meds that my GP prescribed is Lisinopril and for me (altho I know everybody is different) I have not had any side effects with Lisinopril.

I started on 10 mg Lisinopril a day on 13 September (one day after my first appt at the Whittington in shock!) ..... but in October when 6 weeks' use had only lowered the BP to 167/98 I asked my GP to increase my dose and am now on 20 mg of Lisinopril.

Am so pleased.

Have not always stood up to GPs before when they *insist* on prescribing the cheapest (most horrible and worst side effect) drugs and several other previous GPs had prescribed Ramipril for my BP and I had always been a bit "erratic" about taking it.

 

[caraline]

Pleased thats it working for you sharonimo. I have the same problem too my blood pressure.

 

[SARAH S]

I have been on Lisinopril for about 12 years at the 20mg dose. I have never had any problems with side effects and my BP was always well controlled.

I had very high blood pressure and at its absolute peak in hospital it was 235/110 ( a nurse told me this was totally impossible and that I would be dead - but the consultant said apparently because it has always been high my tolerance was higher!!!) Anyway I digress. Lisinopril is a very usful drug and worked for me.

I have reduced my dosage now to 5mg ( did try to go down to 2.5mg - the lowest dose, but BP went up a bit).
My GP believes that with another stone off I should be able to discontinue them completely.

Well done for standing up to your drs and getting a good drug, but please do not underestimate the importance of taking them

Hope your BP is under control soon

 

[Sharonimo]

I have reduced my dosage now to 5mg ( did try to go down to 2.5mg - the lowest dose, but BP went up a bit).
My GP believes that with another stone off I should be able to discontinue them completely.

Thanks. I am fairly sure that I won't be one of those patients who can immediately abandon all meds after the operation ..... there is a family history of high BP (even in the "not quite so fat" members of the family!) ..... and I know mine has registered as "above normal" for more than 10 years.

But the prospect of being able to drop back down to 10 mg and then 5 mg is encouraging -- THANKS!

 

[claires]

i too have the same but im a bugger for forgetting to take it, but now i realize i may not be able to have my operation i take it every morning now lol