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My blood pressure
#11
RE: My blood pressure
Unfortunately, while apnoea can indeed raise your bp, it is not the only cause, and many causes will not be addressed by treatment for apnoea. I suggest you start on bp medication (a good start will be something like Lisitril and Amlodipine combined, it is a mix we often start our patients out on here (one addresses the systolic pressure, the other, a calcium antagonist, your diastolic pressure, but your GP will determine the best mix for you) and still seek out apnoea treatment - the effect of apnoea treatment on bp is not immediate, while a correct drug regime is. So, to save your life, and yes, it is that serious, first seek out a medical regime to relieve your current bp levels, and once you are under treatment for apnoea, see if, and only after a few months of treatment, your bp stays low without medicine. In addition, should your GP recommend it, a trip to the cardiologist might not be out of the question. Your GP should perform bp levels on both arms, three times each alternating, over a five minute period. Should the difference between one arm and the other be more than 10%, it may indicate a circulatory problem. In addition, he should subject you to a basic ECG (or EKG, depending on your religion) to determine if there is any cardiac problems.

The are hundreds of reasons for your bp to go up to the levels you indicated, however, apnoea, which should be treated, given the results you mentioned, would have caused a gradual rise in bp, not a sudden one.

As I am oft heard to advise on this forum, and drawing from my professional knowledge and experience, hi thee to thy healer. And sooner, not later.
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#12
RE: My blood pressure
Der Arzt ist richtig. (The Doctor is correct.)
He is suggesting an ACE inhibitor and a Calcium channel blocker. Amlodipine is very popular in the US. Listril (aka Lisnopril) is not popular in the US. Vasotec (enalapril) is very popular. (Your GP or specialist will determine the best regimen for you.)

GP's are the "tip of spear" in medical care. Depending upon how your insurance works, the GP may be the gateway to a cardiologist. Some insurance systems permit you to self refer to a cardio doc.

BP spikes as described in the OP are unusual; and signal the need to find a cause.
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JustMongo passed away in August 2017
Click HERE to read his Memorial Thread

~ Rest in Peace ~
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#13
RE: My blood pressure
Danke, Mongo. We find problems here with enalapril, so tend toward Lisitril. In our experience, it is better tolerated and mixes better with other drugs. But, each country has their own approach, in that sense. Since diet and other environmental factors figure in to how a drug is tolerated, there are some differences between US and European drug recommendations - sometimes it is as little as a molecule that spins left than right (omeprazol instead of pantazol, for instance). Sometimes the differences are greater. Sometimes political - in Switzerland we now have the directive to prescribe the generic instead of a name brand, unless medically it MUST be the named brand. Even then, the pharmacists has the discretion to offer the generic. Kind of a pain for some, but there are only a few cases I can think of where the generic is in anyway inferior to the original drug.
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#14
RE: My blood pressure
Thanks for replies
Want to mention also that I noticed I am urinating more frequently....even my shins are itchy flaky??
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#15
RE: My blood pressure
(12-12-2014, 02:41 PM)kilbarchan1 Wrote: Thanks for replies
Want to mention also that I noticed I am urinating more frequently....even my shins are itchy flaky??

Increased blood pressure increases the pressure gradient across the nephrons in the kidney. Increasing urination. Another issue might be blood sugar. That's easy to check with a blood test. High blood glucose creates an increased osmolarity gradient across the kidney. You may be losing potassium through excess urination -- again, easily checked by a blood draw.

Shins dry and flaky -- could be as simple as dry cold weather. Also could indicate venous insufficiency in the legs. Especially if losing hair on the lower legs. Another signal for a full workup.

Your GP can also check BP in the legs using a thigh cuff. Depending on things he finds, an ultrasound of the legs might be ordered.

Not trying to scare you -- these are issues that should be brought to the attention of your doctor. You have to be proactive and 1) see the doctor. and 2) Tell him/her all symptoms you experience.
Admin Note:
JustMongo passed away in August 2017
Click HERE to read his Memorial Thread

~ Rest in Peace ~
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#16
RE: My blood pressure
(12-12-2014, 02:41 PM)kilbarchan1 Wrote: Thanks for replies
Want to mention also that I noticed I am urinating more frequently....even my shins are itchy flaky??

How are our fasting glucose levels?

Also, as a hint - write down everything before going in to see your GP - patients often forget to tell their entire history and teh doc may get fixated on one or two symptoms when there are others that he has not been told about.
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#17
RE: My blood pressure
Not sure fasting glucose I did one about 6 yrs ago that was normal.Just took blood pressure again its 148 over 90 .


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#18
RE: My blood pressure
Interesting that apnea causes conditions that seem to be diabetes, looks like insulin resistance, and definitely stresses many parts of you regulatory systems.

My fasting glucose tested above 125, and then they did an A1C blood test about 1.5 months later, after I had begun APAP and reduced carbs, all but eliminated caffeine, and lost 5 pounds. The A1C somehow gets the historical average of past 3 months. Anyway I scored above 6.5, so they say I have Type II Diabetes (according to their guidelines). Doc says I'm doing the right thing, and my diabetic condition could have been partly from apnea. Says I have "stressed" my pancreas, but didn't break it. Kidneys in good shape (Creatine ratio well within band). He wants me to continue working the diet etc, and he will retest me in March. He has confidence that my numbers will improve. I do too.

I am monitoring my blood pressure, wishful thinking has my brain saying the blood pressure is consistently lowering. But, I am not sure I have enough data yet to be conclusive.

Find a way to meditate, rest, sleep on sides, etc. until you can get tested.

If you are taking your own BP, take multiple readings on each arm, and average them. [I take 4 per arm per day]
Dedicated to QALity sleep.
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#19
RE: My blood pressure
(12-12-2014, 08:47 PM)DocWils Wrote:
(12-12-2014, 02:41 PM)kilbarchan1 Wrote: Thanks for replies
Want to mention also that I noticed I am urinating more frequently....even my shins are itchy flaky??

How are our fasting glucose levels?

Also, as a hint - write down everything before going in to see your GP - patients often forget to tell their entire history and teh doc may get fixated on one or two symptoms when there are others that he has not been told about.

Blood pressure now 138/88

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#20
RE: My blood pressure
(12-12-2014, 08:22 AM)kilbarchan1 Wrote: I noticed the other day to my dismay my blood pressure had skyrocketed
I mean its normally around 130 over 80 or 85 and its now 180 over 100

. . .

Any thoughts ???

Yes. Call your doctor immediately to get your BP checked and controlled.

While it's entirely possible that your BP is related to your apnea, it's going to take a little time for them to schedule the study, do it, read it, then get you a machine and for you to get everything working.

While I'm not a doctor, I wouldn't leave my BP anywhere near that range, for any length of time.

Terry


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