Posts by Drew Miller48

My apologies, Lisa Myers. Honestly, I hadn't seen that name before; I thought you were Victoria :P
It wasn't intentional, please accept my apology.
But I understand, because I went through the exact same thing. At the ER, they put me on those pills that I’m still taking today, though I plan to stop them on my own once I get my final results back from the Holter monitor and everything else...
In most cases, a person is their own best doctor. You learn what works for you and what doesn't. Of course, with a consultation from doctors, everything can be resolved.
You are strong—stay tough. You know better than anyone what's good for you and what isn't. As for being unemployed and under stress, unfortunately, I am in the same boat.😢
My doctor also prescribed me Normabel 5mg, so I take it here and there when I'm feeling agitated. Though, I definitely try to avoid taking it.
And here was the kicker. I was home feeling terrible, so I went to a local pharmacy where my blood pressure spikes so high every single time it's unbelievable. Their blood pressure cuff is simply faulty. I measured it myself and it seemed to be something like 160/140.
So I call emergency services, and they show up after about 30 minutes only to find it's 130/90. They acted like there was no reason for them to come and suggested I visit a psychiatrist instead. Absolute madness!
Who is the crazy one here?😁

Victoria, good luck 🙂
You’ll be just fine, I know it
It is clear you are persistent, and that is exactly how one must be. I always say it is far too easy to slap a diagnosis on someone based on a single conclusion.
That is why a 24-hour monitor and blood pressure tracking is necessary before any other conclusions can be drawn. Besides, we live in an era where we are constantly dealing with elevated blood pressure because we live in a country where you worry every single day about whether you'll lose your home. And don't even get me started on the rest. It isn't worth discussing.
One does not need 🙂 but simply needs to 😂 and even in the worst moments 🤣

vividsailor7 said:First off, I have no idea why you even bothered seeing a cardiologist.
You should have gone straight to a hypertension specialist at the Nephrology Institute.
A Holter monitor is an incredibly valuable diagnostic tool.

Question for both of you: if you think you don't need these medications, why on earth are you still taking them?

My primary care physician sent me there to get an ECG and provided a referral for blood pressure monitoring. I went to the specialists because he wanted to check if there was any underlying cardiac damage or similar issues.
Now, the next step is that they are referring me to the Mayo Clinic, where I've already made an appointment to assess the full situation.
As for why I am still taking the meds? Here is my answer. I am waiting for the test results to see what they reveal. If everything comes back perfect and shows no lasting complications, I will stop taking them immediately. After all, even if my pressure spikes occasionally, it isn't a crisis. I just want to know when I can stop. My readings are consistently around 130-135/70-85. The exact number doesn't matter much; in my opinion, it's not bad. I have confirmed my heart is in excellent shape—absolutely no issues there. I stay active, I exercise regularly, and my diet is significantly better than it used to be; lots of fruits and vegetables. I move more, and I'm less stressed since I stopped playing video games altogether. I'm finding a new normal. It's perfectly natural for anyone's blood pressure to spike occasionally; it happens to everyone, often without them even realizing it. I actually had a bit of bad luck during those two days when I had my ECG and follow-up exam; I panicked, and my blood pressure shot up for no reason. Once I got home, everything returned to normal. When I checked it in the evening, it was great. It's psychological. My issue is anxiety, not this.

That much is clear to me.
Just a heads up, I always tell my doctor that when I visit him, my readings are perfectly normal. Even right now, I just checked and I'm at 134/87, and I haven't even taken my medication yet. It's all just nonsense.
I’ve been keeping a blood pressure log and showed it to my physician; he said everything looks steady. As for my weight, I'm currently 80kg and about 6'2". Since all of this started, I've lost 34 kilos. My ECG is excellent. He mentioned my heart rate is slightly elevated, though I wasn't aware of that since I can feel it racing the moment they hook me up to any equipment. Honestly, the easiest thing is to just drown someone in pills to get them off your back. Right now, I'm taking Amlodipine along with 5mg of Normabel, which helps calm me down nicely and lowers my pressure further.
Well, we'll see what happens. I'm heading to the Mayo Clinic to bring that Holter monitor and undergo more testing, then we'll see. I'm fed up with all of this, and I know most of it is unnecessary.
I just called the Mayo Clinic and scheduled my appointment for January 18th, 2013, for the Holter and further tests. That's that. Now, I'll just keep my wits about me and try to enjoy life.😁

What would that even look like, this white coat syndrome?
Why does this never happen with my own primary care physician, but only when I'm at the hospital?
Terrifying. I am going to read this entire thing carefully; so far, I have only skimmed the surface of what is going on.

Here is the situation. Most of you are already familiar with my case, but for those who aren't, check my previous posts. The core issue is my elevated blood pressure.
I was recently at the cardiology clinic over at Draskovic to review my ECG results. The doctor told me my heart looks fine, just beating slightly fast. I told him I already knew that—I get anxious about all of this, and whenever I start measuring, I can actually feel my heart racing. Now, here is the other thing: whenever I mention wanting to stop taking my medication (Amlodipine/Hydrochlorothiazide), people act like I’ve lost my mind. They claim my pressure will spike and go through the roof. I am honestly fed up with these condescending doctors who seem more interested in pushing pills than listening.
Right now, my home readings are showing 132/78 with a pulse of 72. Yet, just two hours ago while I was downtown at the doctor's office, it hit 160/110 with a pulse of 98. Despite that, he tells me there is no reason to stop and that I actually need to take two of those a day. I told him no, and that is that. My current readings suggest there is another underlying cause, because I know my baseline isn't that high.
For context, I used to weigh 240 lbs and lived a pretty sedentary lifestyle. Things have changed completely. I’ve dropped down to 176 lbs, I'm eating much healthier—lots of fruits and vegetables—and whenever I check my pressure, it stays around 135/80, give or take five points.
I am at a loss for what to do next. They are referring me to the Mayo Clinic for specialized blood pressure testing (some specific department, I'm not sure which one). I'll have to wear a Holter monitor and undergo several tests. We will see what happens, though I personally think this is all unnecessary. My only goal is to reduce this medication regimen and stop taking them entirely, because I feel great. Just yesterday, for instance, I had a sudden headache, blurred vision, and some shimmering in my sight; I ended up taking two 5mg doses of Normabel to manage it. That doesn't happen to me very often.

vividsailor7 said:1. I don't quite follow—if you feel like you're poisoning yourself, why are you even taking them?
Personally, I'm on Ramipril plus two other antihypertensives along with a lipid-lowering med, and everything is fine.
Are you on Amlodipine/HCTZ?
Looking at your BP log, your pressure seems regulated. You only need to check it 3-4 times a week; there's no need to do it at all hours of the day.
Keep working on reducing blood pressure and stick to a low-cholesterol diet.

That’s just what people say, that all these pills are nothing but chemicals. 🙂
But if I didn't have to take them, I wouldn't be taking them.
Yes, I am on Amlodipine/HCTZ.
The goal remains reducing blood pressure (likely through weight loss).
As for the diet, that is still a work in progress. 🙂
No salt and no fat.

Is there no response at all? 😢

Greetings.
I’ve returned from my annual checkup and completed my blood work.
I received the results yesterday, and here is where things stand:
AST-17
ALT-30
GGT-22
Cholesterol-5.3
HDL-1.24
LDL-3.44
Triglycerides-1.3
On a positive note, I have lost 29 kg in just 7 months. I went from 114 kg down to 85 kg.
Here is a photo showing the blood pressure readings I recorded about a month and a half ago, at most.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...120921234.jpg/
I actually stopped tracking them because I was starting to get on my mother's nerves with all the measuring, but there it is.
Please excuse the messy handwriting; I write as best as I can.😢
I saw my doctor yesterday, and he said my blood and urine results look fine. Regarding medication, he suggested I continue taking the Amlodipine/Hydrochlorothiazide. I told him I would like to stop, as it feels pointless to keep medicating myself. He countered by asking if my blood pressure would spike if I quit. After a few minutes of discussion, his stance changed slightly. Since I had already taken the pills a few days ago, he told me to finish those and then remind him to switch me to something else.
He mentioned he might prescribe me either Ramipril 2.5 mg or Hydrochlorothiazide. I am not entirely sure which one, but it will likely be just one of the components found in the Amlodipine/Hydrochlorothiazide blend. I am supposed to take this for one more month, and then that should be the end of it. During our talk, I also brought up an issue I've had since starting these pills: a sense of constant anxiety and a sort of depression since I began taking the Amlodipine. He insists it isn't the medication, but rather psychological. And there is something else...
Occasionally, I feel an uncomfortable sensation on the left side of my chest, near the nipple, which bothers me and leads me to imagine the worst possible outcomes. There is also an intermittent stinging sensation, almost like being pricked by a needle through my spine, though that is extremely rare (though it did happen for the first time yesterday, two or three times in one day). I had an ECG four or five months ago and everything was normal. It simply feels as though I am terrified of everything, and this fear torments me more than the actual physical condition. He told me that when these moments occur, I should take some Normabel to calm down and stop dwelling on such thoughts.

I am interested in your opinions. Thank you in advance.

Nicholas Myers said:To whom it may concern,

Already answered.

Blood pressure is measured using a sphygmomanometer. It’s considered normal when the reading falls within an acceptable range. That upper limit isn't set in stone; it fluctuates based on specific variables—for instance, whether you're managing diabetes or not. Generally speaking, that threshold serves as the standard cutoff for what we call "normal." do (regarding less thanThe targets are pretty clear: 140/90 for the general population, though if you're living with diabetes, you're looking at staying under 130/85.

Blood tests aim to identify any obvious culprits behind elevated blood pressure—what we call secondary hypertension. That said, getting a definitive answer often requires additional testing to check for organ damage caused by high blood pressure. One thing to remember: blood work won't tell you what your actual blood pressure readings are.

Look, just so we're clear: you consider blood pressure to be within the "normal" range when the reading on your monitor stays under 140/90.

I am interested in this, thank you very much.
For context, I have been measuring my pressure every morning and evening for the past two weeks.
In the mornings before taking my pill, it was around 130/80, and the same in the evenings, give or take 5.
All in all, it seems to be finally back to normal.🙂
Thank you for the answers; I can hardly wait to stop taking these pills!🙂

swiftbear86 said:RR is just shorthand for your measured blood pressure reading.

BB stands for beta-blockers, which is a specific group of medications that work on your cardiovascular system.

There's actually an entire thread dedicated to them right here http://www.forum.com/showthread.php?t=189816

Thank you for the response.
So, based on that, my medication does not fall under the BB category.
As for the BP—how am I supposed to know when it is within the normal range?
Is that determined by blood work, or something else?

vividsailor7 said:What kind of liver disease even causes hypertension?
The way it works is you just stop taking them, though if you're on a Beta Blocker, you absolutely have to taper off gradually.
As for whether they'll cancel the prescription entirely, that’s going to depend on how your blood pressure stabilizes.

To be honest, I have no idea.
That is simply what my doctors told me. Perhaps it isn't the liver causing the high blood pressure, but rather excess weight and a lack of activity. You mentioned blood pressure and liver disease previously. Ultimately, I am waiting for my doctor to return from vacation before I head back for more blood work.
By the way, what do BP and BB stand for? I'm unfamiliar with those abbreviations, excuse me.

The title is quite direct: I am looking for some clarity on how this process actually works.
I previously posted in the threads regarding hypertension and liver issues because I was dealing with hepatic complications myself.
Now, the day is approaching when I’ll likely need to stop taking Amlodipine/Hydrochlorothiazide, given that my blood pressure struggles were being driven by my liver condition.
Does one simply stop the medication abruptly, or is there a transition to lower dosages? What is the standard medical procedure here? Please share your experiences; I really need to know what to expect in the near future.🙂