Friday, May 6, 2011

Blood Pressure Woes

For nine weeks now I have been on an adventure. I have become obsessed with the numbers of the diastolic and systolic nature. I am moving slower these days and now just think of the numbers as diabolic. Numbers too high, and I feel very agitated, heart skipping beats and alternate between sweating and chilling. Numbers too low and I am light-headed and the fatigue is almost over-whelming. I started a new drug on Wednesday. I carefully read the literature so I could anticipate the next roller coaster ride.

This new one is to be taken twice daily, with food. I do not want any food right now, but I will shove some dry toast down my gullet to accommodate the medication. I am so tired this morning and really just want to go back to bed. But, it is Friday. In a kampground. Reservations will be arriving. Tent campers this weekend. That means I will need to scour the showers and rest room facilities to ensure a pleasant experience for my kampers. This morning's number were low, 90/70. When I went to bed last night in a highly agitated frame of mind the numbers were high 170/98. I have been on meds for nine weeks now. Wouldn't you think it would have leveled out by now?

The literature says that I may experience a lot of fatigue for the first three weeks of treatment. Would that be the first three weeks of this particular drug ....... or the first three weeks of this class of drugs? If it is the class of drugs, then I have been experiencing the first three weeks over and over. Like 'Groundhog Day'. Allergy symptoms have joined in to conspire with the blood pressure. The shooting pains in my sinus, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing until I leak. I have fever blisters in both corners of my mouth, so that I not only feel crappy, I look crappy.

I am off to scrub a toilet or two, having swallowed my pill with the dry toast. I limited myself to one cup of coffee and will be downing water for the remainder of the day. I expect to be downright bitchy from lack of caffeine, but I am experimenting to see if eliminating caffeine will help those numbers even out. Stay tuned. It could get interesting ........

12 comments:

SkippyMom said...

Kathy did you tell the doctor there is such a discrepancy between morning and night - after nine weeks you shouldn't be having those kinds of numbers [170/98] and unless you were naturally low in b.p. then I don't think they want you to be 90/70 either.

Wow - I know you can't take a break, but try to get a rest now & then.

We'll be thinking of you. Hugs!

ellen abbott said...

oh you poor thing. happily, blood pressure is not one of my problems though it runs in my family. husband, though, has high blood pressure but whatever drug he is on keeps it OK. hmmm, maybe his perceived laziness is really related to his blood pressure. hope things level out for you soon.

Just Stuff From a Boomer said...

I know it's so difficult to work feeling like you do. Maybe you should make an appt. to go over this with the doctor. I, too, have HBP, but don't feel like that on my meds.

I wish you well.

Everyday Goddess said...

Keep checking in with your doctor, it's important!

Anonymous said...

Diet and Exercise will help tremendously. Not a fad diet, just watch fat and calorie intake and take 30 steady minutes a day for a brisk walk around the park. You will feel better.

Val said...

I am fortunate that my meds do the trick. My mom went through four weeks of getting hers adjusted, after the same ones had worked for years.

I must say that I agree with anonymous about the 30 minutes of walking. Even if you change nothing else, try to steal 30 minutes a day for a walk. Take the dogs, maybe. It doesn't have to be brisk. Just 30 minutes of continuous walking. Take some Kleenex in case your allergies act up in the great outdoors.

You may not feel like it now, but if you can get this into your routine, you will start looking forward to those 30 minutes. Give it a try. Like John Belushi said in Animal House, "Don't cost nothin'."

Now I'm off to dispense unrequested advice elsewhere. :)

Whitney Lee said...

That bites. I'm going to send happy healthy thoughts your way. I know the last thing I want to do when I don't feel good is anything physical. It seems like really crummy timing to have all this going on just when the season is gearing up. But you've already thought of that, I'm sure.

Brian Miller said...

sorry you have been dealing with this..i hope that the down time passes and they can regulate you...rest as you need and take care of you...i know that is hard but...

Lady Jane said...

Those numbers are a bit insane. I too am having HBP probs. All of a sudden boom I have to take meds. Mine stabilized finally aft a few weeks. But now my feet swell when they upped the nite pill by a half a pill. I hope you are checking closely with the Dr as those #'s are really fluctuating a lot. Please take care and see that Dr...

mamahasspoken said...

I've been having the same thing too. I loose weight and my blood pressure changes. I gain weight and it changes. I sleep wrong and it changes. I just keep my log and share it with my doctor.

@ly said...

Hang in there and keep bugging your doctor if this is not working for you. I know for a fact that caffeine raises blood pressure so if you can get off of that it may help you. I know it's not easy but hang in there! Happy Mother's Day.

Pat said...

Sorry you are struggling to regulate your blood pressure. Finding the right medication can be a real issue. I've heard of people who are on 2 kinds of meds. I hope the doctor finds a solution QUICKLY for you.