When peri set in I was diagnosed with HBP, of course I wasn't aware I started peri at that time. Anyway, if you have high blood pressure would your readings be constantly high or would it be possible to have normal readings also? Over the past two months I have been monitoring my BP and it has been pretty good. Yesterday I had a Dr. appointment and my pressure was 160/100. Maybe white coat syndrome?? Today it is back to normal. I was on Metoprolol but have weened myself down to 25 mg everyother day. My Dr. wants me to stop taking it and log my BP reading daily and then maybe switch to an ace inhibitor to see if that helps. I am so confused...maybe this elevated BP is related to Peri?? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help!!

Peri can definitely wreak havoc with our BP's. It sounds like you have spikes, then it goes back down again. If you had a constant daily pressure of 160/100, you would definitely need to be on meds to bring it down, but the occasional high BP is usually nothing to worry about. Do you own a blood pressure monitor? Maybe you could start taking it on your own to reassure yourself that it's normal most of the time....

If you buy your own monitor, look for one that has a memory feature so you can go back and see your readings from the past. I got one that is also battery powered. Took it in to my Dr. for him to check for accuracy. It is fine and seems to develop a memory of my normal readings so it doesn't squeeze me too hard during the test.
Since Metoprolol can 'help' you gain weight and makes it more difficult to exercise, changing your treatment seems like a good idea.

Good luck and let us know how you are feeling.

Blood pressure readings can be low at times and high at other times. I also have high readings when I go to the doctor but I monitor it at home and it is fine, even sometimes low. Remember different things can cause it to go up. For me stress can and if I am in any kind of pain or worried about something. I have found that magnesium helps as well as eating that banana a day and don't forget to exercise even if it is a brisk 30 minute walk!

Steph

PS don't forget to change those batteries regularly in your bp monitor to make sure you get an accurate recording!

You know the same thing happened to me. When peri really hit it would go up for about a week or so then down to normal. I would get awful headaches and cloudy head stuff with it and would freak myself out.
I was told to try BP meds but it didnt make sense to me if it didnt stay up and when I went to the doc it really would go up then I wanted a better answer.
In my case I roughted it and documented when I had the spikes and found that it was after my period and every month it would move up a few days. For instance if my period started on the first I would have them on the 6 and 7th day then after a week or less it would be back to normal.
I saw many a Doc including heart specialst, gynos up the wazoo, internal meds, etc.

I then had a revalation and went to my kids family doc. He is also an internal med doc and has alot of extra schooling in microbiolgy.

Ok so I said Doc I have been to at least 6 or 7 docs and they all say different things and I dont want the BP meds, he also told me to take them for a while. Since my BP in his office was 170/110 he had me do an artieal artery test to see if it was White coat symd. and to see if there were any blockages I guess.

He also ordered an Echo or Ekco (spelling) for the heart.

Thank God all turned out normal, I then said you gotta crack the code whats next.
He put me on diuretics and potassium and said it might be a water build up due to PMS and Peri.
.
Yureka it worked I still get a tiny Spike like 130/78 for a few days and then its gone. This is my story hope it helps.

God bless you,

Tinkybug

I am finally off the beta blockers. thank God!! They made me crazy. It took awhile to wean myself off them but it has been a week now and my blood pressure is fine at home. Now in the Doctors office it is high, 160/100. I am convined I have white coat syndrome at last. My Dr. was the one who suggested that I take that final step and get off them completely and monitor my blood pressure at home for a month and we would take it from there. I never want to be on meds again. I have been walking almost daily but the weight is sticking with me. I think the weight gain is from Peri. It has been a couple of months since my last period. I hope I never have one again. I am only 46...do you think that is too young to be totally done with your cycle? My anxiety is minimal and knock wood have been feeling a little bit like myself again. I realize this peri stuff comes and goes but it is nice to have some relief.

No, I don't think it's too young at all. My doctor told me she has patients who stopped their periods completely in their early forties. Every woman is different. I'm curious; what didn't you like about the beta blockers? Did you have unpleasant side effects?

I was tired all the time on the beta blocker. At my highest dosage I was like a zombie. totally out of it. I noticed if I missed a dose I started to feel better and more like myself again. As I lowered the dose to wean myself off I noticed the side effects were not as bad. I was on them for 9 months. I gained 11 pounds since then but not sure that is from the beta blocker, could be peri. Also the beta blockers make you "excercise resistant" because it slows your heart rate down, you have a hard time getting to your target heartrate. I went for a stress test while on it and I had to stop taking it for 24 hours before the test. Now I understand why. I am not a person that likes to take medicines to begin with and it took a full blown panic attack for me to get started on the beta blocker. Now I realize all these crazy things that are going on with me are peri related and I rather deal with this naturally than take any medicines.

You

You know

Oops sorry I hit a wrong button.
Anyway I was going to say have you girls who got off the meds thought of looking into natural diuertics like corn silk teas, uva ursi teas, etc?
I am on a small dosage of Diuertics and potassium from the doc because the natural stuff was keeping it in check except for that bad couple of days after my period when my water build up was intense and I guess my body couldnt flush it all out.

I do plan to wean myself off of the Diuertics because even though its a water pill its still not natural to me.

I am 54 and still having full blown periods so my hope is as I start to slow it down and dont get the PMS bloating stuff then maybe my symptoms of BP spikes for those few days will vanish.

Tinks