had to chime in on this thread here...

went to gyno yesterday for yearly exam and was thrilled to get a b/p reading of 128/78! if you only knew what a challenge this white coat syndrome thing is for me... i was shocked, but thrilled!! although, i wonder why it only goes up when i see my general physician and not anyone else wearing a white coat?!?!

by the way, i did ask him to run blood tests and the ua to check my iron, b12, more intensive thyroid testing, hormones, etc. he ordered it, but only after looking at me like i was a bit off the wall or something. i think he was surprised that i would come in with my list of questions and requests. anyway, good news is, he ordered them. also, the dhea... can someone tell me what that is for?

here's to all of us having a good 'pressure' day no matter what comes along!!!


gyz

Long story short, I am new to peri-menopause. My symptoms started this past January and its been an awful ride of anxiety and panic attacks, LPR (reflux into the throat) palps, irregular periods, and health anxiety.

Along with all those wonderful gems came a pretty all-over-the-charts blood pressure. Back in February I saw a cardiologist who put me on Cardizem after two visits which I thought premature. I took it for 10 day but then stopped because of dizziness.

I then saw my GP who suggested I track my BP for a month, then come back to see him. I got my self a good BP machine and took it twice a day. I since started Lexapro (5mg) hoping it would take the edge off the anxiety and healthy anxierty (it has helped a bit - but I have only been taking it for less than 2 weeks at this point), and have lost 20+ lbs.

Well today I had my followup with the cardiologist (my GP is later this week) and was nervous that he would suggest BP meds again, and was surprised when he didn't.

What he saw was a fluctuation that although high at times, was reasonable at others. I could correlate the low times to Xanax (112/70) and the high (143/94) o particularly stressful days. I made brief notes on the calendar where I charted it, so he could clearly see the trends. He also could see that my BP shot up at the office (145/101 on his machine, 161/102 on mine) but that 135/90 was probably my average over time.

So, for me, keeping track gave him a better indication of what was truly going on, whereas previously he only saw the high numbers at the office.

He stressed exercise for better sleep, overall health, and of course to lower the BP. He said with his busy schedule he makes the time, and so could I. He also suggested possibly increasing to 10mg of Lexapro at the appropriate time, if it was working for me.

My next appointment is in 3 months, at which time I will have hopefully lost more weight and realized some of the benefits of the exercise. I am going to try my hand at meditation too, and have also purchased some of Belleruth Naperstaks cd's Healthful Sleeping and Panic and Anxiety. I still see an anxiety specialist, and consult with a Psychiatrist for meds.

I have my GP copied on all tests, and check in with him often to make sure he is aware and to get guidance. I am not going down without a fight.


Just thought I'd share.
Sue

Is that a total T4 or a free T4? Unless it is a *free* level you won't know for sure if the actual usable hormone is high or not. And you can't get a full picture without a *free* T3. T4 converts to T3, so T3 is the active hormone that has the most effect. It's possible your T4 is not converting to enough T3 and is pooling, creating the high levels.

Be sure to get the FREE T3 and FREE T4. Both must be FREE levels. You don't want to add Cytomel until you know what your free T3 levels are.

Yes, beta blockers interfered with the conversion of T4 to T3.

I can so relate to this thread. How do you know if you really have a problem or you just freak out because you have one high reading initally and tense on all further readings!!? I have tried all sorts including monitoring at home. The first reading is usually a bit high then I relax and it drops to normal but when the first reading is very high, if I take it when I have an infection or am stressed, (I know I shouldn't take it then!) - I freak so much I daren't take it again for ages. So I feel like I'm on a merry go round!! The worry of it is always in my head! This all started at the age of 53 when I started getting hot flushes and palpitations and all the other wonderful stuff!! Now I'm 59 I feel better than I did but still have some of the symptoms including anxiety and still dread that awful blood pressure monitor! Hey Ho! Just thought I'd share.

Love to all you wonderful ladies

Sky

hey Moozie and gang! I have had a stressful day. I just want to share Moozie so you will know that you are not alone in all this!!!

I have been having hot flashes/cold flashes for a good 2 to 3 days now. I should start tomorrow. I had my physical today with my GP. My bp was out in space. It was like 170/94 with my med. My dr said it was probably because of the hot flash. That is the highest it has ever been on that med. She added a beta blocker to my mix. I also had an EKG and come out fine but fast rate. I freak at the drs.

Everyone tries to tell me to not get nervous but I know that our anxiety is so real in peri. It is not a switch that we can just turn on and off. It is just there. So dont beat yourself up for your anxiety or your bp. It happens.

She retook my bp and the top number came down but not the bottom. It is like my med decided not to work!

Here is a((( huge))) Moozie and all my other sisters who are suffering like this too. I wish we could all meet and go to our appts together.

My dr is so sweet and thorough and not daunted by my pressure. She stayed so positive and didnt freak.

Sariah

My doctor only drew my freeT4 and TSH, and i have been wondering why they don't do free T3. My Tsh is around 5 and my free T4 is 14( somewhere high normal) so I don't think my body is using the T4 as it continues to circulate but TSH telling thyroid it needs more. I can't lose weight, can't sleep through the night and get run down so easily.
thanks for your input I appreciate the info.

I've also just had a surprising experience of deliberate relaxation bringing down blood pressure. Three days ago I had some surgical procedures under GA. The night before I was so nervous I could only sleep for one hour! My blood pressure was monitored regularly from admission to discharge and of course, continuously whilst I was under general anaesthetic. Lying on the trolley waiting to go into theatre, but before I'd had any anaesthetic or medication, I was hooked up to the bp monitor. The anaesthetist commented that my blood pressure was on the high side, but agreed with me it was probably anxiety considering I was about to go in for surgery! Without mentioning anything to him or the other medical staff, I decided to try something I'd learnt through practising the Alexander Technique, which is to progressively relax all muscles in all parts of the body. As I did this, the anaesthetist spontaneously commented that my blood pressure was now coming down! I was really surprised at how effective this was. Until now, I'd thought that things like relaxation exercises would just have minor, transitory, effects but if I can bring my blood pressure down in highly stressful circumstances, lying on a trolley about to go into surgery, I'm thinking that deliberate relaxation can have real physiological effects.

I think Floater's earlier post is also interesting that when she was monitoring continuously her bp rose when she came into contact with a work colleague she didn't like. It just demonstrates to me how important it is at this life stage to exclude as many unhelpful people from our life as we can.

hello, just wondering-I have a prescription for lisinopril and I'm scared to take it. It is for high blood pressure. My doctor's PA gave it to me. I felt a little coerced into taking. Well, I haven't filled it yet. The PA/dr visit sort of went awry. The nurse came in took my bp and it was near normal 121/80 or close and after speaking with the 'physician assistant' she took it and said it was 165/96 or some really high numbers.
I really think she was trying to scare me into taking this blood pressure med. She said, well you aren't going to lose 40 lbs in the next few days. She also said in a 'stern' voice when I expressed my not wanting to start a bp med-'I'm going to have to put this down in your chart!'
So, I told her don't you do that anyway?
I do have a family history of hbp and heart disease, among other things. But I thought that it was sort of pushy. I haven't seen my regular doc either since starting to see the PA.
What are some natural options?
Senecaguns

I have what they call WHITE COAT SYNDR. when you go to the docs your BP spikes its a fact my doc even took some type of a blood test to rule out other things.

To make a long story short I battled with BP spikes for a while and docs also wanted to shove meds down my throat to. Now I will say some people feel they do have to take the meds and should, I just say look over all your options and if your gut is telling you different we know our body's.

If you are still getting a period journal and see if your BP comes around the time of your Period, durrning or after and then if it goes away.

I finally went to like a 6 or 7th doc and after my BP spiking to 170/110 he said, You need meds. I said, You need to crack the code here I have seen Gyno's, heart specialist , etc and other than what I already know that losing weight will help this comes along once a month for a week then goes away.

He said it might be more of a PMS symptom of water build up than BP so he said, Ok I will give you a water pill and potassium and if that doesnt work we will look at it again.

Now I already was taking natural herbal teas that had diuretic type healing properties in them like UVA URSI, CORN SILK Etc so maybe thats why my spikes were short term to.

It worked and its been a year this past Dec that I didnt go on meds and my spikes have gone from less to almost gone now. I still get stupid head periods and am going on 56 this June and am hopeful once they stop maybe I can wean myself off the water pills that is my goal.

Okay so one more detail of great importance WE NEED TO WALK, SWIM, DANCE, SKIP, HOLA HOOP, whatever you can to get your good hormones the ENDORPHINS kick in and that really lessens the BP , trust me its for sure.

Watch your salt, fried foods, you know what to do we all do.

Take care God bless you
Tinks

Oh by the way I would surely call and complain about that nurse she was rude to you and these type of people must do the same for older people and those who really might not have a voice.

I think Nurses are a blessing to us but remember they are people and you know now in my older 56years young I dont stay quiet anymore.

My sister who is currently battleing cancer and is a Nun of all things in her kind but stern way has also started to speak up. She told a nurse once a crad nurse, Do you know what it is to be sick with cancer?
The nurse then changed her attitude when talking to my sis. People are people not gods, not always experts in our bodies that is why God gave us brains to think, to ponder, to question its ok to do so.

God bless you
Tinks sorry for the rant but she didnt need to tell you that you wont be losing those pounds in a short time, besides how does she know if you decide to lose weight and you can do anything you put your mind to , dont let anyone tell you different.

I had BP 140/90 several years ago when I was nearly 100 pounds overweight. The doc said to change my diet and lose weight and to specifically eat bananas at least one a day and to start an exercise program. He did not prescribe any meds. So I went to Weight Watchers and lost 50 pounds in 6 months. My BP returned to normal or low as did alot of things I was having problems with. Losing weight was the best thing I could have done for myself. Now when I go to the doctor I take a few deep breaths before they take my BP. My last reading at the doctor was 138/82. Not bad for WCS.
I have both a wrist cuff and an arm cuff at home and I try to take my BP 3 times a day. Instructions say to sit in chair wih feet on the floor and relax arm to heart height. Sit for 5 minutes or more before taking pressure. At home my BP is always quite low, sometimes as low at 99/70. I have had anxiety attacks (in fact on Mothers Day 09) where my BP spiked to 138/135. I think it was just due to anxiety and a hot flash.

OMG I love this site...

I have the same damn thing... Just a few days ago I was in Publix, and just saw one of those BP Machines and about had an panic attack....

About a month ago, went to dr for the Flu, he took pressure and it was 157/80. So what he say, ah we got to schedule you back for an EKG, EchoCardiogram... And I honestly said to him, this is anxiety... Can't anxiety do this to your pressure, and he just looked at me like I was nuts... I told him, heck 5 years ago had all that done, and I was fine... Now he is really looking at me like I am nuts... Told him I think my anxiety is due to my hormones, and yea that went over real well too... Prescribed me Antibiotics, and Clondopine (sp) and Lexapro... I don't think soooo..

I even get the white color fear at home w/my own BP...

It's not usually as high as it was at the Dr's office, it run about 135/75... Then calm myself down, lock myself in the bathroom, and relax my self, take it again, and it goes to about 120/70...

I personally believe, especially w/top numbers, are anxiousness increases are BP. Ah how I hate that...

I read this and I know I am not alone.. And my advise to anyone, take your BP a couple of times a week. Make sure you are relaxed as possible. Take it twice, because the 1st one for me is always the worst, something about that little pump still filling up, and you start psyching yourself out that it is going to be high, so I always take it twice, and disregard the first one...


PS - no, I am not going back to that doctor any more... Time to find a new one. My one of many years had retired so now I am searching for a new one...

But thanks for the post, hope all is well w/everyone... Blessings on you all...

H Becca I see you are new here too. Isn't it amazing how doctors are always so quick to prescribe meds? My doctor always says my BP is high the first time they take it due to anxiety and then they take it 5 minutes later when I have had time to calm down. Then if its still not down they ask me to take it at home and call them. Never had them prescribe meds or tell me I needed an EKG but maybe you have other problems that I don't. Like why the antibiotics???? Anyway I hope you find a doctor that you like and one who understands WCS without checking you into the looney bin.

I went to him cuz I had the flu, and had developed a resp infection due to the flu... So the antibotics were necessary... Just a word of caution too, I took Cefin 3 day pack, if anyone has anxiety issues, you may want to stay away from that antibiotic, worst anxiety ever... I was of course already experiencing anxiety due to hormones (get severe anxiety right at the time I ovulate...)...

Here's the kicker... Told my husband that I kept seeing alot of police cars in the parking lot... Well like a week later they had a special on the local news about doctor's in the area pushing drugs, I was like OMG, you have to be kidding me... I know for a fact now that we was part of that... He was Cash only.... What a quack....

Yes it is soooo hard to find a good doctor, you would think that in Fort Lauderdale it should not be that hard... HA...

thanks for the comment... this forum is quickly becoming my saving grace....

Hi Moozie,

I do the very same thing....isn't it dumb? Yes, fear will make your bp go high and your pulse race...it's plain old fear. Ha...your rational mind tells you not to be afraid but yet your body does another thing. I went to the Dr. the other day and mine was as high as yours. My Dr. has seen this in me before many times. The thing she told me was.....the heart slows down, doesn't it...thus the bp will go down. Just keep on your meds....I take beta blockers too. On top of that, you can't rely on totally on bp machines - the size of the cuff, the operator, etc., etc., all has things to do with it. You will be fine!!!

Retriever2