 | Home > Off Topic > High blood pressure - your experiences/help please? |
 
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731   
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May seem a strange question for this forum but you're a sensible bunch and Google gives me all sorts of crap.
Has anyone had or knows someone who's had sudden really high blood pressure for no apparent reason? My wife's just been released from a week in hospital with a diagnosis of "high blood pressure caused by migraine and poor lifestyle". Firstly, she only got incredible head pain after her BP shot up. Secondly, if "changing lifestyle" means start eating meat, drinking alcohol and giving up being an active teacher, that seems silly 
She's a bit "rounded" and in her 40s but quite fit. Cholesterol is low and her heart, arteries etc are all fine. She's been told she has to keep taking medication but we're not convinced. Has anyone had/overcome a similar problem? Very many thanks for any ideas. I'm sure they'll be better than the quack 
Matt Tell someone you love them today because life is short. But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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21st Nov 2012 3:13pm |
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| Go Beyond Member Since: 30 Jan 2012 Location: Headcorn, Kent Posts: 6676 
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Sorry to hear about your wife mate, but are you sure asking a load of blokes on a Defender forum is a good idea
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21st Nov 2012 3:20pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Thanks and respect
It's because we are just a bunch of blokes (and some blokesses) with healthy passtimes that I'm asking. Google etc. searches just get blogs from neurotic American housewives and "alternative healers". Just thought some down-to-earthers like you lot might have some useful experiences  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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21st Nov 2012 3:25pm |
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| Laurie Member Since: 22 Feb 2008 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 2897  
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I'm on 3 different prescription pills to keep mine down.
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21st Nov 2012 5:45pm |
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| ClaireWright Member Since: 12 Oct 2012 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 609 
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Has she had a CT scan at all see if there is anything showing in head and neck area? Is she stressed or anxious about anything and has she had this before? I'm a nurse hence questions sorry
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21st Nov 2012 6:01pm |
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| mick Member Since: 08 Feb 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2109 
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Go and get a second opinion ASAP is my opinion don't take chances
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21st Nov 2012 7:03pm |
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| Birdy Member Since: 07 Oct 2011 Location: CĂ´te d'Azur Posts: 851  
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She MUST get her blood pressure down; both my wife and I ignored the warnings, within a year of each other I suffered a brain embolism (a transient ischaemic attack but I still have poor balance and find it difficult to concentrate) and my wife – 49 years old and fit in both senses - an aneurysm (ruptured blood vessel in her brain).
“Luckily”, hers occurred while we were holidaying in France, within minutes she was flown by helicopter to a military hospital specialising in brain trauma; this saved her permanent disability if not her life, if we were in the UK we’d probably still be waiting for an ambulance. Simon’s “real exercise” is the minimum immediate action, losing the “roundness” absolutely necessary, but medical advice and most probably lifelong medication is URGENT! Peter |
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21st Nov 2012 7:34pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Mick - Am going to - thanks. Claire - No CT yet. I have a colleague who's wife is a cardiologist (sadly on maternity leave) and she suggested the same as you + neurologist (she had one sided head pain/numbness). Her thyroid test was a bit iffy too. All the bloody hospital wanted to do was fix the first symptoms and keep her in to "observe her a few days" (i.e. to make money) 
We are mostly worried, as it came on so suddenly with for no reason. She was almost unconscious (eyes completely bloodshot) and if we hadn't had a hospital nearby... I wondered if this kind of thing "just happens" to people then goes away again  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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21st Nov 2012 7:41pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Thanks Birdy - never realised it could hit (twice) that hard that fast
We have been discussing what we should do (regardless of the cause) and "roundness" appears to be number 1 on the list. Now the 4 kids are independent (23 years of rushing around), rather than taking it easy it looks like we should get moving even more Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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21st Nov 2012 7:47pm |
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| Birdy Member Since: 07 Oct 2011 Location: CĂ´te d'Azur Posts: 851
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ZeD,
“never realised it could hit (twice) that hard that fast” First day of our holiday in the South of France, I’m unpacking, she’s gone to the supermarket to stock up with grub. Phone call from my daughter to say Mum’s collapsed on the floor and I should come immediately. By the time I got there the missus was already on her way by helicopter to Toulon. Fourteen days in hospital, another fourteen before we dared drive back to the UK taking three days to do it. THAT’S how hard and fast it can hit… her case was just one of those things, mine the more normal “good living”, but both ultimately triggered by high blood pressure. Don’t panic or worry unduly, but don’t ignore it. And keep us informed, wir denken an Euch. Peter Edited to add: Lesson to everybody - NEVER go abroad without your EHIC card |
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21st Nov 2012 8:08pm |
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| bob neville Member Since: 30 Apr 2009 Location: Marbella Posts: 3247  
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Zed
Probably not going to help you but I suffer from a very strange form of sudden high blood pressure called White Coat Syndrome, basically the minute I know the doctor is going to take my BP it shoots up. He was aware of this and suggested I purchased my own monitor and recorded the results. I did this and managed to get a consistent reading of 130/80 ish. Every yearly check up it was the same and he was quite happy, until last year. My yearly MOT was with a locum whose bedside manners left a lot to be desired. Needless to say the old BP shot up. He called for loads of blood tests and a visit a couple of weeks later to see my own doctor. The locum did me a favour
Blood's showed an elevated cholesterol level and one of the three components (the one that begins in tri... !) was raised so I was put on medication for it. I took it upon myself to sort my diet out, especially saturated fat - I am a real pain food shopping now 
After a year, doc is happy with Cholesterol level but the main thing is that I have lost a stone in weight and have a BP of 110/60 (best it has been since I was about 20 !!!) - not bad for somebody who is closer to 60 than 50
I was amazed at the difference the weight loss made to my BP. Moral of the story, if your wife needs to lose a few pounds encourage her to do it, it will help maintain a good BP. The down side, I now feel the cold but I can always put an extra layer of clothing on
Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !! 2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold 2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold 2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member 2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days ! |
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21st Nov 2012 8:48pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Thanks - we are quickly realising that you're all right and, whatever the cause of this problem at the moment, we need to get fitter if we're going to do what we want in the future. Time to stop being kind and start saying "yes, your bum does look big in that". Although I may die for reasons other than BP.
Bit worried at the mo as her BP has just gone up to 130/95 again, even on the tablets 
Probably won't be posting again this evening. Matt Tell someone you love them today because life is short. But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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21st Nov 2012 9:15pm |
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| bob neville Member Since: 30 Apr 2009 Location: Marbella Posts: 3247
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Matt
Couple of things. BP changes dramatically depending on time of day etc. To get a true reading you need to follow a hospital procedure. Take BP first thing in the morning, after going to the loo but NO food or drink. Sit and relax for 5 minutes before the reading. Secondly, she could be getting a form of white Coat Syndrome, she is expecting a bad reading and getting stressed because of it and the result is a high reading. The diastolic (the 95) reading for me was always high when the syndrome kicked in. I would get a second opinion ASAP if I were in her shoes. Edit Matt missed this bit when I read your posts 'Her thyroid test was a bit iffy too.' Thyroid problems can cause sudden high BP, high BP can cause the headache. SWHMBO and her younger sister both have thyroid problems and can get spiked BP but not the headache, maybe their BP does not get raised to far ?? Get her checked out correctly and provide the doctor with all the details you have been given. Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !! 2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold 2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold 2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member 2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days ! |
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21st Nov 2012 9:40pm |
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| Laurie Member Since: 22 Feb 2008 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 2897
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A few pints bring blood pressure down dramaticaly
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21st Nov 2012 11:19pm |
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