Possible High Blood Pressure

[pargyle]

..... I changed meds a couple of times to find one that didn't cause side effects, the NHS starts you on the cheapest available meds and work up the price scale until you get to one that works for you. If you get diagnosed with high BP you will probably get put on Amlodapine while they try and work out a cause, this has loads of side effects, but you can change later on.

Ross

Amlodipine is a disgusting drug .. it's only quality is that it's so cheap they could give it away ... I know so many people who have been prescribed this drug who have suffered side effects and had to change ... indeed, I don't know anyone who actually is sucessfully treated with it. I got lucky and my GP prescribed a fairly costly drug first rather than the usual course of action ... cheapest first ! ... and within days it had worked, BP normal and no side effects whatsoever during the 10 years I've been on it. I get regular pressure from the Doctor to 'try a change' and I just tell them thatI'm happy with what I'm taking and on the basis that it works ... I don't need to change. I know the motivation to change is financial but they can stuff it !!

If they offer you Amlodipine I'd be very careful to watch for ANY changes in your health ...

See:

http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/p...?condition=Blood pressure&medicine=Amlodipine

 

[user 6228]

Amlodipine is a disgusting drug .. it's only quality is that it's so cheap they could give it away ... I know so many people who have been prescribed this drug who have suffered side effects and had to change ... indeed, I don't know anyone who actually is sucessfully treated with it. I got lucky and my GP prescribed a fairly costly drug first rather than the usual course of action ... cheapest first ! ... and within days it had worked, BP normal and no side effects whatsoever during the 10 years I've been on it. I get regular pressure from the Doctor to 'try a change' and I just tell them thatI'm happy with what I'm taking and on the basis that it works ... I don't need to change. I know the motivation to change is financial but they can stuff it !!

If they offer you Amlodipine I'd be very careful to watch for ANY changes in your health ...

See:

http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/p...?condition=Blood pressure&medicine=Amlodipine

is bisoprolol more expensive?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I find gin works a treat (not that Gordon's rubbish though)

 

[pargyle]

is bisoprolol more expensive?

Very slightly ... but both Amlopidine and Bisoprolol are nearly as cheap as Aspirin which give you some idea:

The NHS Drugs Tarriff is published here: (Updated monthly)

http://www.ppa.org.uk/edt/May_2014/mindex.htm

You need to scroll down the menu on the LHS to here:

Part VIIIA - Basic Prices of Drugs Product List

You can look up any drug in the Alphabetical list and it will provide you with the pack size, dosage and cost ... not sure what units the cost is in but at least it gives you a cost comparison ...

Aspirin 75mg in a pack size of 28 is costed at 82.
Amlopidine 10mg in a pack size of 28 is 94
Bisoprolol 10m in a pack size of 28 is 97
Olmesartan medoxomil 10mg in pack size of 28 is 1095 !!!

You can see why the prescribers are under pressure to encourage the use of cheaper medicines ...

 

[busybee53]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Just for the record my lifestyle is pretty healthy. I am vegetarian, have never smoked and rarely drink. I swim a mile once a week, dance once or twice a week, dig my allotment etc. etc.

My OH has a blood pressure machine and took my bp after I had a few nosebleeds. Yesterday I had and ECG and blood tests for diabetes, cholesterol and kidney function. Next week I have an ENT appointment at the hospital. We are taking bp readings 3 or 4 times a week till the results of the tests are back with my GP and then she can decide. So far the readings have ranged between 124 to 160 at home and 210 with white coat syndrome.

I must say I feel better since I have not drunk any cola. The instructions with the bp machine said not to test bp within 30 mins of drinking coffee. I don'tr drink tea or coffee but thought I better come off the cola.

I was just hoping there was a weightlifter on the forum because I do find it hard lifting heavy supers, which you have to do to get to the brood box and I wondered if that was similar to doing weights. My OH helps move brood boxes and hives during Bailey comb changes and A/Ss.

There have been 2 swarms this week which was after we started doing the bp readings and they did not seem to have any effect. Oh and I hate liquorice - yuk.

Thanks again for your concern.

Still hoping for a reply from a weightlifter.....

 

[alldigging]

If you exercise and eat oats then the only thing after that is meditation. Get a seat and go and sit and watch your bees maybe.

 

[Amari]

Yep, raised BP at hospital.. 'white coat syndrome'. Get a sphygmomanometer from chemist, great investment. True readings and easy to use. Helps the doc too. Don't want medication if pos, and def not if BP normal'ish at home.

Hospital doctors not allowed to wear white coats nowadays because studies showed they harboured nasty germs. Never seen a GP in white coat - mine wears khaki.

 

[madasafish]

I was just hoping there was a weightlifter on the forum because I do find it hard lifting heavy supers, which you have to do to get to the brood box and I wondered if that was similar to doing weights.

Still hoping for a reply from a weightlifter.....

I was a weightlifter - see my post very near the start of this thread..

Lifting weights is very different:
-the weights are much heavier - I used to lift 200kg straight off the ground (I weighed and still weigh a small 70kg so not a big beefy bloke) and bench press 100kg.


Weights are evenly balanced and you can position your body (spine and legs) to maximise the use of your legs.
You use chalk to maximise grip.
The surface you stand on lifting weights is flat and even.

My advise for lifting bee boxes:

- ensure the apiary surface is flat - (not always possible).. and not bumpy. Plenty of stable non slippery positions. (we rebuilt part of Association apiary three years ago to achieve that.) And have shoes with lots of grip.

- always ensure you have a good grip of what you are lifting No slippy gloves/handles

- Use your legs. They are the strongest part of your body. Bend them.. (a few practise squats daily will help.. no weights needed -I do 300 a week - mainly for power yoga )

- do not = never - bend your back lifting. No stretching forward. Never. get an assistant if you need to. Bending back and lifting = all sorts of back injuries /pain/sciatica.


- do not = never- twist when lifting.. see sciatica and slipped disks.

- do gentle back exercises to loosen up your back and strengthen it.
(I started with severe sciatica 15 months ago - the pain was so intense I cried... all gone now). I do exercises 5 days/week and before yoga .

I can recommend Ashtanga yoga http://tinyurl.com/klaum3o or pilates to build up and strengthen your back.

Regular gardening with care can help.


I can lift 30-40kg with ease - but would rather not because the after effects on my back tend to linger - sciatica returns for a couple of days -if I overdo it. (I am an OAP - my weight lifting days are long gone)


Hope that helps. Ask more if you want.

 

[Heather]

Hospital doctors not allowed to wear white coats nowadays because studies showed they harboured nasty germs. Never seen a GP in white coat - mine wears khaki.

I know! And when I ran a ward, heaven help ANYONE who sat on a bed. Didn't care what the status.. But it is a recognised saying... People who enter a hospital can be stressed enough to raise BP. Better to do home monitoring.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

my lifestyle is pretty healthy. I am vegetarian, .....

Hmmmm - bit of an oxymoron that IMHO - get some meat inside you - it's what your teeth are for!

 

[busybee53]

Madasafish Did not realise you were a weight lifter. Thanks for all the tips. I am glad that the supers do not seem to be anywhere near as heavy as weights would be so that I need not worry too much about my bp.

Most of the things you suggest I already do, but now I will make sure to move my feet when I turn to put supers down, rather than just twist at the waist.

Cheers.

 

[madasafish]

Madasafish Did not realise you were a weight lifter. Thanks for all the tips. I am glad that the supers do not seem to be anywhere near as heavy as weights would be so that I need not worry too much about my bp.

Most of the things you suggest I already do, but now I will make sure to move my feet when I turn to put supers down, rather than just twist at the waist.

Cheers.

Busybee

Only thing I neglected to mention is breathing.
Weightlifters inhale before lifting and exhale as they lift (or grunt like certain tennis players)..

I am not suggesting you follow that but if you are worried about BP, make sure you do NOT hold your breath when lifting.. that will do your BP no good at all..

 

[user 6228]

6 more days to goodbye bisoprolol and hopefully the white/blue hands and yuk feeling.

 

[BeeJayBee]

6 more days to goodbye bisoprolol and hopefully the white/blue hands and yuk feeling.

Good luck.

 

[REDWOOD]

I don't get blood pressure but did get anxiety attacks but since I'v been keeping bees they have stopped, mind you peoples attitudes still p!@s me off

 

[busybee53]

Will try not to hold my breath when lifting (might have been doing that) but docs are not concerned about my bp it seems. Apparently the nose bleeds are due to being born with a wonky septum in the nose. All the tests just showed up a 5.5 cholesterol reading which I put down to too much cheese and other nice things. Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[Edwardking]

Hmmmm - bit of an oxymoron that IMHO - get some meat inside you - it's what your teeth are for!

 

[user 6228]

Good luck.

yep the blue hands have gone, And I feel much better. I daresay it will be a few weeks before the BP stabilises.

 

[BeeJayBee]

yep the blue hands have gone, And I feel much better. I daresay it will be a few weeks before the BP stabilises.

That's good news.

 

[Dishmop]

My experience over the last month is that BP problesm are caused y the NHS.

Had to go to out patients ( or is it patience?) Saturday as one of my kidney drain tubes had come out and the kidney was leaking..

About 20 odd people sitting aound.
A nuse was walking past and I showed her the problem...."you have to sign in"

Queue fo 10 mins to sign in.
Forms are stacked and collected by the triage nurse. No priorty as to what is wrong with you..... you just sit and die.....
Triage nurse takes about 10 mins with each person... plus walking about and chatting with other nurses......
If you complain you are told.."we are busy and short staffed"

Told traige nurse what was wrong and get told that there's a 3 hour wait to see a doctor, and bed space etc. "so it doesnt matter if I have cut finger or that my kidney is leaking poisons into my body?" I think that either she didnt realise the problem or she wasnt listening to what I had told her..
she casually wrapped the band round my arm and let it pump up.....glanced up at the screen, then at me, then back t the screen and suddenly her hands where all over the place trying to use the phone and watching the machine....... she couldnt get an answer on phone.....ripped the armband off and was helping me down the passage to A&E.
I did manage to see that BP was 96.

She never noticed that I had been holding my breath. Naughty.

Only in A&E for 5 mins and was told that I would be staying.