Very high blood pressure - experiences?
Discussion
Hi all. Just wondering if anyone's experiences with very high blood pressure tally with anyone elses experience.
For some time now, I would say I haven't felt 100% healthy, I had good days and bad days, but ultimately, I've been feeling for a while that there was something not quite right. However, me being a typical bloke tried their best to avoid bothering the doctors for conditions that I truly believed were either in my head, or self-inflicted. Thing is, I've always been told that blood pressure is an 'invisible' illness that wouldn't present symptoms, so I never made the connection.
Back in August, I began to get headaches, ranging from mild to moderate. I put this down to not drinking alcohol through the week anymore (withdrawals), and felt like it would pass in time, but it dragged on for a few weeks, until I went on holiday, and it eased.
However, they soon returned, so after a while, I decided to bite the bullet and get booked in to be checked - in truth I had a shopping list of ailments at this point, but my GP yesterday decided to concentrate on what they felt to be the most important, which was blood pressure, which I did actually mention to them as it runs in the family.
She took my blood pressure and was shocked to be told that my numbers were hovering around the 240 - 250 over 140 - 160 range. I am not an expert, but I understood that to be potentially very serious, and the GP actually told me it was potentially life threatening and they immediately referred me to hospital yesterday.
I spent the day in hospital yesterday, and they did a plethora of tests - almost like an MOT I guess. They did an ECG which they said confirmed my heart was OK. They did a urine test, and they said it looked OK, and thankfully showed no signs of diabetes (another thing I've been concerned about). Blood tests showed the early signs of liver damage - but said it was not too bad at all, and definitely reversible - again this was actually not bad news after a lifetime of heavy drinking, as I half expected it to be a lot worse. They also checked my eyes to see if my brain was swollen.
They gave me some pills to bring my BP down and allowed me home once it dropped to 200 and was showing a clear downward trend. I have been prescribed Amlopidine 10mg tablets for 28 days and Phosphate Sandoz efferverscent tablets for a few days to correct my sodium levels. I have to return on Wednesday for further tests and a more in-depth Kidney function test.
They told me that it was good that it's been caught when it has as it could have resulted in some serious complications.
I've been signed off work for a week and they did ask me whether I felt stressed out at work - I quite possibly do but not because people have been putting pressure on me, but mainly because I probably do it to myself and I still suspect I have ADHD / Autism which I feel makes it very difficult to concentrate, focus, and I tend to overthink hugely and am a natural worrier which doesn't help either, not to mention my job role has changed several times over the last few months for reasons I won't go into here.
So, I'm sitting here typing this on PH, I still have a headache, but they told me that the medication might cause this initially, but I am wondering when I can expect to feel better, as I feel s
t at the minute, and quite down about it even though I know it's been caught in time - although I have been suffering bouts of depression anyway.
I suppose the moral of the story is, don't be like me and avoid doctors, but am wondering if anyone can share their own experiences in what I'm likely to experience over the next few weeks and months. I feel like I've at least made the first steps to fixing my broken body, which I have honestly left too late ideally, but I guess I had to eventually accept I couldn't get better without help. I've always been the sort who felt like they could sort themselves out. I was wrong.
I have been advised I'll most likely be on medication for life and that while lifestyle changes can certainly help, in my case it's quite likely that I will always need medication for it, which I'm not too bothered about as it beats the alternative. All I want is to feel bloody human again.
For some time now, I would say I haven't felt 100% healthy, I had good days and bad days, but ultimately, I've been feeling for a while that there was something not quite right. However, me being a typical bloke tried their best to avoid bothering the doctors for conditions that I truly believed were either in my head, or self-inflicted. Thing is, I've always been told that blood pressure is an 'invisible' illness that wouldn't present symptoms, so I never made the connection.
Back in August, I began to get headaches, ranging from mild to moderate. I put this down to not drinking alcohol through the week anymore (withdrawals), and felt like it would pass in time, but it dragged on for a few weeks, until I went on holiday, and it eased.
However, they soon returned, so after a while, I decided to bite the bullet and get booked in to be checked - in truth I had a shopping list of ailments at this point, but my GP yesterday decided to concentrate on what they felt to be the most important, which was blood pressure, which I did actually mention to them as it runs in the family.
She took my blood pressure and was shocked to be told that my numbers were hovering around the 240 - 250 over 140 - 160 range. I am not an expert, but I understood that to be potentially very serious, and the GP actually told me it was potentially life threatening and they immediately referred me to hospital yesterday.
I spent the day in hospital yesterday, and they did a plethora of tests - almost like an MOT I guess. They did an ECG which they said confirmed my heart was OK. They did a urine test, and they said it looked OK, and thankfully showed no signs of diabetes (another thing I've been concerned about). Blood tests showed the early signs of liver damage - but said it was not too bad at all, and definitely reversible - again this was actually not bad news after a lifetime of heavy drinking, as I half expected it to be a lot worse. They also checked my eyes to see if my brain was swollen.
They gave me some pills to bring my BP down and allowed me home once it dropped to 200 and was showing a clear downward trend. I have been prescribed Amlopidine 10mg tablets for 28 days and Phosphate Sandoz efferverscent tablets for a few days to correct my sodium levels. I have to return on Wednesday for further tests and a more in-depth Kidney function test.
They told me that it was good that it's been caught when it has as it could have resulted in some serious complications.
I've been signed off work for a week and they did ask me whether I felt stressed out at work - I quite possibly do but not because people have been putting pressure on me, but mainly because I probably do it to myself and I still suspect I have ADHD / Autism which I feel makes it very difficult to concentrate, focus, and I tend to overthink hugely and am a natural worrier which doesn't help either, not to mention my job role has changed several times over the last few months for reasons I won't go into here.
So, I'm sitting here typing this on PH, I still have a headache, but they told me that the medication might cause this initially, but I am wondering when I can expect to feel better, as I feel s
t at the minute, and quite down about it even though I know it's been caught in time - although I have been suffering bouts of depression anyway.I suppose the moral of the story is, don't be like me and avoid doctors, but am wondering if anyone can share their own experiences in what I'm likely to experience over the next few weeks and months. I feel like I've at least made the first steps to fixing my broken body, which I have honestly left too late ideally, but I guess I had to eventually accept I couldn't get better without help. I've always been the sort who felt like they could sort themselves out. I was wrong.
I have been advised I'll most likely be on medication for life and that while lifestyle changes can certainly help, in my case it's quite likely that I will always need medication for it, which I'm not too bothered about as it beats the alternative. All I want is to feel bloody human again.
Hi, you've been lucky in many ways to have caught up with this now. My experiences aren't as extreme in the same way as yours, however, I was diagnosed as having a blocked carotid artery when I was 40, quite by chance. Backtracking through my history and it became likely that a bike accident when I was 24, in which I broke 2 bones in my neck, was the likely culprit.
I'd been having blackouts and vision probs in my right eye when I was 39, and ended up having 3 months off work while I had tests. The artery issue didn't come to light then, and I seemed to get better on my own after a while. It was only during an " in your 40s MOT test " at my GP on a Saturday that an ultrasound picked up the artery issue, and I ended up back in hospital for further investigation. It became apparent that I'd suffered trauma to the artery, and the blackouts and vision issues would have been caused by the artery finally blocking up, with small bits of debris from it getting into my brain etc. It's not unlikely I've had a couple of mini strokes.
I subsequently have ended up on 4 tablets a day, as the blocked artery had sent my BP into orbit. It's now a managed 135 over 95, which is ok. I suspect, like me, you'll be on meds for the rest of your life, no big deal when you consider the alternative.
I too suffer from anxiety, stress and over thinking things. You can't help what you are, but at least being aware of it means you can try and manage it. Like you, there may be an element of me also being on the spectrum, in fact, I've recently become sure I am, but it's way more common than is realised and generally accepted I think.
Good luck with it, I'm sure you'll be fine now you're dealing with it.
I'd been having blackouts and vision probs in my right eye when I was 39, and ended up having 3 months off work while I had tests. The artery issue didn't come to light then, and I seemed to get better on my own after a while. It was only during an " in your 40s MOT test " at my GP on a Saturday that an ultrasound picked up the artery issue, and I ended up back in hospital for further investigation. It became apparent that I'd suffered trauma to the artery, and the blackouts and vision issues would have been caused by the artery finally blocking up, with small bits of debris from it getting into my brain etc. It's not unlikely I've had a couple of mini strokes.
I subsequently have ended up on 4 tablets a day, as the blocked artery had sent my BP into orbit. It's now a managed 135 over 95, which is ok. I suspect, like me, you'll be on meds for the rest of your life, no big deal when you consider the alternative.
I too suffer from anxiety, stress and over thinking things. You can't help what you are, but at least being aware of it means you can try and manage it. Like you, there may be an element of me also being on the spectrum, in fact, I've recently become sure I am, but it's way more common than is realised and generally accepted I think.
Good luck with it, I'm sure you'll be fine now you're dealing with it.
Wow that sounds bad, glad you've recovered now though 
Yeah, I'm not too bothered about being on the pills every day, but this headache is really dragging me down at the minute. Ironically, the doctor yesterday explained the meds I'm on currently can cause headaches
Hopefully that's just a temporary thing while my body gets used to the medication.
I'll keep you all posted how the tests go tomorrow. I'm just glad I'm finally addressing my issues after years of hiding away from it.
Yeah, I'm not too bothered about being on the pills every day, but this headache is really dragging me down at the minute. Ironically, the doctor yesterday explained the meds I'm on currently can cause headaches
Hopefully that's just a temporary thing while my body gets used to the medication.I'll keep you all posted how the tests go tomorrow. I'm just glad I'm finally addressing my issues after years of hiding away from it.
Blood pressure is not an exact science. My mother had high blood pressure from the time my eldest sibling was born. It was her first ever blood pressure test. Nothing they did seemed to bring it down below 180 over an undisclosed number. The doctors sort of gave up. She died when she was 87, albeit from a stroke, but out of her four sisters, she lived the longest, and by some distance.
I had 'dangerously low' blood pressure in my late 20s and early 30s. I had checks for a while, and then just gave up. No symptoms, so that was it. My elder daughter has low BP. She's very slim. Her doctor fussed about but after a short time, she just got on without worrying.
Later life, that's in my 60s, my blood pressure went up to the treatment threshold. On diuretics and low-level pills. The problem is, I think, that I am overweight. I had a medical condition and went from under 15 stone to over 18. Getting it down and the BP is following.
240 is rather high, and can cause problems, but the treatment should bring it down to reasonable levels. Keep the weight off, exercise and see how it goes.
I had 'dangerously low' blood pressure in my late 20s and early 30s. I had checks for a while, and then just gave up. No symptoms, so that was it. My elder daughter has low BP. She's very slim. Her doctor fussed about but after a short time, she just got on without worrying.
Later life, that's in my 60s, my blood pressure went up to the treatment threshold. On diuretics and low-level pills. The problem is, I think, that I am overweight. I had a medical condition and went from under 15 stone to over 18. Getting it down and the BP is following.
240 is rather high, and can cause problems, but the treatment should bring it down to reasonable levels. Keep the weight off, exercise and see how it goes.
TameRacingDriver said:
She took my blood pressure and was shocked to be told that my numbers were hovering around the 240 - 250 over 140 - 160 range. I am not an expert, but I understood that to be potentially very serious, and the GP actually told me it was potentially life threatening and they immediately referred me to hospital yesterday.
Glad it got picked, and (touch lots of wood) you avoided a potential life changing stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, or even wore ruptured blood vessel. Over 2 decades of seeing lots of people with blood pressure issues I can count on one hand the number of people I've seen with a true systolic blood pressure of over 240 without major complications.The Qrisk calculator doesn't even compute a systolic BP of over 210mmHg (didn't realise that!)
https://www.qrisk.org/2017/
The headaches should settle, what ever you do DON'T stop taking the medications, with those numbers lifestyle/diet changes will not be enough. Get a home BP monitor if you can. High blood pressure still cause more death in the UK than all cancers, infections combined.
I take Ramipril, Felodopine, Clopidigril and a statin. I'm possibly very lucky in that I don't seem to suffer from any side effects whatsoever. It's been so long since I started taking them that I can't remember if side effects were ever an issue. The Felodopine is a fairly recent addition, maybe the last 5 years, it's probs mede the most noticeable difference overall, although I've lost 2 stone this year for various reasons, and was taking more exercise and less alcohol. I was overweight at 14 stone 4, 12 stone 4 now.
I may not have learned my lesson, I'm considering another bike in the not too distant future!
I may not have learned my lesson, I'm considering another bike in the not too distant future!
Thanks for the comments folks. Yesterday was the first proper day of taking the medication and boy did I feel rough yesterday, but I think that's fairly normal while your body gets used to the medicine and also probably the drop in the blood pressure (hopefully anyway).
Today I go in for my kidney test and no doubt they'll take a couple of readings too so it'll be interesting to see what they are at today.
It's been a wake up call for sure though, I'm hopeful that my very high blood pressure has been behind a lot of my illness of late (despite apparently having no symptoms for many), and that it will now resolve now that I'm on the meds.. I'm also happier that I'm getting fully checked out and not just the blood pressure. I feel like a weight is being lifted.
Today I go in for my kidney test and no doubt they'll take a couple of readings too so it'll be interesting to see what they are at today.
It's been a wake up call for sure though, I'm hopeful that my very high blood pressure has been behind a lot of my illness of late (despite apparently having no symptoms for many), and that it will now resolve now that I'm on the meds.. I'm also happier that I'm getting fully checked out and not just the blood pressure. I feel like a weight is being lifted.
I posted this on another thread recently -
"Just over a year ago I was admitted with an eyelid drooping down for it to be checked out. BP was 253/130 - the nurse's face when she saw it told me it wasn't good! They gave me a load of tablets over about 12 hours to get it below 200 so I could go home. Now on a constant dose of 2 different pills - Ramipril and Amlodipine. It's still not right and usually above 140/80 but obviously better than before which was a disaster waiting to happen.
For context age 57, never smoked, drank very little, gym and bike 3-5 times a week but overweight by a couple of stone probably with a heavy build.
Not really been the same since to be honest and also found recently to have a slow and sometimes irregular heartbeat that is not having treatment - yet."
I'm still not right and the latest is a notification of potential atrial fibrillation form the iwatch and pulse usually under 50 and sometimes in the low 30's. Given I'm not a professional athlete by any stretch of the imagination that seems a bit low. Had investigations following a 24hr monitor that showed 3 seconds between beats a few times and irregular pulse but nothing done re treatment - a wait and see situation. It does seem to be getting worse and when I take my BP the machine warns of irregular heat beat probably 70-80% of the time at least. I'm not really sure how concerned I should be.
"Just over a year ago I was admitted with an eyelid drooping down for it to be checked out. BP was 253/130 - the nurse's face when she saw it told me it wasn't good! They gave me a load of tablets over about 12 hours to get it below 200 so I could go home. Now on a constant dose of 2 different pills - Ramipril and Amlodipine. It's still not right and usually above 140/80 but obviously better than before which was a disaster waiting to happen.
For context age 57, never smoked, drank very little, gym and bike 3-5 times a week but overweight by a couple of stone probably with a heavy build.
Not really been the same since to be honest and also found recently to have a slow and sometimes irregular heartbeat that is not having treatment - yet."
I'm still not right and the latest is a notification of potential atrial fibrillation form the iwatch and pulse usually under 50 and sometimes in the low 30's. Given I'm not a professional athlete by any stretch of the imagination that seems a bit low. Had investigations following a 24hr monitor that showed 3 seconds between beats a few times and irregular pulse but nothing done re treatment - a wait and see situation. It does seem to be getting worse and when I take my BP the machine warns of irregular heat beat probably 70-80% of the time at least. I'm not really sure how concerned I should be.
TameRacingDriver said:
That sounds rough mate, and I would definitely be a bit concerned if I was you. Hope you get it sorted...
Currently back at the hospital, just had my bladder and kidneys scanned, now just waiting for the verdict...
Today's blood pressure is 163/121
Sounds like its moving in the right direction which is good news though still high. Hopefully they can get it in the right place without any real damage.Currently back at the hospital, just had my bladder and kidneys scanned, now just waiting for the verdict...
Today's blood pressure is 163/121
undred orse said:
II'm still not right and the latest is a notification of potential atrial fibrillation form the iwatch and pulse usually under 50 and sometimes in the low 30's. Given I'm not a professional athlete by any stretch of the imagination that seems a bit low. Had investigations following a 24hr monitor that showed 3 seconds between beats a few times and irregular pulse but nothing done re treatment - a wait and see situation. It does seem to be getting worse and when I take my BP the machine warns of irregular heat beat probably 70-80% of the time at least. I'm not really sure how concerned I should be.
Left untreated atrial fibrillation ain’t good. It took a mini-stroke for me to get it identified earlier this year. If they have you on blood thinners this is the 1st line of defence against the potential consequences & is very effective. I was told they don’t like to leave it untreated though as it will get worse & over time damage the heart. I went private but it was 5 weeks from seeing the 1st cardiologist to a procedure, which has really changed things & hopefully fixed it.IME experience, the Apple Watch isn’t brilliant at identifying AF. It may be you have an irregular beat that the watch is presuming is AF. As poster above stated, untreated AF is bad news and ++raises risk of a stroke. Can you share the ECG from the watch on here?
Edited by Badda on Thursday 1st December 17:21
Can't share an ecg unfortunately. I got another alert at the weekend. That is 2 in 2 weeks having had the watch 7 months. It just produced a list of BPM and time taken. e.g.1.57.05.50 - 71bpm, 1.57.06.92 42 bpm,1.57.08.55 32 bpm, 1.57.09.43 69bpm then back to 44,36,68,56,50 bpm and so on for about an hour between 84 and 30 bpm with no 2 readings being the same.
I've sent all the info to the specialist I saw last and I'm waiting for his response. Felt wiped out the day after both alerts although I didn't notice either until well into the day.
It does feel like something is going on.
Just noticed I joined this place 15 years ago today. Where has that all gone? To think If I hadn't spent all that money on cars I'd have it to spend on cars now.
I've sent all the info to the specialist I saw last and I'm waiting for his response. Felt wiped out the day after both alerts although I didn't notice either until well into the day.
It does feel like something is going on.
Just noticed I joined this place 15 years ago today. Where has that all gone? To think If I hadn't spent all that money on cars I'd have it to spend on cars now.
Edited by undred orse on Tuesday 6th December 15:59
Hope you get a response soon about that as I can certainly see why you're concerned.
And yes I feel old too - I've been here since 2001 and I'm also equally skint
As for my BP well my latest reading today was 179/112 - and that was best of 3 readings, the first was 197/121. This is still alarmingly high even taking the daily tablet. All my bloods and scans are clear and no organ damage, so I guess I'm just genetically unlucky, and so I am expecting to be given more medication at some point in the near future.
And yes I feel old too - I've been here since 2001 and I'm also equally skint
As for my BP well my latest reading today was 179/112 - and that was best of 3 readings, the first was 197/121. This is still alarmingly high even taking the daily tablet. All my bloods and scans are clear and no organ damage, so I guess I'm just genetically unlucky, and so I am expecting to be given more medication at some point in the near future.
undred orse said:
Can't share an ecg unfortunately. I got another alert at the weekend. That is 2 in 2 weeks having had the watch 7 months. It just produced a list of BPM and time taken. e.g.1.57.05.50 - 71bpm, 1.57.06.92 42 bpm,1.57.08.55 32 bpm, 1.57.09.43 69bpm then back to 44,36,68,56,50 bpm and so on for about an hour between 84 and 30 bpm with no 2 readings being the same.
Pah….. call that a irregularity? At one point I was bouncing around between high 40s & 140!Edited by undred orse on Tuesday 6th December 15:59
In my first meeting with the cardiologist he did mention that they are much more comfortable with a situation where the upper rate does not exceed 100.
undred orse said:
Can't share an ecg unfortunately. I got another alert at the weekend. That is 2 in 2 weeks having had the watch 7 months. It just produced a list of BPM and time taken. e.g.1.57.05.50 - 71bpm, 1.57.06.92 42 bpm,1.57.08.55 32 bpm, 1.57.09.43 69bpm then back to 44,36,68,56,50 bpm and so on for about an hour between 84 and 30 bpm with no 2 readings being the same.
I've sent all the info to the specialist I saw last and I'm waiting for his response. Felt wiped out the day after both alerts although I didn't notice either until well into the day.
It does feel like something is going on.
Just noticed I joined this place 15 years ago today. Where has that all gone? To think If I hadn't spent all that money on cars I'd have it to spend on cars now.
Is the specialist a heart specialist? I have high BP, always slightly higher than perfect for many many years but found it getting a bit serious when I was getting tension headaches and went to my GP. I got put on some very very lightweight tablets and my BP was under control. Great, I thought I'll take them when I get symptoms.... this year I took very few of them and I had a BP check in October when having a sleep study done - 199 or something. Nowhere near what some of you are had but still pretty alarming, but I certainly didn't feel like I had such high BP.I've sent all the info to the specialist I saw last and I'm waiting for his response. Felt wiped out the day after both alerts although I didn't notice either until well into the day.
It does feel like something is going on.
Just noticed I joined this place 15 years ago today. Where has that all gone? To think If I hadn't spent all that money on cars I'd have it to spend on cars now.
Edited by undred orse on Tuesday 6th December 15:59
I saw my GP, had an ECG which indicated a bit of a delay in one of the "circuits" which indicates hypertrophy of the heart muscle. A stress ECG and Echo ECG later found I have a prolapsed aorta which results in "regurgitation" and which in turn means the heart has to pump a bit more to make up for the backflow. I will have another test in January with an ultrasound device inserted down the throat. I don't know how long I have had this aorta thing and if it has been causing my high BP all along, or if it's a product of the high BP. I did greatly overexert myself one day about four years ago which may have also done the damage.
A bit of a thread bump with this.
I've been on Amlodipine 10mg and Lisinoprol 5mg tablets for a fair few months now, and my blood pressure is now around 135/97 so a marked improvement over the 250/151 I was originally diagnosed with.
The headaches have gone, and I've noticed I'm now not as heat intolerant as I was (coincidence?).
I was sent to the sleep clinic with suspected sleep apnoea and the results have come back, apparently I'm severely affected, waking up 37 times an hour
Certainly explains my general lack of energy and difficulty getting out of bed, and presumably the high blood pressure. So I'll be getting a CPAP machine to try at the end of the month.
Quite shocked to read that letter to be honest, but it could certainly explain a lot.
I have been trying to drink less and lose weight, improve the diet and so on but the girl at the sleep clinic when I was there suggested being overweight wouldn't help but might not be the reason why.
So there you go, I guess I'm falling to bits by my mid 40s and really need to start taking care of myself better than I have. I clearly don't have rock star genes although I have been told I'm lucky not to have suffered a heart attack or stroke so there is that.
I've been on Amlodipine 10mg and Lisinoprol 5mg tablets for a fair few months now, and my blood pressure is now around 135/97 so a marked improvement over the 250/151 I was originally diagnosed with.
The headaches have gone, and I've noticed I'm now not as heat intolerant as I was (coincidence?).
I was sent to the sleep clinic with suspected sleep apnoea and the results have come back, apparently I'm severely affected, waking up 37 times an hour
Certainly explains my general lack of energy and difficulty getting out of bed, and presumably the high blood pressure. So I'll be getting a CPAP machine to try at the end of the month.
Quite shocked to read that letter to be honest, but it could certainly explain a lot.
I have been trying to drink less and lose weight, improve the diet and so on but the girl at the sleep clinic when I was there suggested being overweight wouldn't help but might not be the reason why.
So there you go, I guess I'm falling to bits by my mid 40s and really need to start taking care of myself better than I have. I clearly don't have rock star genes although I have been told I'm lucky not to have suffered a heart attack or stroke so there is that.
Slowboathome said:
That all sounds pretty positive. A clear diagnosis, good treatment options and your body is responding to the meds.
It is positive even though I'm a bit in shock at the news. Still though it explains a lot. I've rarely ever had much energy and if I'm basically never sleeping properly then I'm not surprised.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff