Just been put on blood pressure meds

[Baggy]

Look on the bright side yello, at least it's a daily tablet and not a suppository

I have to keep an eye on my weight and cholesterol, I had a 24 hour BP test a few years ago after a high reading, the results were higher than ideal but still in the ok range. With each subsequent test it has come down each time and is now normal, but the quacks suspect it will inevitably go upwards again at some point...

 

[Strick]

Im on a concoction of tablets for BP, including Ramipril. Too much of a "good" lifestyle got me in to the obese category and that was a by product I guess.
Working hard on making my heart and lungs work now, in the hope of ridding the body of some blubber. Ultimately I would like to see the back of the meds, but even if I can get them reduced then that is something.

 

[Andrew_P]

I too am borderline, been working hard to avoid being put on them and I too think I kid myself by taking BP 3 hours post commute and it is alway around 130/83 but can see it 6 hours post around 138/88. Half an hour after Cycling it is normally below 120/80 but I avoid this as it would skew the the averging on the machine too much!

What concerns me with meds would be how low it would go post ride or stopping mid ride at lights etc, heard stories of people getting dizzy etc.

Will be interesting (for me) what your post ride stats are now you are on a low dose med.

As someone else said if you do not get on with your current med then there are other choices out there.

 

[yello]

What concerns me with meds would be how low it would go post ride or stopping mid ride at lights etc, heard stories of people getting dizzy etc.

Must admit, that concerns me too. If I can drop my BP to 116 (from 150 odd) without pills then what might happen WITH pills! I realise it's trial and error and this stage, to see how I get on and if no good then change meds but you do read stories of people never getting on with their meds, having to take other meds to counter the side effects etc. I'm hoping I fall into the much larger category of people for who the meds present no problem. Took my 1st one a few hours back and so far so good, no undue sprouting of hair or growing of fangs.... yet!

 

[Oxo]

What concerns me with meds would be how low it would go post ride or stopping mid ride at lights etc, heard stories of people getting dizzy etc.

Shouldn't be a problem if dosage is right and you keep your energy levels under control.

 

[Tyke]

A tablet a day for the rest of your life is not that bad just hope that you have to take them for many more years to come.

 

[Andrew_P]

Must admit, that concerns me too. If I can drop my BP to 116 (from 150 odd) without pills then what might happen WITH pills! I realise it's trial and error and this stage, to see how I get on and if no good then change meds but you do read stories of people never getting on with their meds, having to take other meds to counter the side effects etc. I'm hoping I fall into the much larger category of people for who the meds present no problem. Took my 1st one a few hours back and so far so good, no undue sprouting of hair or growing of fangs.... yet!

Sorry hope it didn't worry you, but apart from the normal "I don't want to be taking tablets rest of my life" part it was the dropping post or mid ride that concerned me like you having seen the "good reading" post ride.

To be honest in reality I would rather have 120/80 all the time via a tablet. I am giving myself a another month before I go to the Doc with my BP machine in hand!

I suspect the body levels it out, and maybe the dizzy people have a bit of white coat, and are over medicated. Your dose seems pretty low.

And do not forget not that many years ago it was your age plus 100 was deemed fine..

 

[Andrew_P]

Oh an the other thing is, it looks like you have been (like me) consulting Dr Google, and you have to remember on the whole people normally only find time to post or write stuff that is negative, when everything is fine there is little point of writing about it. So Google etc is skewed as a research tool, and will only raise your BP

 

[yello]

A tablet a day for the rest of your life is not that bad just hope that you have to take them for many more years to come.

Indeed. That's the perspective to address. As my doc said (somewhat emotional blackmail-ly), you don't have to take them but this is what could happen if you don't.... and proceeded to list the various organ failures that high BP can cause!

Sorry hope it didn't worry you

No, not at all. I'm someone that tends to 'survey the landscape' (as I call it, other people call it worrying!). That is, I like to consider possible outcomes. I don't fret about it, I just like to be aware.

 

[Tyke]

I started on the Ramipril plus some others following a heart attack about 14 months ago but after the first couple of weeks of taking them every day you tend to forget about them and just take them like you do food and drink, once they become part of your life they no longer become a worry, and they wouldn't give you them if they didn't think you needed them. Just tell the doctor if you have any side effects. Thousands of people start taking them every year so they cant be that bad and I can swear they are better than the heart attack.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I started on the Ramipril plus some others following a heart attack about 14 months ago but after the first couple of weeks of taking them every day you tend to forget about them and just take them like you do food and drink, once they become part of your life they no longer become a worry, and they wouldn't give you them if they didn't think you needed them. Just tell the doctor if you have any side effects. Thousands of people start taking them every year so they cant be that bad and I can swear they are better than the heart attack.

Thats spot on, at the time I wasn't happy to find out that I needed stenting and medication, but better it was picked up early and dealt with, it could have been very nasty if it had gone undetected for a few more years. I look on it as having had the yellow card off the grim reaper, and I used that as motivation to make the changes I needed to at the time, and to keep at it.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thats spot on, at the time I wasn't happy to find out that I needed stenting and medication, but better it was picked up early and dealt with, it could have been very nasty if it had gone undetected for a few more years. I look on it as having had the yellow card off the grim reaper, and I used that as motivation to make the changes I needed to at the time, and to keep at it.

Same here, 1 stent at 42 y/o, 2 types of Cholesterol pills, aspirin, beta-blockers

Yello, it ain't so bad, 1 pill a day is no big deal especially if it keeps you well. Hopefully you have no side effects. At least you're not on Beta-blockers which are a pain, make you feel slightly lethargic all the time, nasty blighters.
Learn to love yer meds!

 

[mangaman]

Shouldn't be a problem if dosage is right and you keep your energy levels under control.

I agree - ramipril 5mg is a half dose and if it keeps your bp controlled, that's great.

Calcium channel blockers are just as likely to cause dizziness if the dose is too high.

It sounds as if you are on a sensible drug regime.

As others have said - keep active and don't drink too much alcohol - that's what pushes up your bp.

 

[asterix]

Must admit, that concerns me too. If I can drop my BP to 116 (from 150 odd) without pills then what might happen WITH pills! I realise it's trial and error and this stage, to see how I get on and if no good then change meds but you do read stories of people never getting on with their meds, having to take other meds to counter the side effects etc. I'm hoping I fall into the much larger category of people for who the meds present no problem. Took my 1st one a few hours back and so far so good, no undue sprouting of hair or growing of fangs.... yet!

Maybe if you take the right stuff you will be at TdF standard soon.

 

[yello]

Thanks people, Tyke, dave r, FF. You've told me what I wanted to hear. It marks a transition for me so it is a bit difficult to come to terms with, daft as that may sound to some.

No side effects so far (I did feel a little light headed yesterday but that could just be the body getting used to it) so it's so far so good.

Just come back from a 50km ride, no problems, BP at 128/84 now but I've not taken the pill for today.