Anyone Normalize High Blood Pressure: Testimonials!

LuckyMe2017

I have had high blood pressure since having my son in 2010. I am hoping that my weight loss will result in me being able to stop my medication, which is a low dose.

Any testimonials? How much weight did you lose before seeing a change in your BP? Other considerations that can be supported by personal experiences?

happyfeetrebel1

At my highest, I weighed 305 and my BP was so high, the refused to let me leave before they gave me meds for it.

It had no known reason for being high, other than my obesity. It normalized at about 210 for me, and I now weigh around 175. I am and have been unmedicated since 210, but I do keep fairly good track of it by home monitoring.

Note: I did get my Dr.s permission to stop medication when it stabilized, a lot of those meds can be dangerous to just stop, and your Dr. can help you

LuckyMe2017

Thanks for sharing. I will definitely consult my doctor. Just trying to gain a little reassurance that I can reach this goal. I am 186 right now, which is how much I weighed pre-pregnancy. So I am hoping to see some results soon.

How did you know your BP was lowering? This may sound silly, but did it drop too low or did you just ween off the meds and it stayed low???

sheldonklein

I got off blood pressure meds after losing 30 pounds. I'm down another 30 and don't expect to go back. I've also halved my Statin and expect to be able to go off completely the next time I get tested.

happyfeetrebel1

MidwaysT wrote: »

Thanks for sharing. I will definitely consult my doctor. Just trying to gain a little reassurance that I can reach this goal. I am 186 right now, which is how much I weighed pre-pregnancy. So I am hoping to see some results soon.

How did you know your BP was lowering? This may sound silly, but did it drop too low or did you just ween off the meds and it stayed low???

My Dr. was monitoring it, along with some other health issues. When she thought it was staying low enough, and my weight had greatly decreased, she suggested going half dose for a few weeks (weaning) and then monitoring it to make sure it didn't go up again.

LuckyMe2017

sheldonklein wrote: »

I got off blood pressure meds after losing 30 pounds. I'm down another 30 and don't expect to go back. I've also halved my Statin and expect to be able to go off completely the next time I get tested.

Oh...great! Good for you.☺️

Liftng4Lis

sheldonklein wrote: »

I got off blood pressure meds after losing 30 pounds. I'm down another 30 and don't expect to go back. I've also halved my Statin and expect to be able to go off completely the next time I get tested.

WOOT WOOT!

LuckyMe2017

happyfeetrebel1 wrote: »

MidwaysT wrote: »

Thanks for sharing. I will definitely consult my doctor. Just trying to gain a little reassurance that I can reach this goal. I am 186 right now, which is how much I weighed pre-pregnancy. So I am hoping to see some results soon.

How did you know your BP was lowering? This may sound silly, but did it drop too low or did you just ween off the meds and it stayed low???

My Dr. was monitoring it, along with some other health issues. When she thought it was staying low enough, and my weight had greatly decreased, she suggested going half dose for a few weeks (weaning) and then monitoring it to make sure it didn't go up again.

Ok. That sounds reasonable. I asked because I have been a little anxious about it unexpectedly dropping. Thanks again for sharing.

cwolfman13

I have been able to reduce the strength of my prescriptions, but I still require meds to keep my blood pressure normal. I've been at this for about 2.5 years and I'm as healthy and fit as I've ever been...I still hold out some hope that I'll be able to ditch the meds some day...but really, it seems to be as much of a hereditary issue for me as much as anything else.

LuckyMe2017

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I have been able to reduce the strength of my prescriptions, but I still require meds to keep my blood pressure normal. I've been at this for about 2.5 years and I'm as healthy and fit as I've ever been...I still hold out some hope that I'll be able to ditch the meds some day...but really, it seems to be as much of a hereditary issue for me as much as anything else.

Progress is inspiring!

blueridgeloner

After losing around 100 my Dr. said they would cut my dose in 1/2, which was monitored closely. It was to be cut in 1/2 again after 3 months. At that 3 month appt. the Dr. said to stop taking them as they were no longer need but to continue tracking for awhile with permission to restart if needed. So far it's not been needed.

airangel59

Was on 2 meds for HTN, 2 for high cholesterol & lipids as well as Metformin for T2 DM .
Off all meds since 9/2013 and no longer am considered to have those diagnoses.

I started MFP June 7th, 2012 after being diagnosed with T2.

Was being seen by MD 4x year with the DM dx and after the room start swimming when I got up, we started to adjust down the anti hypertensive meds.
I now run on the lower side (thinking last time had appt it was 100/60)

I probably had lost ~ 100 lbs when they finally stopped the meds (she didn't want to totally cut the Lisinopril which she dropped to I think 5 mg, said something about kidney protection from DM, but after dizziness persisted, that med was stopped) .
Not sure when I first got diagnosed with HTN.

BWBTrish

sheldonklein wrote: »

I got off blood pressure meds after losing 30 pounds. I'm down another 30 and don't expect to go back. I've also halved my Statin and expect to be able to go off completely the next time I get tested.

started my weight loss 1st of October 2014 at 260 pounds
After about 6 weeks my BP started to come down

Now normal and still on my weight loss life style change.
*BP normal
*sugar level normal again
*heart rate normal again
* fitter
* and lost 69 pounds till now ( current weight 191 pound)

jgnatca

I negotiated to go off meds a few months after surgery if I promised to keep monitoring. I check my BP about once a week. I started to experience dizziness and weakness after my first thirty pounds off and started collecting BP data to convince my doctor to go off. At my lowest I was down to "optimal low". But I was several months after Bariatric surgery and over 50 lbs down before I was off BP meds. My BP has gone up slightly but it continues to rate in the normal range. Resolving sleep apnea might also have contributed to lower BP.

LuckyMe2017

Thank you all for sharing. I measured my BP before and after walking/jogging 4.5m yesterday. My BP was 122/79 before and 188/77 after. I wonder if walking/cardio play a significant role also?

jgnatca

Cardio definitely helps! I have seen a steady drop in my heart rate.

SergeantSausage

170/110 regularly - like every time they tested it. Doc gave me 3 months. Diet and exercise brought it down to 140's / 95-ish after fixing the diet and losing 30 pounds. Not low enough. They put me on low dose (2.5 mg) Lisinopril.

Stayed on the meds for almost 3 years, but got the weight loss up to 55 pounds and now I'm off 'em for the time being. Been off for the last 6 weeks and averaged 127/65 with only a single reading (of about a hundred in the spreadsheet) over the 140/90 hypertensive threshold.

Losing weight and running miles - lots and lots of miles - is what did it for me. I had to take off 25% of my weight (204 to 150-ish) to finally get off 'em, though, and most folks think I'm underweight now. It didn't come down until I got super low weight.

LuckyMe2017

jgnatca wrote: »

Cardio definitely helps! I have seen a steady drop in my heart rate.

Nice! My BP was 127/81 this morning before meds, so I think I am getting close.

LuckyMe2017

SergeantSausage wrote: »

170/110 regularly - like every time they tested it. Doc gave me 3 months. Diet and exercise brought it down to 140's / 95-ish after fixing the diet and losing 30 pounds. Not low enough. They put me on low dose (2.5 mg) Lisinopril.

Stayed on the meds for almost 3 years, but got the weight loss up to 55 pounds and now I'm off 'em for the time being. Been off for the last 6 weeks and averaged 127/65 with only a single reading (of about a hundred in the spreadsheet) over the 140/90 hypertensive threshold.

Losing weight and running miles - lots and lots of miles - is what did it for me. I had to take off 25% of my weight (204 to 150-ish) to finally get off 'em, though, and most folks think I'm underweight now. It didn't come down until I got super low weight.

Thanks for the details. And congrats!
I am in 5mg right now. I have almost lost 30. I am at 185, down from 212 and hope to lose about 45-50 more. I know my family will think I am too small when I am done but I have to do what makes me healthy and happy.
I try to walk/jog 10m per week also.

LuckyMe2017

Update:
3 months of better eating and walking and my blood pressure has been normal 1 week without meds.

jgnatca

happy dance!

JenniferInCt

Wow good for you!!!!! Terrific job!

kellyannecandy

My blood pressure is 150ish / 85-90 and one of my main reasons for getting healthy and losing weight.......early days yet but have bought a home monitor and booked back in with the GP in 5 weeks. Hopefully it will be down a bit by then or he'll be putting me on tablets

jgnatca

My average is now 113/74, and I am off all blood pressure meds. I credit weight loss of ninety pounds, assisted by Bariatric surgery. Added exercise has also brought my heart rate down.

jgnatca

I use BPMonitor app to track.

TheLegendaryBrandonHarris

Went off Benicar after being on it 18 months. Been off for 5 weeks now. Went from 290 to 260 and my blood pressure was consistently very low, so I came off it.

cosmichvoyager

I started on MFP cause the doctor said my blood pressure was too high for my age. She said if I lost a decent amount of weight within 6 months and the blood pressure went closer to normal, then she would not make me take meds for it.

I lost about 17 pounds in 6 months and she was really happy with the blood pressure improvement so no meds.
I'm still slowly losing and I plan to continue but I must add that I seriously curtailed my smoking and I exercise with moderate intensity at least 3x a week. I think the smoking thing was probably #1, tbh.

OldHobo

Thanks for all your stories. It's something I've been wondering and worrying about.

gothchiq

In addition to the workouts and healthy eating, hubby is using hawthorn berry supplements to get his blood pressure down. Now, the doctor is watching over this process and fully aware of it, so if you decide to try supplements, make sure your doctor okays it first. That said, he got his blood pressure down from a scary number to a perfect normal over the course of the year, and this happened before the weight finally started coming off, as he was having trouble restricting calories.

LuckyMe2017

Thanks for all of your comments. I am on vacation, so I haven't checked my BP in a while. I will give you all a 3 week update this upcoming week.
Best to all of you!

jgnatca

Yup, BP is something to worry about, but don't worry about it too long. Check it out. Pharmacies here in Canada have automated BP machines free for use. Knowledge is power. BP is one of those silent killer things that if you don't check, it might slowly be weakening blood vessels (risk of stroke) or your heart.