Blood Pressure Medicine

31st_Proverbs

I've had high blood pressure for about 18 years. I've been on medicine for about 15 years. It has a weak diuretik in it. My blood pressure used to be about 220/120 (which I'm told is on the verge of a stroke/heart attack). I've been doing MFP for about 6 months and have gone from 256 to 197. I have a blood pressure monitor that I use about 3 times a week. My blood pressure has been running around 120/70 for a good 2 months now. I slowly decreased my medicine to half a pill a day. I've tried several times to cut it out completely. When I do, within four or five days my ankles are puffy from water retention. The pressure stays pretty good (maybe 128/75) but I gain a couple pounds of water weight. Finally after a week I give in and take a pill and pee enough to be down 2 1/2 to 3 pounds the next morning. I try to walk 3 - 4 miles a day and I have totally cut back on salt. I use about 1/3 what the recipe calls for and I never add it to any of my steamed veggies. I know a lot of people on here have testified that they have been able to go off their blood pressure medicines completely. Did they battle water retention at the beginning? Am I not giving it enough time? Help!

happyfeetrebel1

I was on blood pressure meds for a couple years because of super super high blood pressure. I did not have a problem with water retention on the meds but it is my understanding that they must be tapered off very very gradually to avoid issues like the one you mentioned. Are you stopping the meds and taking a pill occasionally on your doctor's advice? It seems really like kind of a bad idea to do that on your own :-)

31st_Proverbs

Actually I spoke with the doctors office over the phone asking if I could cut the pill in half since the blood pressure was doing very good and was told that's the thing that I need to do. I was also told that as the weight comes off more we can discuss coming off of it totally at my next physical - which should be around July. I've tried on my own to eliminate it completely since it's stayed at a nice reading with only half a pill. What's surprised me is that the blood pressure stays good without any pills, but the water retention isn't so good. Maybe I should continue taking half a pill till my physical....

LKArgh

Where you given an eating plan? I mean to control blood pressure, not to lower weight. Are you monitoring your salt intake?

callsitlikeiseeit

i would ask the doc for a different mg of the medicine- maybe a quarter pill (so if you are on a 20mg pill, you get 5mg ones). that way, you can reduce the pill slower and give the water more time to work off. i would probably go 2 weeks before each 'drop' to the lower pill amount. (assuming, as you said you do, you have doc permission to do so)

earlnabby

Well, at least you now have more info to give to your doctor when you go. Can I ask, what is the medication? I was put on a low dose of hydrochlorothiazide because of edema relating to severe anemia. I also was borderline hypertensive with BP's averaging around 130/80. My BP is back to my normal range (115/70) and my hemoglobin is up but she recommended that I continue the water pill. I would like to get off it too but I put on a lot of water weight when I try to stop.

31st_Proverbs

I wasn't given an eating plan from the doctor other than to lose weight. I track my sodium on here and am under it almost everyday. I also try to get my 3500mg of potassium thru foods since that's supposed to help lower blood pressure. And the medicine in hydroclorothiazide. I took half a pill the last few days and will wait till my physical to see if the doc can change it like callsitlikeiseeit suggested. I do try to drink 12 cups of water a day - but I've been doing that for the last four months.

tmae136

I'm a nurse who works in cardiac so I'm pretty familiar with this type of medication. I would suggest that maybe you could try drinking less water as you're on a diuretic which works to remove water from your system. I know a lot of people here think that everyone should drink lots of water, but I'm thinking that in your case I would suggest you cut back and have a discussion with your doctor regarding ideal water consumption.

RodaRose

You do not need 12 cups of water a day. Drink a lot less than that -- call the doc.

kpk54

I was on 10 mg of lisinopril with 12.5 mg of hydrochlorothiazide. Prescription was later reduced to 5 mg of lisinopril and no HTCZ. I an no longer on the med and have not had problems with water retention. I keep sodium to less than 1800.

BWBTrish

Traveled the same road ( almost)

Cut out the salt completely.
Also i balance my "salty" foods out over the week. Like no pickle or saurkraut ( have a lot of salt) and eat cod for dinner the same day.

My salt intake is generally under the 1300 or even less.

Blood pressure is normal again ( after about 2 months it started to change)
Heart racing is over
Swelling of feet ...well sometimes ( about ones a month when i go out for dinner and get to much salty foods)

Do this under doctor supervision...cut out all your salt ( when your doctor let you) woryy less about the potassium.
Talk to you doctor is my advice

But lose weight in the meantime and move...all you can. even when you can only do 5 minutes. Or even when you can stick your arms in the air ( 50 times) but move!!!!!
You see you will do better when you start losing and when you get fitter

I couldnt walk 5 minutes about 6 months ago.
Now i walk 60 minutes daily and jog for about 15 to 30 minutes in those 60 minutes. And i swim about 4 times a week now and some light lifting.
About 90 minutes a day.
Start slow in your own pace and build it up. Every day it will get easier and easier and you can do more and more.

LKArgh

31st_Proverbs wrote: »

I wasn't given an eating plan from the doctor other than to lose weight. I track my sodium on here and am under it almost everyday. I also try to get my 3500mg of potassium thru foods since that's supposed to help lower blood pressure. And the medicine in hydroclorothiazide. I took half a pill the last few days and will wait till my physical to see if the doc can change it like callsitlikeiseeit suggested. I do try to drink 12 cups of water a day - but I've been doing that for the last four months.

I am no dr, but my father used to be a dr specialising in blood pressure, so I had the pleasure of being lectured about the topic about a million times, and was "forced" to read all new hospital pamphlets and booklets aimed for patients. He also was diagnosed himself with hypertension at a young age, so he followed his own advice at home, and since one meal was prepared for all of us, we did too. The number #1 rule was what TheOwlhouseDesigns mentioned: no salt. As in never buy salt, do not use it ever for cooking, check every package of food you buy for sodium and if it is high, put it back on the self. I honestly do not remember ever having salt around when I was a kid. Also limit high fat foods and fried food, and of course keep watching calories and exercising.

BWBTrish

aggelikik wrote: »

31st_Proverbs wrote: »

I wasn't given an eating plan from the doctor other than to lose weight. I track my sodium on here and am under it almost everyday. I also try to get my 3500mg of potassium thru foods since that's supposed to help lower blood pressure. And the medicine in hydroclorothiazide. I took half a pill the last few days and will wait till my physical to see if the doc can change it like callsitlikeiseeit suggested. I do try to drink 12 cups of water a day - but I've been doing that for the last four months.

I am no dr, but my father used to be a dr specialising in blood pressure, so I had the pleasure of being lectured about the topic about a million times, and was "forced" to read all new hospital pamphlets and booklets aimed for patients. He also was diagnosed himself with hypertension at a young age, so he followed his own advice at home, and since one meal was prepared for all of us, we did too. The number #1 rule was what TheOwlhouseDesigns mentioned: no salt. As in never buy salt, do not use it ever for cooking, check every package of food you buy for sodium and if it is high, put it back on the self. I honestly do not remember ever having salt around when I was a kid. Also limit high fat foods and fried food, and of course keep watching calories and exercising.

yep totally agree on that.
Doctor said to me the lack of potassium is the least of your worries now lol
So no salt for me. Not on my eggs not in my cooking. Every label i read and too much salt in it well than i just dont.
I make thinks myself..like tomato paste, mayonnaise etc etc.
And i learned that like cod ( how healthy it may be) is a salty fish (natural salt) so i dont eat it with other natural salty things.
That is why logging EVERYTHING is so important to me. I can see how much i get on a daily base

And yes i go out for dinner...sometimes. And that is the key, sometimes. I eat 1 crisp...sometimes.
And i eat bacon..sometimes.
I spread the food over the week. I can eat everything but have learned to control when to eat it.

I use a lot of spices and herbs and food taste excellent without salt too.

Another advantage beside my issue of BP which is excellent again, is the fact i have hardly fluctuations.
Only when i go out to dinner i can go up or hold water.

So yes it will help you to go salt less totally! ( After you discussed it with your doctor of course we cant look in your personal situation) And for the potassium issue.... when you cook more fresh and eat banana potatoes etc And you get enough of it.

All this doesn't mean this will help you btw, everybody is different.
But it helps a lot of people. Again talk to your doctor to do this or not.

And excercise, moveeeee and moveeee.
lol
this are the best chances you dont get a heart attack. or any other issues. Or avoid them.

31st_Proverbs

tmae136 wrote: »

I'm a nurse who works in cardiac so I'm pretty familiar with this type of medication. I would suggest that maybe you could try drinking less water as you're on a diuretic which works to remove water from your system. I know a lot of people here think that everyone should drink lots of water, but I'm thinking that in your case I would suggest you cut back and have a discussion with your doctor regarding ideal water consumption.

Cut back to how much?

31st_Proverbs

TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »

aggelikik wrote: »

31st_Proverbs wrote: »

I wasn't given an eating plan from the doctor other than to lose weight. I track my sodium on here and am under it almost everyday. I also try to get my 3500mg of potassium thru foods since that's supposed to help lower blood pressure. And the medicine in hydroclorothiazide. I took half a pill the last few days and will wait till my physical to see if the doc can change it like callsitlikeiseeit suggested. I do try to drink 12 cups of water a day - but I've been doing that for the last four months.

I am no dr, but my father used to be a dr specialising in blood pressure, so I had the pleasure of being lectured about the topic about a million times, and was "forced" to read all new hospital pamphlets and booklets aimed for patients. He also was diagnosed himself with hypertension at a young age, so he followed his own advice at home, and since one meal was prepared for all of us, we did too. The number #1 rule was what TheOwlhouseDesigns mentioned: no salt. As in never buy salt, do not use it ever for cooking, check every package of food you buy for sodium and if it is high, put it back on the self. I honestly do not remember ever having salt around when I was a kid. Also limit high fat foods and fried food, and of course keep watching calories and exercising.

yep totally agree on that.
Doctor said to me the lack of potassium is the least of your worries now lol
So no salt for me. Not on my eggs not in my cooking. Every label i read and too much salt in it well than i just dont.
I make thinks myself..like tomato paste, mayonnaise etc etc.
And i learned that like cod ( how healthy it may be) is a salty fish (natural salt) so i dont eat it with other natural salty things.
That is why logging EVERYTHING is so important to me. I can see how much i get on a daily base

And yes i go out for dinner...sometimes. And that is the key, sometimes. I eat 1 crisp...sometimes.
And i eat bacon..sometimes.
I spread the food over the week. I can eat everything but have learned to control when to eat it.

I use a lot of spices and herbs and food taste excellent without salt too.

Another advantage beside my issue of BP which is excellent again, is the fact i have hardly fluctuations.
Only when i go out to dinner i can go up or hold water.

So yes it will help you to go salt less totally! ( After you discussed it with your doctor of course we cant look in your personal situation) And for the potassium issue.... when you cook more fresh and eat banana potatoes etc And you get enough of it.

All this doesn't mean this will help you btw, everybody is different.
But it helps a lot of people. Again talk to your doctor to do this or not.

And excercise, moveeeee and moveeee.
lol
this are the best chances you dont get a heart attack. or any other issues. Or avoid them.

I've been trying to cut the sodium down. This website has been a real blessing and eye opener in how much salt is in items. I stopped adding salt to most of my foods and have noticed that I have a hard time eating lunchmeat, cheeses, most restaurant foods because they are too salty now. But I did look back at my food log and see that I still average about 18oo mg per day. I have been trying to workout at least a 500 calorie burn everyday but Sunday. Mainly I walk. I also have a stationary bike that I ride sometimes. I'm working 10 hour days for the next few weeks still but when that slows down I hope to try some toning. I am pleased with my weight loss (does that sound conceited?) I'm down 60 pounds in 6 months. But I still have a long way to go - another 60 at least - maybe 70??? My father had several strokes and 2 heart attacks and passed away at 83. My mother has heart problems and my younger sister has had 2 mini strokes so far. Those facts frighten me and I am hoping to steer my health on a different course. Thanks to everyone for their wonderful advice and insight. I REALLY do appreciate it.

BWBTrish

31st_Proverbs wrote: »

TheOwlhouseDesigns wrote: »

aggelikik wrote: »

31st_Proverbs wrote: »

I wasn't given an eating plan from the doctor other than to lose weight. I track my sodium on here and am under it almost everyday. I also try to get my 3500mg of potassium thru foods since that's supposed to help lower blood pressure. And the medicine in hydroclorothiazide. I took half a pill the last few days and will wait till my physical to see if the doc can change it like callsitlikeiseeit suggested. I do try to drink 12 cups of water a day - but I've been doing that for the last four months.

I am no dr, but my father used to be a dr specialising in blood pressure, so I had the pleasure of being lectured about the topic about a million times, and was "forced" to read all new hospital pamphlets and booklets aimed for patients. He also was diagnosed himself with hypertension at a young age, so he followed his own advice at home, and since one meal was prepared for all of us, we did too. The number #1 rule was what TheOwlhouseDesigns mentioned: no salt. As in never buy salt, do not use it ever for cooking, check every package of food you buy for sodium and if it is high, put it back on the self. I honestly do not remember ever having salt around when I was a kid. Also limit high fat foods and fried food, and of course keep watching calories and exercising.

yep totally agree on that.
Doctor said to me the lack of potassium is the least of your worries now lol
So no salt for me. Not on my eggs not in my cooking. Every label i read and too much salt in it well than i just dont.
I make thinks myself..like tomato paste, mayonnaise etc etc.
And i learned that like cod ( how healthy it may be) is a salty fish (natural salt) so i dont eat it with other natural salty things.
That is why logging EVERYTHING is so important to me. I can see how much i get on a daily base

And yes i go out for dinner...sometimes. And that is the key, sometimes. I eat 1 crisp...sometimes.
And i eat bacon..sometimes.
I spread the food over the week. I can eat everything but have learned to control when to eat it.

I use a lot of spices and herbs and food taste excellent without salt too.

Another advantage beside my issue of BP which is excellent again, is the fact i have hardly fluctuations.
Only when i go out to dinner i can go up or hold water.

So yes it will help you to go salt less totally! ( After you discussed it with your doctor of course we cant look in your personal situation) And for the potassium issue.... when you cook more fresh and eat banana potatoes etc And you get enough of it.

All this doesn't mean this will help you btw, everybody is different.
But it helps a lot of people. Again talk to your doctor to do this or not.

And excercise, moveeeee and moveeee.
lol
this are the best chances you dont get a heart attack. or any other issues. Or avoid them.

I've been trying to cut the sodium down. This website has been a real blessing and eye opener in how much salt is in items. I stopped adding salt to most of my foods and have noticed that I have a hard time eating lunchmeat, cheeses, most restaurant foods because they are too salty now. But I did look back at my food log and see that I still average about 18oo mg per day. I have been trying to workout at least a 500 calorie burn everyday but Sunday. Mainly I walk. I also have a stationary bike that I ride sometimes. I'm working 10 hour days for the next few weeks still but when that slows down I hope to try some toning. I am pleased with my weight loss (does that sound conceited?) I'm down 60 pounds in 6 months. But I still have a long way to go - another 60 at least - maybe 70??? My father had several strokes and 2 heart attacks and passed away at 83. My mother has heart problems and my younger sister has had 2 mini strokes so far. Those facts frighten me and I am hoping to steer my health on a different course. Thanks to everyone for their wonderful advice and insight. I REALLY do appreciate it.

yes have the same thing
I love cheese but cant have it ( too much)
lunch meat the same

But i keep it all pretty good in hand now. Salt intake today only 860 mg
So doing good with it.
Totally used to it also

But dont let fear run your life. Just try to be healthy, as fit as possible and be happy