I figured this was as good a time as any.....to try getting off of my blood pressure medication. I'm walking daily. I'm eating well. I'm exercising.
A heart specialist threw me on the meds a couple of years ago when I had some fluctuating blood pressure readings and a couple of episodes of atrial fibrillation. It wasn't a huge deal...all of the tests they ran were normal....but they decided I had to be on the meds because one of the side "benefits" of the drug was it's ability to regulate heart rate. So, I very reluctantly gave in.
The heart specialist was the doctor that told me, "This is your last question," when I kept asking how he knew I would have to be on the meds for the rest of my life and his answers weren't working for me. He was rude and arrogant and I left with the prescription and never went back.
Two years later I want to know if I need to be on this stuff or not, and the only way to know that is to get off of it and see what my body does. If my pressure skyrockets or my heart is unhappy, I will go right back on.
I'm doing this under a doctor's care, so don't worry. I had to cut my dose in half for two weeks and then cut it in half again for two weeks. I have one more week of that and then I stop...and see what happens.
I really don't mind being on the meds IF I need them....but like I said...I didn't think I needed them then and I don't think I need them now. Of course, I could be wrong and if I am, I will be a good little girl and start taking them again.
I monitor my pressure daily...sometimes a number of times a day which is really ridiculous, but it is a little scary. I've had some high readings, but that is not uncommon. The problem is when your blood pressure is high for extended periods of time. Mine is not.
Have you ever felt so strongly about something that you just had to do what you felt was right...even when most everyone around you thought you were wrong? That's me right now.
A heart specialist threw me on the meds a couple of years ago when I had some fluctuating blood pressure readings and a couple of episodes of atrial fibrillation. It wasn't a huge deal...all of the tests they ran were normal....but they decided I had to be on the meds because one of the side "benefits" of the drug was it's ability to regulate heart rate. So, I very reluctantly gave in.
The heart specialist was the doctor that told me, "This is your last question," when I kept asking how he knew I would have to be on the meds for the rest of my life and his answers weren't working for me. He was rude and arrogant and I left with the prescription and never went back.
Two years later I want to know if I need to be on this stuff or not, and the only way to know that is to get off of it and see what my body does. If my pressure skyrockets or my heart is unhappy, I will go right back on.
I'm doing this under a doctor's care, so don't worry. I had to cut my dose in half for two weeks and then cut it in half again for two weeks. I have one more week of that and then I stop...and see what happens.
I really don't mind being on the meds IF I need them....but like I said...I didn't think I needed them then and I don't think I need them now. Of course, I could be wrong and if I am, I will be a good little girl and start taking them again.
I monitor my pressure daily...sometimes a number of times a day which is really ridiculous, but it is a little scary. I've had some high readings, but that is not uncommon. The problem is when your blood pressure is high for extended periods of time. Mine is not.
Have you ever felt so strongly about something that you just had to do what you felt was right...even when most everyone around you thought you were wrong? That's me right now.
Posts
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
13 comments:
I get so tired of these smart alecky doctors. I told mine that if he didn't stop talking to me in his little condescending baby voice while smiling at me as if he were indulging me that I was simply going to knock him the hell out.
PussDaddy
I am glad you're doing what you feel is right. It is your body, your life and YOU are in charge! Good for you!
Yes, there was a time I did what I felt was right despite the naysayers. I wanted to be in charge of my last child's birth. My birth plan was explicit and detailed. My doctor disagreed with many points. I reassured him he could do this. I told him I knew what I was doing and women had birthed without drugs, monitors, and invasive procedures and tests for eons. He was doubtful. Turns out he was not on call when I birthed, an older, sweeter man was. He pretty much stayed out of the way, got in there to catch the baby, and let me and the nurses take it from there. I never have regretted standing my ground. It was an amazing birth.
I never let personal emotions interfere with a science-related decision. Have you had an echo cardiogram?? A third opinion?? An atrial fibrilation can be serious. Good luck!
Congrats,. on the medication business .
I,ve just been reading down your blog , shuddered at the wisdom tooth blog , happy for you re, the baby shower . And wide eyed at the stacked lamp blog . Please tell me more , do you drill the holes and wire it yourself . It is so pretty .--cottonreel
Kathy! I'm so happy for you! Congratulations on taking a great step ! I would think taking a blood pressure reading in itself might raise it, especially if any anxiety around it comes along for the ride. I know of at least four people who were able to get off blood pressure meds successfully and are living very active lives. When it comes to taking care of ourselves there should never be "a last question," until we are completely satisfied with the answers. The time for medical arrogance is over. Your closing paragraph says it all!
You know your body better than anyone else. It's good for you to give this a try under a doctor's care. Several years ago I had a week-long episode of agonizing abdominal pain. They did tests and told me I needed gall bladder surgery. I told them I disagreed and unless they could guarantee me 100% that was the problem I wasn't consenting to the surgery. They couldn't, so I didn't have it. The pain went away (I think it was gastroenteritis) and I have never had another episode.
You are so sensible, I'm sure you are doing it the right way, Kathy.
I'm still on a quest for the right doctor.
xo
Oh Kathy--you are speaking my language. I've fought my cardiologist when he insisted I had to be on statins to control my cholesterol levels. My cholesterol levels were always fine! The side effects of statins besides weight gain was depression--which I was feeling a lot of again. So I eased back slowly, like you are doing...and finally went off them. Guess what? My cholesterol levels are still FINE!
Good luck. That's also my goal--to get off the drugs.
Hi Kathy, I am sure you will be careful and do what is right for you. I have lost a lot of faith in Dr.s over the years and I too ask lots of questions and get the occasional raised eyes and a big sigh but, I still persevere.
Take Care Love Jillx
i have very high blood pressure spikes but a healthy heart, etc. and have had all the tests very recently so know i'm actually pretty healthy other than the spiking bp. every medication they have put me on has caused a major drug reaction and one was so severe it put me into heart failure and i was hopitalized for 4 days as a result ;-)
i still have spiking bp but take no meds. if i die, i die but i'm not going to die because of some drug if i can help it. sounds extreme, but there i am ;-)
i just keep reminding myself that medicine is considered an art, not a science...
My hubby had lymphoma that consisted of one tumor, completely encased inside one lymph node. After they removed that node, they wanted to do radiation "just in case." We looked at the research and found there is no evidence that radiation reduces deaths from this type of cancer; in fact it causes new types of cancer. So he/we passed on the radiation. The doctor said, "I can't fault your logic."
Kathy, I am the same way!! I hardly ever even take a Tylenol! I just can't stand it and I think as a whole our society is way over-medicated!!
Way to go!
I'm going to do the same thing, I think, next month. I expect exercise will do just fine, thank you. If not, the meds will be waiting there for me.
Post a Comment