Re: High BP When I take BP

[Barbara__0__0]

Posted By Barbara on July 15, 1999 at 11:41:27
I am 41 year old, female, IDDM (for 12 years).  I experience bouts of shortness of breath and I have had trouble with my blood pressure being high.  I had a heart cath Monday and my arteries are all clear so no heart disease.  My cardiologist wants to follow up with ultrasound to check valves and kidneys because of my blood pressure.  I am on the following medications for HBP/Kidneys:  200 mg Atenolol/day, 40 mg Lotensin/day and 5 mg Plendil/day.  I also take antidepressants.  I saw my endrocrinologist yesterday and he said my kidneys are still in the normal function range except for microalbuminia (creatine filt rate: 90 micrgrms/24 hours).  The problem:
When ever I go to a doctor, measure my BP at the drug/grocery store, go upstairs to specifically measure my BP at home, I have high blood pressure readings (150-170/90-100).  If I am at home and wait a couple minutes and take my mind off the blood pressure it goes to a normal range.  I mowed the lawn a week ago and when I had cut a 1/3 of it, I got weak.  When I measured my BP, it was 100/60.  Is there such a thing as a biofeedback reaction that my BP goes up just because it is being measured?  The whole day of the cardiac cath it stayed high (but I was under a bit of stress). I am not sure how the BP is just during normal life.  I suspect I am a hyper type personality and my BP actually may be high because of emotions.  What can I do - is there a way to retrain the biofeedback affect or is it just typical BP fluctuations?  Would more medication help or make the low times even lower?
Thanks so much for this service, it has been a lifesaver!
Barbara

[jan1__0]

Posted By jan1 on July 15, 1999 at 11:56:15
My cardiologist wants to a heart cath. Did you have a cardiolite stress test before that. What were the results. Mine shows there is blockage. But my doctore thinks that stress test is not the ultimate and wants to do a heart cath. Please tell me about the procedure and how much time you had to take off etc.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks.

[CCF CARDIO MD DLB]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on July 15, 1999 at 13:54:15
Dear Jan
A heart catheterization is done in a couple of hours. Usually you can go home the same day, unless you have an angioplasty, in which case you would be admitted overnight.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.

[BARBARA__0__0]

Posted By BARBARA on July 15, 1999 at 17:38:17
Jan, the cath was not bad at all.  I had had a thallium scan stress test that came out OK.  We did the cath to make sure that things were OK since I am diabetic and was still having some breathing problems.  I was awake the whole time and watched the same TV monitors as the doctor.  I did not have any pain - and the only thing uncomfortable was the betadine solution they used to clean the site was COLD!  The doctor was able to tell me on the spot that my arteries are clear. He did find an abnormality with my heart but nothing that would hurt me.  Afterwards I had to have pressure applied to the cath site for about 30 min.  The doc came in and explained everything and gave me a couple pictures.  I stayed in bed for a few more hours to make sure the cath site didn't open and bleed.  I went home and felt fine.  I did not drive for two days because the doc wanted to make sure I did not stress open the wound since it is connected to an artery.
Good luck,
Barbara










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