Blood pressure and what to do for the best

[Sparklymommy]

Ok, so I am 29 years old. I have four children, chronic Kidney disease and my blood pressure appears to be out of control. Yesterday my GP gave me a 24 hour blood pressure test. It was not very successful! I eventually took the cuff off at 2am and cried a lot because of the pain. Went back to the nurse today with the wretched machine, and an arm with a dreadful rash were the cuff has exerted so much pressure it has broken all the capillaries under the skin! Nurse explained that the readings the machine did manage to take are all so high that the reason the cuff tightened so much was to find the high readings, which are off the scale.

Now I don't want to spend the rest of my life on medication. I am only 29, and I would like more children ideally but the medication they want to give me I couldn't take whilst pregnant. What would you do? Need to go back to the GP but really worried because blood pressure could be affecting my already dodgy kidneys.

[Madsometimes]

I can really empathise with how upset you must be feeling about this, particularly because you are only 29. I take a lifelong medication which means that I cannot have any more children. For me, this is fine because I am not planning any more, but for you it must be very sad.

However, I think that your first priority must be to get your bp under control. You need to protect your health because you have four children that need a healthy mum. Therefore I think you need to take the medication recommended by your GP. Assuming that you are also under a consultant, perhaps at your next visit you could ask if there are any other options for you, but prepare for an answer that you do not like.

[denialandpanic]

I was on blood pressure needs while pregnant so it is possible.I had pre eclampsia so it resolved afterwards but as far as I understand it with pre existing high blood pressure they just switch you to a suitable medication one you are ttc or pregnant.I was on methodical.also nifedipene at one stage.it was switched once dd was born to one suitable for breastfeeding.

[denialandpanic]

arrgghh spell check methyldopa I think it was called.very old drug made me sleepy

[HotelTangoFoxtrotUniform]

I suspect it'll be the other way round - your kidneys are affecting your blood pressure. There are plenty of meds you can take safely whilst pregnant, just not the ACE inhibitors (if I remember right). They may want to get your BP under control with those and then play with the meds/dosage once you're back under control.

I was put on BP meds when I was 30. I was off them a year later having lost weight, exercised a lot and drunk less. I'll probably have to go back on them at some point but try to keep my BP under control with exercise and diet.

Can you ask to see a specialist? I saw one at UCH in London on the NHS who was super, he made sure that all women of childbearing age were on appropriate meds just in case they became pregnant. I can give you his name if you're local.

[sashh]

Poor you.

My blood pressure has been out of control and I now take two meds daily.

You MUST take the pills to get it under control, then you can work out your options.

There are a number of things that can raise your BP, your kidney disease is the obvious one.

Four children - well you have my admiration but there must be some stress.

Do you drink? Alcohol is another thing that can put your BP up.

I know how you feel re medication, I was diagnosed with arthritis at age 26. For me the medication meant that my pain reduced. But I know that you don't feel your BP being high so the medication does not give you 'relief' - sorry couldn't get the right word.

How much do you want a fifth child?

Blood pressure meds work in two ways (which is why I take two) one acts on the receptors that tell your body to increase BP. The others are diuretics. You probably know this because of your kidneys.

Now please talk to your Dr if you consider this. You can take natural substances that have diuretic properties. The most common is dandelion - there is a reason it is often referred to as 'piss the bed'.

I do not know what effect a natural diuretic would have on your kidneys which is why you need to talk to your Dr if you are considering it.

Please discuss options, HotelTango has been more or less where you are.

Get your BP under control with the meds, do anything else you can to get it under control via diet /exercise then think about baby no 5, and find out what your options are.

I know this must be devastating for you, and you would probably slap me if I said this to you IRL but you have 4 children. If you can't have a 5th you still have 4.

[Montybojangles]

High blood pressure will definitely have a negative effect on your kidneys. Think of water going through a large pipe at very high pressure, the pipe narrows sharply at the end. The pressure of the water is likely to damage the narrow part if the pipe as it forces it's way through. It's a similar thing with the kidney, high blood pressure is forcing the blood from large veins into the very small blood vessels in the kidneys under great pressure, potentially causing further damage.

It's really important to reduce your b/p if you want to look after your kidneys. There are several types of blood pressure medications, all work in different ways.

You can help improve your b/p yourself through lifestyle changes if they are necessary. If you smoke you need to stop, Cut down on the salt (sodium) in your diet, reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, if over weight then aim to lose weight, increasing activity levels, all of these can make a big difference to your b/p.

High blood pressure is known as the silent killer. Please do take your gps advice in this matter, it's very important. They can discuss which medication is best in view of your wish for further pregnancy. Labetalol is a beta blocker that is recommended in pregnancy. You need to discuss this with your gp, but you need to really think about this, you are only 29 and you say you don't want a life on medication, but I would suggest its probably preferable to a life on dialysis or (god forbid) a life destroyed or cut short through a massive stroke.

[Sparklymommy]

Thanks everyone. I am feeling slightly less depressed today and thinking I can beat this blood pressure down. No I don't drink, or smoke. Life seems very unfair at times.

[HotelTangoFoxtrotUniform]

It's not fair, but it is something that can be managed - either by lifestyle changes or medication. It's not worth the risk of a stroke, it really isn't.

A huge part of my BP issues is hereditary. I'm screwed on that front, but take great care of myself to delay the inevitable drug regime. My younger sister is massively overweight, does no exercise and takes no care of herself. Her BP is normal (she hasn't got the dodgy gene from my father's side). It makes me so mad!