Blood Pressure 185/115

[Aisling]

Have you or anyone close to you had this high blood pressure, 185/115?

 

[si-am]

I did, about 8 years ago. It was consistently running 180ish over 90ish. There was no reason for it: I was in my 20s, not overweight, eating healthy, etc. The only thing the doctors could conclude was stress or unlucky genes.

I was on blood pressure medicine for a few months, hated the way it made me feel, and gradually weaned myself off. No problems since.

Overall, a very odd experience.

 

[nskjerven]

yes - chat with me on FB

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Not good. The heart is working much harder than it should with EVERY BEAT. This puts a strain on the heart and if left unchecked, causes it to stiffen and eventually not contract correctly.

 

[cassiez76]

yup. i have high BP, but lately with my umm...not so nice dis words of a boss, it's through the roof today.

i'm really glad i don't have a home bp tester, because i don't want to see it.

i'm on norvasc and HCTZ...feel like i need at least 2 doses.

 

[worm761]

I have. It was the middle of the night and I woke unable to breath a few week ago. I had just been to the doctor for my annual physical and got a clean bill of health in March. By the end of March I had high blood pressure. I cannot control it with diet and exercise. It didn't help at all. I am now on meds. I am all of 34 years old. In my case, it seems to be genetic. I keep a very strict food journal and track everything that goes in my mouth so it isn't diet. Nothing changed in my life except now I am meeting my best friend that I haven't seen in 8 years at Disney. No stress there!

 

[ChrisFL]

I had 170 over 110 and went to the hospital, because i was feeling very faint and dizzy whenever I stood up.

I knew what caused it though...I had been doing an early schedule all week at work, drinking red bull because I had major testing, then stayed awake over 24 hours to go out partying.

Since then, I've been on low doses of different bp meds, and its been much better since for the most part...however I've also been prone to anxiety attacks and stress at work which caused some other bp issues.

 

[Aisling]

I never had high blood pressure before. I was at my psychiatrists office getting my anti-anxiety med prescription and she asked me when was the last time I had my BP checked. Last year, so she did it and it was 185/115 instead of 120/80. She was very concerned, called my primary care doctor who was out of the office for the day. So my psych wanted me to go across the street to the ER. She was freaking me out. She said this is an emergency. We finally agreed that she'd write a note to my PCP and I must just show up without an appt and give her the note, where I'll be seen immediately. She'll probably put me on a BP med to bring it own.

I hate the idea of having HBP. It's scary, she said it's a silent killer and that it has to be taken care of immediately.

When I saw those numbers, I didn't know whether to laugh in disbelief or cry from fear. This is so totally new to me. I don't want to die yet!

 

[phillmolly]

I did once. I was 36 weeks pregnant with DS and had preeclampsia. I was admitted right away and DS was born 3 days later, they were going to induce at 37 weeks, but I ended up going into labor on my own.

 

[arminnie]

Take the meds now and see if you can change anything so you won't need it. HPB can also cause kidney failure, etc. It's a silent killer.

It really hit me hard when my doctor told me to take the meds (in my late 30s). She said that if there were any side effects that we would change - that there was no excuse for not dealing with something so easily treated (almost always). We did switch around.

I did eventually lose a lot of weight, and then had to drop the meds as I was having low BP with them.

It's not something to fool around with. Now a one time high is not a big deal - but my doctors really like to keep it low. The old 130/80 standard is still too high in their opinions.

There are some really cheap meds out there, and it's not a big deal to swallow a pill once a day.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I never had high blood pressure before. I was at my psychiatrists office getting my anti-anxiety med prescription and she asked me when was the last time I had my BP checked. Last year, so she did it and it was 185/115 instead of 120/80. She was very concerned, called my primary care doctor who was out of the office for the day. So my psych wanted me to go across the street to the ER. She was freaking me out. She said this is an emergency. We finally agreed that she'd write a note to my PCP and I must just show up without an appt and give her the note, where I'll be seen immediately. She'll probably put me on a BP med to bring it own.

I hate the idea of having HBP. It's scary, she said it's a silent killer and that it has to be taken care of immediately.

When I saw those numbers, I didn't know whether to laugh in disbelief or cry from fear. This is so totally new to me. I don't want to die yet!

It would be nice to have another reading now. It's possible it's come down somewhat now that you're home and presumably more relaxed. So probably no need to be afraid tonight, but do have it checked out tomorrow. The silent killer aspect happens over time, as I said, if left untreated. One way or another, it does need to come down for the long term.

 

[Wendy31]

I've always had really good blood pressure. However, w/ my last pregnancy, it started going up in my last month.

I was tested several times for pre-eclampsia, but the tests were always negative. The doctor determined that I had pregnancy-induced hypertension & the only thing that would bring it down was to go ahead & deliver the baby.

So, I was admitted to the hospital a week early & put on magnesium to bring down my BP (which makes one feel kinda like you have the flu) & pitocin to induce contractions. Fun experience!

I think the highest it got was something like 190-something over 120.

Anyway, DS will be 2 in July, & my BP is still not down to what it used to be.

I also have developed some sort of doctor/hospital phobia/anxiety thing. So, whenever I go the doctor for anything now, my BP is high. I avoid doctor's offices if at all possible! I get anxious even thinking about going to a doctor's office. Even when I take one of my kids to their pediatrician, I can feel my blood pressure rise.

However, a couple of weeks ago, I went to my local CVS minute-clinic because I was afraid I might have pink eye & I didn't want to spread it around. It was 125 over 82 - which is still high for me. The whole time the nurse was taking my blood pressure I was doing breathing exercises & thinking about the beach!

 

[shortbun]

As a bus driver, if we ever got a reading of + 160/90 we weren't allowed to drive until we got 3 separate readings under that. Mine got close but never hit 160. I'm on Losaartan right now because although I lowered it, I'm a diabetic and they want it under115/70.

 

[Aisling]

Thank you so much for the replies. I decided not to wait until tomorrow and just go to the ER. I'm now feeling shortness of breath, but my DH thinks it's from nerves. He said we'll go and have them check it out, otherwise I'll be up all night in fear. I just don't understand, I've never had HBP before. My psych doc scared the living crap out of me the way her face changed when she saw the numbers and said this is an emergency. Why would this happen to me? I was always healthy??? It's just a shock. Anyway, I'm off to the ER. Wish me luck, please. Thank you.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I hope that going tonight helps to lessen your anxiety. I know that my highest readings are when I am on edge. I suffer from GAD and SAD so I totally get it. I have had panic attack since I was 16. Once I hit 30, my blood pressure increased with the panic attacks then it was more permanent. I have HBP and it is controlled with both HBP pill and anxiety meds.


You should never ignore tightness in your chest ever, but I just wanted you to know that was always common with me when I would get upset over my blood pressure in the beginning. I would get myself so worked up that the anxiety took over and the pressure would start in my chest, then down my arm. I have been check over many times, so I know it's not my heart now.

Being able to learn to calm yourself with anxiety will be very helpful if you do have high blood pressure.

My prayers are with you tonight and always. I know how you feel. But it did get better for me and I really hope it does for you also.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you so much for the replies. I decided not to wait until tomorrow and just go to the ER. I'm now feeling shortness of breath, but my DH thinks it's from nerves. He said we'll go and have them check it out, otherwise I'll be up all night in fear. I just don't understand, I've never had HBP before. My psych doc scared the living crap out of me the way her face changed when she saw the numbers and said this is an emergency. Why would this happen to me? I was always healthy??? It's just a shock. Anyway, I'm off to the ER. Wish me luck, please. Thank you.

Hope you're feeling better.

My thought might not be of any help, but if you have larger arms and the psychiatrist was using too small of a cuff, that would have created a false reading. Not to mention...if you guys were talking about whatever you're seeing the psychiatrist for it could have brought it up temporarily...

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I used to. Now with meds and execercise, I am usually about 115 / 70ish. The Meds got me down to 120 / 80, and I guess the rest is from exercise.

 

[Magic Mom]

Do you take nsaids ( anti inflamatory drugs?) I do for my back, and they made my blood pressure go up.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I never had high blood pressure before. I was at my psychiatrists office getting my anti-anxiety med prescription and she asked me when was the last time I had my BP checked. Last year, so she did it and it was 185/115 instead of 120/80. She was very concerned, called my primary care doctor who was out of the office for the day. So my psych wanted me to go across the street to the ER. She was freaking me out. She said this is an emergency. We finally agreed that she'd write a note to my PCP and I must just show up without an appt and give her the note, where I'll be seen immediately. She'll probably put me on a BP med to bring it own.

I hate the idea of having HBP. It's scary, she said it's a silent killer and that it has to be taken care of immediately.

When I saw those numbers, I didn't know whether to laugh in disbelief or cry from fear. This is so totally new to me. I don't want to die yet!

BP can fluctuate greatly and you should not panic.
However you should have it checked out and reduce all salt intake asap. I have had similar spikes , have had to get to an er and get hooked up to an iv to get meds pumped thru. They have not found what causes the spikes and it happened infrequently, but I still had a full cardiac, liver run thru and all is okay. I use BP meds now and every once in a while, with HIGH stress or such, its up but not like that anymore.
Good Luck and do not cause yourself extra worry, you'll likely be fine just get checked out and follow thru.

 

[a1tinkfans]

just saw you were headed to er.....
Feel better, HUGS your way and I just think you you really will be fine, that "stress" elevates it...deep breathing helps....update us...............thinking GOOD thoughts your way.....