What type of diet/exercise regiment does the doctor have you on. Do you have other conditions that would prevent you from being more active. I try to take the dog for walks to get my exercise.

I have had high blood pressure since I delivered my son 11 yrs ago. The doctors don't know why my BP went up during the delivery and has stayed elivated ever since and I was 36 at the time with no history of anything....just on of those things I guess.

I would ask your doctor to reduce your dosage, if possible, maybe watch my diet and exercise, see how my pressure is and maybe your meds can be reduces some more or completely if all goes well but be prepared that this will take some time to accomplish.

I know there are other meds, but this beta blocker has helped in other areas......like my anxiety, my migraines, etc., so I really want it to work. But I realize I need to get healthier too.
Thanks for your input!

My BP is 120/80 and my doctor has me on a daily water pill to keep it around there or lower. CT

I had low bp before and during the pregnancy and then during the delivery it spiked and has remained high ever since. I don't think that there is a link between breastfeeding and high bp. Also when I weened my son I started having problems with my thyroid and have to take meds for that as well and when we wanted another child I was adviced not to get pregnant again because of my age at the time (38) and the fact that my bp was high and my thyroid no longer functioned. The docs also to told me that all this combined would make it very, very if not impossible to get pregnant and the risks to me are very high. So we decided not to have another one, but we had not been using any birth control and I was already pregnant. I was due Dec 25 and delivered a healthy girl on Dec 10. I did not have any problems with my bp during the pregnancy, in fact I was off all meds except thyroid. Bp was up after the delivery and has remained elevated since and she just celebrated her 9th bd.

I took that spike in BP as a sign that I really did need to cut back on my salt and eating. Actually, my pressure has been fine yesterday and today. I find it all very strange. I even considered that I ate something that caused this terrible 2 day spike.
Unfortunately, since perimenopause started (10 years ago), nothing in my body makes any sense!!
P.S. Tell your daughter happy belated birthday!

Yes we are lucky to have her. We have 4 children, the oldest is 24, 18, 11 and then 9 and I have a grandson who will be 4 on the 24th.

When we tried for the last one both my husband and I wanted something different. The first 2 all have dark hair and brown eyes and I have blond hair and blue eyes and when we decided to try for the last one all I wanted was one child with blond hair and blue eyes...didn't matter if it was a boy or a girl because I already had one of each ( blended family) and my husband wanted a girl because he had a boy. Well we both got our wish and the pregnancy was uneventful...thank God.

She is making us pay for it though....LOL

I have high BP too, chemically controlled. But there's nothin' better than sittin' by the waterfall with a glass of wine (just one mind you), running your fingers through the soft fur of a loved one to lower your BP or heart rate! (that would be right after your 2 mile walk and before your 200 calorie supper of raw carrots)

Seriously Cath, my close friend has had similar problems with her BP meds. Keep questioning your doctor, there are lots of alternative meds AND alternative TO meds out there, and what was right several years ago may be old news now. Hope you feel better.

Sarah.........lol on the 2 mile walk and supper of raw carrots! I was thinking about things, and I think I definitely need a greenhouse-type room IN the house, so I can continue to sit by a little pond all winter long! Wouldn't that be cool?? It would sure keep them endorphins commin'!
My 2 pets (Boooger the cat, and Suzi the dog) DO give me lots of pleasure. But they are also the source of my greatest frustrations too! lol (along with my 2 kids!!).
But in the end.........I would rather have them and have the frustrations than not to have them!
This recent BP problem has made me have greater resolve to become healthier. I suppose, in the end, that's alot easier than dealing with side effects of the drugs. (At least that's what I'm saying now.....when I can't see the chocolate cake). :)

Jenny

So far my cholesterol has always been very good and so has everything else, but I am 48 and I am not in menopause yet...well starting with some changes...can't be helped at this age, but I am still like clockwork...hubby thinks we can add one more kid in there before it is to late.....I told him we would be divorcing first...LOL

I tell myself everyday that I have to start walking the dog and getting more execise. I really started watching my diet since I got this office job. I used to work as a border guard and was always active, now I sit in an office at my desk all day and have gained 20 lbs in the last year...not good and I keep telling myself that my children still need me for a while and I need to do what I can to make sure that happens....I am reflecting on all this as I sit her and eat a Mcdonalds bacon and egg mcmuffin with cheese....LOL

Now let's not forget about our bones either. There's no history of osteoporosis in my family, and my mom's bones are great, but my sister has severe osteoporosis in her hips (no more roller blading for her!) 1st diagnosed at age 42, well before menopause. She's active, slim, and eats right, and for the past 3 years she's been on a drug trial through Mayo and is no worse. And my bone density test showed I had mild changes at age 41, slightly worse at age 42. So I've been taking Miacalcin for 4 years (and calcium supplements of course). Even pre-menopausal women MUST have a bone density test (Dexa-scan) done!! At least for a baseline! No way I want to do the broken hip thing anytime in the near future...or later for that matter :)

My one other thought here though. What ever your weight or BP or whatever - don't get obsessive about it - be who you are, and as healthy and happy as you can be in your own way. Not everyone is a size 6, and if you garden, walk, actually work out, or whatever, lowering your stress will do more for your health than a lot of meds (especially most so-called diet pills).

(Sorry, I know...lighten UP, Sarah!)

I check my BP nearly every day. I'm around the fire station at least once a day at some point and I usually check mine with one of the cardiac monitors on the ambulances.

Our station runs two of her 15-minute segments back-to-back. It is amazing that I have gotten up at 6:30 every weekday morning for two weeks and done this, believe me. I am not the inspired type.

Thanks for the insight, ladies!

Brenda

Look, folks, I am more skeptical than most, and quick to poke fun at new-age folky types. But I'm telling you, this yoga thing, it works wonders. I didn't try it for decades because, well, jeez... yoga. Please.

But they are stretches, and you can do them modified when you're starting out, and they help your muscles, your joints, your ability to stand and sit and move around all day. I've heard doctors say that if they could prescribe a pill that does what regular, gentle exercise does, it would be their most popular drug.

The fact that they're 15-minute increments was what hooked me. That and the fact that there's no inspirational yammering or theme song or crap like that -- it's a wonderful, middle-aged and straightforward woman doing mat exercises for 15 minutes and explaining exactly how they're done. She's cool. I bet anything she can pound a bottle of wine with the best of us.

ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME (ACE) INHIBITORS Captopril (Capoten), Enalapril (Vasotec), Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)

If you develop cough, sore throat, hoarseness, problems breathing, irregular heartbeat, chest pains, or swelling of your face, eyes, lips, tongue, hands, legs, or feet, contact your health-care provider.

Another site (at the very bottom of the page) -

Tell your doctor if you experience any signs of infection, such as fever, sore throat or mouth ulcers, as these could be signs of problems with your white blood cells.

Brenda

I have downloaded several of the moves and have wanted to try them in the office on my lunch hour....nice to have an office with room and a real door....LOL

We also have the community center that offers classes at a reasonable cost but I also have a back problem along with artheritis which makes me very leary about trying Yoga and I am also in my late 40's (48) but so far no menopause and I don't whether that is good or bad.

I will have to check PBS to see if we get her here. I am in southwestern ontario (windsor) and we usually get the same channels as lower MI.

Louise

Louise.......Yoga is actually great for helping you strengthen your back. The important thing you need to do is start out slow and with a GENTLE yoga program. You might look around for classes that are a gentle form. You don't really want to start out with full blown yoga. I've seen the Priscilla's Yoga shows too. Much of what I've seen on her show is a medium level and the poses can be tough to do.
I cannot stress enough that you need to do a gentle yoga program until you can start building up your strength and flexibility. Go slow!:)