High Blood Pressure Tips

*Baby BOY due 2/14/09* asked:


Okay so I’m 26 weeks pregnant when I went for my 20 week check up, I was 21 weeks and my blood pressure was high. This is my second pregnancy, with my first pregnancy 3.5 years ago I had twins and had blood pressure problems that later ended up with me being delivered due to pre-E but my blood pressure issue also started early on with them also. I was NEVER offered medication for blood pressure instead i was told to lay on my side if it went down all was okay if not then i was put on modified bed rest..

This pregnancy I have a different dr, my old drs sold their practice and this is the dr that took it over. When i went for my 21 week appointment, like i said my BP was high, she didnt retake it or anything and wrote me a script for blood pressure medication. I went home researched the medication and decided not to take it, i didnt feel that based on one reading of high blood pressure i needed to take it, i took my bp every few days at the store and it was normal most the time, i had a few high reading but on average it was really good.I then went last week and she asked if i was taking my medication, i told her no and she was really upset and said she wanted me to go to another dr so that it is documented that im refusing treatment.. I was actually offended by her actions and the fact that she didnt want to listen to me, I’m not completely opposed to medication if it is needed, i just didnt feel that based on ONE high reading i needed medication, i told her I would rather try some diet changes and other things first, and she responded that at my age that will not work at all. I’m 25.. why would it not work? I just find it odd that she never retook it to double check, instead wanted to give me medication without first talking about alternatives.. Like I said I will take it if i have to, im just not sure if i do.. After i had my twins i was put on medication cause my BP would not go down and my heart rate was way to high.. the medication made me feel so horrible i was always about to faint.. I just cant imagine feeling that way being pregnant taking care of 2 three year olds..

Anyways, that got really long.. Have any of you taken blood pressure medication when pregnant? Did your dr try other things first? what is your view on this?

Please dont respond with “dr knows best” I’m sorry I do not feel that is always the case so please do not waste your time..

Also I am going to a MFM dr, who was the dr i also seen when i was pregnant with my twins, he is going to review my blood pressure issue and I also have a kidney problem (brought on by pregnancy) that was debilitating my last pregnancy and it is coming back.. they could be linked, which my current dr even told me but didnt say that until after she was mad about me not filling the prescription.
my BP when she gave me the script was 137/86 then my last appointment when she got mad it was 140/90.. however like i said i have been taking it and it has not been high like that.

Also my kidney issue has nothing to due with high blood pressure.. but could cause high blood pressure..

Thanks everyone for the input.. glad to see I was not totally out of line

GRIGGS

Jennifer G asked:


A week and a half ago, I was in an accident at work. I breathed in a large amount of nitrogen, which the doctor said combined with the oxygen in the air and resulted in nitrous oxide poisoning.

I went to the hospital with some burns (frostbite, really), headache, confusion, and a sore throat and lungs. By 6-7 hours later, I was having difficulty breathing. At the hospital (again), they just did a chest x-ray and gave me Albuterol and send me home.

By 3 days later I had bad chest pains and shortness of breath, was coughing up (dry and phlegm) and had a headache. I went to a different hospital this time, and they did a full workup with blood tests, breathing treatments, intravenous steroids, etc. My pulse ox went back up to 98% while I was there. I was diagnosed with chemical pneumonia and sent home with breathing treatments, steroids, an antibiotic, and tylenol with codeine.

I was supposed to follow up with a pulmonologist yesterday, but workers comp hasn’t approved it so I have to wait. I am worried because I keep having these wheezing fits were I can’t breath (like asthma I guess) and if I hadn’t had the Albuterol inhaler a couple of times I would have been in trouble. I am also worried because each time I went to the hospital and now when I check it my blood pressure is WAY high. It’s always been super low, around 105 over 70, now I’m averaging around 140 over 95.

No previous respiratory problems, blood pressure problems, really any problems but knee surgery. I’m only 26. Any ideas as to what’s going on.

P.S. My coughing and chest pain isn’t clearing up, either.

WHITLOCK