BP meds for parent - struggling
Discussion
I’m really hoping someone might have some ideas. Mum (74) has had a few issues in the past decade - stroke, breast cancer, and eventually a parathyroid adenoma.
She doesn’t have drastically high BP, but she does worry it goes up without the meds so coming off doesn’t seem to be an option. She’s been struggling with side effects on what they’ve given her so far - she’s been through losartan, Felopidine and now they’ve suggested indapamide. Losartan is the one which worked best for her for a few years but latterly the side effects on her digestion were leaving her pretty much housebound and exhausted. Felopidine then caused sort of similar issues but also swollen ankles etc and she generally felt dreadful.
She takes statins and aspirin daily (stopped the post BC letrozole after a discussion about risk of return as it too was making her feel terrible) has been recommended to stay on these. She takes vitamin d and magnesium supplements after the pth surgery as recommended.
She’s at the stage where she feels a bit broken I think - her digestion never seems to get chance to settle, she’s fed up with being knackered and out of breath despite trying to keep up the 3mile daily walks/using the exercise bike that sort of thing.
Since the stroke mobility isn’t a huge blocker but is definitely reduced, as is balance, severely frustrating her - despite this one GP suggested she take up jogging just to give an idea of what sort of advice she’s usually dealing with.
They’ve now left her with the impression they’re sort of out of options for her meds so I’m wondering if anyone has any pearls of wisdom? Thanks in advance.
She doesn’t have drastically high BP, but she does worry it goes up without the meds so coming off doesn’t seem to be an option. She’s been struggling with side effects on what they’ve given her so far - she’s been through losartan, Felopidine and now they’ve suggested indapamide. Losartan is the one which worked best for her for a few years but latterly the side effects on her digestion were leaving her pretty much housebound and exhausted. Felopidine then caused sort of similar issues but also swollen ankles etc and she generally felt dreadful.
She takes statins and aspirin daily (stopped the post BC letrozole after a discussion about risk of return as it too was making her feel terrible) has been recommended to stay on these. She takes vitamin d and magnesium supplements after the pth surgery as recommended.
She’s at the stage where she feels a bit broken I think - her digestion never seems to get chance to settle, she’s fed up with being knackered and out of breath despite trying to keep up the 3mile daily walks/using the exercise bike that sort of thing.
Since the stroke mobility isn’t a huge blocker but is definitely reduced, as is balance, severely frustrating her - despite this one GP suggested she take up jogging just to give an idea of what sort of advice she’s usually dealing with.
They’ve now left her with the impression they’re sort of out of options for her meds so I’m wondering if anyone has any pearls of wisdom? Thanks in advance.
Edited by guillemot on Thursday 18th April 15:44
Yes, and one I completely understand. It’s not one she’s on board with. The fear of another stroke I suspect, and she won’t entertain that she doesn’t need BP meds. Have a strong suspicion she doesn’t need the aspirin either but similar reasoning behind continuing with that.
I don’t actually know what it sits at ‘comfortably’ as it were as she won’t stay off anything long enough to know. After a few days without it starts to head north (whether that’s partly stress induced I don’t know) up towards 140s/90s possibly). It has been way higher but that was pre and directly post stroke, and also pre pth surgery when her blood calcium levels were over 3.
I don’t actually know what it sits at ‘comfortably’ as it were as she won’t stay off anything long enough to know. After a few days without it starts to head north (whether that’s partly stress induced I don’t know) up towards 140s/90s possibly). It has been way higher but that was pre and directly post stroke, and also pre pth surgery when her blood calcium levels were over 3.
Edited by guillemot on Thursday 18th April 15:59
Indeed - age isn’t necessarily the barrier. Mum however has never jogged, and since the stroke has some mobility and definite balance issues. She exercises - pilates, exercise bike, walks distances, just prefers things where she’s less likely to fall over.
I think the frustration was that despite her telling them that though she pushed herself she was always breathless, palpitations and dizzy etc., they seemed to believe more exercise would somehow cure her of her ills, when at that time we were looking at chronically low vitamin d, massively high calcium levels and we now know super low magnesium, too.
Your point about two different bp meds - thanks for that, I hadn’t realised that was possible and it certainly hadn’t been suggested to her. Definitely one to look into.
Suggestions so far have all been helpful, thank you. For for thought, definitely.
I think the frustration was that despite her telling them that though she pushed herself she was always breathless, palpitations and dizzy etc., they seemed to believe more exercise would somehow cure her of her ills, when at that time we were looking at chronically low vitamin d, massively high calcium levels and we now know super low magnesium, too.
Your point about two different bp meds - thanks for that, I hadn’t realised that was possible and it certainly hadn’t been suggested to her. Definitely one to look into.
Suggestions so far have all been helpful, thank you. For for thought, definitely.
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