And so it begins

Donna Faye

Fridays Child said:

It is scary

The blood pressure increase is scary.  Be sure they explain to you how they will monitor and manage it if it does increase.  I'd think they would keep very close watch on you since it's a known issue. What do your kids think, in particular your RN son?

We are all confused

Son wonders why they did not discuss BP before the start day. They did tell me how to monitor but my BP is very connected to my level of stress - control freak that I am.  I think if the urine test had been clean, they would have started, so maybe a good thing to have time to think. I started the  valsartan today so will see how low the BP can get. Also took in the 24 hr. urine jug so will get that result tomorrow. After all this - 1-2" of snow for NC! Everything will stop as we cannot deal with that amount of snow!!!

CheeseQueen57

My opinion

Just my opinion but the surgery sounds horrid and what about potential complications from of surgery (as one who knows). 

MoeKay

My Opinion on Your BP

Donna Faye, have they suggested having you wear a 24-hour blood pressure monitor?  My BP is always elevated in the doctor's office, and if the doctor relied solely on in-office readings, I would have erroneously been put on multiple BP meds.  And I'm not under the stress you are with the uncertainties of starting a new treatment regimen.  I really think since you have a little time before you will be starting your new treatment that they should have you wear a 24-hour BP monitor to get the full picture of where things stand on that front. 

In my experience the 24-hour monitor is light years above self-monitoring at home.  I used to take mine at home and if I took it 4 times in succession, each time it would go higher and higher due to my stress level increasing.  I would finally stop, because I figured if I kept going, I would cause myself to stroke out!  When I wear the monitor, it's high when they put it on (due to anticipation) and then drops significantly with subsequent readings.  The overall average, as well as day and night averages, have always been within normal range, thus convincing my doctor that I didn't need more medication.  Also, my BP is especially low during sleep (in the range of 80s/40s).  Just using office readings as a basis for increasing my BP med might be disastrous, as further decreases at night would almost certainly put me at risk of passing out and falling.  And this is someone who can easily run 170/95 in the doctor's office.  This is an important issue for you, and the 24-hour monitor is a non-invasive, simple test that will give your medical team a full picture of your hypertension situation.  I would be interested in what your RN son has to say.

Sending relaxing vibrations your way!

 

Donna Faye

CheeseQueen57 said:

My opinion

Just my opinion but the surgery sounds horrid and what about potential complications from of surgery (as one who knows). 

That is what my son says

Cheese,that is why I avoided surgery as my son says the surgery is just one part and infection and other things can be worse! I appreciate your comments as it helps me to hang in on the L/K treatment.

Donna Faye

MoeKay said:

My Opinion on Your BP

Donna Faye, have they suggested having you wear a 24-hour blood pressure monitor?  My BP is always elevated in the doctor's office, and if the doctor relied solely on in-office readings, I would have erroneously been put on multiple BP meds.  And I'm not under the stress you are with the uncertainties of starting a new treatment regimen.  I really think since you have a little time before you will be starting your new treatment that they should have you wear a 24-hour BP monitor to get the full picture of where things stand on that front. 

In my experience the 24-hour monitor is light years above self-monitoring at home.  I used to take mine at home and if I took it 4 times in succession, each time it would go higher and higher due to my stress level increasing.  I would finally stop, because I figured if I kept going, I would cause myself to stroke out!  When I wear the monitor, it's high when they put it on (due to anticipation) and then drops significantly with subsequent readings.  The overall average, as well as day and night averages, have always been within normal range, thus convincing my doctor that I didn't need more medication.  Also, my BP is especially low during sleep (in the range of 80s/40s).  Just using office readings as a basis for increasing my BP med might be disastrous, as further decreases at night would almost certainly put me at risk of passing out and falling.  And this is someone who can easily run 170/95 in the doctor's office.  This is an important issue for you, and the 24-hour monitor is a non-invasive, simple test that will give your medical team a full picture of your hypertension situation.  I would be interested in what your RN son has to say.

Sending relaxing vibrations your way!

 

Wonderful idea

I will have that done next week. I should have remembered that as it has been done before.

See why I need ALL of you!!!

zsazsa1

MoeKay said:

My Opinion on Your BP

Donna Faye, have they suggested having you wear a 24-hour blood pressure monitor?  My BP is always elevated in the doctor's office, and if the doctor relied solely on in-office readings, I would have erroneously been put on multiple BP meds.  And I'm not under the stress you are with the uncertainties of starting a new treatment regimen.  I really think since you have a little time before you will be starting your new treatment that they should have you wear a 24-hour BP monitor to get the full picture of where things stand on that front. 

In my experience the 24-hour monitor is light years above self-monitoring at home.  I used to take mine at home and if I took it 4 times in succession, each time it would go higher and higher due to my stress level increasing.  I would finally stop, because I figured if I kept going, I would cause myself to stroke out!  When I wear the monitor, it's high when they put it on (due to anticipation) and then drops significantly with subsequent readings.  The overall average, as well as day and night averages, have always been within normal range, thus convincing my doctor that I didn't need more medication.  Also, my BP is especially low during sleep (in the range of 80s/40s).  Just using office readings as a basis for increasing my BP med might be disastrous, as further decreases at night would almost certainly put me at risk of passing out and falling.  And this is someone who can easily run 170/95 in the doctor's office.  This is an important issue for you, and the 24-hour monitor is a non-invasive, simple test that will give your medical team a full picture of your hypertension situation.  I would be interested in what your RN son has to say.

Sending relaxing vibrations your way!

 

Interesting what you say

Interesting what you say about repeated measurements in the same arm going up and up and up.  We're trained not to take it in the same arm a second time, for that very reason.

I definitely agree with the 24 hr home monitor.  But if you're going to do your own measurements, alternate arms, and only do it the one time.  Sit down with legs uncrossed for a few minutes, thinking restful, happy place thoughts, before you take it.  Most accurate is the traditional pump up sphygmomanometer and stethescope combination , as opposed to the self-inflating automatic ones sold for home use.

Donna Faye

zsazsa1 said:

Interesting what you say

Interesting what you say about repeated measurements in the same arm going up and up and up.  We're trained not to take it in the same arm a second time, for that very reason.

I definitely agree with the 24 hr home monitor.  But if you're going to do your own measurements, alternate arms, and only do it the one time.  Sit down with legs uncrossed for a few minutes, thinking restful, happy place thoughts, before you take it.  Most accurate is the traditional pump up sphygmomanometer and stethescope combination , as opposed to the self-inflating automatic ones sold for home use.

My problem is only right arm

can be used as 20 lymph nodes taken out 20 years ago. Also running into questions as to where to put a port as BP cannot be taken on port side. Also scarring and lymphdema on left side from masectomy.Looks like we will have to go back to the drawing board and see what to do. My old body is running low on available spots!

Armywife

One Day at a Time

I sure do understand about the control part of it.  I'm three days away from movers and my house is in a complete shambles.  My advice is to take this adventure in small bites, DF.  See what the bp med does.  Get the 24-hour bp monitor.  Breathe.  Repeat.  They will watch you very closely for that bp.  Also you know that in the event you did have a stroke, if you're seen within the first hour or so, almost always the effects can be stopped or reversed.  I know it's a huge decision.  I think the surgery scares me more for you.   Praying that you'll gain clarity, and thankful that this is not an emergency where a split-second irrevocable decision has to be made.  You have a few days to see what the meds do and get some monitoring.  Hopefully that will bring you peace!

Fridays Child

Donna Faye said:

My problem is only right arm

can be used as 20 lymph nodes taken out 20 years ago. Also running into questions as to where to put a port as BP cannot be taken on port side. Also scarring and lymphdema on left side from masectomy.Looks like we will have to go back to the drawing board and see what to do. My old body is running low on available spots!

Again, I learn something new!

I have had a port for two years, and no one has ever said anything about not taking the blood pressure on that side, and it has been taken from that arm many times. How interesting.

CheeseQueen57

Donna Faye said:

My problem is only right arm

can be used as 20 lymph nodes taken out 20 years ago. Also running into questions as to where to put a port as BP cannot be taken on port side. Also scarring and lymphdema on left side from masectomy.Looks like we will have to go back to the drawing board and see what to do. My old body is running low on available spots!

Port

I've had port for almost 4 years on right side and blood pressure is regularly taken on that side. Are you sure?  I would question that. 

zsazsa1

i have had bp taken and blood

i have had bp taken and blood draws done on port side.  not a ;roblem.

zsazsa1

you have to consider risk

you have to consider risk/benefit ratio.  benefit outweighs risk i think.

oldbeauty

CheeseQueen57 said:

Port

I've had port for almost 4 years on right side and blood pressure is regularly taken on that side. Are you sure?  I would question that. 

No, no

I believe I read that in the port disclosure booklet I recently came across and reread.  Not to do bp on that side.  I follow that directive now.  Oldbeauty

Donna Faye

zsazsa1 said:

you have to consider risk

you have to consider risk/benefit ratio.  benefit outweighs risk i think.

Love you gals!

OK- now I have some more info for next week! I want to talk to the person who is putting the port in and will get all this right - but very encouraging to know that may not be a problem. My primary has scheduled the 24 hr BP and am waiting on the lab results from 24hr urine collection. In a way it was good that we had to postpone as I am finding out lots needed to be clarified in this age of specialization. When I do get started, all should be known! xoxo df

cmb

Port Side/BP Measurements

Surgery can be so tough as we age, just as your son and others have noted. So if the BP and other issues can be resolved I know that I'd be inclined to at least try the L/K treatment first. I hope things settle down so you can move forward.

Interesting comments about BP measurement and port side. I'll have to re-read the booklet I got when my port was installed, although no one ever said anything to me about not using the port side for BP. I've had my BP measured many times since the port and frankly I think they just use whatever arm is most convenient. But since I've taken a very low dose of an ACE inhibitor for several years to help preserve renal function due to my Type 2 diabetes, my blood pressure is almost always on the low side. In fact, I often had to stop taking it during chemo when my BP went too low.

CheeseQueen57

oldbeauty said:

No, no

I believe I read that in the port disclosure booklet I recently came across and reread.  Not to do bp on that side.  I follow that directive now.  Oldbeauty

Question

I see my oncologist this week. I'll have to ask them. I never got a "port" book. 

CheeseQueen57

Bp and port

And I'm pretty sure when I was in the hospital last summer with sepsis they had the cuff on my right arm measuring my blood pressure continuously. Where the port is. I'm betting this is a non issue. 

Fridays Child

Location of port

This might offer some clarity.  I wondered if the no BP/blood draws from the port side might be related to people who have the port in their arm instead of their chest.  I did find a reference to not allowing BP or blood draws from the arm if the port is in your arm.  That might explain why no one has ever said anything to me about it, as mine is in my chest.

BluebirdOne

cmb said:

Port Side/BP Measurements

Surgery can be so tough as we age, just as your son and others have noted. So if the BP and other issues can be resolved I know that I'd be inclined to at least try the L/K treatment first. I hope things settle down so you can move forward.

Interesting comments about BP measurement and port side. I'll have to re-read the booklet I got when my port was installed, although no one ever said anything to me about not using the port side for BP. I've had my BP measured many times since the port and frankly I think they just use whatever arm is most convenient. But since I've taken a very low dose of an ACE inhibitor for several years to help preserve renal function due to my Type 2 diabetes, my blood pressure is almost always on the low side. In fact, I often had to stop taking it during chemo when my BP went too low.

My experience since having

high blood pressure which developed about the time of my dx is that the NURSES who are supposed to be trained in the proper technique of taking BP are not so great at doing it. Felt both flat on the floor, (didn’t care) take the second reading on the oposing arm if possible, (nope) too lose iof a cuff, etc. Only after being dx with high blood pressure was I aware of the issues. My cardiologist tossed out his opinion that I had white coat syndrome, even though my blood pressure taken by his nurse, was normal. So I watch closely now when my BP is taken if they even follow the simple rules of taking a blood pressure. My life and subsequent treatment depends  upon accurate and proper measurement. Stroke runs in my family so I am also very vigilant. 

Denise