Slightly elevated BP

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 11:24 am

Interesting, Mary Beth - I do think the flight and the time difference made me a little vulnerable and 'tippy' (as in, easily tipped over into having symptoms). I was occasionally light-headed and definitely fatigued while in Paris, but didn't notice specific/immediate symptoms on the plane.

I wonder what 'a little' autonomic instability really is, in that neurologist's mind. Sounds like something you'd want to get an understanding about, so the patient never has to experience "a lot" of it.

I'm guessing you've already been all over this site - http://www.dinet.org/symptoms.htm - several of the other sections are also interesting (Causes, for example - and I always love 'Myths').

It sounds as though you have a sound approach to managing diet and symptoms, while you seek a practitioner who merits your time and attention

I'll pay attention to weather/altitude changes - I can see now that it's super-important to maintain as much stability as possible, for healing to occur and strength to rebuild.

Love,
Sara

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 2:13 pm

I'm bumping up this thread as I'm having some issues and would appreciate your advice. My blood pressure has been running quite a bit higher 140-150/70's lately, I've been feeling kind of shaky (especially in the morning) and I've had a lot of stress lately. I usually have 1-1.5 cups of coffee in the morning. Eating something (carbs or protein) doesn't seem to make a difference. Then a couple of weeks ago I was awakened with a bad bout of vertigo. I couldn't have sat up if I wanted to. I'm still feeling results of that. I am scheduled for an appointment with my PCP next week and I'm sure she will be pretty insistent about BP meds. I had a bite on my leg a couple of months ago (I actually took a picture of it) that was red around with a white center...not really a bullseye but probably worth checking into for lyme disease. It may be time to further fine tune my diet (still eating dairy and soy). I guess my question is, what blood pressure meds are least invasive especially with MC and have the least amount of side effects? (if there is such a thing).

Stanz · Post by **Stanz** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:29 pm

My husband just recently found out that he too is gluten sensitive by ELISA testing, he is working with a MD who is also a ND. She prescribed Propanolol for him and it has worked very well. It is a Beta Blocker, not a Statin, as she won't prescribe them to anyone.

Post by **tex** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:05 pm

Deb,

My BP increases during the winter months, and I have no idea why. I've suspected molds, and maybe cedar pollen, but I've never been able to pin it down, even though the trend is as reliable as clockwork, every year. I take lisinopril, (10 mg), at bedtime, to lower my BP, and metoprolol tartrate, (25 mg), twice a day, to slow my heart rate, in conjunction with Plavix. All of those are for stroke prevention - I didn't actually have high BP, before I started taking them. In fact, I have to check my BP before I take the lisinopril or metoprolol, and skip taking them, if my systolic pressure is below 100. Skipping is almost never a problem in the winter, but by now, my pressure is trending low enough that I have to skip taking them, now and then.

I find that stress can really affect my BP. If I check it after several hours of intense writing, for example, where I'm coordinating references with the text, etc., it will almost always be up substantially. A couple of weeks ago, when I went to bed, it was 149, but when I got up the next morning, it was 99.

Family disagreements, of course, will kick it up a lot higher than that.

As far as I can tell, what I'm taking doesn't trigger D, but I believe that these are minimal doses.

I wouldn't be surprised if mast cell issues might be involved, because antihistamines are supposed to increase BP. I don't find that to be consistent, however. Sometimes they seem to raise my BP, and at other times, they seem to bring it down. I've never done a careful study of the effects, though. I can tell you this much - if you're taking any monoamine oxidase inhibitors, (MOAIs), stay away from antihistamines, and foods that contain tyramine, (such as dried foods, cheese, nuts, etc. - pretty much the same foods that are high in histamines), because they can make your BP reach dangerous levels, under certain circumstances. Been there, done that.

Tex

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 5:17 pm

Tex, I'm not taking any "drugs" except Ambien, at the most 2 a week (with a cpap for sleep apnea) and bendryl (2x/week). My supplements are fish oil, magnesium,niacin (possible cholestero issuesl), B12, Vitamin D (2,000), and a b vitamin supplement. I do have mold, dust/pet allergies. I was interested to read your allergies. I had asthmatic bronchitis as a child (actually had to have adrenaline to suppress it a couple of times) followed up by hayfever after I had my tonsils and adenoids removed (allergy shots seemed to relieve the hayfever).