WARNING In this blogpost, your friendly correspondent drones on about personal health matters. If you find such subject matter tedious then I suggest that you depart immediately. Don't say I didn't warn you.
⦿
Till last October, I was quite proud to declare to anybody who cared to listen that I had never needed any regular medication and I felt as fit as a fiddle. Not bad for a seventy one year old. Then - almost by chance - it was discovered that my blood pressure was too high - high enough to threaten me with a potential stroke or heart issue. This is why I went along with the idea of trying to reduce my blood pressure with anti-hypertensive drugs.
I have had more doctor's appointments in the past nine months than I previously had in the rest of my life. Different doctors working at my local health centre have played around with my cocktail that includes the following - doxazosin, indapamide, ramipril, amlodopine and atorvastatin. Different strengths and different combinations.
Along the way I have had half a dozen blood tests and I have also been monitoring my own blood pressure with my "Omiron" machine that I bought from "Boots" last autumn. It has been quite a journey I can tell you.
On Tuesday of this week I had another doctor's appointment and at last my blood pressure readings had reached an average score that was within the NHS target zone for my age and gender - 136/69. Hurrah! However, there was a new problem to contend with - namely oedema in both my feet - undoubtedly caused by one of the medications but which one?
When I wake in the morning my feet are almost back to normal but as the day progresses, the swelling and fluid build-up in my legs has become so noticeable that I struggle to put on my most comfortable boots and shoes. I am not in pain as I write this blogpost but I can feel the tightness and bulging in my lower legs.
As a consequence of this, the doctor wanted to investigate what might happen if I removed amlodopine from my anti-hypertensive cocktail. Well ironically, one of things that is bound to happen is that my blood pressure will rise again but will I also see the oedema disappear? It's not something I have ever suffered from before - apart from stepping off long distance flights when not wearing pressure stockings.
Another issue that is of concern is my weight. Frankly, I weigh too much and it would be good for me in several ways if I could lose about three stones (42 pounds/ 19 kilograms). This has made me start thinking about weight-reducing medication. I am not entitled to receive it freely via the NHS because my BMI does not qualify for that kind of intervention.
The doctor checked my current medications and said that in principle there would be no problem with me also taking a weight reducing drug like tirzepatide (Mounjaro). I am thinking about it and of course googling it.
A bright spot on Tuesday was the discovery that my blood sugar score in relation to Type 2 diabetes has fallen - probably due to me cutting out sugar from hot drinks. Now I am almost embarrassed to admit that I have come to enjoy mint tea!
I sometimes think new health issues are the results of all the new medications entering your body.
ReplyDeleteBut, alas, I am not a doctor.
Doctor Bob sounds like a worming treatment for dogs.
DeleteNo matter what doctors tell you, every medication has side effects or just effects and they play nasty with each other sometimes. I hope you can figure it all out! When in doubt, I usually talk to my pharmacist over my doctor; they are trained in drug interactions.
ReplyDeleteThat's probably a wise tip Margaret but at my pharmacy, the pharmacists always seem to be in the back room making up prescriptions.
DeleteAmlodipine had that effect on me. It took a few months, but my body eventually adjusted, and the side effects went away. Wishing you the best. Health problems can be frustrating
ReplyDeleteHigh blood pressure has a lot of relatives in the health field. You just described some of them. Some of the diet you've had to follow will help in weight loss. You are very active so that keeps many of the baddies away. Good luck, my friend. on this tough journey
ReplyDelete