Slightly elevated BP

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Sun May 29, 2011 8:41 pm

Sara,

I don't take my blood pressure regularly, even though I should. My father had lifelong hypertension. I know I got the mast cell problme from his side of the family. I sometimes wonder if my now mildly elevated BP is due to mast cells, especially since the kidneys rich in mast cells. Resperate looks very interesting - might think about purchasing one.

Thimerosal is in hard contact solution. I know I was starting to have mast cell issues a few years before the flu shot because I had to stop wearing contacts - I could no longer tolerate the solution. Lots of mast cells in the eyes - patanol is actually a mast cell stabilizer for the eyes.

There are a list of drugs contraindicated for mast cell patients on www.tmsforacure.org Even though I am stable now I will abide by that list. As we all know, drugs can send us into a flare faster than anything.

Mary Beth

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Mon May 30, 2011 9:37 am

Mary Beth,

I wish I could lend you the Resperate - it would be nice to know whether you like it before purchasing. I think if you already have some stress around BP taking, maybe it's OK to get around to monitoring that when you feel like it (as opposed to when you 'should'). There's a lot to pay attention to in this world. If you could monitor your own BP in such a way as to reduce the stress instead of increase, that would be great.

I'll look at that list of contraindicated drugs. Right now I'm planning never to take anything, ever. (Also no surgery or anesthesia.) That may not be a plan I can stick to forever, though! I was considering whether I should travel with an antihistamine, but am afraid of doing more harm than good.

Your understanding of mast cells is probably so far beyond what most doctors know. I know you acquired a lot of knowledge the hard way. If my BP doesn't settle down consistently now that I've removed all known problem foods, I'll keep what you said in mind about kidneys being rich in mast cells. And eyes - I gave up contacts for reasons of middle-aged vision, and never noticed a problem with the solutions. But that doesn't mean I'd be problem free now, if I were still exposed to those products.

Hope you're feeling great, and thanks.

Love,
Sara

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Mon May 30, 2011 11:07 am

I see my GP Thursday. In the past, he has indicated he is amenable to my weaning off my beta blocker. I am going to find some info I can give him in case he is hesitant now.

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Mon May 30, 2011 3:26 pm

Good luck with that conversation, Marliss. I'm sure you'll be well-armed, in a charming and disarming way ;)

L,
S

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:56 pm

I saw my GP yesterday, and he is amenable to my weaning off my beta blocker, which I started today. At first, I think that he thought I was only objecting to the atenolol, which is contraindicated for congestive heart failure. I don't have that, but my mother died of it and my brother has it. And he tried to prescribe me something for the couple months' trial off the atenolol, but it didn't take but a moment to tell him about Herbert Benson and the Relaxation Revolution. This is the book that Polly so highly recommended. I am on my second time through it, and reaffirming to myself that the proof is pretty strong that the relaxation protocol (similar to the biofeedback of the RESPeRATE) really does work to alleviate many diseases and their symptoms.

On Wednesday, I came down with a migraine like I haven't had in quite some time. I was even nauseated and had a slight aura in the eye over which the pain was. I had a slight headache Thursday morning which bloomed into another migraine, a milder one, and today I also had a migraine, but I was able to continue working through it. I am not sure why I have had these headaches suddenly. It's funny, though--people have gotten the message that drinking water gets rid of migraines. I was understandably ga-ga--a migraine seems to disconnect my brain and my tongue during it and for a while after--and when I made mistakes or verbal faux pas a couple of people helpfully told me that drinking enough water helps them when they have a migraine.

JoAnn · Post by **JoAnn** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 9:50 pm

I'm a little late on this conversation. Mary Beth, I have the same problem. When I check my bp at home, it's always fine and even low. The minute I step into a Dr's office UP it goes. I blame mine on PTSS involving one of my pregnancies. The Dr. scared the daylights out of me during one visit because my pressure was up, but it turned out to be nothing. Ever since then I've got this problem when seeing a doctor no matter how logical I try to be. My mother has the same problem so I wonder if "white coat hypertension" might also be genetic in my family. It's so embarassing. Sara, I laughed at the mental picture I envisioned of your "Blood Pressure Taking Can Be Fun Game". I'm going to try to use it at my next doctor visit in a few weeks. I'll try to imagine you sitting next to me playing the game.
Love JoAnn

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:14 am

JoAnn,

I friend of mine once fainted during a routine eye exam. He's a pretty easy-going, rational fellow, who wasn't even aware he was terrified of sitting in the dark with an ophthalmalogist till he passed out. When he woke up the office staff was wide-eyed with alarm, and he was mortified, so he tried to make a joke of it. "Please don't hit me again," he said to the doctor. They didn't think it was funny in the least.

I guess we're just wired in ways we can't predict. I bet if my BP doesn't settle down, I'll be having white-coat syndrome myself.

Good luck. When we played the BP game, I'd put the cuff on my husband and *not* take his pressure for a while, just to separate the jitters from the prep from the jitters of the actual reading (which is a little weird, that arm-squeezing). I would guess if more doctors put the cuff on and waited to take the BP, while having a pleasant chat, white-coat syndrome would be less common.

Love,
Sara

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:15 pm

Well, day 5 of my tapering off my beta blocker. So far, so good. In fact, I seem to be less fatigued, though that could be my imagination. I was worried that my heart rate would jump after eating, a function of my thyroiditis, but I am very pleased that it has not. I think that may have something to do with my good Vitamin D levels helping to stabilize my thyroid levels. What complex creatures we are. And the needle on the scale, which I thought was nailed in place, seems to have moved a trifle. What's funny is that nightmares are supposed to be a side effect of this beta blocker, but the last two nights I have had extraordinarily vivid nightmares, which is rare for me.

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:21 pm

Marliess, I hope the nightmares are transient, and that you've had the last one.

Sounds like things are heading in the right direction - great news.

Love,
Sara

patc73 · Post by **patc73** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:19 pm

I have prehypertension myself, usually in the 130's systolic and the high 80's diastolic. I take verapamil (Calan), a calcium channel blocker, to control it, and I also have been taking magnesium for years, for many reasons but it started out as a way to lessen migraines. I tried going off magnesium when I had my huge flare in December, but it turns out I'm also reliant on it as a muscle relaxant...my back "went out" and had spasms for several days. Like Marliss said, what a tangled web we weave when we practice to medicate!

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:06 pm

I finally got around to buying a blood pressure cuff and have figured out what is happening with both my BP and exercise intolerance. Mast cells, AGAIN! I beleive my histamine levels are high again due to all the yummy summer produce I have been eating. Sigh. I'm also having symptoms of POTS again. Tonight I had GF gnocchi with pesto for dinner (high carb) and took my BP afterwards. BP dropped to 114/76 (had been higher all day) and pulse was122 -yep, that's POTS. Many mast cell patients also have POTS and symptoms of dysautonomia, which I beleive I also have (some consdier it a lesser form of Guillain Barre and it was triggered after my flu vaccine). My mast cells always trigger high BP and then my body tries to self-correct and I have trouble with fluid balance - running was exacerbating dehydrationand causing a headache. What is interesting and what has thrown me off track is that I am not having GI symptoms, and that is unusual for me and why I didn't suspect mast cells initially, but it is not uncommon for mast cell patients to get a varying symptoms. So back on strict MRT and low histamine guidelines again. Not a happy camper but I hope to get things back on track with diet alone. I really want to avoid medication except for antihistamines, which BTW also lowered my BP.

Mary Beth

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:42 pm

Glad you figured it out, Mary Beth. These histamines really throw a wrench in everything. I hope you can get back on track without sacrificing too many foods, especially in the summer.

Gloria

Post by **tex** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:30 am

Mary Beth,

I'm glad you tracked down the problem. This is pretty profound information. I can't help but wonder if in severe cases, this might be the reason why certain otherwise-healthy athletes suddenly drop dead during sporting events.

Good luck with getting the situation back under control.

Tex

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:41 am

Interesting Tex. I just read an article this morning on exercise and histamine intolerance that said that histamine is often the cause of people passing out after vigorous exercise. The answer is to take antihistamines before working out.

I realize my symptoms have been sneaking up on me, IOW, I was getting used to feeling bad again. If the low histamine diet doesn't sufficiently bring down my BP then I will need meds.

Mary Beth

harma · Post by **harma** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:39 pm

Sara your are in Paris?? I see a france flag next to your name, hope you are enjoying yourself there. have a great time.