Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Update on My Scary Blood Pressure

Following up on that doctor appointment from a few weeks back, I went this morning and met my real doctor for the first time. He was nice. Patient. Thorough. Came across as competent. We talked about my family history, my health history, my current lifestyle. He deduced that it's most likely got very little to do with lifestyle (so I don't have to curb my drinking - yay!) and very much to do with heredity.

I've resigned myself to going on medication - probably permanently - for this. I'm not thrilled about it, but I realize that stubbornly hanging onto my little aversion to medication is not going to preserve my health. So it's time to suck it up, put on my big girl panties, and do what I gotta do. People are counting on me, damnit!

So I explained to him that I am currently (still) breast feeding, and that I need a medication that is safe to take whilst suckling the little one. He did not balk at this (score one point for the doctor!). He confidently wrote me a prescription for Norvasc.

. . . and I came home, looked it up, and saw that it is specifically contraindicated for breast feeding women! Hello!?!? Is anybody out there listening to me??

So, apparently, I am back at square one. Or maybe square two. I just sent a fax to his office explaining my quandary to him and asking him to please prescribe a different medication for me after confirming that said medication is safe for me to take.

Meanwhile, here I sit, with visions of my heart sweating its little heart out, and my arteries stressed to their limits.

Maybe a drink would help.

5 comments:

The Sanchez Family said...

SOOO glad you looked it up on your own!!! Maybe there are some homeopathic ways to help it out? I think I heard that COQ10 is good for that? Also...check out Juice Plus...there must be some ways other than meds to help??? Hoping for the best for you Lisa!!!! xo Also...maybe yoga or meditation????

Cheryl said...

In the meantime, try celery:
http://www.highbloodpressureinfo.org/benefit-of-celery.html

Brandie said...

I looked it up in my Hale's Guide and its an L3. Quote "Because most calcium channel blockers readily transfer into milk, we should assume the same for this drug. Use caution if administering to lactating women." my book is from 2006, maybe there is something newer/safer available...

heather said...

I looked it up and from what I could see there just isn't the data out there but one site did have a list of drugs that are considered safe with breastfeeding and this is it:

"The following are a few commonly used drugs considered safe during breastfeeding:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra), alcohol (in reasonable amounts), aspirin (in usual doses, for short periods). Most antiepileptic medications, most antihypertensive medications, tetracycline, codeine, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications (such as ibuprofin), prednisone, thyroxin, propylthiourocil (PTU), warfarin, tricyclic antidepressants, sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), other antidepressants, metronidazole (Flagyl), omperazole (Losec), Nix, Kwellada."

It has most antihypertensive drugs listed. I would bet it is fine to be taking. It's a Level C classification. If it were a Level D or lower I would tell you to steer clear. In all honesty there are very few prescriptions or over the counter that fall into the Level A or B category.

Lisa said...

Cheryl, wow. I am intrigued. I am definitely going to try this. What do I have to lose? Thanks!