Does anyone know about blood pressure?

[matthen]

I have been checking my own blood pressure for the past couple of days and, while it is not any dangerous levels, it is definitely up. I am wondering if it is common or not unusual to have elevated blood pressure when one first stops drinking. I will go to the Dr. if it stays there for more than a week or so.

I have had my blood pressure checked routinely over the years and as recently as Feb. by my doctor and never before had any elevation -- despite my booze consumption. I do have to admit that I am stressed at the moment -- and in no small part due to my fears of my alcoholism. Any thoughts?

[Accountable for Me]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Matt, it is pretty normal for your blood pressure to go up when coming off of alcohol. Drink LOTS of water and things will begin to normalize. (this was discussed in detox a few years back).

However, if something does look 'alarming' seek medical help.

[gabby1go]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Drinking elevates your bp. What are your actual numbers? If you haven't had any problems in the past you should go back to normal levels after you go AF for a while. Stress also plays a factor. Take it in the am and then again in the pm while you are relaxing. Stay AF and after several days you will notice it steadily decline.

[Cinders]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Matthen,

I know one of the things in rehab that determined whether we were able to come off the benzos was our bp going back to normal.

However, keep an eye on it and if it doesn't go down in a reasonable amount of time, get to the doctor. High BP is nothing to mess with.

You are doing brilliantly, btw!!

Love,
Cindi

[matthen]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Thanks Cindi and Gabbi -- it has gone as high as 160/100 which when I looked it up definitely is high in the "stage I" category. it is usually normal, maybe 120/ 70. so i take your advice very seriously and if it stays up i definitely will seek medical help pronto -- without hesitation. If you have any other thoughts let me know please.
As i did say, I am really feeling stressed out, believe it or not about the dangers of me being a reckless alcoholic. But this too will pass, I know. Thanks:thanks:

[betty boop]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Matthen ............ Well done on your AF .......

Please please take care and keep an eye on that blood pressure .........

[IAD]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Yes Matten,
You need it to live....IAD ! Welcome !

[spottydingo]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Matthen,

I know personally mine is always elevated for a day or 2 after a binge ... I can tell without checking. But, I also tend to smoke when I drink (otherwise I don't smoke) and that doesn't help either. As Accountable said, drink lots of water, take a multi-vitamin and it will pass.

Take care of yourself!

[Thankful]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Matt, also don't check it too often at close intervals. I'm not sure how long you need to wait in between checks, but if you check it too soon it will give you a false high reading.

Also, (I learned this when I tried to donate blood) if you are even slightly dehydrated it will cause HBP. We all know that AL dehydrates you. When I went to donate one day, my BP was so high they refused me. I was drinking a very large iced coffee at the time and they suggested that too much caffiene can dehydrate you. But when they said dehydration, I didn't dare say that I drank too much the night before. Eeks!

So, if you think you could be low on fluids, drink up. Healthy drinks, of course!

Take care.

Love, Me
:l

[gabby1go]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Matt,

Just taking your bp and being anxious about it can cause it to go too high. I typically have low bp and it always goes very high after a long stint of AL. If you are anxious, have you tried GABA or Calms Forte? They work well for me.

[matthen]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Thanks, I find the information helpful to me, quite and I am beginning to calm down so will check it when I go to bed. I expect to be doing better.:thanks:

[Accountable for Me]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Glad you are calming down.... there is increased anxiety when you first quit as well. What ever is stressing you will seem even bigger for a bit.

In detox they checked our blood pressure first thing in the morning, after breakfast and then again around 8pm.

You are going to be just fine.

[skootiemom]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Funny, I should see this thread- on the very day of my doctors appointment, following a reading two weeks ago of.... hold onto your hats- 175/ 115 at a specialist appointment! Yes, I have lots going on in my life at the moment, abd was drinking too much, as a result.... of course, not letting the specialist know about the latter!

I was advised to monitor this myself with a home BP monitor, which I have been doing, and only getting slighty elevated readings. I thought something was wrong with it, but it is spot on accurate at the docs office. I am 150/ 105 there.... 118 over 85 at home!!!

A little bit of 'whitecoat' hypertension... and elevated due to lack of exercise for the past few months, is what we figure ( oh, and the booze...).

Three things he told me- cut the booze/ exercise more and lose the salt... or by summer, it's meds for me. The odd high reading is ok- as long as it comes down at rest ( as I understand it)... and if you are stressed, you need to relax- yoga/ meditation... and that "E" word again.

Good luck!

Skoots

[Dolly Sunshine]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

It's the w/d. Give it a few more days and if it's still elevated please see a DR. Mine always went way up when I quit.

[dmtodd]

Does anyone know about blood pressure?

Elevated BP

Hi Matthen,

I'm having the same trouble. My blood pressure was 153/108 a couple of weeks ago. My doctor put me on meds immediately. Since on the meds its running around 143/85. This is my second day as a MWO member. I have cut back on my drinking since yesterday. I had a half a rum and coke tonight and a half a glass of wine. I'm honesly getting sick of it. My alcohol consumption has caused me to gain an additional 25 pounds on top of the 80 pounds I had already gained! Its the extra weight that is causing the spike, in addition to the heavy drinking. I have been drinking heavy for the last 4 years. Before that it was a glass or 2 a day and gradually increased to hard liquor.

I'm at the point now where I really am scared I'm going to die if I don't beat this addiction. I can tell that my body is screaming for me to give it a rest. I have made the decision to become totally AF..no moderation for me. ONce I get over this, I'll never touch it again by the grace of God. I have overcome addiction to cigarettes and then cocaine and now alcohol. This is by far the hardest thing I've fought to get free of.

My plan is to cut back on alcohol as much as I can until I get my program delivered. I'll read the book and then set my goal date to stop drinking totally. I'll use the CDs to help reprogram my brain/mind and take the supplements. I want to take the program to my doctor and have her prescribe me some topamax to help as well. She knows about my struggles and I'm sure will be thrilled when I tell her I'm quitting.

I believe that by getting off the alcohol completely, my weight will start coming off and my blood pressure will stabilize. My ultimate goal is to get off all meds and take only supplements. I think sooner or later we all come to that crossroads where we choose to live or to die. I'm there now. I choose life.

Best of luck Matthen...keep your chin up, and post often. I love talking to people who know where I"m coming from! You don't have to do this alone

dmt