Re: blood pressure reading

[Guest guest]

Waverley:

Your attitude tends to go along with that os our Neurologist who never took Ken's BP and suggested that we not do it either. We really got into trouble when a Physical Therapist paid no attention to what I said about it and reported to the Neurologist that it was too high sitting. She then cut down on the Midodrine a bit with the result that Ken passed out for 15 minutes and had to go to ER in an ambulance. When the Neurologist came to the Hospital and saw that there was nothing else wrong, she told me not to let anyone take his BP any more and to put him back on the full dose of the Medications. When Hospice started coming, the nurse had to take it each time she came and of course it was all over the place depending on his position. I remember once when he was in bed, she took it and it was 200/110. She recorded it and turned to me saying with a smile,"Perfectly normal."

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Barbara,

Your husband is in hospice care and I am terribly sorry that he is that far progressed. I hope that it is a positive experience for you both and that you do get the are that you deserve.

This is a horse of another color and I hope you understand that I was not in anyway making comparisons of myself with people who are bed-bound and care giver dependent. I was actually addressing a woman who like myself was young (30), still trying to go to work and lead an autonomous life.

Perhaps I was not clear but my intentions were this: as the patient myself, and who is not incapacitated and in need of someone else making these decisions for myself, I go with what my body is telling me. I have been plagued by orthostatic hyspotension all my life - but the neurological problems and autonomic failure did not set in until 5 years ago. I also said as a caregiver I too would consistenly monitor my loved one. However, for me unless I am hospitalized I don't. there is no point in me knowing every down and down all day long. I also never ever have experinced a hypertensive flux. The highest my bp has gotton of late was with meningitis three months ago at 120/90. Midodrine and Flexeril don't have that effect on me.

I agree that is fool hardy of your neurologist not to take your husbands bp. Especially since he is feeling so very terrible. I see my GP on a daily basis cause I have other diseases as well, so I have the reassurance right there.

I have no clue why they would think 200/110 was normal. When someone is in severe pain, during that episode, there BP usually shoots up. That is what keeps you conscience. That owuld be normal.

God bless,

Waverley

>>> kmcrae@... 07/14/01 12:07PM >>>Waverley: Your attitude tends to go along with that os our Neurologist who never took Ken's BP and suggested that we not do it either. We really got into trouble when a Physical Therapist paid no attention to what I said about it and reported to the Neurologist that it was too high sitting. She then cut down on the Midodrine a bit with the result that Ken passed out for 15 minutes and had to go to ER in an ambulance. When the Neurologist came to the Hospital and saw that there was nothing else wrong, she told me not to let anyone take his BP any more and to put him back on the full dose of the Medications. When Hospice started coming, the nurse had to take it each time she came and of course it was all over the place depending on his position. I remember once when he was in bed, she took it and it was 200/110. She recorded it and turned to me saying with a smile,"Perfectly normal." Barbara If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to shydrager-unsubscribe