High Blood Pressure

[havefuninsun]

In some recent threads, we were talking how some medication can play havoc on men ... and I think high blood pressure medication was one of them. Recently (like, yesterday), my doctor prescribed high blood pressure for me (the female 1/2).

I've been doing some reading, but haven't found anything on issue with women taking high blood pressure medicine and libido worries. I'd love to hear if anyone has first hand knowledge or even 2nd hand knowledge of anything ...

Thanks!

[crazycatz]

I am on three different kinds of bp medication...and i can tell you it has had NO effect whatsoever on my libido. *phew*

[ohhandahh]

I am on medication for high blood pressure and can say from experience Levitra, Cialis and Viagra sends my blood pressure too low. Viagra caused fast heart rate. no effect on libido by blood pressure medication. Moods are more effected by the phase of the moon. Have some ED being diabetic but almost always causes no problem if the situation and the sex is hot.

[flkeyscouple]

I (female) am on high blood pressure meds (2). Have been for four years. If anything my libido is more intense.

Good luck! It took about six months to regulate the meds for me. I don't recall any libido problems during that time either.

Sarah

[starryeyes]

Mr Eyes is on bp medication and it hasn't caused any problems for his libido as a matter of fact seems like it raised. I said raised... lol It was one of his biggest concerns going on it, but it got to the point where it was better to take it than not. Although he said, he wouldn't mind going out having fun.

[LFM2]

Originally Posted by havefuninsun

In some recent threads, we were talking how some medication can play havoc on men ... and I think high blood pressure medication was one of them. Recently (like, yesterday), my doctor prescribed high blood pressure for me (the female 1/2).

I've been doing some reading, but haven't found anything on issue with women taking high blood pressure medicine and libido worries. I'd love to hear if anyone has first hand knowledge or even 2nd hand knowledge of anything ...

Thanks!

How funny that you should ask this question.

I went to my doctor yesterday as a matter of fact because I (Mrs. LFM) have high blood pressure, plus, I'm also a nurse, so my doc and I got into a real discussion. He thinks sex is overrated (WHAT KIND OF MAN THINKS SEX IS OVERRATED?) but asked if had any side effects. I told him the only reason I would discontinue any medication and that was if my libido went to hell. Well, the kind I'm on is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (and ACE inhibitor) which lucky for me, rarely interferes with libido in any population. He did tell me that Calcium-channel blockers and beta-blockers interfere with libido more.

[havefuninsun]

[QUOTE=LFM2](WHAT KIND OF MAN THINKS SEX IS OVERRATED?)/QUOTE]

What kind of man, indeed!!!

The one she prescribed for me was a calcium blocker, so we shall see how it all affects me at the end of the day. Oh. I'm supposed to be exercising more and eating better. Imagine that. (hahahaha)

Now that I know you're a nurse -- I'll ask you something else I'm curious about. A month ago when I went to see her suspecting high blood pressure, she asked if I was on the pill and I said yes. She told me to stop taking it IMMEDIATELY which left me with little birth control options that very moment. So when I went back this week, I explained I am NOT adverse to closing the baby factory for good, I just didn't want my system to get all out of whack, which is what's happened in the past when I've stopped taking BCP's. She said she'd rather not go there b/c she'd rather not have to put me back on hormones to regulate my system if I were fixed (???) Then she said if they get my BP regulated, she's not adverse putting me back on the pill.

SO, why not just try to regulate the BP and leave my pills alone?? I'm all about variety, adventure, etc., but there are just some things I'm very happy being status quo.

Again, any information is appreciated.

[LFM2]

Originally Posted by havefuninsun

What kind of man, indeed!!!

We were talking about my eating style and exercise plan. He asked me what kind of sweets I love and I told him that I'm pretty partial to Skinny Cow's ice cream sandwiches. Since I've worked with this physician before, I know that he's VERY partial to chocolate. I told him that I didn't crave chocolate, but I read somewhere that chocolate has a chemical in it that can resemble the peak of an orgasm. I told him I'd rather have the sex instead of chocolate. He said that sex is WAY overrated. I told him it's only overrated for those who eat chocolate! IDIOT!!

Originally Posted by havefuninsun

The one she prescribed for me was a calcium blocker, so we shall see how it all affects me at the end of the day. Oh. I'm supposed to be exercising more and eating better. Imagine that. (hahahaha)

I changed the way I eat and I'm exercising more. It's seriously made a great impact on my life. I've lost 35 lbs and I'm losing inches at the gym. My honey is my greatest fan when we go to the gym. Gawd, he's so sexy. We go together and sweat and then we come home to sweat more! My cholesterol has dropped about 40 points and my triglycerides are under 200 now. I feel tons better, too, although I have a lot more weight I could lose. The only thing that hadn't changed is my blood pressure -- Dammit!

Originally Posted by havefuninsun

Now that I know you're a nurse -- I'll ask you something else I'm curious about. A month ago when I went to see her suspecting high blood pressure, she asked if I was on the pill and I said yes. She told me to stop taking it IMMEDIATELY which left me with little birth control options that very moment. So when I went back this week, I explained I am NOT adverse to closing the baby factory for good, I just didn't want my system to get all out of whack, which is what's happened in the past when I've stopped taking BCP's. She said she'd rather not go there b/c she'd rather not have to put me back on hormones to regulate my system if I were fixed (???) Then she said if they get my BP regulated, she's not adverse putting me back on the pill.

SO, why not just try to regulate the BP and leave my pills alone?? I'm all about variety, adventure, etc., but there are just some things I'm very happy being status quo.

Again, any information is appreciated.

Well, not knowing how old you are, or how high your blood pressure is/was, (I'm suspecting younger than I am because you're not adverse to keeping the baby factory open -- I'd slit my own throat if I got pregnant this late in life!) I'm suspecting she wanted to you to quit taking BCP's because your chance for stroke, heart attack and deep vein thrombosis is MUCH higher when your taking BCP's. Actually, you'd probably have a higher chance of deep vein thrombosis more than stroke or heart attack although DVT's can lead to the forementioned, including pulmonary emboli, which in most cases is fatal.

I can understand NOT wanting your body to get all outta whack after quitting your pills. I used to do pills a LONG time ago and when I missed one, my period would start. I really hated that. Well, that and that's how I ended up with three kids. I'd forget to take my pills.

Did she offer you another method of birth control? I understand about variety, and even adventure, but it's not worth the risk of your life. I decided to start depo-provera, which is all progesterone and thought I'd die if it screwed with my libido. It hasn't so far and I have no periods. That is the best thing about it. I don't have a freaking period which lets me play as much as I want!!

[Dooode]

Originally Posted by LFM2

I changed the way I eat and I'm exercising more. It's seriously made a great impact on my life. I've lost 35 lbs and I'm losing inches at the gym. My honey is my greatest fan when we go to the gym. Gawd, he's so sexy. We go together and sweat and then we come home to sweat more! My cholesterol has dropped about 40 points and my triglycerides are under 200 now. I feel tons better, too, although I have a lot more weight I could lose. The only thing that hadn't changed is my blood pressure -- Dammit!

I'm 47.

In late Aug., I had an acupuncturist do an analysis of my heart and blood flow and I came out tested as having the arteries of a 66-year-old. I gotta say, that scared the hell outta me because I was already feeling like I was physically heading for a disaster, which is why I wanted to get tested.

After going on a complete diet change (with the help of a local nutritionist), going on nutritional supplements and worked my way into a daily exercise regimen, that same acupuncturist tested me again two days ago and now I have the arteries of a 31-year-old!

I did an Irish jig around the office.

I can attest to the fact that diet and exercise are the two biggest factors in losing weight and lowering BP.

And water. Lots and lots of water.

But in all fairness, the nutritionist had me on a plan to clean out my arteries and blood. I should give credit where credit is due. I couldn't have done it without her.

[LFM2]

Originally Posted by Dooode

I'm 47.

I can attest to the fact that diet and exercise are the two biggest factors in losing weight and lowering BP.

And water. Lots and lots of water.

Dooode, you're about my age. I remember reading about your acupuncturist in another thread! I think you've done a marvelous job of maintaining (or maybe regaining would be a better term) your health!!

Just curious how they test your arteries ...

Dooode, I also want to for mentioning water. I forget about water and what an important little molecule it is for our bodies. I mean, nothing would work without it.

[flkeyscouple]

Originally Posted by LFM2

I decided to start depo-provera, which is all progesterone and thought I'd die if it screwed with my libido. It hasn't so far and I have no periods. That is the best thing about it. I don't have a freaking period which lets me play as much as I want!!

I have high blood pressure which is controlled with meds. I was on depo-provera for eleven years - I loved it and it never screwed up my libido at all, if nothing else it may have raised it. I didn't have any periods and no bleed-throughs. I wish I was still on it. My doctor made me get off because I am getting to the age of menopause and she said that depo could mask the symptoms of menopause. is that a bad thing??? I've been off now for over a year, and not using any birth control (hubby is fixed). I HATE having a period again and so far there haven't been any signs of menopause! REALLY wish I'd stayed on depo! Now I have the worry of broken condoms, etc., during play. I am NOT the age to have children!! The depo did not interfere with my blood pressure meds.

Sarah

[tribbles]

Originally Posted by LFM2

How funny that you should ask this question.

I went to my doctor yesterday as a matter of fact because I (Mrs. LFM) have high blood pressure, plus, I'm also a nurse, so my doc and I got into a real discussion. He thinks sex is overrated (WHAT KIND OF MAN THINKS SEX IS OVERRATED?) but asked if had any side effects. I told him the only reason I would discontinue any medication and that was if my libido went to hell. Well, the kind I'm on is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (and ACE inhibitor) which lucky for me, rarely interferes with libido in any population. He did tell me that Calcium-channel blockers and beta-blockers interfere with libido more.

That is super helpful to me since my bp is up and I know I need to head to the docs and get something.....Ive changed my diet, lost weight and exercised...my pulse is 58-71 and my freaking bp went up. I suspect it is genetic for me cuz my mom was 100lbs soaking wet and had problems with her bp. <sigh>

Thanks to everyone on this thread, now I know to stop worrying about sex and even what type of meds to start with.

S

Dooode-any info on the nutrition you can share?

[Dooode]

Originally Posted by LFM2

Just curious how they test your arteries ...

The acupuncturist has a meridian device which measures the pulse wave. She attaches an electrode to my index finger, I sit still for about a minute, then it spits out a chart. The heartbeat is analysed from the rate of pulse to its height and strength in various stages of the beat. The chart tells you how hard the heart has to work and which arteries it has to work hard at moving the blood through, ie. major arteries, medium arteries, capillaries ..

For myself, there was a big improvement in the pulse height over the past 2.5 months (it more than halved), meaning that my heart now doesn't have to work hard to push blood through the major and medium arteries.

Originally Posted by LFM2

Dooode, I also want to for mentioning water. I forget about water and what an important little molecule it is for our bodies. I mean, nothing would work without it.

You'e welcome!

And more than that, water is a major ingredient to healing the body. I remember a couple of months ago, my nutritionist told me that my blood was stagnant when she was doing an analysis of my blood. The red blood cells were just sitting there, almost clumping together and not moving ... so it was very little wonder why I was tired all the time: Regardless of what nutrients I was putting in, it simply wasn't getting to the cells. Nor was I flushing out any poisons I'd previously ingested out of my system.

I've maintained the recommended "drink 1/2 the body weight in water ounces daily" and I could see on the TV monitor that the red blood cells have filled out and are now freely swimming around. I KNOW that my heart now doesn't have to work hard to move the blood through. And water is a big reason why.

Yes, water is EXTREMELY important. Probably more than anything else we can do for our bodies (and this is coming from a guy who used to LOVE his coffee, Pepsi and Mountain Dew!).

[havefuninsun]

Originally Posted by flkeyscouple

I have high blood pressure which is controlled with meds. I was on depo-provera for eleven years - I loved it and it never screwed up my libido at all, if nothing else it may have raised it. I didn't have any periods and no bleed-throughs. I wish I was still on it. My doctor made me get off because I am getting to the age of menopause and she said that depo could mask the symptoms of menopause. is that a bad thing??? I've been off now for over a year, and not using any birth control (hubby is fixed). I HATE having a period again and so far there haven't been any signs of menopause! REALLY wish I'd stayed on depo! Now I have the worry of broken condoms, etc., during play. I am NOT the age to have children!! The depo did not interfere with my blood pressure meds.

Sarah

Well, I'm going to talk to her about the depo shots. She mentioned that was not her favorite method (she didn't elaborate, though). This doctor is a GP, not my regular ob/gyn doctor. I think I'm going to make an appt. with him as well to discuss the birth control choices. And I *love* the idea of not having a period! Who wouldn't!

Thanks for everyone's comments.

[Dooode]

Originally Posted by tribbles

Dooode-any info on the nutrition you can share?

Sure, I can share a few things.

1) As covered above, drink half your body weight in ounces of water, daily.
2) Get off the junk and fast foods (yes, I know. That's a tough one. I used to love my Big Macs!)
3) Go for a walk every morning, 1/2 an hour to an hour.
4) Supplement with essential fatty acids, ie. flaxseed oil (ultra-high in omegas 3, 6 and 9). I get over 6g's of omegas every day.
5) Change cooking oils: I cook with almond oil and extra-virgin olive oil. I stay away from corn oil and vegetable oils.
6) Change spreads: instead of butter or margarine, try virgin coconut oil. Instead of peanut butter, try almond butter.
7) Vegetable and fruit juices. I drink 1 glass of orange juice in the morning, 1 glass of carrot/apple juice in the afternoon, and 1 glass of vegetable juice with supper.

Those are a few suggestions.

If you're wondering what to do with all that vegetable oil you have in your cupboard, put a large plastic sheet on the floor, get naked with your spouse and get kinky.