worrisome developments w/r/t hypertension

[Andrew_TSKS]

ok, so the doctor has me on a beta blocker, amongst other things, and recently i've noticed that when i take my blood pressure, it's pretty much where my doctor wants it to be, no matter what time of day it is. which is good. BUT the pharmacist warned me that the beta blocker might very well lower my pulse too much, so to keep an eye out for that. yeah, so, at the same time that my bp is finally coming down to about where we want it, my pulse at rest is between 40-45. this seems to me to be TOO LOW; am i right? anyone know?

sorry to be asking the board a medical question like this, but i'm behind in my payments to my doctor and can't go see him til i pay him like $150.

[andronicus]

Yeah, that's too low.  Average resting pulse rate for a healthy adult should be anywhere between, say 55-90 beats per minute.

edit: caveat: I'm not a doctor, so I don't know exactly how bad this is, nor what you might do about it, other than to see a doctor.

[Andrew_TSKS]

i am taking one of the beta blocker pills during the day, two at night, and i'm going to cut back to one during the day, one at night for the moment. i'll decide further when i can see the doctor again. i need to do bloodwork at that point anyway, maybe that will indicate something as well.

[SPACERACE]

a super-duper athlete's heart beats at about 50, so any lower than that i would check out some medical info sources to see what to do.

[andronicus]

That makes sense.  Your heart rate will slow down naturally at night anyway, so hopefully it will all even out.  My mom took beta blockers for anxiety way back, and I've taken them a few times on the down low because somebody told me they were good for stage fright.  They worked, but I didn't like how they made me feel so I didn't try it anymore.  Anyway, hope everything works out for you.

[alexandra]

andrew, please be careful.

most of my residents, even the one's on beta blockers generally have a pulse over 60. In fact, last night, i took a 91 year old woman's B/P last night and it was normal for her (HTN) and her pulse was 90. Nice and strong for her. Even the paramedics were shocked.

I'll talk to my resident LVN today for you, how many mg of Lopressor are your on? and three times a day or just one in the am and 2 at night?

[Andrew_TSKS]

i was taking one during the day and two at night. like i said, though, i only took one last night, and that's the plan til i see my doctor again.

don't worry, i'm trying to be careful. this whole thing is scary.

as for mg, the pills are 100 mg, so i guess 300 a day total?

[alexandra]

fuck andrew, that's way too much.
I spoke with my LVN and she agrees. she was shocked that your pulse was that low.  You NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR. I know you can't afford it, etc, but and you at least call him and tell him about how low your pulse has been?

you should take your b/p two times a day, record it, and fax it, with a cover sheet explaining the situation to your MD. or if you have Kaiser, or many other forms of insurance, you can call an advice nurse. You can also call the MD on call at your doctor's office and tell him everything you've said.

although your B/P is where you'd like it, you need a med change or a mg change asap. okay?


OKAY?

[jebreject]

yeah, dude, no offense, but i can't understand why you would even bother trying to fix it yourself rather than just calling your doctor IMMEDIATELY.

[Andrew_TSKS]

i mean, it's sorta weird to say this, but like... i feel fine. and i have NO insurance, and very little money, so the shit's just gonna have to wait. i'm not gonna die, everyone calm down.

[Good Intentions]

At least go talk to a nurse.

[alexandra]

i mean, it's sorta weird to say this, but like... i feel fine. and i have NO insurance, and very little money, so the shit's just gonna have to wait. i'm not gonna die, everyone calm down.

just call your doctor and inform him of what you are doing. okay?

[Andrew_TSKS]

ok, fair enough.

[jebreject]

thank you.

[alexandra]

don't think i'm forgetting about this.

did you call your PCP?

[Greg Nog]

Andrew's straightedge, alexandra.  He doesn't use PCP.

[alexandra]

he doesn't have to use, just call his pcp.

he keeps it around for indie cred.

[Andrew_TSKS]

ahahahaha. not yet. i know, i know, i'll call monday.

[alexandra]

andrew, i can, AND WILL call you at ALL HOURS TO REMIND YOU

 

[alexandra]

ANDREW, IT'S MONDAY.

   

[John]

as an ex-nurse let me just add to the gentle chorus of "that's too low a pulse, talk to a professional stat"

[alexandra]

andrew.........

i'll e-sockyouintheface.

[Andrew_TSKS]

ok ok, i did it. i had to leave a message, but he'll get it tomorrow.

[alexandra]

i know you think he'll just try to make you come in right away and that raises much concern for you (money-wise) but dude... this is really important, okay?


don't fuck around with your heart

[Maaik]

F'reel, 'drew, don't go breakin' your heart.

I mean, I won't be breakin' your heart.

They wanna tear us apart.

So don't go breakin' your heart.