Desperate for help for my mom [long]

[Guest guest]

Someone on the hypertension support list directed me to this group.

I am trying to help my 67 year old mother, who has been suffering

terribly for over two years now.

 

She felt fine about 2 and a half years ago when her doctor told her

that she had high blood pressure (150/75) and would need to go on

medication. The medication caused severe insomnia: 0-2 hours of

sleep a night. It also caused chest pain. The doctor tried different

medications; they all did the same thing. After weeks of this, her

blood pressure was even higher. Her doctor told her the medication

was essential; he gave her sleeping pills to take along with the bp

medication.

 

(Note: to address the chest pain, she has had several EKGs and a

stress test. These tests have uncovered nothing other than mild

Mitral Valve Prolapse.)

 

In about a month the sleeping pills stopped working. She was given

another, and another, until each stopped working. She saw several

sleep specialists. One gave her Paxil; her heart went crazy, she

didn't sleep at all for almost a week, and she ended up in the

emergency room. For about two months she was stabilized on Valium,

getting about 3-4 hours of sleep a night. Then even the Valium

stopped working, and she was experiencing all kinds of new problems:

dizziness, panic attacks, heart palpitations, restless legs syndrome,

deep fatigue (far worse than in the early days when she was sleeping

even less).

 

Some Internet research and, later, an addiction specialist, confirmed

that these were side effects to the sleeping pills. She tapered off

of them and has been in withdrawal for about a year and a half now

(her addiction doc told her to expect recovery to take about 2 years).

 

A lot of the withdrawal symptoms (tinnitus, dizziness) are pretty

much gone, but she is still plagued by chest pain and insomnia, and we

have good reason to believe that these are from the blood pressure

medication.

 

But what can she do? One of her doctors told her it was okay to try

to stop taking her blood pressure medication (zestril) just to see

what would happen. Her blood pressure went up to 170/80 and stayed

there for a week, after which she panicked and reinstated the

zestril. (Her greatest fear is that she will have stroke, end up in a

wheelchair, and be put right back on blood pressure medication…)

 

She's tried a few other bp meds since: even Atenelol, which makes

most people sleepy, left her utterly sleepless in addition to some

other frightening side effects.

 

I have been scouring the Web, trying to find people with high blood

pressure who have had similar problems. I have found only one such

person; everyone else seems to have no problems.

 

I should mention that years ago my mom made all of the recommended

dietary changes. She also walks about a mile a day (even this is a

great, great struggle).

 

Does anyone have any advice for us at all? We are so desperate. My

mom's blood pressure is higher now (150s/80) than it was before all

of this began. She's lost her job, her friends, her independence.

She suffers constantly and at this point is praying for death. Her

doctors (and there have been many) have essentially washed their

hands of her.

 

Veronica

[Guest guest]

600 mg magnesium daily (intravenous may be best, but orally is OK) should

help reduce the high blood pressure, and promote natural muscle relaxation

and sleep. Buy a magnesium with an 'ate' on the end, like magnesium citrate

(avoid magnesium oxide).

 

Also ensure 400 mg of potassium daily, 500 mg GTF chromium, 600 mg alpha

lipoic acid, 200 mg coenzyme Q10, 800 mg mixed tocopherals vitamin E,

B-vitamins, 500 mg buffered vitamin C, and 2 grams of wild salmon oil daily.

 

Avoid pasta, potatoes, bread, and junk food. Ensure at least one main meal

salad with a dark green leafy vegetable, protein source, and quality

dressing (extra virgin olive oil). Three meals a day should have a quality

protein source.

 

Rob

-----------------------

She felt fine about 2 and a half years ago when her doctor told her

that she had high blood pressure (150/75) and would need to go on

medication. The medication caused severe insomnia: 0-2 hours of

sleep a night. It also caused chest pain. The doctor tried different

medications; they all did the same thing.

[Guest guest]

Hi! My sympathies -- so difficult for you & your Mom. I've had such

help from systems, I'm inclined to suggest checking out

organizations on the web that can advise you on whether

this may be of help. I've used " Jin Buhuan " as a sleeping aid, and

there's no side effects I know of, but I did develop tolerance. A

" D.C.M. " (doctor of chinese medicine) might be helpful, and maybe

acupuncture & herbs could help your Mom. Sure wish you & your Mom well,

good luck! Don't give up! Steve

 

veronica_delk wrote:

 

> Someone on the hypertension support list directed me to this group.

> I am trying to help my 67 year old mother, who has been suffering

> terribly for over two years now.

>

> She felt fine about 2 and a half years ago when her doctor told her

> that she had high blood pressure (150/75) and would need to go on

> medication. The medication caused severe insomnia: 0-2 hours of

> sleep a night. It also caused chest pain. The doctor tried different

> medications; they all did the same thing. After weeks of this, her

> blood pressure was even higher. Her doctor told her the medication

> was essential; he gave her sleeping pills to take along with the bp

> medication.

>

> (Note: to address the chest pain, she has had several EKGs and a

> stress test. These tests have uncovered nothing other than mild

> Mitral Valve Prolapse.)

>

> In about a month the sleeping pills stopped working. She was given

> another, and another, until each stopped working. She saw several

> sleep specialists. One gave her Paxil; her heart went crazy, she

> didn't sleep at all for almost a week, and she ended up in the

> emergency room. For about two months she was stabilized on Valium,

> getting about 3-4 hours of sleep a night. Then even the Valium

> stopped working, and she was experiencing all kinds of new problems:

> dizziness, panic attacks, heart palpitations, restless legs syndrome,

> deep fatigue (far worse than in the early days when she was sleeping

> even less).

>

> Some Internet research and, later, an addiction specialist, confirmed

> that these were side effects to the sleeping pills. She tapered off

> of them and has been in withdrawal for about a year and a half now

> (her addiction doc told her to expect recovery to take about 2 years).

>

> A lot of the withdrawal symptoms (tinnitus, dizziness) are pretty

> much gone, but she is still plagued by chest pain and insomnia, and we

>

> have good reason to believe that these are from the blood pressure

> medication.

>

> But what can she do? One of her doctors told her it was okay to try

> to stop taking her blood pressure medication (zestril) just to see

> what would happen. Her blood pressure went up to 170/80 and stayed

> there for a week, after which she panicked and reinstated the

> zestril. (Her greatest fear is that she will have stroke, end up in a

> wheelchair, and be put right back on blood pressure medication…)

>

> She's tried a few other bp meds since: even Atenelol, which makes

> most people sleepy, left her utterly sleepless in addition to some

> other frightening side effects.

>

> I have been scouring the Web, trying to find people with high blood

> pressure who have had similar problems. I have found only one such

> person; everyone else seems to have no problems.

>

> I should mention that years ago my mom made all of the recommended

> dietary changes. She also walks about a mile a day (even this is a

> great, great struggle).

>

> Does anyone have any advice for us at all? We are so desperate. My

> mom's blood pressure is higher now (150s/80) than it was before all

> of this began. She's lost her job, her friends, her independence.

> She suffers constantly and at this point is praying for death. Her

> doctors (and there have been many) have essentially washed their

> hands of her.

>

> Veronica

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Veronica - for your mother - go to Dr. Rath's site and you will find

the help you seek. Lynn

 

High Blood Pressure: Dr. Rath's Vitamin Program for Prevention

and Adjunct Therapy

 

http://www.drrath.com/mr-publishing-internet/cellular/high-b-pres

sure/uk/index.htm   

 

taken from the best seller:

" Why Animals Don´ t Get Heart Attacks -  but People Do "   

 

Dr. Rath's Vitamin Program for Prevention and  Adjunct Therapy

 

The Facts About High Blood Pressure

 

How Patients With Blood Pressure Benefit from

Dr. Rath`s Vitamin Programm

 

 

Gettingwell, " veronica_delk " <veronica_delk@h...>

wrote:

> Someone on the hypertension support list directed me to this

group.

> I am trying to help my 67 year old mother, who has been

suffering

> terribly for over two years now.

>

> She felt fine about 2 and a half years ago when her doctor told

her

> that she had high blood pressure (150/75) and would need to

go on

> medication. The medication caused severe insomnia: 0-2

hours of

> sleep a night. It also caused chest pain. The doctor tried

different

> medications; they all did the same thing. After weeks of this,

her

> blood pressure was even higher. Her doctor told her the

medication

> was essential; he gave her sleeping pills to take along with the

bp

> medication.

>

> (Note: to address the chest pain, she has had several EKGs

and a

> stress test. These tests have uncovered nothing other than

mild

> Mitral Valve Prolapse.)

>

> In about a month the sleeping pills stopped working. She was

given

> another, and another, until each stopped working. She saw

several

> sleep specialists. One gave her Paxil; her heart went crazy,

she

> didn't sleep at all for almost a week, and she ended up in the

> emergency room. For about two months she was stabilized on

Valium,

> getting about 3-4 hours of sleep a night. Then even the Valium

> stopped working, and she was experiencing all kinds of new

problems:

> dizziness, panic attacks, heart palpitations, restless legs

syndrome,

> deep fatigue (far worse than in the early days when she was

sleeping

> even less).

>

> Some Internet research and, later, an addiction specialist,

confirmed

> that these were side effects to the sleeping pills. She tapered

off

> of them and has been in withdrawal for about a year and a half

now

> (her addiction doc told her to expect recovery to take about 2

years).

>

> A lot of the withdrawal symptoms (tinnitus, dizziness) are pretty

> much gone, but she is still plagued by chest pain and

insomnia, and we

> have good reason to believe that these are from the blood

pressure

> medication.

>

> But what can she do? One of her doctors told her it was okay

to try

> to stop taking her blood pressure medication (zestril) just to

see

> what would happen. Her blood pressure went up to 170/80

and stayed

> there for a week, after which she panicked and reinstated the

> zestril. (Her greatest fear is that she will have stroke, end up in

a

> wheelchair, and be put right back on blood pressure

medication…)

>

> She's tried a few other bp meds since: even Atenelol, which

makes

> most people sleepy, left her utterly sleepless in addition to

some

> other frightening side effects.

>

> I have been scouring the Web, trying to find people with high

blood

> pressure who have had similar problems. I have found only

one such

> person; everyone else seems to have no problems.

>

> I should mention that years ago my mom made all of the

recommended

> dietary changes. She also walks about a mile a day (even this

is a

> great, great struggle).

>

> Does anyone have any advice for us at all? We are so

desperate. My

> mom's blood pressure is higher now (150s/80) than it was

before all

> of this began. She's lost her job, her friends, her

independence.

> She suffers constantly and at this point is praying for death.

Her

> doctors (and there have been many) have essentially washed

their

> hands of her.

>

> Veronica

[Guest guest]

My experience has been this: I suffered several years of rising blood

pressure and tried dieting and exercise. These probably helped. But I didn't

achieve a breakthrough until I went on a cleansing juice/vegetable broth

fast that I saw an amazing drop in my bp. It went from the high 150's down

to the low 120's. I hadn't seen such low readings since I was in my twenties

(I'm now 66.)

 

My fasting instructions came from www.fasting.com, a pay for service fasting

program. It was well worth the modest price to get my situation under

control. Last year my wife and I fasted on this program for one month. This

year we are doing it again just for the benefits.

 

There were several additional benefits as well; Lower cholesterol, weight

loss, a feeling of well-being and loss of addictions to coffee and sweets,

 

Hope this helps,

Sam

veronica_delk [veronica_delk]

Sunday, February 10, 2002 12:56 PM

Gettingwell

Desperate for help for my mom [long]

 

 

Someone on the hypertension support list directed me to this group.

I am trying to help my 67 year old mother, who has been suffering

terribly for over two years now.

 

She felt fine about 2 and a half years ago when her doctor told her

that she had high blood pressure (150/75) and would need to go on

medication. The medication caused severe insomnia: 0-2 hours of

sleep a night. It also caused chest pain. The doctor tried different

medications; they all did the same thing. After weeks of this, her

blood pressure was even higher. Her doctor told her the medication

was essential; he gave her sleeping pills to take along with the bp

medication.

 

(Note: to address the chest pain, she has had several EKGs and a

stress test. These tests have uncovered nothing other than mild

Mitral Valve Prolapse.)

 

In about a month the sleeping pills stopped working. She was given

another, and another, until each stopped working. She saw several

sleep specialists. One gave her Paxil; her heart went crazy, she

didn't sleep at all for almost a week, and she ended up in the

emergency room. For about two months she was stabilized on Valium,

getting about 3-4 hours of sleep a night. Then even the Valium

stopped working, and she was experiencing all kinds of new problems:

dizziness, panic attacks, heart palpitations, restless legs syndrome,

deep fatigue (far worse than in the early days when she was sleeping

even less).

 

Some Internet research and, later, an addiction specialist, confirmed

that these were side effects to the sleeping pills. She tapered off

of them and has been in withdrawal for about a year and a half now

(her addiction doc told her to expect recovery to take about 2 years).

 

A lot of the withdrawal symptoms (tinnitus, dizziness) are pretty

much gone, but she is still plagued by chest pain and insomnia, and we

have good reason to believe that these are from the blood pressure

medication.

 

But what can she do? One of her doctors told her it was okay to try

to stop taking her blood pressure medication (zestril) just to see

what would happen. Her blood pressure went up to 170/80 and stayed

there for a week, after which she panicked and reinstated the

zestril. (Her greatest fear is that she will have stroke, end up in a

wheelchair, and be put right back on blood pressure medication…)

 

She's tried a few other bp meds since: even Atenelol, which makes

most people sleepy, left her utterly sleepless in addition to some

other frightening side effects.

 

I have been scouring the Web, trying to find people with high blood

pressure who have had similar problems. I have found only one such

person; everyone else seems to have no problems.

 

I should mention that years ago my mom made all of the recommended

dietary changes. She also walks about a mile a day (even this is a

great, great struggle).

 

Does anyone have any advice for us at all? We are so desperate. My

mom's blood pressure is higher now (150s/80) than it was before all

of this began. She's lost her job, her friends, her independence.

She suffers constantly and at this point is praying for death. Her

doctors (and there have been many) have essentially washed their

hands of her.

 

Veronica

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much, everyone, for your advice, encouragement, and

insights. I'm going to begin researching all of the alternative

therapies people have proposed, and I will review my mom's vitamin

regimen with her. (Although we'll have to go slowly here, because my

mom is having adverse reactions to everything these days: foods,

herbal teas...)

 

She's seeing a new doctor this week that a friend recommended. We're

not terribly hopeful about this, but my mom is going to need some sort

of medical supervision if she begins changing things. She wants to

first try a different bp medication (she's been putting this off for

months because every new med she's tried has done something horrible:

throat closing up, terrible heart palpitations, and, of course, utter

sleeplessness). If the new meds she tries are equally horrible, she

will discuss with her doctor getting off of the current bp meds. I

don't know, though, if any doctor will support her in this. They all

seem so afraid of lawsuits.

 

My hope is that if she can get off the pills and then begin to sleep a

little, then this will begin a positive cycle. She has made all of

the requisite dietary changes already, so there should be a good

foundation to build from.

 

My greatest fear is that her blood pressure will go up and stay up.

That's what happened the last time she tried to get off the bp meds.

After one week she panicked and went back on the meds. But wouldn't

it take more than one week for her body to adjust to the absense of

meds? I just don't know . . .

 

Thank you again, everyone. I am very grateful.

 

Veronica

 

 

Gettingwell, " nirenbergl " <nirenbergl> wrote:

> Veronica - for your mother - go to Dr. Rath's site and you will find

> the help you seek. Lynn

>

> High Blood Pressure: Dr. Rath's Vitamin Program for Prevention

> and Adjunct Therapy

>

> http://www.drrath.com/mr-publishing-internet/cellular/high-b-pres

> sure/uk/index.htm   

>

> taken from the best seller:

> " Why Animals Don´ t Get Heart Attacks -  but People Do "   

>

> Dr. Rath's Vitamin Program for Prevention and  Adjunct Therapy

>

> The Facts About High Blood Pressure

>

> How Patients With Blood Pressure Benefit from

> Dr. Rath`s Vitamin Programm

>

>

> Gettingwell, " veronica_delk " <veronica_delk@h...>

> wrote:

> > Someone on the hypertension support list directed me to this

> group.

> > I am trying to help my 67 year old mother, who has been

> suffering

> > terribly for over two years now.

> >

> > She felt fine about 2 and a half years ago when her doctor told

> her

> > that she had high blood pressure (150/75) and would need to

> go on

> > medication. The medication caused severe insomnia: 0-2

> hours of

> > sleep a night. It also caused chest pain. The doctor tried

> different

> > medications; they all did the same thing. After weeks of this,

> her

> > blood pressure was even higher. Her doctor told her the

> medication

> > was essential; he gave her sleeping pills to take along with the

> bp

> > medication.

> >

> > (Note: to address the chest pain, she has had several EKGs

> and a

> > stress test. These tests have uncovered nothing other than

> mild

> > Mitral Valve Prolapse.)

> >

> > In about a month the sleeping pills stopped working. She was

> given

> > another, and another, until each stopped working. She saw

> several

> > sleep specialists. One gave her Paxil; her heart went crazy,

> she

> > didn't sleep at all for almost a week, and she ended up in the

> > emergency room. For about two months she was stabilized on

> Valium,

> > getting about 3-4 hours of sleep a night. Then even the Valium

> > stopped working, and she was experiencing all kinds of new

> problems:

> > dizziness, panic attacks, heart palpitations, restless legs

> syndrome,

> > deep fatigue (far worse than in the early days when she was

> sleeping

> > even less).

> >

> > Some Internet research and, later, an addiction specialist,

> confirmed

> > that these were side effects to the sleeping pills. She tapered

> off

> > of them and has been in withdrawal for about a year and a half

> now

> > (her addiction doc told her to expect recovery to take about 2

> years).

> >

> > A lot of the withdrawal symptoms (tinnitus, dizziness) are pretty

> > much gone, but she is still plagued by chest pain and

> insomnia, and we

> > have good reason to believe that these are from the blood

> pressure

> > medication.

> >

> > But what can she do? One of her doctors told her it was okay

> to try

> > to stop taking her blood pressure medication (zestril) just to

> see

> > what would happen. Her blood pressure went up to 170/80

> and stayed

> > there for a week, after which she panicked and reinstated the

> > zestril. (Her greatest fear is that she will have stroke, end up

in

> a

> > wheelchair, and be put right back on blood pressure

> medication…)

> >

> > She's tried a few other bp meds since: even Atenelol, which

> makes

> > most people sleepy, left her utterly sleepless in addition to

> some

> > other frightening side effects.

> >

> > I have been scouring the Web, trying to find people with high

> blood

> > pressure who have had similar problems. I have found only

> one such

> > person; everyone else seems to have no problems.

> >

> > I should mention that years ago my mom made all of the

> recommended

> > dietary changes. She also walks about a mile a day (even this

> is a

> > great, great struggle).

> >

> > Does anyone have any advice for us at all? We are so

> desperate. My

> > mom's blood pressure is higher now (150s/80) than it was

> before all

> > of this began. She's lost her job, her friends, her

> independence.

> > She suffers constantly and at this point is praying for death.

> Her

> > doctors (and there have been many) have essentially washed

> their

> > hands of her.

> >

> > Veronica

[Guest guest]

--- There is natural help for HBP. I have some remedies listed on my

health page. Some are very simple dietary changes.

JoAnn Guest

joguest

Friendsforhealthnaturally

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Hypertension.html

 

" veronica_delk " <veronica_delk@h...> wrote:

> Someone on the hypertension support list directed me to this group.

> I am trying to help my 67 year old mother, who has been suffering

> terribly for over two years now.

 

> She's tried a few other bp meds since: even Atenelol, which makes

 

> Does anyone have any advice for us at all? We are so desperate.

My

> mom's blood pressure is higher now (150s/80) than it was before all

> of this began. She's lost her job, her friends, her independence.

> She suffers constantly and at this point is praying for death. Her

> doctors (and there have been many) have essentially washed their

> hands of her.

>

> Veronica