Hypertension: Does anyone have it?

Re: Hypertension: Does anyone have it?

• kaneohekoala member

  January 2013

  Hello,

     First let me send my deepest condolences for your loss.  I do have hypertension, was diagnosed almost 3 years ago (at age 36) in May 2010.  At first they thought it was pulmonary hypertension but have since determined it was just regular hypertension/high blood pressure.  Prior to TTC I was taking Maxide for my BP.  Once I was actively TTC, I told my doctor who switched me from Maxide to HCTZ (Maxide contains HCTZ but another medicine which has not been tested or used enough on pregnant women for them to be able to determine whether it is safe).  My doctor told me that HCTZ is one of only a very few types of BP medicine safe for both a pregnant woman and one breastfeeding.  I am considered a high risk pregnancy - both due to advanced maternal age, hypertension and I had an ablation done on my heart (May 2010).  As a result, I will be seen by an OB vice a nurse/midwife for all of my appointments and I was told to monitor my BP using an at home monitor (which I bought at a drug store for around $20 a few years ago) daily.  If it appears that my BP is going too high, I am to let my doctor or the triage nurse know right away.  Aside from that, I was told that later in pregnancy I'll be seen more frequently than others (i.e. from week 36 on, I'll go in twice a week).  If you know you are planning on TTC in the future, you may want to talk to your GP about switching meds?  Hope this helps.

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• kaneohekoala member

  January 2013

  Wanted to add one more comment...there is a website www.drugs.com which you can go to and type in the name of your medication - it will say what category the medicine falls under (i.e. Category A, B, C, etc.) under the "before taking xxx" section.  If the medication is Category C, it will state "it is unknown whether xxx will harm an unborn baby" if it is category B, "it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby," etc.  If you have any concerns about what the website says regarding the bp meds you are on, talk to your doctor.  Only he/she (with your input) can say what the most appropriate meds are for you to take.

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• danuli8 member

  January 2013

  I am so very sorry about your loss. It is hard to say whether any of the BP medications might have had anything to do with it. I don't have hypertension, but there is a thread lower on this page called "Anyone want to talk to me about high blood pressure?" with lots of good info in it.
  

  
  Over-40 parents...what we lack in vigor, we make up for with cunning.
  

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• DezignedByFaith member

  January 2013

  Thank you. I will definitely check it out.
  
  

  danuli8:

  I am so very sorry about your loss. It is hard to say whether any of the BP medications might have had anything to do with it. I don't have hypertension, but there is a thread lower on this page called "Anyone want to talk to me about high blood pressure?" with lots of good info in it.

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• DezignedByFaith member

  January 2013

  Thank you. I truly appreciate your help. I got to my OB in about two weeks so I will see what she says especially with my overall health.
  
  

  kaneohekoala:

  Hello,nbsp;nbsp; First let me send my deepest condolences for your loss.nbsp; I do have hypertension, was diagnosed almost 3 years ago at age 36 in May 2010.nbsp; At first they thought it was pulmonary hypertension but have since determined it was just regular hypertension/high blood pressure.nbsp; Prior to TTC I was taking Maxide for my BP.nbsp; Once I was actively TTC, I told my doctor who switched me from Maxide to HCTZ Maxide contains HCTZ but another medicine which has not been tested or used enough on pregnant women for them to be able to determine whether it is safe.nbsp; My doctor told me that HCTZ is one of only a very few types of BP medicine safe for both a pregnant woman and one breastfeeding.nbsp; I am considered a high risk pregnancy both due to advanced maternal age, hypertension and I had an ablation done on my heart May 2010.nbsp; As a result, I will be seen by an OB vice a nurse/midwife for all of my appointments and I was told to monitor my BP using an at home monitor which I bought at a drug store for around 20 a few years ago daily.nbsp; If it appears that my BP is going too high, I am to let my doctor or the triage nurse know right away.nbsp; Aside from that, I was told that later in pregnancy I'll be seen more frequently than others i.e. from week 36 on, I'll go in twice a week.nbsp; If you know you are planning on TTC in the future, you may want to talk to your GP about switching meds?nbsp; Hope this helps.

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• DezignedByFaith member

  January 2013

  Yes I have this on my phone. I always use it. Thank you again.
  
  

  kaneohekoala:

  Wanted to add one more comment...there is a website www.drugs.com which you can go to and type in the name of your medication it will say what category the medicine falls under i.e. Category A, B, C, etc. under the "before taking xxx" section.nbsp; If the medication is Category C, it will state "it is unknown whether xxx will harm an unborn baby" if it is category B, "it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby," etc.nbsp; If you have any concerns about what the website says regarding the bp meds you are on, talk to your doctor.nbsp; Only he/she with your inputnbsp;can say what the most appropriate meds are for you to take.

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