Ramipril and vision

Hi Greatnan as no one else has replied I thought I would! I take Ramipril and have had no disturbance of my vision at all. Hope this moves it up so someone else says something

Thank you, Kitty, we may be the only members taking it, of course!

Maybe Greatnan but I doubt it!

Hello everyone. I started taking Ramipril late September and I'm now on the maximum 10mg dose. Apart from a drippy nose I haven't noticed any other side effects. I feel much better than I have done for a while, my problem is everytime I go for my monthly check up I am so frightened that my BP rises to an alarming rate. On my last visit I was told that I may need a second drug to bring my BP to a near as normal rate. I am horrified as I have made huge changes to my life style including (losing 3st since July) in an effort to avoid taking more medication.

I have a doctors appointment on 23rd December and meanwhile I have started taking my own BP readings. I am and have been under quite a lot of stress as my husband suffers chronic ill health and I feel I need help to deal with my anxiety (not more drugs) which in turn would lower my BP.

I would just be grateful to hear how members deal with their BP problems any advice on diet or relaxtion techniques would be much appreciated.

I lost two stone this year and gave up salt, which is a big sacrifice.
I have also been under immense stress because of the illness of a family member. I have a home bp monitor but they are not very accurate.
I find walking very therapeutic.
I am taking 2.5 mg per day and my French doctor sent me to have my potassium and sodium levels measured after one week and then three weeks on the drug. The levels were all normal so I am staying on 2.5 mg.
The 'white coat effect' of bp rising when confronted by a doctor is well known!
My diet now is extremely healthy - no fast foods (none where I live in a remote part of France anyway), no sugary foods, no fry-ups, lots of salad, fruit and fresh veg. One glass of wine with my dinner, oily fish twice a week.
I find this diet very enjoyable and not expensive.

Thank you Greatnan. I had an ECG prior to starting medication and I have monthly blood tests all normal. But everytime I go to have my BP checked it is sky high.

My husband has suffered from Renal failure all of our married life so I have never added salt when cooking or at the table but I am now begining to realise the hidden salt content in some foods and avoid them. I have three dogs which I exercise three times daily.

My biggest weakness in times of stress is chocolate I suppose you could call it my comfort food. I have never smoked and only enjoyed a very occaisional glass of wine or a gin and tonic.

I have been taking Omega 3 fish oil capsules and include oily fish in my diet, also eat lots of fruit and vegetables. I have heard from some sources that bananas and almonds can be beneficial for patients with high BP.

Everytime my appointment is due I try to relax and chill out but unfortunately it never works. I just feel really stupid that I can't manage this.

I am not denying that I do need to take medication but having gone from minimum to maximum dose within a short time spell and now the threat of a second top up medication I really feel quite frightened.

Sook - please don't feel stupid - you are not. It is a perfectly normal thing. I take Ramiprmil and lots of other medication, so I never know what is due to what! But, as to Greatnan's original query - yes I do have problems with my varifocals. I thought it was just age and spending too much time at the computer, reading, and sewing and not enough time looking at distant horizons.

Please don't be frightened - once high bp is diagnosed and you are given treatment you should be fine. The danger period is when you don't realise it has risen because there are usually no symptoms. My sister's bp was over 200/90 and she is also taking 10 mg of Ramipril daily, but it is responding now.
Your diet sounds ideal and I am sure a little chocolate now and then won't harm you. In fact, if you can eat the darker type, with over 70% cocoa solids, I believe it is actually good for you.
I have never tried meditation or yoga, but I believe they are very helpful to many people. Could you explain how you feel to your doctor and perhaps get something to calm you down before your next visit?

Sook; please tell your doctor that you get 'white coat syndrome' and take a list of your home reading. It's quite common and he/she will understand.

My bp at the gps was high while at home normal. When was in hospital last year it dropped so low I couldn't stand up! ,y gp and I have now agreed we will use my readings and I only contact himifi need to. Actually I was a gp myself!

Thank you both. Prior to this I hadn't consulted a doctor for about 15 years. My problem was picked up after a routine eyetest after which I was referred to my GP and local eye clinic. Fortunately I don't appear to have an eye problem but blood tests revealed my cholesterol was 6.5. I was hauled into the Cardio Vascular clinic and it was discovered my BP was raised. I had started my diet prior to this fearing I had alsorts of nasties wrong with me. I find it really difficult to explain verbally as I feel a real minnie moaner so my DH is going to come with me on Friday. Poor DH has had multiple problems for most of his life and never complains.

Thanks again for your responses and support.

Crimson and jeni thank you both. My husband insists on driving me to appointments and waits with me just in case I make a run for it.

You could also ask for a 24 hour machine that takes your b/p at home over that period [although, I would assume the surgery would have offered you that if they felt it was necessary].

Crimson. I think supply of 24hr monitors is less than the demand. And they ccost the practice MONEY to buy. I despair of the MHD these days.

I meant nhs

I'm fairly relaxed with doctors since my sister is one, but if my blood pressure is raised (seldom), my doctor waits a few minutes and takes it again when it has invariably returned to normal. Is this common practice? I think it should be. Would it be less stressful if the practice nurse took it?

Not from my experience. They have an electric sphygmomanometer and it goes straight to the highest and it HURTS. That sends the bp up. The best one I know is an electric wrist one.

Blimey; is that the longest word ever used on gransnet.......?

My vision is back to normal, as the Ramipril website suggested would happen once my body got adjusted to it. However, I will have an eye test anyway as so much information can be available to an optician. I had a scare once when pigmentation was seen on my retina which could have been a sign of retinal cancer, but I went to Moorfields Eye Hospital and they said it was just harmless marking, almost like a freckle. I was able to reassure my daughter when her eye test showed the same thing, but she had it checked out, of course.

Crimson. Actually I just typed sphy and iPad did the rest.

Either way, I'm still seriously impressed!

......what's an iPad?

Something no serious gran should be without? A fashion accessory that can be colour coordinated with you crutches zimmer, go faster strips on the wheelchair, hat and bifocals!

jeni, you fashion victim, you!