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  • Intro

    I've been visiting this site for the past few days and can't believe I didn't find it during the past year. Oh how I could have used the support from others with hypertension.

    Background---After a kidney infection in 2000 I developed hypertension. Tests and ultrasounds did not reveal anything wrong with my kidneys that would result in hypertension. Being scared out-of-my-wits and since I was told that losing weight would help, I dropped 30# in 3 months and started exercising. My BP continued to stay very high; 165/115 high, and all the Drs were shocked that my physical changes had done nothing to help the BP. During this time we were trying one hypertension med after another, trying to find one that would help to bring down the BP. Finally we tried Diovan and poff, my BP dropped to 118/75.

    Then the 30# came back on, but I kept exercising most days.

    In 2003 my hypertension went out-of-control, I was on the maxium dosage of Diovan now. Since we had already gone through all the various types of hypertension medcines in the search to find one that would bring my BP down I was scared again about my health. Also I was experiencing insulin spikes resulting in really low blood sugar, resulting in *needing* to eat something so I wouldn't pass out. In short, I was a mess but it was the wake-up call I needed. I have 2 young sons who I hs and I WANT to see them grow up.

    I started Atkins WOL Jan 2, 2004, and found the weight loss oh so slow. However, after just 4 weeks and only a 4# weight loss my BP was stablized, and actually too low so my Dr decreased my Diovan. I added back in a daily hour walk, and watched a few more pounds slip off each month---and again my Diovan had to be decreased. In May I added in a daily mile swim, and in June I changed my daily walks to an hour run. By Augst 2004 I was down 40#, and with my Dr's blessing I was finally weaned off all my hypertension medication!!!

    I was expecting the weight to come off a little easier once off the Diovan however I'm STILL at 40#lose or in a 6 month stall. (':confused')
    Confused My Dr wants me to lose another 30# but I think 20# is a more reasonable goal.('ensive')


    In mid-January I returned to the Dr and shared my concern that my Hypertension has returned. ( he sees me every 2 months) In August and through the fall my BP numbers were typically 110/75. Right after the holiday they jumped to 145/82 and sometimes to the 155/90 area. (':no')
    No He's just having me watch my BP, encouraged me to work on losing more weight----which is what I'm doing but without any success, (':help')
    Helpand keep exercising. He is very pro-low-carb.

    So, that's my story, glad to find ya'all!

    Homeschool Mom
    5'4"
    195/155/135

    5'4"/48/ F Start 01/02/04 SW195/CW155 sz 10/GW135 sz 6

  • #2
    What a great post. This forum is rather new, I think it started before Christmas, so thats probably why you didn't find it.
    There is nothing scarier that high blood pressure so to get it down is very important and Atkins and exercise, and medications are the way to do it. Are you taking a beta blocker? According to Dr A, they can stall out weight loss, so you may want to check that out.

    Join the new exercise challenge, its on the bottom of this forum. Its fun and gives us the impression that we are not alone in this quest.

    Welcome aboard!



    41 pounds down and counting

    If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else. - Yogi Berra

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    • #3
      I'm off all blood medications now.

      You're correct that Dr A said that Beta-blockers stall weight loss but Diavan, the one I was on, is not a Beta-Blocker. All the med literature says that Diavan doesn't stall weight loss, but it does slow down all bodily functions--including metabolism -- so how can than not stall a weight loss? I don't know. I do know that I loss slowly, IMHO, and that I'm in a stall, too long of one, however I know that by eating low-carb I feel great, my BP is low, I have energy and that even if it takes another year to drop the 20# it will be off someday.

      C

      5'4"/48/ F Start 01/02/04 SW195/CW155 sz 10/GW135 sz 6

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      • #4
        Congrats on your sucesses and welcome to the board. I'm also a homeschool mom to 3 of my 5 children and understand your fear of not being around or being healthy enough to see then grow up. My kids lives would be turned upside down if something happened to me, more so than perhaps for children that attend public school every day, so I can relate to that fear. We can do this, for ourselves and our children. Keep up the good work and I'm sure those 20 pounds will get tired of hanging around eventually and take a hike.


        Restart 8/10/07
        Third time is a charm
        F/42/5'4"
        Sept Abs Challenge 150 down of 500 committed

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