Navigating a high blood pressure diagnosis can be a daunting experience. This article delves into one man’s personal journey of being prescribed medication, the subsequent side effects, and the internal conflict of questioning conventional treatment methods. It’s a story of balancing trust in medical advice with personal well-being and exploring alternative solutions.
This exploration will cover the initial diagnosis, the experience with Ramipril and its unpleasant side effects, the author’s contemplation of the trade-offs between medication and quality of life, and his search for alternative approaches to manage blood pressure. This is about understanding the full picture, not just the numbers on a blood pressure reading.
The Doctor’s Visit and the Prescription
It seems my blood pressure is only high when I see my doctor. So, in that respect, the best medicine for my BP is not to go to the doctor. But that is not an option because I might need a doctor in the future, and I need to have a history record of my health. So, he said: I’m going to get you started on Ramipril. And after a long battle of declination and avoidance of these drugs, I said yes.
And I know he is just doing his job. They see critical values; they have to treat it. It’s all about numbers and it’s all about the glory of modern science.
But only because he cleverly sold it to me: “Don’t you use Viagra? To which I reply, yes. Does it work? Very well I said. So, Why do you refuse to take BP meds?” OK, you win. In fact, Viagra is a type of chemical drug, not natural at all, but not only gives you a rock-hard erection but releases oxytocin, the sex hormone, and the only side effect is a pleasant sleepiness and state of relaxation due to lower blood pressure and who knows what else but it works. So, why not try another drug and see if it gives good results.
The Reality of Ramipril: Trade-offs and Side Effects
Ramipril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It works by blocking a substance in the body that causes blood vessels to tighten. With your vessels relaxed, there is less resistance and, therefore, less pressure. All good so far? But these medications are far from being these magic pills that you take, and the problems go away. They are a kind of trade-off.
They have molecules that your body does not recognize, and they can cause all kinds of reactions and side effects. These medications can make you feel like you’re not yourself. They can cause such terrible side effects in some people you’ll have to evaluate what is worse, the disease or the medicine. In some cases, they will not cause side effects. Just like I mentioned above.
But my body didn’t like Ramipril. Better yet, my gut didn’t like it at all. I had belly aches, cramps, and diarrhea galore. And you cannot live your life having diarrhea every day. I’ve tried to get past these side effects, but they just kept getting worse. It affected my libido, and then I read that if you take this drug for a long, long time, it can cause permanent damage to your kidneys. What?!
Questioning the Numbers: A Disconnect Between Office and Home Readings
OK, So my doctor said I have high blood pressure. Yes. in the office it was very high, I don’t want to mention, kind of high. But at home, it wasn’t so bad. Sometimes 160/90, but other times 130/75 or even lower. I feel fine. Never felt finer. I work out every day, eat cooked home food, don’t drink too much, don’t smoke or do drugs. But the doctor says if I don’t take these drugs, I might have a heart attack or stroke and die.
Something doesn’t add up here. So, you’re saying that in order for me to be healthy and avoid a horrible death, I have to have awful daily diarrhea, belly aches, and don’t feel like myself for the rest of my life and possibly end up with a permanent organ injury, and then die? What if I just keep living my life and feeling good without any side effects and die? I think I’ll take that.
The Illusion of Fixing: Addressing the Root Cause vs. Managing Symptoms
The funny thing about these medications is that they don’t fix your problems. They force some organs to work in a different way to make the numbers look good in some other system. There is no healing here.
Ramipril didn’t even lower my blood pressure. So, the Doctor increased the dose from 5mg to 10mg, and in my notes, the blood pressure didn’t go down. I finally stopped with my experiment, and my BP dropped to my usual 130/75. How funny
The Search Continues: Exploring Other Options and a Surprising Discovery
Even though I had all these unpleasant experiences, I will call him and ask for another medication. Am I really going to do that? I’ll try one more time. If that doesn’t work, I’ll give it up. Somehow, the only medication that seems to work well and even lower my BP is Viagra. I think I’ll stick with that one.
Moving Forward: Lifestyle Changes and a Holistic Approach
Meanwhile I’ll keep drinking Hibiscus tea, continue not drinking coffee and continue with my daily work out. What else can I do?
This personal account highlights the importance of open communication with your doctor, careful consideration of medication side effects, and the potential benefits of exploring lifestyle changes and alternative therapies in managing high blood pressure. It’s a reminder that healthcare is a personal journey, and finding the right path requires a balance of medical advice and individual needs.
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