Blood Pressure...

[Sideshow Bob]

Haxx.

What’s your secret? Weirdly, mine is also down in the “normal” range the past couple of days. Trying to figure out what I’ve done differently is driving me nuts.

I would like to know my secret too. Let me change batteries of that machine and check again. I have never ever seen such low reading so I am very doubtful.

 

[xrapidx]

And yes, taking your reading after that much caffeine is pretty dof.

Not planned obviously, its just, one when I wake up, pre-workout after breakfast, one in my post workout shake, etc... the pressure was taken a few hours later.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Yoh - 108/72 just now..

Changed batteries and 111/73 so not much of a difference. Ah well, I will take it over one time 140+/90+ suppose.

Below was 3+ years ago and now I am here, 11kg less than that time. Need to drop at least 9kg or 14kg as per BMI.

sho. I have 140/95 at times even with prexum plus, with or without white coat nearby. I need to drop 20kg, no option really.

 

[The Voice]

First time I’ve ever had a “perfect” score:

 

[Sinbad]

I changed my meds recently, moving from ramipril to candesartan. Working much better, AND I've stopped taking the electrolyte tabs I was taking every day to stave off terrible muscle cramps that I guess the ramipril was causing. Double win.

 

[Grant]

What do you guys use for measuring blood presure. I have a bit of white coat syndrome, when the nurse does it, 165/85 - when I do it over a week at home using some dischem monitor - its in the 125/80.... would like to rule out my monitor being inaccurate.

a suggestion - go to dischem, pick out what may appear to be good quality monitors.
make an appointment for their nurse to to a check - using their own clinical grade equipment.
the ask the test to be repeated on your monitor choices.

in short, you are conducting an experiment of sorts, with the nurse and clinical equipment being the "control" and your monitor choices being the "subject".
they should not have a problem with this as you are paying for both the clinical service, as well as making a purchase.

nb
remember when checking at home, cuff on upper arm should be reasonably level with your heart.
elevated arm will result in a false higher reading, lowered arm will result in a false lower reading - many ppl make this mistake.

battery use in home equipment
assuming the device requires 4 x aaa batteries
be sure to use regular 1.5v batteries (not rechargeable) - most rechargeables are 1.2v, not 1.5v.
assuming 4 x aaa batteries (duracel alkaline etc) (1.5v x 4batteries = 6v)
4 x aaa rechargeable batteries (1.2v x 4batteries = 4.8v)
in most cases the device will function on the rechargeable batteries, but sometimes it does not have the guts (running on a lower voltage) to deliver the correct pressure to the cuff - resulting in a false reading

 

[xrapidx]

a suggestion - go to dischem, pick out what may appear to be good quality monitors.
make an appointment for their nurse to to a check - using their own clinical grade equipment.
the ask the test to be repeated on your monitor choices.

in short, you are conducting an experiment of sorts, with the nurse and clinical equipment being the "control" and your monitor choices being the "subject".
they should not have a problem with this as you are paying for both the clinical service, as well as making a purchase.

nb
remember when checking at home, cuff on upper arm should be reasonably level with your heart.
elevated arm will result in a false higher reading, lowered arm will result in a false lower reading - many ppl make this mistake.

battery use in home equipment
assuming the device requires 4 x aaa batteries
be sure to use regular 1.5v batteries (not rechargeable) - most rechargeables are 1.2v, not 1.5v.
assuming 4 x aaa batteries (duracel alkaline etc) (1.5v x 4batteries = 6v)
4 x aaa rechargeable batteries (1.2v x 4batteries = 4.8v)
in most cases the device will function on the rechargeable batteries, but sometimes it does not have the guts (running on a lower voltage) to deliver the correct pressure to the cuff - resulting in a false reading

Thanks.

One of my problems is I have bigish arms (45cm), so the cuffs struggle a bit with the home kits - I can feel the pintch as it inflates.

But - it was from Dischem, so I'll take it along there and have them test it.

 

[The Voice]

I changed my meds recently, moving from ramipril to candesartan. Working much better, AND I've stopped taking the electrolyte tabs I was taking every day to stave off terrible muscle cramps that I guess the ramipril was causing. Double win.

HATED Ramipril. That bloody annoying cough would never go away. Eventually took myself off Candesartan because it basically didn’t move the number.

 

[Sinbad]

HATED Ramipril. That bloody annoying cough would never go away. Eventually took myself off Candesartan because it basically didn’t move the number.

Weird how different people have different side effects/reactions. I never had a cough.

 

[The Voice]

Weird how different people have different side effects/reactions. I never had a cough.

Yeah, it’s actually the most common side effect. Google “Ramipril cough”. It’s this constant **** feeling like you’ve swallowed a Grandpa powder or something so you have this dry cough that won’t go away.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Yoh - 108/72 just now..

104/69

Started with Zomovek today morning instead of Cozomovek as per new prescription. I don't know what difference is (except what AI says) but I had told doc that I have to copay for cozomovek and he recommended this as alternative.

Flipping thing is that I still have to copay. Is there a BP tablet that I don't have to copay ? This is highly annoying tbh.

The main difference between Zomevek and Co-Zomevek is that Zomevek contains valsartan only, while Co-Zomevek contains both valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide:

 

[Marsie27]

104/69

Started with Zomovek today morning instead of Cozomovek as per new prescription. I don't know what difference is (except what AI says) but I had told doc that I have to copay for cozomovek and he recommended this as alternative.

Flipping thing is that I still have to copay. Is there a BP tablet that I don't have to copay ? This is highly annoying tbh.

I had a similar issue earlier this year, not with these particular BP meds, and at my request the GP got the receptionist to contact DH and find out which generic wouldn't incur a co-payment, and that's what my GP prescribed. I am fine on that generic, and even better not having to fork out over R100 per month on the co-payment.

 

[The Voice]

104/69

Started with Zomovek today morning instead of Cozomovek as per new prescription. I don't know what difference is (except what AI says) but I had told doc that I have to copay for cozomovek and he recommended this as alternative.

Flipping thing is that I still have to copay. Is there a BP tablet that I don't have to copay ? This is highly annoying tbh.

*laughs in NHS*

 

[Sideshow Bob]

I had a similar issue earlier this year, not with these particular BP meds, and at my request the GP got the receptionist to contact DH and find out which generic wouldn't incur a co-payment, and that's what my GP prescribed. I am fine on that generic, and even better not having to fork out over R100 per month on the co-payment.

Do you know exactly what did your doc prescribe? Or do you just insist on generic ONLY from pharmacy so as not to incur copayment?

 

[Marsie27]

Do you know exactly what did your doc prescribe? Or do you just insist on generic ONLY from pharmacy so as not to incur copayment?

I had been on the non-generic with attendant co-payment for about 3 years. At my May PMB check-up this year I mentioned the co-payment, and GP said he would investigate alternatives with DH. He then specified the generic he wanted me to take from the DH non-co-payment options on the script. I did not give/had not given the pharmacy any instruction re generic or not.

 

[S_L_Y_G_U_Y]

for 79 baby is 125/85 good?

 

[Grant]

Quick opinion needed.
I have mentioned organ donation previously & posted a heavily edited portion of a video.
In the interim I have been talking to both Warren's wife (warren being the organ donor in the video), as well as the organ donation foundation.
I have obviously been given permission to use and publish the full video.

What I really looking for is comment on the "description" of the video.
I've attempted to make it as short and understandable to all.

This is not an "easy watch", and might be deemed by some "not suitable for work".
I'll leave it listed as "public" for the next 12hrs for the purpose of gaining opinion, then make it "private" again around 10.30am tomorrow morning.

**Pls DM me with any opinion.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

I had been on the non-generic with attendant co-payment for about 3 years. At my May PMB check-up this year I mentioned the co-payment, and GP said he would investigate alternatives with DH. He then specified the generic he wanted me to take from the DH non-co-payment options on the script. I did not give/had not given the pharmacy any instruction re generic or not.

Thanks, I went to Dischem yesterday and asked them to search for any BP meds that will need 0 co-payment. First she said that she can't search like that and then I insisted and she reluctantly said that all BP meds require co-payments.

I think this is some kind of scam where our co-payment covers full cost of original medicine.

 

[Tinuva]

There also different kinds of generics, or rather, whose generic.

I am on a Discovery variant generic. 0 payment, discovery covers it in full even when I have 0 medical savings.
Dischem and Clicks however always try and ask if I don't rather want "THEIR" generic variant, at which point I just say no.

 

[Sideshow Bob]

There also different kinds of generics, or rather, whose generic.

I am on a Discovery variant generic. 0 payment, discovery covers it in full even when I have 0 medical savings.
Dischem and Clicks however always try and ask if I don't rather want "THEIR" generic variant, at which point I just say no.

Thanks. Does it have a name on packet or is it just like Pick n pay No Name brand ? If it has some kind of name, please let me know and I can enquire. Photo of packet or tablet strip would be lekker.

I am seriously looking to cut down on costs and every little bit helps. R55 per month copayment in this case.