hypertension Hypertension

[ensignoftheunit]

Diagnosed with hypertension on active duty- within a year my medical records document the following readings:

146/99

143/101

158/111

148/107

144/100

Most visits saw an increase in dosage to attempt to bring my BP under control- this is stated in the records.

With these readings do I have a fighting chance that the VA could grant me SC? I'm just trying to get my medication taken care for this condition?

[jbasser]

My numbers have been this high for about 4 years now.Has caused 1 heart attack w/ new stent and 2 civilian hospital stays.It came down after stent for about 6 months, but VA Dr changed my meds and it started going back up again.Once in awhile I feel they truly are trying to do me in.lol Well got a newbie Dr now and we'll see if he is interested in my health or my colon like all the other Drs from this hospital are. So far no faith in new guy, 2wks now and stuff promised not done yet.Two different VAMCs and each one has it's own agenda on what should be done to my body and BP is not a high priority.I gave up on them after a year of fighting with them.

You should get to a Kidney Specialis as soon as possible to have them checked. These Docs are the best at controlling Blood Pressure.

J

[Bonzai]

I recently filed for and received 0% SC for hypertension. It was well documented in my Service Medical Records (SMRs), but they never gave me any medication for it then. Since then, I have had to be on HTN medications since 1995. I never found the SMRs about the HTN testing they had done on me in 1985-87, until I received a copy of my c-file. I filed for SC knowing I would be awarded 0%, but I don't know what the future has in store, so I wanted it documented, in case cardio problems come down the road and then I can SC them as secondary; or in worse case, died of a service-connected condition and my wife can receive Dependents Indemnity Compensation (DIC).

[Bigred122]

You should get to a Kidney Specialis as soon as possible to have them checked. These Docs are the best at controlling Blood Pressure.

J

Kidneys still sorta work.When I was younger I could sand blast paint off a building, now it takes all I can do to wash down a piece of TP. Have to make about 6 trips a night and about 20 during the day.Had the ole Peterscope done about 2 years ago only showed minor problems.lol I was playing with my records today and looked up some of my BPs. My highest was240/150 and several at the 224/175 several in the 212/167 range. When I entered Hospital with my heart attack pressure was only 138/89. I guess High BPs only weakens everything.When they screwed up a surgery and let me bleed out for 22hrs has my record low BP 77/64.lol I don't know if my VAMC has a urologist or not. I know they don't have a cardiologist and they just retired their only internalist last fall.My new Dr I think finished 499 out of 500.lol

[Pete53]

I had high blood pressure in my SMR's due to panic attacks. Anxiety can be a big driver of high bp wednesday when I went to Hospital my BP was 200/110 and they gave me metropolal and nothing happened until they gave me a 1 mg xanax and it dropped immediately to 130/80.

My point is anxiety can drive blood pressure to moderate high levels. Diabetics have to be very careful about higher than normal bp as it can burn out your kidneys.

Knowledge is power and this is not a medical opinion its my personal experience.

[Berta]

I saw you mentioned metoprolol Pete.I am filing a complaint with the FDA on this med.

I am awaiting for copies of my prescriptions from the pharmacy to attach to my complaint- as for over 2 years they told me CHAMPVA would pay nothing towards Toprol-what my doctor actually prescribed- and come to found out CHAMPVA WILL pay cost sharing for most brand names drugs.I have suffered many side affects from the metoprolol and can tell the real med Toprol affects me differently.

More to this but not really appropriate here-I filed a complant with the store who holds the Pharmacy as well.

But it brings to mind if a vet is given a VA med that has considerable side affects,can they complain to the FDA?

Wouldn't they have the same right I have as a civilian to file this type of complaint? I am not sure at all on that.

[Pete53]

Berta:

Your question why can't a Vet file on a med dispensed by VA and I think the answer is yes. I am in a class action suit against glasko kline on avandia and my heart problems. The medicine was prescribed by VA and dispensed till one month when I requested a refill I was told no more.

My Doc told me VA had stopped giving it to any Veterans and this was shortly before the information came out. The Lawyers tell me that I am in final group and can expect a considerable amount. All of this involves the VA indirectly. It seems that Glasko Kline had information regarding Avandia that they did not share with the Doctors who prescribed it to patients nor the FDA for that matter.