Worried about my mom...any advice

Published

Specializes in NICU.

I am getting more and more worried about my mother. She is 52 years young and has uncontrolled high blood pressure (avg = 165/100). She has been this way, it seems like forever (at least 15 years). Her doctor has her on fofinopril sodium and just took her off of indapamide (due to an allergic reaction). Her blood pressure seems to have no rhyme or reasoning to it. When she is stressed, sometimes it is high and sometimes it is low. When she is resting, sometimes it is high and sometimes it is low. She has been taking it 2-3 times a day for a week and keeping a record to take to her doctor on Wed.

Part of the reason I am so concerned about her is because of my grandfather's history with high blood pressure. He passed away at the age of 58 and they say it was due to his uncontrolled blood pressure. I do not want this to happen to my mother, especially if there is something that she can do.

Her doctor seems pretty lazy about the situation. He has never really looked into the reason behind the bp (always chalked it up to stress). I have asked her to bug him about doing some testing. She has agreed to start taking it more seriously.

What I am asking of you nurses out there is this: please send me any advice or suggestions that could get my mom asking the doctor good questions to get him to start doing some REAL testing.

Thank you all so much for taking the time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Inpatient Acute Rehab.

(((HUGS)))

I am sorry that you have to be going through this with such a young parent. That's just it, she is young. Is she following diet, exercise, and all that?? My advice would be to see another doctor. A cardiologist might be helpful. They do not only deal with the heart, the do cardiovascular also. My father sees a cardiologist for his blood pressure and he is doing great with it. Hope this helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I second that opinion - go to a cardiologist, get a full cardiac work-up and then get on some correct meds. Good luck...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree as with with the cardiologist option and it all fails, try going to one that is a DO, my father was really bad as well and he is only 45 and when he switched doc's to a DO he just suddenly got better and under control.

Do osteopathic doctor (they are regular docs as well, just use different methods of healing).

Good luck. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Everything except surgery.

As someone who lost both parents at an early age, I can't stress strongly enough to impress upon your mother how serious this is! I agree with the cardiology consult, and would make it my prime directive to get it quickly!

And after it to help your mother get started in an exercise program, which may not only help her physically, but emotionally also! Good Luck, as I have dealt with a mom who took care of everyone else but herself, and it's NOT easy!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I second that opinion - go to a cardiologist, get a full cardiac work-up and then get on some correct meds. Good luck...

I also agree that your mom has to go to a cardiologist but it does not necessarily mean that his old doc had given him the wrong meds. treament of hypertension is highly customised that sometimes it takes a while to find the best medicine for the patient. Your mom flactuating BP is the hardest to treat and the most challenging even for a specialist, further work up is necessary to rule out any other condition that could give rise to her condition but usually a big percentage of hypertension has no known cause that's why it is seems easy to treat but hard to manage.nyek!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Trauma: once in a while refractory htn is caused by renal artery stenosis, although usually it's in patients who are vasculopaths in other places too, eg CAD, carotids, etc. Worth asking about. You definitely need a better doc managing this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am getting more and more worried about my mother. She is 52 years young and has uncontrolled high blood pressure (avg = 165/100). She has been this way, it seems like forever (at least 15 years). Her doctor has her on fofinopril sodium and just took her off of indapamide (due to an allergic reaction). Her blood pressure seems to have no rhyme or reasoning to it. When she is stressed, sometimes it is high and sometimes it is low. When she is resting, sometimes it is high and sometimes it is low. She has been taking it 2-3 times a day for a week and keeping a record to take to her doctor on Wed.

Part of the reason I am so concerned about her is because of my grandfather's history with high blood pressure. He passed away at the age of 58 and they say it was due to his uncontrolled blood pressure. I do not want this to happen to my mother, especially if there is something that she can do.

Her doctor seems pretty lazy about the situation. He has never really looked into the reason behind the bp (always chalked it up to stress). I have asked her to bug him about doing some testing. She has agreed to start taking it more seriously.

What I am asking of you nurses out there is this: please send me any advice or suggestions that could get my mom asking the doctor good questions to get him to start doing some REAL testing.

Thank you all so much for taking the time.

I am curious, has anyone checked her Renal function?? That is another place to look to find clues about the cause of hypertension...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Well my mother had her appointment yesterday. The doctor told her that her blood test results had come back "somewhat abnormal", but that he won't discuss the results with her because the lab seems to get a lot of "false abnormal test results". He wouldn't even look at the chart that she has been keeping of her blood pressure. He told her that she shouldn't be asking for a referral to a cardiologist because "it is too soon for something that serious". He had the nerve to ask her if hypertension ran in her family, as though she hasn't been his patient for 20 something years. She reminded him that her father died of a heart attach at 58 (just 5 years older than her). He said "well there you have it, the cause of it is hereditary". Then when she told him she was afraid, and doesn't want to die prematurely, like her father did, he just told her not to worry about it that he was a man and she is a woman. That she has many years left in her. He ended the visit by telling her instead of taking her regular one dose of meds in the evening, to double up and take one in the morning and one in the evening. Needless to say, my mom left the appointment and came to my house weeping.

I am ready to call the doc. and remind him that he is there to service/help his patients. I want to demand that he give her a referral to a cardiologist or she is going to change to a new doctor who might actually be willing to help her.

Where should we go from here. Any input you guys have is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB/GYN,L&D,FP office,LTC.

I think your Mom needs a new doc ASAP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

as moonchild says, DEFINITELY, run and get another doctor. just for the fact that the doctor said that women live longer than men.......we all know that women are dying from heart disease 2:1 over men. please, you already know that you are questioning this doctor. he sounds aloof to you and your mom's needs. get references asap for another pcp. no question about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

Definitely fire the current doc, and march your mom to a new one! Don't wait...get her seen very soon. Keep changing docs if you must in order to land one that cares, takes a serious interest in what's going on with your mom, and takes the necessary steps to help her. :nurse:

I don't know why people stay with dead beat docs! They wouldn't have a practice if it weren't for the patients that pay their salaries! Go to that old doc yourself, and look him/her in the face like Donald Trump would and say "YOU'RE FIRED!!!" :( :kiss

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion