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High blood pressure? Prednisone?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/10/2018 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys,

I am having my first bowel resection on Tuesday, I feel a little anxious about it but overall kind of looking forward to hopefully feeling better since the last few weeks have been awful. I went to my pre-admissions apt today, and my BP was the highest it's ever been : 159/98, I am 22 and besides the stricture in my terminal ileum , I'm a pretty healthy person. I am on prednisone, now down to 15mg, have been tapering for a few weeks. Do you think this could be contributing to the high BP, or a case of the white coat syndrome? I didn't feel particularly anxious but who knows maybe that was what it was. The nurse said to watch it and try taking it again another day. I really don't want to be having problems with hypertension too, it does run in my dads family.. but I'm 22! And in pretty good shape I may add. If anyone has any opinions please let me know!
Thanks!
Posted 5/10/2018 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, Prednisone raises blood pressure in many people who take it. Cutting back on your salt intake can help a bit, as well (if you're not already). Prednisone's desired effect is controlling our inflammation and suppressing our immune system, but it can cause our blood work to look unusual (increased blood sugar among other things). Your blood pressure will return to your normal once you are off of pred.
Posted 5/10/2018 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, that's what I was thinking. I don't generally ingest a lot of salt but I'll try to watch it more closely. Thanks for your input smile
Posted 5/10/2018 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Gutsy, the pred sure can cause BP to become elevated, not to mention the case of nerves with the pending surgery. Cut out the salt, I know its hard for people that use salt. I have never been a fan of salt or pepper, lol. I have issues with high BP, it runs in my family. My drs are always on my case about salt, I tell them I do not add it to my food.
Posted 5/10/2018 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Ya probably! I never think I have much salt but I will watch for it. Haha yes I'm sure they are on your case if you have high BP as well. I never would add salt either haha,but my dad cooks with a decent amount apparently now that I've asked him. So I will definitely be watching that! It will be interesting to see when I'm off pred and am done the surgery if it goes back to my normal lower BP pre pred days!
Posted 5/11/2018 7:23 AM (GMT 0)
gutsy, i was just like you. high doses of prednisone at a young age. my BP was even higher and i was put on BP meds at 21. unfortunately my BP remained high throughout my life and now at 54 im still taking meds for it. although no my BP is mostly low, my BP meds help with slowing a fast heartbeat and i get bursts of high BP often. so i have had to stay on them.

steroids also make you retain water along with salt etc.. your dr could give you a diuretic for a few months and see if that helps untill your done with the steroid. good luck

also figure , if your having lots of pain, that will send it up also
Posted 5/11/2018 10:49 AM (GMT 0)
Oh dear, I'm sorry you've had to stay on them! Thankfully I'm down to 10mg tomorrow, and then 5 the following week and then I'll be done, and hopefully not have to use steroids for a long time!! I guess I'll see what the doctor says while I'm in hospital if it remains high also. Ya I figured that pain had increased my BP the last time I was in emerg. I'm sure it's jus a combination of things. Here's hoping it's just temporary!
Thanks for your input as well smile
Posted 5/15/2018 9:34 AM (GMT 0)
gutsy, well when i first was diagnosed with crohn's i was allergic to sulfasalizine. that and prednisone was about the only meds for it at the time. i was taking 60mg a day for about 3 1/2 years. totally screwed up my adrenal glands and other things. so thats probably why im still messed up . also over the next 20 years ther was lots more steroids used. everytime i got worse , boom, more steroids and then months till i was done again. thankfully in the last ten years or so , i have not had to have any.
Posted 5/18/2018 10:16 AM (GMT 0)
Oh ya that would do it!! My BP is still up while in hospital. Sometimes 156/106, sometimes only 140/100, it's the dystolic they are worried about, however they are attributing it to my pain levels and perhaps some stress. Surgeon isn't too concerned, will probably be going home today, and I'm going to watch my BP on my own and I guess follow up with a family doc if it doesn't improve when my pain subsides. Overall surgery went very well, just really struggling with the dreaded gas pains.
Posted 5/18/2018 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
Gutsycal, glad the surgery went well. I have had high blood pressure for over 30 yrs and take 4 different bp medications. They are always very careful with the prednisone but both my pcp and gi day you must treat the acute flares. I have to be more careful with budesonide as it has irregular heart beats as a side affect and I have a-fib. I tried once during a bad flare last year and had to switch back to prednisone within 3 days. The numbers you described are really not that bad, especially if you are in pain, as it drive the bp up. I agree that follow up with the pcp after surgery is best as to make sure this is just a short term issue not a chronic issues developing....like we need more of those.. goood luck
Posted 5/18/2018 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
Gutsy, glad to read you are on the other side of surgery! The gas pain is rough, walk, thats the only way to get rid of it. My resection was an open surgery, but the gallbladder was a lap surgery. They told me to walk, then walk some more, lol.

If you don't have a blood pressure machine at home, go to Walmart & get one. The free ones in pharmacies are not accurate. Take your BP twice a day & keep a log. If it does not start coming down you may need something on a temporary basis to get it lower. Your bottom number is the one to watch. They use to say anything 140/90 was considered elevated, however, they changed it to 130/80 a year or so ago.

I have been on BP meds almost 40 years, I come from the bad gene pool. Both of my adult kids are on medication too. Was at the dr Tuesday, we switched one of mine up & I was great 110/70! It has not been that low in a few years. I have been on 3 meds for a long time & always ask my dr to find just one pill that will do the job. I get the same answer, they don't make one for your issues, lol.

Take care.
Posted 5/19/2018 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys! Lots of walking around and doing some exercises while lying down to get all the gas out!
Ya I'll have to keep an eye on the dystolic. My brother is home for a week and he's a firefighter so I'll get him to track my blood pressure haha. Yesterday before I left it was 130/85- so that was good to see! Ya unfortunately my dads side of the family also has the hypertension gene pool so who knows maybe I'll have to go on meds too, lol so many meds, what's another to add in? Lol. Glad your BP was good tho Susie!!
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