HBP Question

Hello Everyone, My name is Lisa and I have just recently started taking the steps toward my goal of having WLS, though I have been reading everyone's posts for quite some time. You are all so inspiring and have picked up so much knowledge along the way. I feel so much better not feeling so "alone" just by comming to this message board. I have a couple of questions and I was wondering if there was anyone out there that could help. If you have HBP did you have to get a stress test done? Does anyone know what Dr. Aranow would say, whether you need it or not. Also, I was wondering what your results are if you had HBP prior to surgery where do you stand now and do you still have to take meds? I appreciate it and hope to hear from some of you. I am overwhelmed with thoughts right now and any input would be much appreciated. Thankyou Lisa

Well I had high blood pressure but I was in denial (not just a river in Eqypt). I thought that it was just "normal" for me. I did not have to have a stress test, but I had my surgery out in California (when I lived there). I was on medication for about 2 months prior to surgery. I was put on the medication because it was getting so high and they didn't want me to risk not having the surgery because it was too high. My blood pressure is now totally normal, in fact even better than normal. I was shocked. I'm so glad I don't have to take meds anymore!

Hi Lisa, I do not suffer from HBP, but from what I've heard at Dr Aranow's seminar, my face to face appt with him, and from a lot of literature I've read about co-morbidities pre and post op...Most people can come off of their BP and other medications because the WLS really does "cure" a lot of these co-morbidities (sleep apnea, HBP, high cholesterol, GERD, etc) As far as having to have a stress test, it would be determined by Dr Aranow or your surgeon, at the time of the face to face visit. If you've had any kinds of testing in the last couple of years, bring those test results in with you when you go for your visit. I did, and he only had me update my gastroscopy, not my stress test or my stress echo. He was happy enough with the results of my previous tests. Everyone is an individual and he (Dr Aranow) goes on a case by case basis. He needs to cover all basis to make the surgery a complete success with no complications or surprises. That's why he orders certain tests for some that others don't have to do. It's just his being a great surgeon and knowing what he needs for info about his patients. Don't be scared, he's a great man and makes you feel very comfortable. paula

Hi Lisa I am one of Dr. Aranow's patients, I had wls on Jan. 10, 2005. My diagnoses are Diabetic, which I no longer have to take meds for, Hypertension, now on 1 pill a day instead of 2, Hypothyroidism, I will always have to take meds for that, Depression, no longer on meds for that either. Dr. Aranow took me off of my regular HBP medicine Diovan and put me on Atenolol 2 weeks before surgery because Atenolol is a beta blocker (less chance of having a heart attack on the table). Dr. Aranow is a very good Dr. and he knows what he's talking about, he will treat you accordingly. If he thinks you will need a stress test then he will order one. I didn't need one. He won't do anything to hurt you he will be play it safe rather than be sorry. You are in good hands. Do what he says and you will be on the losing side in no time. Good Luck and keep in touch. Sincerely, Cindy

Hi, Lisa! Before WLS I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, for about 5 yrs., 1 yr. and 2 yrs., respectively, and was on 2 medications for the blood pressure and one medication each for the cholesterol and the diabetes (I'd only been on the diabetes medication for 6 months). Because of those 3 conditions, Dr. A. wanted me to be cleared by a cardiologist, even though I had no history of cardiac problems. The cardiologist didn't feel that a stress test was necessary, just an EKG. He thought that surgery was an excellent idea because the odds of my having a "major cardiac event" within the next 10 years if I didn't have WLS were about 50%! He just prescribed a 3rd blood pressure medication of another type (sorry I don't remember what or exactly what type it was) for me to take for a couple of weeks before surgery so as to protect me even more during surgery. I was taken off the cholesterol and diabetes medications immediately after WLS, with the stipulation that I check my blood sugar several times a day (at 1st) and that if it was ever over 150 that I take the medication then. It never was over 150 and has been averaging 85-90 for months (I'm almost 8 mos. out). My latest HbA1c was 5.7%, in the non-diabetic range, even though I occasionally have something with sugar in it, and my latest total cholesterol was 156, with triglycerides of 70. As for the blood pressure medications, Dr. A. left me on those. I saw my PCP for something unrelated to WLS about a month post-op and he told me to come see him after I'd lost another 25 lbs. to check my blood pressure and maybe adjust meds. He also told me the warning signs of low blood pressure and told me to call him if I experienced any of them before losing the 25 lbs. I didn't, so I saw him 25 lbs. later and was telling him how tired I felt and how little energy I had as he was about to check my blood pressure. He then told me that those feelings can be caused by low blood pressure, and mine then was, so he took me off 1 of my 2 meds and had me return in a month, telling me that it could take 2 wks. for me to feel any difference from stopping the med. A month later I returned to his office not feeling much different, so even though my blood pressure was then on the low side of normal (not too low), he took me off the other med. and told me to return in a month. By then I was starting to feel a little better and my blood pressure was on the high side of normal and has since gone down a little further, with no meds. As you've probably heard (and will continue to hear), everyone is different. There are a lot of variables to consider, including how long you've had HBP and how many (and which) meds you take. But in most cases, post-ops experience at least an improvement in their blood pressure. Hope this helps, Debby P.S. Are you going to the support group meeting at Middlesex tomorrow night? If so, please introduce yourself to me. And consider going out with us after the meeting.