Huggies doctors!!

Hi all.

Hoping someone can give me some information on combatting these 2 issues.

My mother is on bp meds to help keep hers down and she is also on 2 different anti depression meds. She has been told that she wont be able to get her bp down without meds. Can this be true? Or will quitting smoking, eating healthier and exercising help to eventually have her off these meds?

Also the depression. I myself suffer from depression and struggle a lot ot the time and have been speaking to her about her depression. I don't take anything and don't feel I need to and I can manage it with eating, exercise and keeping busy. She doesn't believe these will help her and she must take the meds and that she will always have to take them.

I have been trying to tell her that looking after herself more will help these 2 issues but she says her doctor said there is basically nothing she can do.I have told her to quit smoking for years, told her to eat better and not a bag of chips for dinner and she won't exercise at all not even a walk around the block. I know I can't make her do something she wont but is there any truth to what she says about the blood pressure? I know I won't be able to get specific answers without knowing her history but I really am sick of her making excuses for these and want to help her combat them instead.

Any help would be appreciated. Hope this made sense as I'm a bit frustrated as I write this as we just had a big blow up about it. Thanks

Hi all.

Hoping someone can give me some information on combatting these 2 issues.

My mother is on bp meds to help keep hers down and she is also on 2 different anti depression meds. She has been told that she wont be able to get her bp down without meds. Can this be true? Or will quitting smoking, eating healthier and exercising help to eventually have her off these meds?

Also the depression. I myself suffer from depression and struggle a lot ot the time and have been speaking to her about her depression. I don't take anything and don't feel I need to and I can manage it with eating, exercise and keeping busy. She doesn't believe these will help her and she must take the meds and that she will always have to take them.

I have been trying to tell her that looking after herself more will help these 2 issues but she says her doctor said there is basically nothing she can do.I have told her to quit smoking for years, told her to eat better and not a bag of chips for dinner and she won't exercise at all not even a walk around the block. I know I can't make her do something she wont but is there any truth to what she says about the blood pressure? I know I won't be able to get specific answers without knowing her history but I really am sick of her making excuses for these and want to help her combat them instead.

Any help would be appreciated. Hope this made sense as I'm a bit frustrated as I write this as we just had a big blow up about it. Thanks

She may well need the blood pressure meds to keep it under control, but lifestyle is also a big part of it.

I dont think any Dr would tell her there's nothing else she can do besides take medication. Exercise, diet and quitting smoking would have huge benefits.

Having depresssion wouldnt help the situation at all and some people do require medication for that as well, sometimes even with all the right lifestyle choices some people still need medication.

Well my mother was exactly the same with bp meds to bring her bp down, but at the same time she wasnt a smoker and was a diet fanatic!! but the docs always told her that the meds were the only thing that would help the most with her high bp :/ so who really knows your better off asking your gp about it.

If she's overweight, unfit and lives unhealthy, yes you are absolutely right. If she got her act together to get healthy it is quite likely she will be able to stop taking the bp meds. However its important that she doesn't just stop them now with a view to getting healthy... she will need to be on them til the lifestyle change shows that her bp has come down, to the point where the Dr can tell her to stop taking them. Her depression could play a large part in her lack of motivation. Sounds like she needs to see her Dr if her meds arnt effective.

As for your depression. That's a very individual thing and is different for everyone. It's important to discuss how you feel and what triggers depression with your gp. It's never a good idea to self - diagnose. It's a good idea to sit down and chat with your gp as they can decide whether you just need lifestyle changes and less stress, whether you need a councillor or psychologist to talk to, or whether you need medication.

Also... there is absolutely no way a Dr would ever tell her that there's nothing else she can do. A Dr will ALWAYS recommend healthy lifestyle, and I can guarantee you that her Dr would have advised her to quit smoking. Smoking most definitely causes high bp. She's making excuses to you because she doesn't want to be active in combating her own problems.

Also... there is absolutely no way a Dr would ever tell her that there's nothing else she can do. A Dr will ALWAYS recommend healthy lifestyle, and I can guarantee you that her Dr would have advised her to quit smoking. Smoking most definitely causes high bp. She's making excuses to you because she doesn't want to be active in combating her own problems.

Thanks for all the replies. I know that she may have to stay on meds for either or both issues even with a healthy lifestyle but there is also the possiblity she wont and she's just not willing to explore that. Shes been told to see a counselor about her depression but again always has an excuse as to why she won't.

Chalys-that's exactly what my sister and I think. She always complains about her life and problems and we listen and don't say much so we don't hurt her feelings but I couldn't do that anymore today and spoke to her about it all and again it was all excuses. I didn't think her doctor would say anything like that to her but she swears that he has.

I just don't know what to do to help her. I honestly think there isnt anything I can do. Everyone has tried to help her emotionally and financially and she doesn't do anything to help herself or appreciate what we all do for her. I know if she doesn't want to help herself I really can't but I'm to the point I can't keep going through all the crap with her. I just don't know.

Thanks everyone sorry for the whinge. I got the info I needed.

At the end of the day you really can't help someone that won't help themselves. If she won't choose to make a change the only suggestion I can make is to maybe just tell her that you and her are going for a walk when you catch up. Get your sister to do the same, take no excuses and give her no option. I don't mean a 2 hour marathon.... even if it starts off as a 10 minute amble its a change, a baby step! Start small and work your way up.

my dh is 45 is not overweight,nonsmoker, quite fit/healthy but has high bp and has been on meds for years and all his brothers +both parents sometimes have high bp, sometimes its hereditary/genetic.Your mums situation certainly could be improved if she bothered.My dh has tried all sorts of things but only the medication keeps it in check

Thanks Chalys and vkw. I know you are right in saying I can't he;p someone that doesn't want it. I'll see how we go. Mum's isn't hereditary, no one else has the same problems as her with bp. Thats why I want her to try these other things as well as the meds. thanks again