High Blood Pressure Readings on the Day of Surgery

I posted this on the Main Message Board too but we love to here the advice of my beloved BAF!!
I am very worried OH and I need your .  I have HBP and have been taking Lasix 40mg for about a year.  I saw my new PCP yesterday for my pre-op physical and lab work. He wasn't too happy that I was asking for clearance for surgery and it was my first time meeting him. (Understandable) I explained that my former insurance did not pay for WLS and that I had recently switched to a new plan (BCBS Federal) that had "Blue Distinction Centers" for WLS.  I explained in detail about their program, told him that I met their requirements and had been approved but I needed to have my PCP complete blood work, EKG and chest x-ray.  He was fine with that, did a very thorough physical, EKG (it was perfect!), took blood and urine samples and gave me a referral for a chest xray.  He told me that other than had being overweight I was in pretty good shape.

Here's the problem:  When they (2 different nurse's assistants - 1 was new and  inexperienced) took my blood pressure, it was HIGH.  The lowest reading was 169/110.  (Sidenote: I also had an appointment to donate blood in advance of my surgery and it read 155/100 later the same day). At the conclusion of the visit I asked the Dr. what we could do about my BP.  I told him I was taking the Lasix daily but every time I get my BP taken, it is high.  I don't feel any symptoms but was really concerned that it always reads high.  His answer was well that may be normal (the BP reading) for you but he gave me a prescription for Verapamil ER 180 mg and told me to take it at bedtime and to keep taking the Lasix in the morning.  I took the Verapamil last night and after about an hour my heart was beating so fast and strong that it felt like it was coming out of my chest.  I looked at my hands and saw them twitching in the same rhythm of my heartbeat.  Needless to say I will not being taking that medication again and I will call the Dr. today to let him know that that medicine did not agree with me.

Here's my question:  What will happen if my blood pressure is high on the day of surgery?  Will they cancel it? Will they be able to give me something to bring it down and proceed? I have been planning for this surgery from months and I would be absolutely crushed if it was canceled or postponed.  Please .  

I too had HBP before surgery and it was high on the day of my surgery.  That didn't stop them from performing surgery however because of my HBP and sleep apnea I was "SUPPOSED" to be in ICU over night but there weren't any beds.  My BP did go up after surgery and they gave me medicine to bring it down.  Don't remember what cause I was in and out and if you read my blog from my hospital stay I had to be sedated cause I wasn't the best patient afterward.  LOL.  But after a couple of days it came down and has been down EVER SINCE. 

Just don't eat any salty foods between now and then and try (easier said than done) to keep your anxiety to a minimum.  Oh and drink plenty of water!!!  keeps you from retaining fluid which i beleive (don't quote me on this) helps to keep your BP down. 

Good luck

Thanks for the advice.  I would love to read about your experience. Can you plesse add me as a friend?

I don't have HBP, but I think you'd have to be EXTREMELY high.  I say this b/c I mom can NEVER be put under.  She had a lumpectomy done in her breast and she had to have trwilight.  The last time was a thyroid removed and it was severely risky (it's now in the 140's, so I don't know, but it was well over 220 back in the day).

Best of luck to you!

Hi MzKim

Try a simple natural rememdy that works every time ....

eat a stalk of celery everyday, you'll see your pressure
come down quickly.  I eat celery every day
Seriously I don't know anyone that this hasn't helped

I've been educated today.  

Its on my docs list of hard to digest foods because of the strings.  I'll still be trying it even if I must puree it first.  Wish I knew this a year ago. 

Celery.  Who knew???  Thanks!

oh yeah you are right if you are early out of surgery

you cannot digest the strings. Even so far out I don't

swallow the strings.  I chew it and what's left I spit out.

If I were you I would consider juicing it for now.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I did talk to my PCP today and he said that the side effects I described were normal and to continue the medication. This was his explanation: My body has become accustom to a higher than normal blood pressure. When I took the medication it attempted to lower my blood pressure but my body is fighting to bring it back up (i.e., faster stronger heartbeat) because that is the level it is used to functioning at. He said eventually those syptoms will subside and the medication will win out. I told him I would continue and see what happens but I really don't like the racing heartbeats and that weird feeling. I really want to get my BP down to healthy ranges so I'm going to trust that he knows what he's talking about and stick to it.

But I will also stay away from the salt (Damn!! -- I wanted to have a pork chop on the grill one last time this weekend), eat a stick of celery everyday and clam down. None of those things could make it any worse so why not. LOL

My surgeon and cardiologist planned the timing of my BP meds for the surgery. 

I have serious HBP with readings as high as 225/125 on several occasions.  I discussed with my cardiologist (and in your case your pcp) how to handle my HBP medication prior to surgery.  It was a must that I be medicated, and the surgeon agreed to the cardiologist's plan. 

I take three meds.  I took one of the previous days doses very late, just before midnight the day before surgery.  I took my morning medication at 5:00am with barely a sip of water.  My  RNY was scheduled for 7:30 am.  I had no problems at all.  BP was around 75/56 when I got to my room. 

Ask now about how it should be handled and get both dr's on the same page.  Your date is pretty close. 

I was real nervous about this too because I've had treatment refused and postponed in the past due to HBP.  Don't worry too much.  If your regular meds keeps your BP under control normally, it will most likely be ok on the day of your surgery too.