How soon after surgery did you come off your "lifestyle" meds?

[gamergirl 4,610]

Curious how soon after surgery you were able to give up meds for things like cholesterol, high blood pressure, sugar/diabetes? My husband and I are maybe 10 days post-op (I can't keep up with the days), and already it seems as though he really shouldn't be taking his blood pressure medication because his blood pressure is too low if he does.

He's lost 20 lbs since we started and has another 60+ to go, so it seems really early for it to be making an impact. Of course we're also only able to eat 500 cals a day so not sure if that is part of what's making his pressure drop and making him light-headed. We're making all our Protein and Water requirements, just can't hit the additional calories.

On less than 500 cals, he's already walking two miles a day in the Texas heat and that worries me. So not sure how much of his lowered blood pressure is surgery related vs. lack of food related.

What was your experience? Thanks in advance for sharing. I'm a little worried about him.

[BKLYNgal87 503]

He probably can cut down on the blood pressure meds. My dad recently lost 15 lbs and he was getting dizzy every time he stood up. He felt better as soon as he halved his dose. Your husband should go see his doctor who can better advise how much to curtail.

[DonRodolfo 1,416]

Curious how soon after surgery you were able to give up meds for things like cholesterol, high blood pressure, sugar/diabetes? My husband and I are maybe 10 days post-op (I can't keep up with the days), and already it seems as though he really shouldn't be taking his blood pressure medication because his blood pressure is too low if he does.

He's lost 20 lbs since we started and has another 60+ to go, so it seems really early for it to be making an impact. Of course we're also only able to eat 500 cals a day so not sure if that is part of what's making his pressure drop and making him light-headed. We're making all our Protein and Water requirements, just can't hit the additional calories.

On less than 500 cals, he's already walking two miles a day in the Texas heat and that worries me. So not sure how much of his lowered blood pressure is surgery related vs. lack of food related.

What was your experience? Thanks in advance for sharing. I'm a little worried about him.

Curious how soon after surgery you were able to give up meds for things like cholesterol, high blood pressure, sugar/diabetes? My husband and I are maybe 10 days post-op (I can't keep up with the days), and already it seems as though he really shouldn't be taking his blood pressure medication because his blood pressure is too low if he does.

He's lost 20 lbs since we started and has another 60+ to go, so it seems really early for it to be making an impact. Of course we're also only able to eat 500 cals a day so not sure if that is part of what's making his pressure drop and making him light-headed. We're making all our Protein and Water requirements, just can't hit the additional calories.

On less than 500 cals, he's already walking two miles a day in the Texas heat and that worries me. So not sure how much of his lowered blood pressure is surgery related vs. lack of food related.

What was your experience? Thanks in advance for sharing. I'm a little worried about him.

My surgeon tried to take me off of everything after surgery! He had me stop metformin for diabetes, one of my two blood pressure meds, and my GERD meds. I had to start taking the GERD meds again as I started getting pretty bad heartburn but may revisit taking me off them again. Still haven't taken the metformin or the one blood pressure med. Got off the other blood pressure med when i visited my cardiologist a month or so later.

If you haven't already, get your husband one of those home blood pressure monitors and have him start taking readings DAILY. Share the results with his doc. One of my coworkers was sleeved a couple years ago, he stayed on his blood pressure meds, and his blood pressure got too low after losing weight and he ended up taking a nasty spill and banging his head enough to land him in the hospital.

[notime 340]

I am one year, four months out. My pcp reduced the amount of Lipitor I take for high cholesterol. I was not on meds for diabetes or high blood pressure. As always, visit your doctor for the tests necessary to determine what your meds should be and how much you should take.

[anniemay 150]

I'm three months and just now reduced on bp med by half. When I got lightheaded standing up I called the doc and she adjusted the meds. She said for some people it is fast to wean them off and others are slower - basically, when my bp gets to 110 or below I reduce by half until I no longer take them

[cindymg 629]

I cut my blood pressure med to a quarter - and now I am only taking it every other day (yes, I talked to my PCP before doing this). I was having vasel-vagel episodes (light headed, spots before my eyes, feeling like I was going to pass out), especially in the heat. Call your PCP today!

[mandyrenee82 59]

I am almost 4 months out, 90 pounds lost. Have only taken one shot of insulin (because of a steroid shot) and cut my bp meds in half since then. Thinking I may have to cut back bp meds even more. I've been noticing some lightheadedness and I believe it's my bp. But one shot of insulin in 4 months completely amazed me. My a1c went from 7.9 to 5.8 in less than 3 months.

[gamergirl 4,610]

Thank you guys for piping up so quickly. So he does have a home device and he's been showing low. I shared all the advice you guys gave, and was just now told that he has self-doctored to cut out his BP meds and his metformin since his sugar has been within normal ranges. Now begins the campaign to get him to call the doctor about it.

I'm shocked how quickly this has happened. How cool eh?!

Thanks all.

[Richard Foor 655]

Well I stopped taking my BP med at the time of surgery and never started it back up. But I was only taking the lowest dose of Atenolol possible, as my pressure was just barely high and the med was more to prevent stress related spikes. That being said, no one should stop taking important medications without there Dr. approval, some Dr.s don't like to take people off meds because they are scared of liability if something goes wrong, but if you really insist they should help you wean off your meds. Good Luck.

[Georgia 2,908]

Thank you guys for piping up so quickly. So he does have a home device and he's been showing low. I shared all the advice you guys gave' date=' and was just now told that he has self-doctored to cut out his BP meds and his metformin since his sugar has been within normal ranges. Now begins the campaign to get him to call the doctor about it.

I'm shocked how quickly this has happened. How cool eh?!

Thanks all.[/quote']

Yep, in three weeks my blood pressure meds were GONE! 3 years out now. No meds!

[kltklass 144]

Messing with any medication without doctor supervision is a BIG NO NO; especially heart medication! Please consult with your cardiologist!!!! (I work for a cardiologist)

If your husband doesn't want to see the doctor, make an appointment for him and "go for a drive" with a short Detour to the doctor. :0)

I wish you the best on both your continued journeys.

[gamergirl 4,610]

Messing with any medication without doctor supervision is a BIG NO NO; especially heart medication! Please consult with your cardiologist!!!! (I work for a cardiologist)

If your husband doesn't want to see the doctor' date=' make an appointment for him and "go for a drive" with a short Detour to the doctor. :0)

I wish you the best on both your continued journeys.[/quote']

I have all today to work on him. We both work from home today and he doesn't read the forum so he doesn't know of my diabolical plan but I promise you, there will be a call to the doctors office within the next 24 hours, one way or another

[DonRodolfo 1,416]

...so he doesn't know of my diabolical plan but I promise you, there will be a call to the doctors office within the next 24 hours, one way or another

I like your style!

[AmyInOrlando 348]

I'm "just" a Nurse, but I would advise him not to stop any meds without the OK of his Dr.

Is he checking his blood sugar everyday? If you don't have a blood pressure gauge, he can stop by any fire station and ask one of the medics to check his Blood pressure. Perhaps his meds do have to be changed, or discontinued... but let the MD make that decision.

[gamergirl 4,610]

I'm "just" a Nurse, but I would advise him not to stop any meds without the OK of his Dr.

Is he checking his blood sugar everyday? If you don't have a blood pressure gauge, he can stop by any fire station and ask one of the medics to check his Blood pressure. Perhaps his meds do have to be changed, or discontinued... but let the MD make that decision.

I have to convince him that he definitely does not know anything on this topic and that "just" a call will solve all this

He was checking BP and Sugar. And he is light-headed. And i will work on him until he calls the doc.

if I wasn't so stubborn myself, he would drive me nuts. But I get it so I'm trying to be nice.