Sensible diet symptoms and conditions

I have never taken BP meds before in my life. Began Lisinopril HCTZ 10-12.5 MG 1/day about 8 months ago. It seemed to have a positive effect on my blood pressure, however I had never connected some of the side effects to this medication.

For some time, I have had difficulty breathing, panic attacks, severe gagging coughing attacks which seem to occur out of the blue, many so severe that I begin to throw up in the middle of wherever I happen to be. I have had these attacks so severely that when they begin to occur while I am driving I immediately begin to get off the roadway as I begin to choke, eyes tear up severely, and the clear mucus type substance is thrown up.

It is horrible and very embarrassing especially when it occurs in a restaurant or department store. I do not sleep well as the coughing keeps me awake most nights. I notice lately that my eyes seem to be constantly blurry, teary, and I experience severe mood swings, fatigue, crazy thoughts and nightmares on an almost nightly basis.

I am so exhausted most of the time, even though I previously was very active and able to work in excessive heat, no more, I begin to sweat profusely and feel faint.

I live alone so am afraid of just dropping dead. While I have had migraine headaches most of my adult life, I seem to have them much more now and when they do occur, they are totally disabling. I had no idea this could be attributed to a BP med until stumbling onto this website.

Thanks to all for your comments. I am trying to get my BP under control through a common sense weight loss/ exercise program and sensible diet and plan on asking my doctor whether I can get off this altogether. I thought I was losing my mind.

I have been on Vytorin for about 4 years; was taking Crestor before that. In the last year, the tops of my feet have developed a burning feeling, and different parts of my feet have numbness at different times. I also got up 2 to 3 times per night to urinate. My core felt weak and my muscles ached. I read the comments on this forum and others regarding Vytorin side effects. I decided to quit taking this drug and informed my doctor of my choice. Vytorin got my cholesterol down to 137, but who cares. I'm relying on a sensible diet and Omega 3 to keep me going. The foot burning is still there after 3 weeks but it seems like its less than it was.

Well.....I've had two good bone density tests (the proper test)...the last i had was in 2002, and showed an actual increase of density of 7.5% in one hip, and 4% somewhere else....I was THEN put on Fosamax by my dr. because I am "white, thin, hysterectomy and smoke...." and said he wanted to keep my bones healthy. Hence, I've been on this since. I'm now wondering.....I had alopecia (hair loss) 2 years ago, just patchy, it's back in fine, no recurrence. I'm seeing a chiropractor now, as I feel constantly "pretzeled" My head feels like it weighs 100lbs on a wobbly neck, my fingers are often sore, one of my knees is dodgy, ....we have no athritis, osteoporosis in my family, I cannot remember a female breaking a bone! I just don't feel great all vague feelings. I exercise every evening 20mins on a glider, I'm 105lbs, I eat a sensible diet, I do everything at 100mph, so not sedentary! I go for my Bone density the end of this month, and I have a feeling this is the end of my Fosamax!

eryka,
i suspect the reason you feel worse this week than you did last week is that your body is trying to return to it's normal cycle so if you stopped taking the pill 2.5 weeks ago you are probably ovulating at the moment. i had a similar problem when i stopped taking yasmin,i suspect estrogen dominance is the problem (ie you do not have sufficient levels progesterone to oppose the effects of the estragen) i find that although vastly improved i still suffer a mid month wobble as i call it,i have been off yasmin for 3 months now and i am feeling much better than i did,i suffered severe anxiety/panic attacks which led to agoraphobia but i am now out and about again and enjoying my life once more. hang in there eryka it will get better but it will not be over night but be reassured that it WILL get better.look into estrogen dominance and see if your symptoms sound familiar,if they do have a chat to your health care provider. in the mean time take a good B complex,vitamin b6 and some magnesium as the contraceptive pill can make you deficient in all these essential vitamins and minerals and cause your symptoms to be worse,of course a sensible diet and excercise are also great for helping your body recover. i really hope that helps you,i know how awful and soul destroying the effects of this pill can be,that is why this site has been a life saver for so many women,me included!