Today I visited the alternative health practitioner I consult, and we worked with the biofeedback machine to bring down my blood pressure. I always have had nice, low blood pressure, except at the end of my second pregnancy, and now in the last six weeks as a side effect of Avastin. I have been taking medication to control my blood pressure since late December.
For various reasons I failed to renew my blood pressure med prescription this week, and by this morning I had missed three days of medication. My blood pressure on Tuesday, the last day I'd taken the med, was 110/80, normal-ish for me. Thursday (yesterday) it was 144/88, and this morning when Dr. Peper measured it, again 144/85.
He hooked me up to the biofeedback machine, we practiced some breathing, I watched the little heart rate meter go up and down and regulated my breathing to make the lines nice and cyclical. Then he took my blood pressure again. 110/76. This is without taking the BP medication in three days. (I got the meds later this morning, don't worry, I'll go back on them now).
As an experiment, he asked me to start talking to him about Gaza and Lebanon. We spent two minutes discussing the situation, he measured me again, and I was up 15 points to 125/76.
Your mind cannot fix everything, he said. But your brain does have a lot of power to influence your body and your health.
I commit right now to refuse to read any war news from anywhere for the next week. All hell can break loose, World War III, and I am just going to lay off it. My blood pressure and the rest of my systems need a break.
By the way, last week at chemo I met two women with metastatic breast cancer that had spread to organs as well as bones, both of whom have been taking Avastin for years. One woman is now five years out from her metastatic diagnosis, and five years on Avastin. At 70 she is going strong, has traveled the world since her diagnosis, and has a new career as a motivational speaker. The eleven tumors on her lung have dissolved into three small nodes. The other woman had cancer in her spine and brain as well as other places, and is still hanging in there after four years.
You had better believe I was heartened to chat with these determined survivors. Those of my friends and relations who are calling me in tears and sick with worry, please remember that I am in good care at UCSF; I am quite strong, quite positive and hopeful, and responding well to treatment. My doctor was very happy with the way I look yesterday. My blood tests and physical exams continue to show progress. So everybody, keep calling me but be sure to sound happy and positive. I am living and thriving.
My sister is an advanced ovarian cancer survivor; Avastin has shown much promise in treating that cancer as well.
Here's to your kicking that cancer to the curb!
Posted by: Judy | February 02, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Low blood pressure is also known as hypo tension. Some of the symptoms include dizziness, tiredness and fatigue. Low blood pressure may also be caused due to deficiency in vitamin B, Vitamin C and protiens. Sometimes emotional stress may also cause low blood pressure. Beet juice, vitamin C, B group may help low blood pressure patients. Meditation or any other stress reduction programs may help lower blood pressure.
Posted by: Low Blood Pressure Symptoms, Causes and Treatment | November 27, 2008 at 11:31 PM