It has been some time since I up to date you on my spouse’s blood strain downside. So seeing as how we had been out of city this weekend and I’ve no recipe, I assumed I might replace you on how she is doing and speak a bit about her WFPB journey.
Recap
I’ve been vegan since 2008, and though my spouse has at all times supported me on MY journey, she by no means actually jumped on board 100% with me till January of this yr. She has dabbled with it, and seen the optimistic advantages on each her and myself, however by no means dedicated to going 100% – till this yr.
On January 1, 2023 – I began a brand new problem for my BNV Help Group, and she or he determined to come back alongside for the experience, to handle her long-time blood strain points and lose some weight.
Be mindful she has had blood strain points for so long as I can keep in mind and has taken a mix of Losartan and Hydrochlorothiazide for years now, which in truth had by no means actually managed it that properly.
Quick ahead to Feb 17, 2023.
After a month of consuming a fairly clear, whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) and getting a lot of train (jogging with the granddog, Supernatural VR exercises, and so on) I needed to name 911 within the wee hours of the morning as a result of she had woken up with a nosebleed and a blood strain of 208/123.
These random blood strain spikes had been taking place increasingly more regularly, typically accompanied by a nosebleed, and normally accompanied by some tummy gurgling and different GI-related points leading to a mad sprint for the lavatory.
What the hell ?!?! Proper?? She’s presupposed to be getting more healthy, not sicker!
And when she began feeling actually sick that morning – I made the decision and the ambulance whisked her away to the ER.
After hooking her up, we realized that the ER docs are VERY hesitant to deal with blood strain issues on their very own. However, as a result of the Doctor’s Assistant we had simply visited the day earlier than had simply prescribed a brand new drug Clonidine – they gave that to her and monitored her for just a few hours earlier than sending her residence.
The Remedy Plan
Since that day within the ER, we’ve seen our household physician, his doctor’s assistant, his a number of nurse practitioners, and even a plant-based telehealth digital name with Dr. Nikki Davis.
She’s had blood assessments, urine assessments, 24-hour urine assessments (that was enjoyable), EKGs, ultrasounds on her kidneys, adrenals, gall bladder, you title it – and every part up to now has come again regular.
The docs cannot appear to determine why that is taking place, so that they normally find yourself prescribing one more new blood strain capsule. We even noticed a Heart specialist, who actually seemed very confused as to why she was even there – as every part seemed regular. Oh, and he prescribed one other capsule too.
And no – regardless of all the brand new tablets being shoved at us – the one new treatment that she is taking presently is Clonidine at bedtime.
What Truly Works
It is unhappy to say that at the moment, we’ve to determine this out on our personal, however that’s exactly what it has come right down to.
I’ll say, that in that flurry of physician visits final month, we DID speak to 1 physician who appeared to offer some fairly strong recommendation…and that was Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.
He steered his Reversal Eating regimen and after I defined that we had been just about doing that already, he requested, “Rhonda, what did you weigh in highschool?”, to which she replied, “98 kilos”.
“Then why not weigh that now?”
That Essie, man he is hardcore. I do know that reply has upset lots of people however given his expertise and his observe document….. he is aware of what he’s speaking about.
So since that dialog, based mostly on his recommendation and a few trial and error on our personal, that is what my spouse has been doing:
- No espresso or caffeine
- No alcohol
- No oil by any means
- No wheat – utterly gluten-free
- No soy sauce (it has wheat)
- No spicy meals
- 100% WFPBNO
- VERY cautious with FODMAP meals (onions, garlic, cabbage, and so on)
- She eats spinach a number of occasions a day
- She has embraced starches (potatoes & rice)
- She nonetheless workout routines 4-5 days per week
We’re slowly experimenting with including again some meals (just like the steamed tofu and broccoli within the image) to see what her tummy will tolerate.
Outcomes Do not Lie
The modifications she has made could seem excessive, however the outcomes do not lie. These 2 images are simply 30 days aside.
30 DAYS!
- The blood strain spikes are actually GONE
- The nosebleeds are additionally GONE
- Her blood strain CONSISTENTLY averages round 110/70
- She has misplaced 25 kilos and has to purchase new garments for her birthday 🙂
- We hope the doc will decrease her BP meds quickly
As I discussed, we had been out of city for the primary time since this began and it is considerably comical in that “I” have at all times been the one who could not eat right here, or there, or “Chuck has to eat vegan”…..
NOW it is Rhonda lol, and check out including gluten-free to the combination when going out to a restaurant. Now THAT is difficult.
However I’m completely happy to say that there have been just a few locations we discovered that labored with us to seek out compliant meals for Rhonda after we had been out. Dynasty Chinese language in Sequim, WA had been great, and likewise a giant shoutout to Turnip the Beet in Port Angeles.
It is not simple to seek out oil-free or gluten-free meals – however it may be done- you simply should ask.
Hypertension is a symptom – not a illness. Attempt consuming tremendous clear as my spouse did for 30 days. The outcomes would possibly simply shock you.
