Heath Update

Gary Blanchard

beloved, local musician
I have struggled with low blood pressure for the past few months. The folks at the chemo center kept giving me IV fluids and kept telling me that I wasn't drinking enough water. Three weeks ago my blood pressure was 70/50. The nurse decided to do some checking and determined that one of the chemo medications can have that effect on some people. They decided to pause treatment until I saw the doctor. Since then my blood pressure has improved.

I saw the oncologist today; she said that the blood work shows improvement, so that are going to remove the Velcade since it has the negative effects on my blood pressure. I will now go for chemo every three weeks for two cycles and then I will move to every four weeks. I shouldn't have the problems that I was experiencing.

Meanwhile, because the low blood pressure made it hard to get around, my legs are weaker than usual so I will be doing physical therapy to get my strength back in my legs. Fun.
 
Meds can really mess you up with unintended side effects. I'm glad they figured it out for you. I struggled with orthostatic hypotension from too high of a dose from one of my meds. I'm glad they finally took care of that because it really sucked almost blacking out every time I stood up.
 
Hopefully your doctors will get the meds right for you, Gary.

I used to always have slightly low blood pressure, in my 20s. Got to my 30s, and now I have to take high blood pressure meds. Runs in the family, it doesnt matter how healthy I am with exercise or eating right.
 
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wishing you the best in Hearh (and health)!
 
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