Has anyone else had this happen to them, and if so how did you fix it?
Back really early on, about a week after I went on T I took my blood pressure and everything was optimal. I continued to check my blood pressure about once a month (when I went in to get a refill on my hormones) and noticed it steadily increasing. Today I went for a second check-up at my Doctor (went two weeks ago) and i'm consistently reading high (it was either 130/100 or 100/130 I don't remember...). This sucks cause I've made huge improvement to my diet and fitness over the last couple months, trying to get healthier, so it was a real bummer to learn that this aspect of my health is so awful.

I'm pretty sure it has more to do with my hormones than my diet or stress levels as it's increased over the period I've been on T. Last time I had my blood test done my T levels were above the normal high range for a male (I'm in the high 30's) so my hormone doc recommended I start halving my dose. I kinda ignored that advice because I'm desperate to get my voice to drop but after seeing my BP numbers I think I'll definitely start halving my dose.

Other than that I'll start eliminating all sodium from my diet and see it that begins to help. Has anyone else had their blood pressure sky rocket as a result of their hormone treatment? I can't exactly give up my hormones but having a low (or at least healthy!) blood pressure is extremely important to me (it's also a factor in my interview for the law force, if it's too high they won't accept me...)

I'm open to any advice on this, what else can I do to lower my BP?

I've been on E and de-transitioned for two years and back on T, now back on E, don't ask me why, just sort of nutty I suppose. One thing I did notice is that if I have drinks on hormones it drives my BP way up. If you have a few drinks a day, that may be it.

I assumed you mean by drinks, alcohol. I am a non drinker I never touch alcohol, I also don't smoke. 

Quote from: Bastian on March 12, 2013, 05:14:57 PM
I assumed you mean by drinks, alcohol. I am a non drinker I never touch alcohol, I also don't smoke. 

Ok that rules that out then? Strange though, time to see the doc you might have to go on some BP meds. What was your reading?

I'd really like to avoid taking meds for it, it seems like more a band aid solution. I'm pretty sure it has to do with my hormone levels, since they are so high, hopefully halving my dose will help. My last read a couple months ago was a 39 for Testosterone, which considering normal male range is 21-29, is definitely high. I guess I was kind of hoping some one had some tips regarding diet or exercises that might help lower blood pressure. I've hear yoga and meditation can help but that seems like it would only work if the individual was experiencing a lot of day to day stress, which I'm really not, I'm quite a stress-free person.

I took a look at my sodium count average (just kind of looking at things I'll tend to eat in a day). It's recommended to keep it under 2500mg a day I read when you're trying to lower BP, unfortunately[?] my daily sodium intake is closer to 1700mg, maaybe 2000mg... I'm going to cut out the two slices of cheese I have with breakfast and focus on removing excess sodium from dinners, maybe that will help...

I'm worried that if I can't find a way to lower it, and halving my dose doesn't help that I'll have to get off T altogether and that's just not an option and I feel meds should be a complete last resort, i want to be healthy, not doped up to appear healthy...

Look up which types of food promote lower blood pressure. Garlic, bananas, chamomile tea etc. help.

Quote from: Bastian on March 12, 2013, 06:49:16 PM
I'd really like to avoid taking meds for it, it seems like more a band aid solution. I'm pretty sure it has to do with my hormone levels, since they are so high, hopefully halving my dose will help. My last read a couple months ago was a 39 for Testosterone, which considering normal male range is 21-29, is definitely high. I guess I was kind of hoping some one had some tips regarding diet or exercises that might help lower blood pressure. I've hear yoga and meditation can help but that seems like it would only work if the individual was experiencing a lot of day to day stress, which I'm really not, I'm quite a stress-free person.

I took a look at my sodium count average (just kind of looking at things I'll tend to eat in a day). It's recommended to keep it under 2500mg a day I read when you're trying to lower BP, unfortunately[?] my daily sodium intake is closer to 1700mg, maaybe 2000mg... I'm going to cut out the two slices of cheese I have with breakfast and focus on removing excess sodium from dinners, maybe that will help...

I'm worried that if I can't find a way to lower it, and halving my dose doesn't help that I'll have to get off T altogether and that's just not an option and I feel meds should be a complete last resort, i want to be healthy, not doped up to appear healthy...

Yeah you don't want to get off your hormones. I didn't ask if you are a real heavy or obese type? I went on BP meds for a short time just to get the numbers down, it was basically a diuretic. Then I bought a potassium salt in the condiments section in the local grocery store and quit using sodium salt for awhile. Potassium salt has a bit of a bite to is so you actually use less for the same seasoning effect. Then I quit that and got off my BP meds when the levels went down to a normal range. Whenever it seems to creep back up a back off the sodium salt and use Mrs. Dash on my foods for a few days or so. BP can be controlled by diet and daily exercise. Good luck!

Thanks Shantel, that's helpful. After my last post there I decided I may as well look up how BP meds work, looks like it's not as much of a band aid solution as I figured. I'll check out the potassium salt, the thing is I never cook with salt itself, it's just the salt in things like mustard that's the source. I'll try adding chamomile tea. I already eat bananas and garlic (favorite foods!) Unfortunately I did let myself go a bit over the last 6 months (a very bad habit I have when I get into a relationship  ) but as of two months ago I said goodbye to that awful life style. I've been eating much better, exercising much more frequently (working, working up to running every other day, riding my horse more frequently during the week, doing small things like parking farther away from the store so I have to walk further, once the snow goes away I will start biking every week).

I suppose it makes sense that I got into my current relationship around the same time I started T. Huh... the life changes that occurred as a result of entering into a relationship, at the same time as going on T might certainly have played a key part in my high BP, it just sucks that two months of hard work hasn't really seemed to lower it at all. In any case I suppose i'll try the half dose, chamomile tea and continuing to be active. If that doesn't work in the next few months i'll have a conversation with my hormone doc (I see him again at the start of may) to check my hormone levels. If they are back down to normal range then I'll see my doc about BP meds.

Bah guess i'm just bummed out.

Quote from: Bastian on March 12, 2013, 07:14:25 PM

Bah guess i'm just bummed out.

Sounds like you're pro-actively on it, don't waste your energy being bummed, you'll be fine!