Do you have to get blood work in order to get blood pressure meds?

Provider may have wanted to check kidney function

 

I've been on BP meds for 25 years. A Dr. will want labs done to see your chlorestrial, triglyerides, sodium, potussium, etc.

Some of the BP meds can effect kidney and/or liver functions. He will need to check all those things and then monitor things once or twice a year.

Start keeping a BP log and keep at it after you start the meds, take in to the Dr. with you.

Most Drs. will work with you if they see you being proactive and making lifestyle changes.

Plan on a couple of visits a month apart then another in 3 months. If things are going well you may not have go back for 6, 9, or even 12 months.

Best of luck to you.

 

Interesting! Does fasting help? How much does fasting lower blood pressure?

 

The CVS Minute Clinic was probably staffed by a PA or Nurse Practioner and they can write prescriptions.

 

Regular doctors are kind of hard to come by, especially out here in the sticks. All the new MD grads would rather work in the city to be close to the opera halls and coffee joints. Getting onto one of the few remaining, general practice doctors out here is like waiting for a quality bid to open up on an LTL.

 

Here's a tip for finding a good primary care doctor. Call a pharmacy, specifically a small, independent one. Ask who are some of the oldest doctors and PAs in town. If they say it is against policy to recommend a doctor, respond that you are not looking for a recommendation. You already have a recommendation (a tiny fib) but you can't remember who it is. What you do remember is that they are old and have been practicing for many years. In fact, you can't even remember if it is a doctor, osteopath, physician assistant or nurse practioner.

@bentstrider83 In Portales NM try Portales Professional Compounding or Village Pharmacy. I believe these are two independent pharmacies.

If you appreciate what I've written, be sure to hit "Thank".

 

Go to a doctor, have them prescribe meds.

 

If you haven't had a full physical, which includes your blood labs, in some time, you should have it done, might save your life.

 

If you have something to hide by not having blood work done, you may have problems that don't go well with truck driving. Just saying.

 

Whatever you do in the short term keep up the thought of diet and exercise to get your BP down naturally. I was rocking a BP of approximately 150 over something about a year ago.. I was shocked, never had high BP before. Anyways I lost around 45 lbs thru BOTH diet and exercise. Today my BP came in at 115/70....that is without any meds at all. Hope that helps....