Did my Doctor put my health in danger?

Question

Hi, I'm overweight (obese is more like it) and I recently discovered that I was hypertensive when my blood pressure was checked when I went to hospital with an eye infection. They discovered my BP was 160/90. The doctor put me on Candesartan for 1 week, checked my BP again and since it was basically unchanged he put me on 50mg Atenolol. I took the first one today and spent the day disoriented, with slurred speech, dizziness and fatigue. When I got my BP checked today it was 135/73 - which seems a huge drop over the course of one day. From stage 2 hypertension one day to normal BP the next. I went back to see him today and he quickly switched medication and seemed quite quick to get me out of the office.

I should mention that I am currently living in Bangkok - and Doctors here aren't necessarily as reliable as they are back home (which for me, is the UK). He also didn't charge me for the consultation or any of the usual fees beyond the cost of the new medecine he gave me. II may be being overly paranoid and the mistake could have been easily made anywhere (if it even was a mistake) but I read that usually people are started on Antenolol at half that dose.

Also, during the initial exam he discovered that I also had a fatty liver and a slightly enlarged heard.

Answer 1

You can not diagnose hypertension during one visit or even 5 visits. Everyone's BP is high sometimes. It is the consistency or average elevated BP that they are looking for. Now your enlarged heart puts it into a whole different category. Something not well known is that cholesterol meds can lead to an enlarged heart. I would concentrate on controlling my insulin as that will lead to better cholesterol levels, lower weight, healthier heart, and I believe it will help the fatty liver. I bet your triglycerides are high. Did anyone tell you that that is from sugar not fat? If you are a teacher, educate yourself, and don't trust doctors to know everything. They often look for the drug solution and look down their nose at nutrition.

Pharmacist who's life was almost ruined by Lipitor

Answer 2

obviously you have Internet do some research on your own  

Answer 3

Oh god a Doctor in Bangkok, I'd feel better going to a witch doctor.

Go home see a real doctor in your country.