It is amazing how NON-linear grief is. It is up, down, sideways, backwards, and inside out. Just when you think you've past a mile post, you're looking up at it from the ground. I'm beginning to accept this roller coaster, loop-d-loop life and trying to hang on for the ride. I was a pretty even keeled person in my former life and perhaps I even appear that way to others now, but inside soooo not. It sounds like you ARE doing the right things and grief is just smacking you around a bit.
I'm impressed you are doing the things to stay healthy. I need to get to the exercise into my life, I know I would feel better. I think I'm finally getting the eating to comfort myself under control. I'm really healthy most of the time, but since Stan died I have had 3 colds that wanted to hang on way too long and joint aches and pains I didn't have to this degree before. I just know life will eventually get better----vent away and hang on, we're here for each other.
With understanding, Sal

I am so sorry your feeling this horrible, please accept my prayer
Dear Lord God in Heaven, I praise your holy name, I lift missingt up to you lord, please give her healing comfort but also show her what she needs to do to keep healing, Send Your angels of Heaven and earthly ones filled with Your spirit to comfort her and aid her in recovering.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Judy

missingt - it sounds like you're doing everything you can to keep yourself healthy. Actually, it sounds exactly like what I've been doing. Hmm. My blood pressure spiked, too, but doc and I agreed to just keep an eye on it. I think you put your finger on it - it's the emotional fallout that takes its toll in ways we don't even realize. Vent away! Hugs, Marsha

so sorry all this happenng ON TOP of the grief!

You are doing allo the right things, as others have said, and this roller coaster is enouth to spike ANYONE's BP!! MINE TOO!

Try cutting all salt out of your diet as well if you can. We had to do that fro Greg and his blood pressure went way down even before the liver desease took hold into end stage. I really helped, and also helped me. I went from 140/90 to 117/75 from doing that. Now? NOT SO MUCH lol but I am going to try it again.

Hope you feel better. The dizzy is not just from the BP it's from our brains on overload I think!

BIG HUGS and feel better, and VENT AWAY!!! Diane

My BP is all over the place also. I have bouts of dizziness, chest pain, arm pain, joint aches, breathlessness, sleeplessness, fog brain etchaving full fledge anxiety attacks. I bought a lava lamp, soothing music, live plants, colorful pictures etc for my office to keep me calm. I close my eyes and put my mind in a happy place often. I am sorry you are going through this. Praying for peace~ Terry

A lava lamp!! Thats an idea for my bedroom. That and take the phone off the hook, disconnect the doorbell and stop the mail from coming!
I have high BP, was eating all organic healthy for lyme disease until Joe died, Now I dont cook or each..just decaf tea and crackers. I dontt have the push in me to make a good meal. But lava lamp and some nice music sounds like an idea just to turn off the world right now.

I had my first panic attack recently completely out of the blue, the symptoms you described are the same I had with my BP really high.
I got medication to take only as needed, but I only took 1/4 of the dose when I felt another one coming on. I don't like to take meds and I have always managed stress with Guided meditation, and deep breathing exercises -- they are a great way to manage anxiety and panic attacks. Do the deep breathing several times a day and the guided meditation in the am and pm. You can find many videos on youtube. I have not needed the meds.

Because I was so frightened by the symptoms, I asked my physician to refer me to a Cardiologist who did a very through exam and an echo cardiogram and stress test. I'm happy to say he assured me that my heart is normal and strong and though it may be broken, it can not be fixed by a Cardiologist.

My grief counselor really helped understand that panic attacks do not come out of the blue, there is a memory that is reactivated and your body is reacting to it. In my case we actually figured it out and I made a decision I needed to make and he told me that it will help get my mind and body in balance to keep anxiety away. Discuss it with your Grief counselor maybe he/she can help you pinpoint the source of the anxiety -- grief affects us in so many ways for so many reasons. You are doing everything you need to do to stay healthy and that helps keep your heart strong which is so important. Keep up your exercise routine it will help you overcome the panic attacks far more effectively. I would also like to recommend The Grief Recovery Handbook (Amazon). We need to release the grief mentally, emotionally and physically. This handbook takes you by the hand to do it. I'm currently working on it myself. Very helpful. Hugs! Connie

I saw cardiologist few days ago- all my test are fine!!
Just grief and broken heart !!
Thanks so much for your advice and prayers!! Thank you for your support!! Peace! Ann

I started on blood pressure medication two years before my husband died - and many of the problems you are talking about I had as well for about 2 months after I started on the meds - and it had nothing to do with grief - obviously.

I was worried at first. I was exhausted, no longer had trouble sleeping like before (that was good), felt dizzy at times - and to make matter worse, became breathless upon walking up stairs. I felt VERY different too. I was really beginning to get worried about my heart.

I asked a few people also on bp meds and some had experienced no problems but others had the same as mine - sometimes for several months before they began to feel ok.

When I saw my doctor a few months later for a check on my blood pressure after starting meds he asked if I was totally exhausted. I said "not really". He said most people who have high blood pressure - their bodies have adjusted to it and when their pressure is brought down to normal their body must again begin to ajdust to a heart which is beating differently than they were used to.

As it turned out, after several months I realized I still had the breathlessness and it occurred to me that it was just like the asthma I have when around cats. I mentioned it to the MD - (a side affect) and he changed the meds. Once again it was an adjustment but have been on them for 2 yrs now and doing great.

So, before you run off to a cardiologist or counselor, keep in mind your body needs time to adjust to these pills. If you still have a problem after a while ask to switch pills like I did.

I will say also - my blood pressure went up more after my husband died and 1 1/2 yrs later I started taking an anti depressent & anxiety medication - which has helped my blood pressure as well - as well as my anxeity. Good luck.

Grief does strange things to people. You are certainly doing all the right things but stress,, caused by grief, will mess with your body. I'm so sorry you are experiencing these problems. Actually venting does you a world of good so vent, vent, vent. God bless.

It is amazing how the emotional turmoil of losing a spouse can affect us so much in so many ways both physical and emotional. I see you have started on BP pills and that you are dizzy....make sure you check your BP and ensure it isn`t too low on the pills because that will make you feel unwell and dizzy. Venting here is therapeutic....know you are not alone, hugs Lu Ann

I"ve been on BP medication for 20 years. After my Wife passed I woke up twice in the middle of the night with my heart pounding out of my chest. I thought it was situational and would straighten itself out when my grief was a little further down the road. Hasn't happened since. It was at a couple of weeks and then maybe another week later. I've never had any symptoms from the medication except some of it makes you pee a whole bunch.