<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Thank you one and all for the responses to my question regarding
hypertension resulting from improperly digested calcium supplements,
specifically Fosamax.  Following is a summary of replies.

CONTACTS:

Name of Tucson contact for CSA-Pat Ewing

Dr. in Las Cruces - Dr. John Glick

Consult with nutritionist(s) (fortunately my sis-in-law is one)

See a cardiologist for possible heart damage (appt. with heart clinic on 11/20)

Accupuncturists do help hypertension

Good health food store might have knowledge of helpful M.D.'s in area

PERSONAL:
Continue dieting--still too heavy (loss of 1 1/2" due to L2 compression
fracture) has made me shorter

Continue exercising for bone mass, especially weight bearing type such as
walking

Celiac obesity must be carefully watched for - body craves deficient nutrients
Am I digesting hidden glutens which might affect blood pressure (b/p)

Rx/NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS:
Elevated (b/p) in older women is quite common - menopause effect?

Coated garlic pills 3x a day reduced someone's b/p

B vitamin supplements reduced b/p - when person went off them b/p started rising

Magnesium needed for malabsorption/deficiency to digest calcium - liquid
good but bitter

Possible potassium deficiency could cause elevated b/p

Two people responded that it took 5 tries on various combinations of b/p
medications to get the med. most suitable and with least side effects.

FOSAMAX: drop it if no benefits; lots of side effects and quirks with this;
one person's mother in law had dramatic benefits after one yr.--should have
seen some results after 2 yrs.  Fosamax may or may not have added calcium to
arterial walls--doesn't know

Dr. Murray commented in message of 10/21 that "drugs like Fosamax have
really not been tested in celiac patients at all."

LOTREL: Good drug but side effects; a channel blocker that works on nerve
conduction system and doesn't contribute to arterial dissolution of
calcium

CALCIUM:Does deposit in arteries as we age

ESTROGEN: differing opinions--MD's all feel older women need it but most
replied that they refused to take it because of side effects

GENERAL COMMENTS:  Several people wrote that they, too, had unexplained high
b/p after history of low b/p--also disgusted.  People seem to have a
hard time finding a M.D. who will treat them as a whole patient and not send
them from one specialist to another.  Wish is for a network of MD's that
would be available on list.

URL:    Hypertension Health Network Info:
        http://www.bloodpressure.com/newrsch/wrhane.htm OR
        http://www.bloodpressure.com/newdrugs/(add name of drug).htm

Thank you one and all for the input.  My b/p has come down gradually with no
medication or Fosamax and by taking the Cal Apetit with Boron for calcium,
Garlicin by Nature's Way with hawthorne for hypertension; liquid magnesium
to digest calcium; silicon (horsetail) for nails, hair, teeth, and lowering
cholesterol; a regular all-purpose vitamin (Centrum Silver; and a separate,
good mixture of B vitamins.  Also have cut out all alcohol for the time
being. Hopefully, it will continue to come down and I am on the right path.
If any more replies come in, I will summarize at a later date.