Another Waste Of Time... Docs Appt. - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

Random2 · 11-10-2004, 11:45 AM

My B/P when I got there was 160/85. My highest reading prior to going to his office over the last 9 months or so was like 140/85 & I average 116/66. I showed him my #'s that I keep. He said you may have white-coat.... you think??? He said, but the EKG that I ran a few months ago showed you with a heart rate of 69. Most people with white-coat have a higher heart rate. I said that I am on Atenolol. He said "Oh that's right". He said that if I want off of the meds. I could do it, but he is fearful. He said to measure my B/P for 4 more months & if it stayed low like it has for months then I can get off of the meds. I took my B/P 20 minutes later on my own & the 1st measurement was 122/76....white-coat.... you think.

B) He said my weight is fine & healthy & all of my tests are fine. He said that it's better to be on the thin side at 150. It was my weight when I saw him 3 months ago, so I guess a lot hasn't changed.

C) He said the redness could be part of the B/P meds., but I'm healthy & my complexion looks great (maybe some of it is in my head?)

D) He said that Atenolol wasn't the cause of the stomach problems & that it was anxiety. He said that he has the same thing from time to time.

What do you do from here. I have white-coat. My measurements are fine outside of his office after many many months of monitoring. What is the point in another appt. in 4 months? More of the same.

I left feeling like, why did I do this in the 1st place. He also said that anyone taking B/P meds. should have a blood test once a year... A waste of an appointment..... it sure seems like it. He wants me to come back in 4 months for what? To see that I have white-coat & that my B/P is lower (a lot lower away from his office). What is the point in having an appointment every 4 months? Yesterday my B/P was like 111/67.

redherring · 11-10-2004, 12:18 PM

I feel for you Axe. Everytime I see my doc, she gets upset because she says my BP is boderline high and keeps wanting to put me on Norvasc (sp?). I keep refusing because every where else my BP is 110/75 and the highest being 120/80. When I go to her office, my BP is 145/90! I'm stressed out evertime I see her because I know she's going to chew me out for not letting her put me on BP meds. Good luck. I really hope you can get off the meds. It sounds like you everything under control.

Random2 · 11-10-2004, 02:00 PM

It makes me wonder how competent some of these docs. are!!! When he said I don't know if you have white-coat, because your heart rate is 69, I said that you put me on Atenolol, which keeps it low.... he said, "yeah you're right". "You can go off of the meds., but I don't know if that is a good idea." I want a doc. who knows what he is doing. With readings like 108/64+ days prior to my appt. & 156/85 or so in his office, what does it sound like??? White-coat? He even told me in a prior appt. that I have white-coat. Now he forgot. I don't get it. 3 different docs. & a specialist in 20 months & I'm still in the same place. Do GP's do anything, but check your B/P, give EKG's & look at blood test results, as well as prescribe? This doc. acts like I am perfectly healthy & there is no reason to come back until I want to last time. This time he sets an appointment for 4 months from now for a follow-up. When my B/P was 122/76 30 minutes later our of his office, it really makes me wonder.

bharkins · 11-10-2004, 02:09 PM

Axe,

Sorry to hear that the appointment did not turn out the way you had hoped.
I really don't think you can take another four months of this frustration. Take the hour drive. Good luck

Random2 · 11-10-2004, 02:37 PM

It's almost like I was instructing him on why I have white-coat after he told me that I had white-coat before. If he looks at average #'s like 116/66 & 108/64 & sees 156/85, what would that show him???? Why would he want me to come back in 4 months? So he can tell me that I have white-coat again. Treat the anxiety 1st!!!! Not the blood pressure. If anxiety is the cause, then treat the anxiety. He didn't mention it once. I know that it's easy to say find another doctor, but after 3 docs., 1 specialist & 2 psychiatrists, I am starting to think about going to Medical School. I have more knowledge on B.P then these clowns. He looked at me like 94 year old people look at me when I take my B/P.... you're healthy & young what are you doing here.....