Horrible bp reading at Dr - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

anneh · 11-18-2004, 08:49 PM

I have a phobia about getting my bp taken in Dr office because of a situation a few years ago due to an idiot Dr scaring me, had always had good bp readings all my life until then. Anyway, almost scared myself to death but bought a home bp monitor and plucked up courage and took it, found it generally within safe numbers. Everytime I go to Dr office its 160/80 but last week I went and thought he wasn't going to take it so when he suddenly said he was I felt panicky. Plus first he weighed me and said I had gained 8lbs! That scared me because I had no inkling (my home scale is broken so haven't checked but believe me clothes fit the same but just in case I have eliminated extras in my diet and upping my walking) then he had me sit on the exam table and took my bp and said "wow we do put your bp up don't we" I was really scared to ask what it was but I did and he said 170/90!!!!!! I nearly fainted with shock and couldn't wait to get out of his office (not going back there either) and felt sick inside for days. Anyway, the problem is I am scared to take it at home, stupid isn't it! But thats how I feel. I guess I am telling myself "what if its high at home too". I know I have to do it but how can I get up the courage? I keep telling myself that last time I went thru this all was well when I took it at home (and one time at my gyn office too when a nice nurse took it) and will probably be this time. I am a vegetarian, I juice veggies eat lots of fruit/veggies, low salt etc and walk daily, in my 60's.
anneh

Random2 · 11-19-2004, 07:18 AM

Monitor it yourself for 3 months at different times of the day. You may just have white-coat syndrome at the doctor. Don't stress.

GEORGEP · 11-19-2004, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anneh

I have a phobia about getting my bp taken in Dr office because of a situation a few years ago due to an idiot Dr scaring me, had always had good bp readings all my life until then. Anyway, almost scared myself to death but bought a home bp monitor and plucked up courage and took it, found it generally within safe numbers. Everytime I go to Dr office its 160/80 but last week I went and thought he wasn't going to take it so when he suddenly said he was I felt panicky. Plus first he weighed me and said I had gained 8lbs! That scared me because I had no inkling (my home scale is broken so haven't checked but believe me clothes fit the same but just in case I have eliminated extras in my diet and upping my walking) then he had me sit on the exam table and took my bp and said "wow we do put your bp up don't we" I was really scared to ask what it was but I did and he said 170/90!!!!!! I nearly fainted with shock and couldn't wait to get out of his office (not going back there either) and felt sick inside for days. Anyway, the problem is I am scared to take it at home, stupid isn't it! But thats how I feel. I guess I am telling myself "what if its high at home too". I know I have to do it but how can I get up the courage? I keep telling myself that last time I went thru this all was well when I took it at home (and one time at my gyn office too when a nice nurse took it) and will probably be this time. I am a vegetarian, I juice veggies eat lots of fruit/veggies, low salt etc and walk daily, in my 60's.
anneh

GEORGEP · 11-19-2004, 08:15 AM

I had a similar experience. I would go to the doctors and the nurse would take my blood pressure and walk away. I asked her what it was and she said 140/92. I saw the doctor and mentioned it to him. I asked him if I had hypertension. He just looked at me and his response was he would be treating everyone for it and that I was fine. I felt more relaxed about it and he took it again and this time it was 126/82.. About six months later I had to see the doctor for bronchitis and the nurse took my pressure and she asked me if I had pressure problems? I asked her what the reading was and she said 140/95.. After that I became panicky every time I went and my pressure would always be high at the doctors office. They finally had me monitor it at home and it would range anywhere from 120/80 to 130/88... My doctor told me he was not concerned and let it go at that. Then a year later I had a physical and this time it was 160/100. He put me on Diovan and now my average reading is 115/75. But for awhile I became obsessed with taking my blood pressure and I would get anxious just wrapping the cuff around my arm and I could already feel my heart pounding and my pressure would be higher. Now I am more relaxed about it and I only take it once at night around 8

o ... I was told to only take it once or twice a week now.. Being anxious can raise it alot...

Random2 · 11-19-2004, 08:23 AM

I had a physical and this time it was 160/100

If you have white-coat then B/P meds. aren't going to help lower it at the doc. It doesn't for me. I posted an article from a doctor who is a specialist that has been deleted. I don't know why, but I will try to find it again. You are lucky that you are on a med. that doesn't have a lot of side-effects. I am not so fortunate. I am trying to get off of the Atenolol ( the worst drug in the universe imo) & Lotrel in time. I average 116/66 on the meds. & it can go down as low as 108/62. At the doc. it is still 160/90...I will try to find the response in this article. It explains a lot.