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Blood pressure

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bakebeans

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hello, I received a text today from my dr asking me to either record a diary of my blood pressure or go in and use the machine and give the results to the receptionist. I queried this as my blood pressure has never been mentioned as being high before and the reply was it could be because of any medication I’m on. The only thing I take is the contraceptive mini pill and when I was last prescribed it it was the beginning of lockdown so it was prescribed without my weight or blood pressure being take as usual so I’m guessing it’s that.
I went in tonight and used their machine I got 3 different readings
1) 171/78
2) 149/77
3) 111/61
I gave the receptionist the lowest and she seemed happy with that but I’m now wondering if I should have given her all 3? From what I’ve read the first is very high but I had just driven over there at a busy time in a new car I’m not comfortable with and I was very anxious about the whole thing. I should probably have sat and relaxed for a little while instead of going straight in. My dad has a home blood pressure monitor and whenever I’ve used that before it’s always been fine.
Those reading where done within 3 minutes of each other so does that mean because it came down it was probably high because I was anxious?
 
Hi. The NHS is obsessed with measuring BP and weight regardless. They ignore a BS measure unless you are diabetic. I always do my tests at home and give them and the average over several days to the DN for my review. She puts these on the system and avoids her wasting her time at any review. Surgery tests are rarely done properly.
 
I have a home kit it wasn’t expensive and works well
 
Stress/anxiety and having just done some strenuous exercise are 3 things which raise blood pressure. I always test high upon arrival at GPP surgery and then well within range after being there for 20 min or so.
 
I think I might buy a monitor and check it myself. I was really getting a grip of my health anxiety and boom this is threatening to set it off again. I hate that I couldn’t speak to anyone it’s was done though ask my gp and when I gave the receptionist the results it was over the phone in a room full of people, all I wanted to do is get out of there
 
There aren't many people (if any) I know of that get a good BP reading at a GP surgery and especially wouldn't at the moment, mines used to be very high when tested there so they got very concerned about me to the point I was sent home with a 24 hour BP monitor and sent for heart scans, all of which came back fine so I wouldn't be too worried my lovely xx
 
bakebeans said:
1) 171/78
2) 149/77
3) 111/61
Click to expand...
That's a big difference! Did I understand the post correctly? Did you have your BP taken at the surgery? And then had to give your results to the receptionist yourself? Why didn't the HCP just enter it on the system?
 
Ralph-YK said:
That's a big difference! Did I understand the post correctly? Did you have your BP taken at the surgery? And then had to give your results to the receptionist yourself? Why didn't the HCP just enter it on the system?
Click to expand...
The way I read it is they used the machine available in the surgery and that they didn't actually have an appointment, my health centre has a machine and that behind a curtain in the waiting room for people to use although I don't know if its in use during the current time xx
 
Kaylz said:
There aren't many people (if any) I know of that get a good BP reading at a GP surgery
Click to expand...
A while ago there was a programme on the radio, where they talked about BP targets. They talked about differences between home readings and surgery readings. They said that the targets had been taking into account the White Coat Affect.
BP being higher when taken by a HCP is a known thing, and they should allow for that.
 
Kaylz said:
The way I read it is they used the machine available in the surgery and that they didn't actually have an appointment, my health centre has a machine and that behind a curtain in the waiting room for people to use although I don't know if its in use during the current time xx
Click to expand...
Oh. I used to always have an appointment. At my new practice it's usually just been taken whenever, by HCP. Never heard of a machine for people to use themselves.
 
It’s a machine in the corner of the waiting room (not even behind a curtain so I was very aware of everyone around me) stick your arm in, press the button and it’s spits the results out at you. I knew I was anxious when I got there as I was worrying about the drive, only had my new car a week and it couldn’t be further away from my old car so was tense the whole drive there. I should have sat and waited 5 mins before going in but I just wanted to get home, silly really.
 
They don’t tend to panic too much about the top number if the bottom is relatively stable and in normal range. When it starts to go over 200 they will most likely to an ecg to check. Mine has been being monitored as I started getting readings of 200/101 etc but when they dropped to 150-170/ 79-90 they weren’t too worried currently. A “standard” reading is 120/80 that’s the it everyone was perfect etc etc
 
bakebeans said:
I think I might buy a monitor and check it myself. I was really getting a grip of my health anxiety and boom this is threatening to set it off again. I hate that I couldn’t speak to anyone it’s was done though ask my gp and when I gave the receptionist the results it was over the phone in a room full of people, all I wanted to do is get out of there
Click to expand...
I always get higher readings at the Practice or hospital. I bought a machine for home and I now monitor my BP the week before an appointment am and pm and then report the average of these for their records. They are happy with that.
 
It's a machine you stand on which does your height and weight, then you stick your lower arm into a channel at shoulder height where there's a wrist monitor to take your BP - it can't go down small enough to get a BP from me though!
 
I also had the high end of ideal BP when the nurse first took it and it went down to ideal the 2nd time. White coat syndrome combined with get me out of here. I now have my own BP machine and take it when I remember. My BP is in the ideal range. One thing I can stress less about during the annual ordeal at the clinic.
 
1) 171/78
2) 149/77
3) 111/61
From what I have been told by doctors taking blood pressure, the first (systolic) measurement is not too important and one goes by the second (diastolic). If this is under 80 you are winning. (Ideally one aims for something like 120/80). I have also been told by nurses that, if the figures of the first reading are high, you must always wait a few minutes, take it at least once again, and record the lowest. From those you give, I would not say that you had much of a problem. A pharmacist recommended an Omron meter, available in Boots. You put the cuff on and it works automatically to give you a reading if you are worried.
 
I have been told the systolic number (top number) is the most important as this tells you about risk of stroke or heart attack.
 
if the doctors do the readings and it is high on the first they usually will then do best of 3 attempts and take the best reading or if it is still high they might request more readings before deciding on BP meds.

i now do home tests as i all ways white coat at the surgery more relaxed at home and you don't feel rushed.

getting a technique at home can be challenging to say the least to stop the machine blowing its top.
 
Last time I took mine on the machine at the surgery it was over 200/143, I handed the ticket to reception who told me I needed an emergency appointment, she said the next one was in 2 weeks and thought it was ok to book this despite me pointing out that 2 weeks is not emergency! I went home and called 111 who were amazing and got me straight to hospital who were also amazing, hospital saw me straight away as a stroke risk so no waiting. A complaint went in to the GP surgery and they have assured me that they have changed the way they practise regarding this!!!
Always take it at home now.
 
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