Blood Pressure.. what would you do???

Jennabean30 · August 2012

I suffer from an anxiety disorder that really affects my BP especially when I head to the doctors.

At my appointment friday, my bp was 145/93 with a pulse of 153 at my intake and after my appointment it was 141/85 with a pulse rate of 140.

My doc didn't sound to alarmed once I'd explained my anxiety issues and told me that we'd look at my BP the next time. She also mentioned that my pulse rate most likely brought my BP up and that she wasn't all that concerned.

Well, I measured my BP yesterday using a machine I bought at the pharmacy and my BP was 104/63 with a pulse rate of 72.

A friend of mine suggested that I measure my BP twice a day until my next appt and record it so I can show my doc what my real BP is since I'm sort of scared that I might get nervous again and my BP will be equally as high as the first appointment.

My ultimate fear is getting put on BP meds when I don't need them...

any suggestions?

lynn3yb00 · August 2012

I would definately record your BP and take it to your dr. Even though you explained your anxiety issues, your dr needs to know what your normal BP is. Also, if you can take your pulse and record it daily too, that would be good.

Try to record them at about the same time of day, and not after doing anything that would raise your BP too much.When I take BP for my patients (I do home health care) I usually try to get it after they have been sitting for about 5-10 minutes, more if they had done anything strenuous). Anytime there is something stressing you out when you take your BP and it is a little higher, write down why you're stressed, i.e. if you take it in the morning and you have a dr appt that afternoon make sure you write down that effected your BP.

teachingirl28 · August 2012

Totally agree with PP, do it! Also, I think doctors really do take patients seriously when they take the initiative to do things like that and I think your doc will agree with you that you don't need BP meds. The last thing you want is to be on meds you don't need or to have your BP get too low and start blacking out!

alemmon05 · August 2012

I agree with PP too! I think it's important that you feel comfortable and that the doctor gets the whole story!

I totally get that your BP spikes at your appointments. I think I suffer from low BP (I get dizzy a lot, especially now that I'm pregnant) but because I stress myself out so much before my appointments my blood pressure is always within the low normal range. Keep in mind that BP will dip during the second trimester!

aeb20 · August 2012

The EXACT same thing happens to me. My blood pressure is actually even higher than yours when I go to the Dr. It doesn't make sense to them why I would have high blood pressure and they think that it is due to my anxiety. I am supposed to buy a machine and record my blood pressure at home and then they want me to bring in my machine to see the discrepancy between their machine and mine, since I think the at home ones are always a little off.

Anyways I have just been really open with my Dr about how I am pretty sure my anxiety causes my BP and my Dr has been receptive to not putting me on unnecessary meds and just monitoring everything. So my advice would be just keep talking to the Dr about how you feel the high BP is your anxiety and the record of your BP at home should really back that up. Good luck and keep us updated!

Jennabean30 · August 2012

aeb20:
Anyways I have just been really open with my Dr about how I am pretty sure my anxiety causes my BP and my Dr has been receptive to not putting me on unnecessary meds and just monitoring everything. So my advice would be just keep talking to the Dr about how you feel the high BP is your anxiety and the record of your BP at home should really back that up. Good luck and keep us updated!

This was actually one of my original fears and what made my BP go up in the first place. I haven't had the most receptive doctors in the past and some have actually dismissed my anxiety issue altogether. So, I wasn't sure what to expect when meeting my OB for the first time.

Thankfully, my OB was really sweet and didn't make me feel alarmed in the slightest. We spoke about anxiety and how and what it does to the body.

aeb20 · August 2012

Jennabean30:
aeb20:
Anyways I have just been really open with my Dr about how I am pretty sure my anxiety causes my BP and my Dr has been receptive to not putting me on unnecessary meds and just monitoring everything. So my advice would be just keep talking to the Dr about how you feel the high BP is your anxiety and the record of your BP at home should really back that up. Good luck and keep us updated!
This was actually one of my original fears and what made my BP go up in the first place. I haven't had the most receptive doctors in the past and some have actually dismissed my anxiety issue altogether. So, I wasn't sure what to expect when meeting my OB for the first time.
Thankfully, my OB was really sweet and didn't make me feel alarmed in the slightest. We spoke about anxiety and how and what it does to the body.

I'm so glad your OB was understanding. It sounds like you guys are on the same page and that you should be fine just keeping a record of your daily BP.

Also because of my anxiety my OB decided to take my BP before my appt and after my appt which my BP usually goes down the second time they take it after I am all done and not worrying about the appt anymore, so you might suggest that to your office. However I think I just have an aversion to those machines because I literally feel my heart start to race the second I sit down and they put the cuff on me!

shandorfml2 · August 2012

definitely record 2x a day, and you can always refuse medication hun.

ChevyFam717 · August 2012

I would definitely record your BP and discuss your chart/log with your doc next time you go in- this way it prevents you from being perscribed meds if you dont need them but will have you get the meds you need if you DO need them... My BP tends to be higher when I go into the Dr... of course, they always take it right when I get in before they doc tells me everything is OK... they took it last time and it was 150/94 but then took it at the end and it was 124/89... Doc told me to monitor BP and if I get 2 readings over 140/90 to call her for a f/u appt....

mon.petit.chou · August 2012

This is the exact same thing that happened to my BFF. She measured every day at home and it was fine, but at the doc's office it was always super high. they ended up putting her on medication and eventually bedrest, and they induced her at 39 weeks because of it. Whether that was necessary or not, who knows, but in the end she has a beautiful healthy boy. Hope this doesn't scare you, but it's just to let you know they might still want to take action. Good luck!

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