Hi all. I posted a message some months ago regarding my BP, I went to the GP and ended up in hypertension crisis 200/110! My GP made me sit in the surgery for couple of hours and started me on amlodipine, this was fine until I had horrific side effects and ended up unable to walk, after few weeks was diagnosed with severe anxiety and stress so started on citalopram and propananol plus ramapril 5mg, it's been over a year now and I feel really good in myself and happy but have a phobia now of the BP machine, I had my own monitor but my family banned it as it made me worse, really want to visit GP and check it but very scared of Getting a high reading. I have worked so hard to change my life and don't get stressed and do yoga daily, anyone else feel the same? I am 38 yrs old
hails63112...Anxiety & stress will certainly boost up the bp readings. I can't go to the Dr.'s office without feeling anxious, then of course, the readings are quite a bit higher than they are at home. My doctor has come to realise/accept this, & was pleased with the readings I gave him. He certainly knows that seeing him for anything about my bp makes me anxious. So you see, I too have a phobia about having my bp taken whether it be at the Dr. office, OR at the Chiropractor. In fact, I don't believe the Chiropractor took the reading properly (the cuff wasn't very snug). You went on to say it's been over a year now, & you're feeling really good. I hope you didn't mean that you haven't taken your bp readings in that time. It's important to monitor your bp at home if you have a machine, but don't get into the habit of taking it too often. This can create anxiety you don't need. Don't take the readings if you feel ill, pain, or anxious. You must be completely relaxed. I know, you likely look at the machine the moment the cuff inflates to squeeze your arm, then you feel anxious, OR you feel the anxiety setting in when the machine is about to lower to give you the reading. You must try your best to stop all of this. If you're not completely relaxed, don't take the reading. Anyone taking bp medication should be seeing their doctor every few months if it's fairly well controlled, or more often if it isnt'. Perhaps you might make an appointment to see your doctor. Cheers!!
Hello! I'm 39 and recently I have been having a few anxiety episodes. I'm on lisinopril and have been since I was 15. There is a condition called 'white coat syndrome' where you get stressed and anxious in the presence of doctors & dentists. My mother has it and the doctor said it is a known condition. Her BP sky rockets when she has to go to see the doc which then gives an over exaggerated reading on the machine.
my anxiety I think is just a lifestyle and age thing. I get my mind into the hobbies & interests that I enjoy to take my mind of the other things that bother me. I hope you feel better soon.
This may seem simply - but I was diagnosed about 15 years ago with hypertension and started on Amlodipine at 5 mg, then 3 years ago it was upped to 10 mg as BP had slowly risen. A year ago, because of a great deal of stress, I contracted an autoimmune disorder which was diagnosed as PMR, this required me to be put on a high dose of steroids for an extended period. The result was my BP dropped and my GP reduced my Amlodipine back down to 5 mg, in fact my personal readings are now below borderline. The reading at the surgery were always higher BUT the practice introduced volunteers to take BP reading which consisted of 3 at 5 min intervals - since then my reading have gone down (no stress not the doctor!!) The other thing I personally have done is taken up Tai Chi for gently exercise and to reduce stress and it appears to be working well. I'm 75, not over weight and quite fit, so a rise in BP is expected when you get older but I've not ever reached your levels!! Best of luck.
Thanks Mike, my last reading was 27th December which was 119/78, I was so relaxed and chilled but at the start of a panic attack it was back up to 181/110, it's so bad, I heard that bp medication doesn't work anyway if it's anxiety related! Am due to go back soon for check up and very nervous! Think I cause my own bloodpressure! Thanks
Hi again hails63112. Wow!..You've not had a bp reading since Dec.27.
That's a long time. Did you take the reading yourself? or was that at the Dr.? You're so right, anxiety most certainly does drive the numbers UP.
You saw proof of it. Nobody knows better than I, about what you're going through. I can be fine at home, get very reasonable readings, but the moment I step into the Dr.'s waiting room, I become nervous, & anxious which means that when the nurse takes my bp reading, the
numbers are much higher than at home. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my doctor is very well aware of what happens in the office, but I monitor my readings at home, & he accepts those. BP spikes from moment to moment, which is normal. I'd be willing to bet that once you're totally relaxed, etc...your reading would be where they should be. You said you were due to go back to the Dr. soon for a checkup, & yu're very nervous. You're already worrying about something that's happening 'down the road'. Try your best to get out of that mindset.
Yes, you may be a little anxious the day of the appointment, but don't let the appointment get to you now.
Thanks Mike, for all your support. I haven't done my BP since December as I was advised to learn to relax, make positive lifestyle changes And take some medication for anxiety. I had readings prior to December for 3 times a day + , my parents then banned the monitor as I kept having a panic attack when the reading was high, my dream is to pluck up the courage to have it checked and it be fine. Nice to hear from you having the same thing so I am not alone! In general I feel great and happy and full of energy , can't believe how stressed out I was. Let's hope it's a low reading at the appointment. Thanks again for your help
hails63112...You're most welcome. How well I know what you went through. Just looking at the bp monitor made me a little nervous,but in time that goes away...believe me! It's just a machine, just will give numbers, so why let it run our lives?. ..That's ridiculous, but at times we can't help it.
You're bigger than the machine..you can do this. Remember, the key here is to completely relax. If you feel yourself becoming anxious..walk away from it.
😊
I received a message that you had sent me a reply, but I have not received it.
Hi mike, how's you?
Still having phobia with BP machine! Had a panic attack when the GP tried to put the 24 HR machine on me, the machine said error and wouldn't work, the nurse said it was because my bp was so high! I am so scared. Still don't know if I have true hypertension or if I panic, any advice you can offer would be great. Thanks
Hello hails63112...I'm certainly not a technician by any stretch, but I fail to see why a machine would say 'error', & not work because the bp was so high!!!!??? Just 'why' the nurse would say that to you is also a mystery.
Naturally, that would make you even more upset. Did they ever get a machine for you that was working???? Truly, you need to learn to relax,
or to learn some relaxing techniques.
If my memory serves me correctly, do you not have your own bp monitor? Usually, we are far more relaxed in our own homes, without the white coat symdrome. If you feel anxious, do not take the readings, as most likely they will be rather high. Only take the readings when you're relaxed..never after drinking tea/coffee, exercising, showers, etc...unless at least 30 min. have passed. That also includes smoking.
I don't know what else to suggest..but if you have any further questions, feel free to ask. I'll help as much as I can.
Thanks so much, I appreciate your reply, on a daily basis, I now feel so much better and have worked so hard to relax, I do yoga every day as well as normal exercise, in fact recently I have felt fab! I am afraid of taking at home now as well, my friend says that I have post traumatic stress , have been thinking of being hypnotised? Don't know what else to do as GP wants a reading and I can't do it! Thanks again didn't manage to get machine fitted because I was in such a state.
Hello again, hails63112. Again,I fail to understand just why a monitor can't be fitted because of your anxiety.There are no needles, etc...Basically, it's a portable bp monitor which is programmed to take your bp approximately every 20 min. or so..& the numbers are recorded within the little box.
If you don't mind my asking...what type of post traumatic stress do you have? Did you have a terrifying experience, or does it all have to do witht he bp machine. You never know, hypnosis just may help you...the hypnotist or whoever would do the hypnotising would make you believe the machine will not aggravate you...you won't feel uncomfortable about it...but it's something you eventually will have to overcome, else you'll never get accurate bp readings. I think I know what happens to you...you can feel absolutely fabulous,..exercising, etc.etc...then when the idea comes to mind that it may be time to take a reading, you feel yourself becoming very tense, yoiur heart beats faster, & you're almost to the point of shaking. In your mind, you're worrying that the numbers will be high. Am I correct? THAT my friend is most definitely anxiety caused by the very idea of having your bp readings taken. Perhaps hypnosis is the way to go. To keep pumping you with bp meds truly isn't the answer because your readings may not truly be as high as they are on the machines all because of anxiety.
My readings have been quite good of late...yet when I saw the GP last week, I was nervous; anticipating what was going to transpire, etc. Yes, the reading was elevated (a little) but theGP knows about my anxiety once I attend the office, & he looks over the numbers I give him that wre taken at home. In fact he said to me..."no need to feel self-conscience about the white coat syndrom. It's more prevalent than you think".
There you go!
Please let me know how you get on. Cheers!!!
Thanks Mike, you have been very helpful, yes you worded it so well, I had a traumatic incident 2 years ago when I went to GP for check up, whilst I was there they checked my bp and it was 200/110 the GP looked so scared and I had to sit in a room for 2 hrs , the doc said she had to check I wasn't having a stroke! since then I got diagnosed with anxiety disorder from chronic stress in my life at the time. I am so scared now if the same things happen again, well done you for getting good readings, bet you feel so relaxed. Thanks again
Dear Hails I'm exactly the same as you. I'm 70 now but when I was 23 my BP went higher and higher I decided to keep away from doctors. 20 years ago I bought an omeron and I got good readings then a few months later I got stressed out and got high readings that just got higher so t threw it away. I fefuse to have my BP tested I'm too terrified but I developed early stage kidney damage which can be caused by bp. The doctor said she must check my BP but I said no no so I bought a new omeron. For weeks I kept looking at it with ever increasing fear till finally I read that if I do it often I'll de sensitise so I made myself take it and it's been getting higher all day. It's now 229/115. I can't go on like this no one has ever understood the hell I go through. The more you try to control the anxiety the more you give it energy and the higher it goes.
Hi,
I'm wondering how you're doing today? I have this blood pressure phobia as well..
Thanks Nathan 72763
Thankyou for your support, through the phobia councelling I am having to realise that I am feeding my phobia by thinking my BP will be high then it is high through anxiety so the whole thing starts again! I would say to you that you have had a problem since your 20s, and you are now 70 I'd say you are okay, It's a horrible thing but helps that you share your experiences. my BP is all over the place and my therapist things my GP should Write a paper on me! I don't know any more. Good luck to you and wish you health
Thank you Ore go John -uk
Oh yes apparently I defy medical science! Don't know what that means! My BP is all over the place , I am 38 yrs old, exercise daily, eat healthy, feel well, great and happy but I struggle with anxiety and stress! I never get 2 similar readings in a row, it's weird! I am so sorry to say but I had amlodipine and it nearly destroyed my life! I take indapamide now but my GP won't increase although my bp still high because he feels it's anxiety and stress. good luck to you
Yes hails we know what the phobia guy is saying but does he suggest how to overcome the problem?
im in UK I dont think we have phobia councillors here.
20 years ago before I was phobic with my omeron I would get ok readings at home but I only had to imagine I was going to the doctor to get checked and the bp would rocket.
ive tried with a new omeron I bought recently and it took me a week looking at it as I was so scared finally I took the plunge at took 6 reading which just kept going higher and higher so I stopped as I thought I'll be dead. The whole things a bloody joke.