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Posted 3/29/2006 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
You would have thought that after telling these people I have a high anxiety/panic level. They would have thought better of giving me a machine to check my bp twice a week for the next 6 wks. I am driving myself batty with this thing.  I have taken it like six times now. The first reading I got in the morning was 127/79.  Then last night I checked it and it was 153/107. Then checked tonight and it was 145/104 and then 158/110.  Now I am freaking out that I am going to stroke out or something.

I don't know what to do. I am freaking paranoid about these high readings. I have never had my bp higher then 130/90 until now.  My mom keeps telling me to calm down and not worry so much, but i am utterly terrified now that my bp is that high.  Anyone have any suggestions, on ways to calm down. Maybe I should just leave this to a nurse?  Any input would be appreciated.

 

Posted 3/29/2006 4:14 AM (GMT 0)

Hi bandit,  I can sympathize with you greatly in regards to blood pressure problems.  Instead of mine being high I am extremely low.  I also have a monitor and have to take mine twice a day.  It is nerve wracking to see it in black and white staring you in the face.  With the two bp medications I take to keep my pressures up I end up getting high readings when laying down.  I am very orthostatic hypotensive so when I stand my BP drops out and I pass out.  Fun huh?

Anyway,  your readings are high but they dont seem to be stroke material.  I'm not a doctor so I could be wrong here so dont quote me kay :)... Also, did I see in one of your posts that your doctor put you on a high blood pressure med?  If so it will most likely take a few weeks to get to therapeutic level in your body and really start to work.  If not just keep writing down your blood pressures and be as calm as you can until your next appointment.  Panicking is not going to help.  Have you gotten any medication for your anxiety at all?  Perhaps this would help some.  Take care....I am sending positive thoughts your way :-)

Posted 3/29/2006 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
Take a deep breathe through your nose and hold it for five seconds, exhale through your nose for eight seconds

Do this five times and then on the fifth time, hold the breath for ten seconds and breathe out of your mouth for eight seconds.

Do this in sets of three (so fifteen times). The will signifigantly relax you and bring down your pressure.

Bandit, I added my MSN/AIM contacts to my profile. If you need someone to talk to - let me know. I'm going through a really similar problem and wouldn't mind helping out if you need someone to talk with.

Post Edited (dm-) : 3/28/2006 9:21:23 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/31/2006 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Well I give up either my bp is way higher then it should be all the time or I am doing something wrong. I have a hard time believing that all the times I have been to the doctor my bp has been 130/90, but everytime I check it myself it's like 150 something over 100 something. It makes no sense.

My mom promises me that I am not going to stroke out but that I need to get meds if it's that high. Then she tells me to calm down and relax. Well I have calmed down and relaxed and it still reads the same.

I asked a nurse at work and she said that the cuff may be to tight or I am doing it wrong. To come let them do it, which defeats the purpose of what the doctor wanted to check. He wanted me to check my bp outside of the medical community just in case I have something called Whitecoat Hypertension. I am lost on what to do now though. I am really worried about my bp now.

The good side of all of this is that now that I am obsessing on my BP my skipped beat seems to have vanished lol. So I guess it is true that if i can focus on something else I won't notice it. Any ideas on how to check my bp or how accurate these home check kits are? Maybe I should get one from my doctor that I can borrow? I don't know any ideas?
Posted 3/31/2006 3:38 PM (GMT 0)

Hi bandit,

Here is a website for you to check out on bp's.  If you scroll down to "what do I need to do before i measure my blood pressure"  it will explain to you how to do it. 

http://familydoctor.org/128.xml

It can be distressing I know, but your doctor wants your readings and you have to make sure that they are correct or accurate for him to determine if you do need high bp medications.  I do my bp twice a day with a electronic machine that also records my pulse...it keeps the data in the machine but I also record my readings in my day planner.  This goes with me to the doctors office every visit.  My bp runs very low but when I go to see my PCP his nurse doesn't bother to take it right and always comes up with 130/80 or something like this....with my readings my doctor knows that this isn't right.  Especially since I have orthostatic hypotension.  So, just do the best you can....I promise if your readings are in the range that you are posting you wont have a stroke.  Were here for you......

Posted 4/1/2006 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Bandit, are you taking your bp while quietly sitting down? I never had bp problems until a few yrs ago and I was told bcuz i am diabetic i could have a stroke with a bp of 140/90, (my age counted too)

Then like you, i started monitoring my bp every five minutes and started freaking bcuz it steadily climbed until it was 235/120. That was enough to send me to the ER. I finally stopped taking my bp so much, changed my lifestyle and diet, changed doctors until I find one I could trust, and now my bp runs about 130/80.

I think the key is to relax, sit for a few minutes, (think of pleasant things) and take deep breathes; then take your bp. I do this at least three times and average them out. My doctor is happy and so am I. Good luck!
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