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Anyone else obsessed with their bp readings?

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Posted 1/25/2016 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I should NEVER have bought a home monitor.
Posted 1/25/2016 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Uh-oh...:/

It can be both a helpful tool for monitoring health...

...and an obsessive trigger for more and more anxiety, can't it?

Try your best to limit yourself to what your doctor recommends. Whether that be once or twice a week, or less...really do your best to stick to that. Remember that most people have theirs checked at most, once or twice a year!

Repeated readings will not do you any good...and may in fact be driving your numbers up due to the anxiety/OCD tendencies it is encouraging.

If you can't keep away from taking your BP, you may need to ditch the machine, and depend on your doctor for regular testing.

Wishing you the best my friend,

S.C.
Posted 1/25/2016 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I have one and have been crazed by using it. However, I finally went on BP medication my doctor recommended and it brought my levels to normal. He also encourages me to visit the nurse for free anytime to check it at the clinic. They have a professional machine and I trust their numbers.

So, you can use it as a tool but try to set limits on how much you use it. Say once or twice a week after sitting quietly for at least 5 minutes before you test it.

My son taught me this from a doctor he saw once, she said if I'm not worried about your health concern you shouldn't be worried.
Posted 1/25/2016 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Very good advice above. It sounds like the machine is causing unnecessary stress. For Christmas, my husband bought me a "Spire", basically a fitbit for your breathing that buzzes when your breathing becomes erratic, a sign of stress. Well, as you might imagine, it was buzzing constantly PLUS texting my phone when I was stressed, long story short, I returned the cursed thing.
Posted 1/25/2016 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the advice above. If you want to have it in your home, try and limit it as much as possible/to whatever is necessary. I don't own an at home machine, but I'm the same way with my thermometer. And don't even get me started on my grandparents' blood sugar machine... my fingers were nearly raw from me pricking them obsessively.
Great job on being proactive about your health, but just don't over do it for your peace of mind.
Posted 1/25/2016 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Yeaa I used to have a machine, I was on ateneol for migrane and obsessively checked my bp, mind you I am 30 years ld and have never had a weird reading yet, I had to get rid of it I felt like it was taking over my life.
And the blood sugar readings oh lord, my fingers are still bruised, my husband has a machine lol I'm trying to stay away from it unless I get some startling symptom
Posted 1/26/2016 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, when I was pregnant and dealing with rising blood pressure I bought one and quickly learned it wasn't a good idea. Long story short, I was getting super high readings, going to the doctor and getting different readings. He finally suggested that we test theirs and mine at the same time, and it turns out that mine wasn't even accurate! I threw that thing in the trash and lived with a little less anxiety.
Posted 1/26/2016 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
When I got mine I was obsessed with it and it caused me to have some anxiety... Although mine is super accurate, I only use it when I'm feeling sick or having a bad anxiety attack...
Posted 1/26/2016 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
lol, i can look at one and drive mine up! Peace

Larry ***
Posted 1/26/2016 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Yes I feel into that trap I ended up throwing mine out as I became obsessed with taking my blood pressure.

Hibee
Posted 1/26/2016 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I am obsessed with body temperature.
So my husband hid both of the thermometers at home :/
Because I am sort of panicking if my temperature is slightly elevated.
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