Just wondering if anyone has experienced the same as I have with such items and blood pressure measuring devices and weight scales.
I've never seen a new set of scales or blood pressure measuring devices in a medical faculty yet, they are all old and look to be past their use by date.
I have my own top of the range new blood pressure measuring device and is measuring very different to the ones my GP and cardiologists use and same is true of their weight scales, mine is state of the art and measures to weight and age.
It seems to me there is a conspiracy going on that they GP's and specialist - want to make it look like you are still not yet well and still require treatment.
Has anyone experienced that same treatment of those that are meant to make you better, healthier, honestly?
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froggy4x4
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My GP always checks her readings against mine and every so often she asks me to take in my bp monitor so we check each others side by side. We used both hers and mine when she visited me a few weeks ago after I had come out of hospital. On every occasion they have been almost identical.
Hers is calibrated regularly by the surgery and I am asked to ensure the batteries in mine are always topped up.
I have found my bp when in hospital to be quite different to at home but I put some of that down to the stress of being in a worrying environment.
Hi Meadfoot... ok, try measuring your blood pressure with your arm in the air, the one you put the pressure device on and then in the sitting position and compare the results.
Different positions when measuring gives very different results, so what is accurate and was is?
Sounds like you have a honest GP, hopefully I'll find one of them one day.
True, but the measurement should be taken with the cuff level with the heart. That way you are accurately measuring blood pressure at the same 'altitude' as the pump.
Yup... which is not a true indicator of blood pressure when subjected to that syndrome as we are not always in that state - yet its that figure they put down on paper. I call that being dishonest in terms of evidence gathering.
Just a few random thought here. Many people suffer from "White Coat " syndrome where their BP goes up whenever they are at the doctors. Many surgeries such as mine , if you have your own device, will ask for a seven day chart to assess BP with two or three readings per day. In UK at any rate there is no point in them keeping you in the system any longer than needed as they do not get paid any more. As far as weight goes I always take mine naked yet hospitals only ever ask you to take your shoes off. New is not necessarily better and BP machines are notoriously bad at measuring people in AF
Maybe our medical people need to go to the UK to do some proper training. I'm 8 - 9 months post AF and now being bullied and harassed into them making me believe I am still a case, yet no AF to date and all readings I take and all the blood tests for my age come back perfect - A1. So over it now, just wish to be left alone to enjoy life again and stop being harassed by those that haven't helped in the past.
I think there are a few UK sufferers who would wish for a few more follow ups! We seem to get completely forgotten unless we push. I have an annual check with my GP and only see EP if I have a problem or every 2 years.
On a few mornings recently while in bed I've taken my blood pressure and found it a little high. I just take about 15 deep breaths and hey presto it immediately lowers. Memo to self: must check it a bit later to make sure it stays at the lower rate! My surgery use the armband and stethoscope type of method not the machines.
Regarding the blood pressure etc machines, the hygiene of using the same machine as loads of other people concerns me slightly. What if it's been used on someone who has a contagious skin complaint like scabies, or in hospital I wonder if it's been used on patients with D+V. Was in hospital a few years ago and the elderly ladies in the beds opposite me had it. Are those armbands ever cleaned I wonder!
Hi Jean I work on a day surgery unit and the armbands are cleaned with a special cleaning wipe after each different pt use they are also cleaned with these wipes at the start of every shift and sometimes in the evening too .we also wipe the pulse oxometer after Each pt use We have to put a label on the machine that is signed and dated daily so we remember to clean it and we have to sign a cleaning rota! My concern is if you don't see staff doing it at least once are they doing it? Because where I work because of the high turnover of pts it is done so often you are bound to witness it. And I find pts find that very reassuring.
Well I have never witnessed that at my hospital , either in AE or AMU ! I hate putting the rubber finger oximeter on as I imagine all sorts of germs from other fingers being passed on.
in reply to
Yes,I also had same thoughts re
Recent seven day Holter monitor..Six long leads tucked down into my knickers...(how many other knickers/undergarments had they been tucked into) but I had to try and put those thoughts to one side and be gracious ...Difficult though having OCD ...
as a retired district nurse i can only say all electrical equipment was tested yearly blood glucose monitors weekly and BP machines and scales calibrated within manufacturers guidelines what happens in other places probably similar.How many of us have had our equipment at home checked/calibrated
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