Well after 11 and a half weeks of hospitalisation and Convalescent care I am finally going home today.
I am supposed to monitor my weight blood pressure and heart rate. Weight is fine but is there one machine that you can recommend which does blood pressure and heart rate.
I have looked on line but am concerned that I will spend a lot of money on something that doesn't work!
Few cheap ones will work if you are in AF. BP will record but rate may be well off. Better to pulse check and self count for heart rate in my view.
Thank you Bob. Heart rate is currently around 102 and I am not sure I can multi task! Doctors is only at the top of the road: I can always pester them.
Good luck on your return home to your own bed sounds wonderful, yay. My GP recommended an Omron BP monitor which works well for me and is a mirror of the one my GP surgery uses. I bought mine on line for around £20 on Amazon. Best wishes.
Thank you mead foot. This seems to be the monitor of choice.
Most folk, me included, seem to get on OK with Omron 3 but it is notoriously difficult for anyone in AF to get accurate BP readings. They generally advise you to take the average of at least 3 readings.
My BP rate is all over the place. Never sure if it's me in AF or the machine.
It is difficult Becks, if you are worried about your BP, maybe there is a nurse available at your surgery who could help.
Yes I tried to contact them today but they are closed for "training"?
Well it would be good if it’s true!!
If you are in sinus rhythm, any of those listed below have been validated.
If you are in atrial fibrillation, I would guess that a mercury sphygmomanometer (still used by some older GP’s perhaps ?) is potentially more accurate than an automated device, though my Omron HEM-907 has a manual setting which is for use with a stethoscope.
I am in persistent AF and get up to 15mm variations in systolic pressure using the 3 readings in 4 minutes average function.
EDIT An anaeroid sphygmomanometer (still available I think 🙂) allows the rate of deflation to be precisely controlled which might make it more accurate in AF.
Did hear that the old sphgy was no longer available or in use due to the mercury content
Thank you Oyster. Very informative.
Not just some older GP's. At the practice that I use, you tend to see a different GP on each visit, as they move around so often and the senior partners never have appointment vacancies available. On a recent visit I met a very young female GP who immediately proceeded to check my BP with the mercury sphgy. thingy and stethoscope. I doubt that this is because they didn't have an electronic machine available, and I thought at the time it was because she had seen in my notes that have PAF.
All the best Becksagogo. You’ve been through a marathon hospital/health episode. Enjoy being at home.
Thank you Kaz. I told myself I was going to put my feet up and behave but I haven't stopped pottering!
A good time to come out, the TV programmes are getting more entertaining! I hope you continue to improve, best wishes 💕
Thank you. Thank heavens for catch up TV!
Glad you are home. I use one of those microlife bp machines that will take no and detect AFib. Paid about £70 though.
It seems to be the average price. I think I may go to my surgery which isn't too far away
I hope you are enjoying being home and that you get the help you need re. monitoring your BP
Thank you. It's a mixture of fear and excitement and I have to say that I didn't sleep well as I was a bit worried. It will get better!
All totally understandable. I am sure things will start to settle down and you will soon be sleeping better.
Wishing you a good recovery but you must take things easy.
You can buy manual blood pressure monitors that do not contain mercury but taking your own blood pressure with a stethoscope is virtually impossible.
Also, to use a manual set up requires training and experience particularly for individuals in AF. I would strongly advise seeing if your surgery practice nurse can monitor your blood pressure and pulse rate.
Kind regards
I think I'm with you there with regards to pestering the surgery. Thank you for your advice.
Where to start. Two valve replacements, a repair and ablation on 30th June. Heart failed 19th July pacemaker fitted.
Blood not making red corpuscles so two units given.
Lungs drained of fluid twice.
Released in to Convalescent care around 20th August.
Back in to hospital for more blood (2 units) as a day patient.
Back in to hospital for 4 units following week. Endoscopy didn't show any internal bleeding.
Rivaroxiban stopped and health improved!
Waiting for further procedure as 4th valve leaky! And AF not cured...
Apart from that, all is well.
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