Hi. Newby here. I have suddenly developed slow irregular pulse. I use an Omron B/P monitor which is 2 or 3 years old. It consistently records my pulse as 40 ish but if I check my radial pulse over 1 minute I get about 60. If the device can't get the pulse right should I trust the B/P readings? I read a great article about this which confirms my doubts and recommends an analogue device to measure B/P. Does anyone else use an analogue sphygmomanometer at home?
Also I went to G/P Wednesday for ECG and bloods. The phlebotomist took my B/P as soon as I got there. The cuff was not lined up very well and was quite loose. Then she said she couldn't hear it very well, but eventually got a reading which was about 160/90 and that was it. My average BP at home is 145/70 according to my Omron.
My G/P has a telephone appointment with me this morning to discuss my results. I'm really worried she is going to whack in medication on the basis of that reading. I am currently not on any meds, I have no symptoms.
I will discuss my concerns with my G/P. I am worried about the irregular pulse, especially as I am down for hip replacement having told my consultant I am not on any meds and have no medical problems!! Seems I spoke too soon.
I hope your GP gives you some reassurance. Can you have your omron bp monitor checked for accuracy. Are the batteries fully charged.. may be worth investing in a new monitor. Good luck with your GP call.
Hi Meadfoot. Thanks for yr reply. Basically the Omron is not accurate if in A/F - I have been doing a bit of research and found a good article which confirms my suspicions. I am quite happy to get a new monitor - the cost of calibration plus postage is not much less than a new equivalent device and yes new batteries etc. But the best way is an anologue sphygmomanometer and to do 3 readings.
First thing - don't panic ! (I know, easy to say.)Talking to your doctor is the best thing - line up all your questions in advance helps, too. They are unlikely to jump into giving you meds without further tests, and not all meds will interfere with having an operation. Given the importance of a hip operation, and you say you have no symptoms, I doubt they will rush you into anything. (I'm on Verapamil and have had a tumour removed).
So - prepare for your chat with your doctor, explain your concerns, and ask them to explain what they think is happening.
Hi Jaws66.Thank you - very good advice. I am desperate to get hip op and panicking, I know, that I will be stood down. But in grand scheme of things these are small issues compared to other folks health issues.
You certainly could use some good advice from a GP but I'll throw in my experience with home BP monitors in case it helps. I have an Omron BP monitor which we bought in the USA at least 25 years ago. It uses an inflatable arm cuff which you pump by hand with a rubber bulb. I've been using it quite regularly since then and it always gave me numbers that made sense...but (like you) I wondered about its accuracy after such a long time.
Omron is a well known and reliable brand, so I bought another Omron monitor a month ago so I could compare the two. The new one also uses an arm cuff and pumps automatically. I find the new one reads both systolic and diastolic blood pressures about 5mm Hg higher than the old one but they both show about the same heart rate. I too have occasional arrythmias which my GP has said are ectopic beats. I've had them for years. Sometimes it's an occasional missed beat followed by a bigger/stronger beat, sometimes its a "regular irregularity" like 3 beats and a miss, 3 beats and a miss, etc. Missing and or stronger beats certainly confuses my BP monitor and my new one alerts me when it detects irregular heart beats. The old one beeps when it detects a beat so you can hear irregularities.
My conclusion is that the 25+ year old one and the new Omron BP monitor are pretty similar. Hope this helps. If in doubt buy a new one. It's small investment to keep an eye on things.
Hi Mart25. Great to get your thoughts - thanks. Are we allowed to post links on this site? I have found a good recent article (Oct 2019) which basically says if you are in A/F you need to use an anologue sphygy to get an accurate result. Happy to put the link on if it's ok.
Yes you can post links and they seem to work OK. When you insert the link in the reply box it will not recognise the hyperlink, but once it's posted the hyperlink works. I'm not in AF so I have no experience of using a BP monitor with AF but I imagine a normal monitor will not give reliable results. Good luck.
Hi. Ok thanks. So my ECG shows I have. Left bundle branch block ( quick Googling here to get an explanation of what that is in plain language! ) She also agreed the Omron readings will not be accurate so I need to get some readings on an anologue sphygmomanometer and if 160 systolic, get some meds for that, if even to get through my planned surgery because likely they'll stand me down if it is 160.
My GP wanted to increase my BP tablets are a visit to the nurse I said no I would take readings from my monitor twice a day has she requested and send them in. She was happy with the readings do no increase with tablet strength.
To add my tuppence worth. I had svt. I use an Omron bp monitor that has an arm cuff. It works well but every now and then it shows an error signal, maybe due to unexpected readings. My main point though is that I have White Coat Syndrome in that if I get my bp taken in a GP surgery or a hospital it can easily be 190/110 so they want to either send me to hospital or put me on meds. I have to explain that if I take my own bp readings at home it is about 135/85. I had to take recordings 3 times a day for a week and submit them to my GP so they could go on my records.Back to pulse rate, relatively easy to compare with the thumb on your wrist method if in doubt.
Hi, Just to reassure you, I doubt your doctor will “whack in medication” based on a few readings. The norm is to wait for availability of a 24 hour blood pressure monitor, this usually eradicates the white coat syndrome. It is a little awkward as it takes readings automatically 2 or 3 times an hour and worst period I think is trying to get to sleep. The nurse normally gives you a reasonable result the following day and you can then discuss with your doctor.
Forgive me for lack of technical accuracy on my next point.
Electronic blood pressure monitors are fairly accurate, BUT if you are trying to take readings and it doesn’t see a normal sinus heartbeat, maybe ectopic beats it will take longer, may come up with E2 (I think that’s the code) and probably a higher reading. I think that is why the analogue device will give the more accurate reading.
Your main objective is to identify if you have any issues, either blood pressure of maybe an irregular heart beat, then your doctor can prescribe the relevant medication if required. I hope you get sorted and please don’t worry, I’m sure you will be fine.
Hi JohnHosta. Thanks for your response. I have ordered an anologue sphygmomanometer so I can check my B/P at home. I have used these before in a work setting so confident to use with husband's help. My arrythmia is quite frequent definitely not a maybe - like after every 2 or 3 beats it then skips so time and patience needed. Yes radial pulse over minute works.
HAhaha I found that 24 hour BP monitor actually put my BP up dramatically. It always gave a click before it started and I would tense up immediately and my BP woudl shoot up in anticipation AND I didn't sleep at all. It inflated so tight it hurt and woke me up.
Oh interesting - I did wonder about that especially as 3 readings are recommended for A/F regardless of what the first one says. On my Omron if I do 3 readings in quick succession they drop down quite dramatically.
You say the nurse or phlebotomist couldn’t hear it very well. That means she was using a sphygmomanometer, the older means by which your blood pressure is checked. Many doctors place more faith in those over the digital monitors. I would trust the doctor.
After a few hilarious readings (220/ 125, etc)before going in to see a cardiologist he wrote in my notes that a manual SG was to be used in future. To get the best results it helps if you have an experienced person doing the reading.
It is important that they get it right. If you take lots of meds to knock your BP down you can wind up fainting and losing your driving licence. I have permanent Afib which usually doesn't bother me but hitting the floor does.
Hi, I had a few years hundreds up on my BP checking it 5 and even 10 times a day, worried about its ups and downs but my cardiologist put me straight on it and although I check a couple of times a week, variations are normal. My best advise and the same as what I did is invest in a new model, I researched it first and have a boots model and although it cost be £100 for me it was money well spent, its accurate and has given me peace of mind even when I have moments when BP is high that the result is correct. I would suggest if you do invest in a new model that you ask your GP to go on a 24 hour monitor and also a home 7 day check writing down readings morning and evening, its a good way of letting them see after a 24 hour night and day check and a full week check if there is a problem and what to do about it.
Yes certainly worth spending a bit more to get accurate results. My GP is waiting for me to get some readings done. Did you find that the person at the GP took more than one reading?
GP has only ever taken 2 reading, Cardiologist and on going monitoring a couple of years back insisted on taking readings over a longer period and since then I have stayedbon the habit of checking it a couple of time a week. but it needs to be taken away from doctors when you are better relaxed.
Your GP shouldn't put you on any tablets on the basis of one reading. Keep a record of yours to give to her. If you are concerned about your BP Monitor take it to your local chemist to check against theirs. All they need to do is have you rest for a while then take two readings, one with theirs which has been calibrated and one with yours. I assume you have an arm monitor and not a wrist one. The wrist ones are not that reliable. I have an Omron and find it very reliable. My BP is always much higher at the GP's
Hi thanks for your input. TBH I wouldn't be prepared to start any meds until I was confident. I don't do well on any meds. I do have the Omron for upper arm which I got for Mr Unbusy for his white coat raised B/P, but it is not the right device for me. But I will get it checked as we have had it a couple of years altho it is only used very occasionally - until now!
My pulse is so irregular with very long gaps every 2-3 beats the Omron is very confused!
I have no symptoms at all - all this has happened in the last 10 days after a pre-op for hip replacement. I have never had any medical problems at nearly 70, so I am rather shocked to get this diagnosis of LBBB.
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