what am I supposed to do now

[jim1953]

hi i have been having on and off problems with my angina i have had a stent fitted and been on different tablets and strength i have been to A&E a few times but they have found nothing, my GP has contacted the cardiologist they have told him to control by medication hence different tablets and strength now for that last couple of weeks i have a constant headache and neck ache i feel pulsing in my head and the GP asked me to take regular bp which i did over 4/5 days and got an average 160/95 and a pulse of 60 i also get dizzy when standing and loss of appetite. i am a male aged 68 years overweight ( although i have lost 30 kg over 2 years so trying ) i now weigh 106 kg . and 6ft.. i also suffer from depression which is not happening to me now my GP has said he is recommending a cardiologist referral .. but what do i do i have just done a bp and its 180/100 while at rest, and sometimes i get pain behind my eyes. i don't want to go to A&E in case I'm wasting their time do i just wait to get a referral this is getting me so down

[Hidden]

Hello

I am so sorry that you are suffering I really am

I am not an expert but that blood pressure is really to high and if you are not feeling well I would not hesitate to either phone 111 for advice or go to A&E

I had 3 heart attacks before my Bypasses were done and in between a had a few false alarms where I was not sure and I would say to the staff I was sorry and there reply would always be do not be sorry and if ever you are not sure you bring yourself up here and get checked out that is what we are here for

I am sure your Hospital would say the same thing that is what they are there for to

Please make that call to 111 or go to A&E and get checked out

Let us know how you get on x

[jim1953 in reply to Hidden]

thanks for your quick reply i will phone 111 tomorrow as i have to sort my dog out first

[Hidden in reply to jim1953]

Hello

I understand you want to sort your dog out but 111 are there 24/7 and you have to put your own health first so you are well enough to look after your dog who obviously means a lot to you

So maybe you might still make that call tonight

Look after yourself x

[10gingercats]

If your doctor has asked you to do blood pressure checks I guess he/she wants to know the results.Sounds reasonable you report back after following his/ her instructions for a few days.

[jim1953 in reply to 10gingercats]

i did give him the results that is why he said he was going to do the referral sorry did not make that clear and thanks for your reply

[Griff-64]

An average of 165/95 is a bit high, and the 180/100 reading just taken at rest would have me phoning 111. That's what they are there for, to give advice or if they think it needs someone to come out and check you over, they will.Good luck 👍

[Newcastle53]

I think your reply to Jim is harsh. He has already explained he has lost 30kg in the last 2 years so is already taking steps to address his weight. Despite being 106kg 180/100 is not a normal bp at restalong with dizziness he mentions and pain in eye. This would suggest his bp and related symptoms needs to be assessed sooner rather than later.

[seniorita]

Ring 111 telling them how you are feeling, what your BP is and what meds you take and when. I get sudden jumps in BP with a heart rate similar to yours so know how it feels.Well done on your weight loss, you're doing it the sensible way, slow but steady, best way to keep it off.

I also understand your reluctance to seek help when you're unsure how necessary it is, but I have NEVER been made to feel I was wasting anyone's time by 111 or paramedics. One paramedic said to me "It's okay, you've tried to manage this yourself, but now you need some help It's okay."

Most of us have no medical training, only what we have learned about our own health.

After one episode when I cancelled the ambulance having waited nearly 7 hours, the symptoms had abated by that time, I rang my GP and asked if I had overreacted. She would have preferred me to still go to A&E, and suggested arranging a lift if that sort of delay was happening in the future.

[Tricia7048]

Sorry you are feeling like this. What you are describing is exactly how I felt when my bp was too high, before I got 3 stents, even pain behind the eye. Let your gp know how high your readings at rest.are and hopefully he will be able to help lower it or phone 111 for advice. Thats why they are there, to help you. Wish you all the best.

[richard_jw]

We are talking medium term and short term (i.e. now) BP of 180/100 is worrying and needs to be assessed etc.

[jim1953]

sir/madamethank you for your input i have just done a BMI calculator on the NHS website and the site recommended losing another 5,3 kg hardly WELL in the obese category i walk 3-4 miles a day with my dog i think your observation of my status is wrong. my doctor as i said was/is concerned about my high bp.. as for the tea and sympathy quote that's offensive and this sort of reply does not help me make a decision to go to A&E..

but thanks for the input

[kkatz]

I would echo Newcastle 53 's reply .Very harsh.Have you ever had a weight problem and did you conquer it ?Jim has done well with 30kg.that is is nearly 5 stone & excercise can be difficult when overweight.

[kkatz]

You are so lucky.You probably had parents that educated you on a healthy diet.Never had to eat junk food because it was all you could afford.Never had to try excercise with the equivalent of 20 to 30 bags of sugar weighing you down. As I say very lucky.Please try to consider the possible reasons as to why people are overweight.

[jim1953]

perhaps you should change your name from outoftheblues into iamaperfectperson and try to hold out the hand of compassion you have no idea why i was overweight one clue is that i have depression which i mentioned in my first pot try thinking about that and why i have that condition. i am sorry you lost your parents at an early age and am sorry i dont come up to your high standards. i wish you well and a happy long life this is my last messaage on this

[Jack2019]

Not so black and white. You say you have always eaten right and exercised and are at a normal weight yet you find yourself on a heart forum. Weight is a complex problem on both sides of the spectrum and every pound in-between.

[jim1953]

hi friends just an update i finally did go to the A&E just over 10 days ago due to symptoms getting worse headache neck ache and feeling really ill i waited in triage for two hours when i saw the nurse my bp was 201/114 they took blood did a f.a.s.t test and than waited for bloods result and everything was fine they said my heart was good as my bp went down they said to go back to my gp as they could not prescribe meds but would refer me to the cardiologist i did go to my gp he was as frustrated as i was he equated it to tennis going backward and forwards he tried yet another tablet to try and control my condition after taking the new pill for a week i now have developed postural hypertension and he has said he is now over-prescribe me so i now stopped taken that pill so here am i sat her now having a weekly visit to the doctors and an now when walking the dog walking as if i am drunk ....

my depression is now kicking in as am very despondent my doctor has written a letter to the cardiologist for an urgent appointment he has run out off ideas to help as my condition will revert back to where it was before i started this aren't i a lucky boy