Thank you again to all those people who have posted with reassurance and advice. I have just returned from my GP surgery after seeing a nurse who took some blood to check if Ramirpril is not bad for me and also took my BP. Guess what? It’s was too high again. However I’m concerned that the machine she used had a cuff that was very small-is it true that small cuffs can sometimes give higher readings? (I have very chubby upper arms). Anyway, she was concerned enough to ensure I have a face-to-face appointment with a GP next week. I have so many questions (which I will write down and ask the GP next week). After being changed to 5mg Ramipril 2 weeks ago from taking 10mg Amlodipine for 4.5 years (that’s all I have been taking, no additional meds) and adding 5mg Amlodipine on Saturday just gone after my BP kept creeping up and up over those 2 weeks, could it be that it just takes more time for the Ramipril and now 5mg Amlodipine as well to kick in? How long should I wait to see positive effects of lowering my blood pressure (if any)? Is there a reason my BP meds aren’t lowering my BP? Is anxiety adding to the situation? Am I going mad? Am I worrying unnecessarily? I find myself lying at night waiting for another symptom to appear. I’m hoping I get some reassuring answers next week. In the meantime, I’ll try and avoid Googling things and testing my BP every hour. I’m just feeling so fed up that I don’t know why I have no control over what is happening to my body. It’s so frustrating. Sorry for the rant and thank you for taking the time to read if you have. Keep well everyone x
High BP ongoing: Thank you again to all... - British Heart Fou...
High BP ongoing
Hello 
Ideally I know the cuff is better if it is the right size for someone's arm
I am not sure if it makes a difference to the reading as such but I can imagine if it was to small it must have really hurt and if it did that could have made your anxiety go up and yes if it be the cuff or your anxiety in general that will make your BP higher
Whenever I have been in the Hospital my anxiety is high and they take that into account and always say most get a higher reading than normal when anxious
It can take a few weeks for BP meds to work and you are not going mad and yes you are worrying unnecessarily but so do I and if that is your nature it can be hard to control but that worrying will help keep your BP up so try some relaxation on You Tube or something that makes you feel relaxed
Think positive again not easy but they will sort your BP out sometimes it takes a few attempts but they will get it to a good level and obviously eating healthy and watching salt intake etc , exercise keeping those things up will help to
You are going to be fine and looking forward to the post when you tell us your BP is now stable because it will be but let us know how your appointment goes next week and what the Doctor has to say x
just reading your reply has calmed me down a little. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I will be sure to update after my appointment next week when (fingers crossed) I can get at least some answers and some solutions x
Hello
You will get some answers and solutions there is nothing much they cannot do now and certainly BP is something they can sort out
You will be more than fine till you see the Doctor if they thought you wouldn't be you would have been straight in to see them there and then x
Ramipril and Amlodipine have different mechanisms of action (ACE inhibitor and calcium channel blocker respectively), so it might take a few weeks for the new medicine to take full effect - if you're experiencing a slow increase in blood pressure, this might be the cause. You're not going mad! Glad you've a GP appointment coming up, hopefully they'll answer your questions for you!
You do wonder if stopping taking your BP hourly, might help. Give it a try, my own view is that it might well help.
Also, you have that unsettling feeling of not being in control. It is worth checking if you could
reduce salt
cut back on alcohol
lose weight if you're overweight.
exercise regularly.
cut down on caffeine.
stop smoking.
All can effect BP, and some pretty quickly.
I hope your Appt gives you some answers.
Certainly not mad! This was me before I controlled my anxiety levels.
I started to take my BP less frequently and occasionally found it within normal limits for my age.This gave me hope and confidence going forward.
It took Four months on the same medication before it was under any acceptable control.
Avoid stressful situations ( easier said than done) take up a new hobby, get involved in other peoples lives, listen to music, less salt, drink more water and walk daily if you can although this brought further foot issues for me.
Good luck going forward and keep us posted as this helps us all understand what can be done to reduce BP and the fears surrounding it.
My BP is usually 145/60, but when I went for a camera up my bum, it was 190/70. The nurse said they would not do it if it was so high! I then said it was stress and the grotty stuff I had to drink beforehand (and all the running to the loo) so I did some relaxation and it came down. Also when I had my catherisation to look at my ASD (Atrial Septal hole) it was way over the top, so much so that the machine kept bleeping! Try practicing slow deep breathing before you have it taken, relax your arm and think nice thoughts!
If you are testing your BP every hour , that's most certainly anxiety. YOu need to stop and just do it once a day for a week. BP can rise dramatically when you go to the doc or hospital. It's known as white coat syndrome so you need an average of readings taken at home when you are calm and not worrying about it. If it's then still high, your meds need tweaking. It WILL go down once you stop worrying about it but whether it goes down to an acceptable level is then the question.
As well as white coat syndrome they often take BP in artificial circumstances. You are generally called by the nurse who then heads rapidly off with you half running to make sure they don't disappear into a door and you lose them. You are told to sit down and then they immediately slap the cuff on and take a reading then generally another.
You are supposed to take BP in calm surroundings which includes sitting quietly for five minutes and breathing normally. I have never known this happen so taking a reading on your own machine before attending the appointment is probably better, then the Nurses BP reading can be put in context
You can also go to your local chemist for a BP reading. They will ask you to sit quietly for 5 to 15 minutes before they do it. I also take my own machine along to check it against theirs.
Excellent idea.
I understand only too well how you feel. several meds have been tried to control my high blood pressure over the last 12 months. Now my second week on a new one which seems to have helped bring it down, although there are "blips" at times. I've had to stop myself from checking my BP more than once daily after talking to the cardiac nurse and does seem to help. All the best - you will get there!
Your right I forgot not everyone was like me thin and I already exercise daily.
As promised, an update after seeing the GP this afternoon. It’s great news! My blood tests were all fine and my blood pressure readings are now seemingly better controlled. It seems the mix of Ramipril and Amlodipine is doing the trick. I’ve been taking the mix of the two for two weeks now and have not (touch ALL the wood!) had any unwanted side effects. My ankles used to swell terribly when taking the 10mg Amlodipine on its own but with the 5mg on top of 5mg Ramipril I’ve not had the swelling anymore. The doctor also took my BP with a good old fashioned sphygmomanometer rather than electric machine as he said it is usually more accurate. He recommended for future readings I request my BP to be taken that way. I cannot tell you how relieved I am. I think it’s also helping that I’m losing weight, I feel happier and healthier in myself. Thank you again for all the advice and reassurance. It has helped more than you can know. Stay well everyone xxx
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