I was visited by the respiratory nurse at home last week, who told me my chest sounded clear although I was quite breathless. My temperature was fine and sats 92%. However when she did my blood pressure she was concerned as the both readings were 200/110 and told me to see my doctor. She recorded the measurements and said her report would be on my doctors desk by next morning and I needed to get there as the reading was "stroke high". I had an appointment with the doctor the next day who took another reading and told me it was within an acceptable range and they would keep an eye on it. She offered me no further appointment or advice and told me to continue on the same dose of Amlodipine 10 mg daily. Should she have referred me for further tests.
In the past I have told my doctor I often feel a great pounding and pressure in my neck and chest which often wakes me up at night, headaches and vision problems and occasional bouts of feeling a bit dizzy but they don't seem to listen. I have had sleep studies at hospital done by my consultant (who is helpful) at the chest clinic which show that I do not sleep very deeply and that is probably why I wake up tired but nothing was suggested that could be done. I am on maximum treatment for the emphysema as it is end stage so not much can be done for me, but when I go to my GP I feel like they have already written me off when I complain of other symptoms. I also have osteoarthritis as I am told the steroids have thinned my bones, I take Alendronic acid and calcium for this and have quite a lot of pain. Also a hiatus hernia for which I take a lot of prescription meds. I just want to feel better than I do and have some reassurance that if am going to have a stroke or a heart attack then there have at least been preventative measures in place.
I want to fight all these illnesses every step of the way but I don't feel my GP is on my side.
Written by
patomic
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According to the Mayo Clinic complications of COPD include high blood pressure.
"COPD may cause high blood pressure in the arteries that bring blood to your lungs (pulmonary hypertension). This puts great strain on the right ventricle of your heart and may cause your ankles and legs to swell."
Maybe you need to go back to your GP and say how worried you are?
What is the best way of stopping people from using the resources of the NHS? - Get GPs to ignore them via financial incentives. Unless you are a VIP - (MPs etc -) of course.
Then the only option is to go private.
I have been asking my GP to arrange a visit for me to a Sleep Unit for over 6 months. I have not had one normal / good night's sleep for over 4 years! It is wrecking my life.
Finally I was told "this area has no such facility available" (no funding) my GP could / would not even tell where I could go private, which I can't afford. "I don't know this area" she said. Unbelievable!
This after 8 visits to the GP - 7 to hospitals for tests I never asked for. 6 visits to my home by a pschologist. All these a waste of my time and the NHS's money.
There is a "sleep unit" in the Royal Berkshire hospital about 10 miles from where I live.
The only medication I am one is for blood pressure.
I wake EVERY morning feeling literally like death warmed up and am at my wit's end.
I feel I have been given the "run around" by my GP hoping that I will go away.
What does one do? - complain to the practice manager? HA! she is the surgery nurse! what a farce!
You are entitled to ask for a second opinion. Have you considered changing your GP?
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