Struggling to keep blood pressure down.

[A-new-me]

I have had blood pressure problems for years but usually the levels are worse when tested by the nurse at my diabetic 6 monthly check. However, even my checks at home are now showing high sometimes. It's ok after a walk but high in the morning and evening.

Does anyone else have a different reading in each arm? When in hospital (I had sepsis) it was discovered that there was a huge difference. Then my right was ok and left was very low - now left is ok and right is very high. Doctors say I've to use the right arm as the actual reading.

I'm on Amlodipine, Perindopril, Bisoprolol, Aspirin and Simvastatin. I'm also on 2x Metformin (500mg).

[exDancer]

Yes, mine are always different, and yes my left arm is usually lower - I think this is quite usual. Its also usual to have white coat syndrome, in fact when I went into the Day Unit for some injections into my feet last week, there were two of us with the same problem. The nurses were laughing about it. My own readings were, as far as I can remember, 185/103 and subsequent ones were higher. They almost sent me home.

Do you have your own moniter? If not, do see about getting one when they're on offer - if you pick your time you can pick one up at under a tenner - and take your own reading (jot it down) every day. After a few days I think you'll find it settles to a more reasonable level. I took my readings into hospital with me and the duty doc accepted them as genuine thank goodness.

To my mind (and this is just me) the fewer of these pills we can manage to do without the better as they all have side effects one way or another.

Deep breathing helps - but its not always easy in the clinical environment.

[A-new-me in reply to exDancer]

I do have my own monitor and usually take a few days' readings when I go for a check. Last week's situation was slightly different in that even my readings were raised a number of times. I have been taking readings more often, to try to work out a pattern and found the lower ones are immediately after a walk.

I am also checking my blood sugar levels more often and have found that they are usually raised when bp is high. After a walk, sugar levels are also lowered.

I realise I need more exercise but I am still recovering from sepsis and easily get tired. I also need to lose weight. I have started to take it all a bit more seriously, which is why I joined this group.

I have next blood pressure check in 2 weeks and would love for it to be lower so that I'm not put on more pills.

[exDancer in reply to A-new-me]

Well, you don't have to accept the pills. Do question everything.

If you're finding your readings are high over a short period you might like to check that you aren't feeling at all stressed at the moment. Mine have soared this last week, but (as you may have read from a previous post) we had an engine stolen from our Land Rover (another story too long to go into here) and my BP was in the clouds. Its still high over a week later although I now feel relativly calm - it just goes to show you don't know how your body's reacting to everyday frustrations.

Try the deep breathing exercises recommended by 12345 on this forum - they helped me.