anxious/nervous to take blood pressure

[denobeano]

Is anyone else deadly afraid/anxious to take your blood pressure?

[Celtic]

Yes! Especially as it is resistant to all the treatment I’m on, or that my body is able to tolerate. I have therefore stopped checking long ago although I’m not recommending the same for anyone else!

[Latham51 in reply to Celtic]

I call mine an absolute phobia with regard to BP taking. When I had to spend a night in hospital, while waiting for hours in A and E, my BP was very alarming, systolic 236. Then the more often would take it and the worse it would be because of my huge fear, and actually my anger at them taking it. In my case I consider it dangerous to take it when I am in such a state of fear. The day after my night after staying in hospital, the readings fell dramatically (still in a hospital bed). The doctor wrote on the report that my BP substantially reduced, without medical intervention.

I am equally terrified in any corner of a GP surgery. My fear is they will see the reading and send me to hospital.

However, I am lucky that I am quite happy with a 24 hour monitor at home and not in a medical environment and that is where I get the best most representative readings,

[Happyrosie]

A lot of people are nervous of taking their blood pressure. There have been a few posts on here about it. I have two suggestions.

1. I take mine at my doctors surgery (not now of course but pre Covid]. I sit down quietly for ten minutes then do it quietly in the corner, and if I don’t like the result I take it again, this reduces the higher number by five or ten. . NO TALKING! I really relax my body.

Or

2. If you have a home monitor (I don’t, as I would be taking it every five minutes) get someone else to do it, and write the result down without you seeing it. If you live alone but have a good friend or neighbour, ask them to help you - so, face coverings on and look away from each other. This is a safeguarding issue so does not break regulations. Again, really relax for ten mins and NO TALKING. Try to do it once a week or more often for a few weeks and I think you’ll see good results. Do not look at the readings until those few weeks have passed. This will remove the anxiety you have when checking the readings, as you are in control. Remember, you are in charge of your BP, it is not in charge of you.

Hope this helps, keep us posted and best wishes

[springcross in reply to Happyrosie]

Good reply Happyrosie, as always. x

[springcross]

I lived in fear of it db. I would sit and try to relax for twenty minutes or so but couldn't get it out of mind and as a result, guess what used to happen? So I would sit and try a bit longer but the fear was always there and it used to read even higher because I had started to panic. Then on the odd occasion I would think, oh I don't care, I really don't, and it used to read OK. The only problem was that I couldn't feel that way most of the time.

[Fordcar in reply to springcross]

Always scary. Upsetting

[denobeano]

Spring cross. Omg. That is exactly the same as me ! I have no idea what my BP really is because it’s very high at the dr and now I have the same anxiety when I take it at home Makes me so mad that I can’t get a true reading. My mom ended up with chronic kidney disease which they said was probably sure to infected high blood

Pressure. I don’t want that to happen to me so I am taking 50mg of

Metropol just Incase that would help.

I have no idea if it is 😢

[Hidden]

I have never considered that, but do have a sister who is scared to fined out her state of health just in case she has the family health problems. I myself have no problem finding out, however in some instances I do wish I had remained ignorant of the facts. Putting a number to my BP doesn't change the fact I'm at risk, but it does give me a number that I can monitor in case there is a change, good or bad. I monitor everything I can at home. Being informed is to be fore warned. I have a record of various health indicators and being able to see that they are stable helps a lot, even though some are on the bad side.

Would you rather wait until it is too late, or be informed of your condition in case there is something that can be done to help.

[Hidden]

Hi you are not alone in having concerns when taking home BP readings, I've been doing this for many years, as always I sit quitlely for a few minutes few deep breaths, but most importantly I tell myself I will ignore the first reading, because I know it will be high due to anxiety, I then take a further 3 readings and generally they are always lower, take the average of the 3 to get a reasonably accurate sys/dys I might do this every 3 months or if I had a medication change or am due a review at the surgery, as I am a whitecoat suffer they will never get a true reading in clinic, just don't go by the first reading as it will make your anxiety worse

Good luck

[lettingoffsteam]

Yes but my husband does it and gives me minimal information.Definitely helps me.

[Fordcar in reply to lettingoffsteam]

Good idea

[Coco51]

Yes ! But it has been much better since I had hypnotherapy with a qualified psychologist and learned to self hypnotise. I thoroughly recommend it. It helps all sorts of problems.