Nurse made me feel so stupid!

[yewotc23]

Hi everyone,

So I've got 2 monitors that keep giving me totally different Systolic readings. I've tested them on my brother and they are both within 2 points for him - the other night, one machine ready 162/100 and 5 minutes later, the other read 160/100.

However, whenever I do it, it's always 15-20 points difference for Systolic - one reads 161/95 for example and the other 141/93. Then one will read 151/90 and the other 131/91

Anyway, as they keep giving me a 15-20 point difference I took both machines in to our doctors

Saw a nurse and tried explaining to her how I don't think there's anything wrong with the machines as other family members, the readings are identical on both. It's just me that gets the 15-20 point Systolic difference

I wanted her to do a manual reading and reading on one machine and right down the difference. And then a manual reading and reading on the other and write down the difference so I could see which is giving the closest Systolic reading for me

She was so sharp though point blank refused to do a reading on the older machine (even though it's giving identical readings to the new one for other family members), told me to just throw it in the bin!

I did a reading on the new machine and it came out as 171/110, she tested and just goes yeah 170/100

I have social anxiety and generalised anxiety and feel so stupid. She seemed quite annoyed me being there tbh and part of me thinks she probably just saw the reading on the new machine and told me it was correct because she was so adamant that was correct and refused to even do a reading on the older one and told me to bin it

[Happyrosie]

hmm … sorry you feel embarrassed.

Maybe you’ve asked the nurse to do something she is not competent in - judging whether a machine is correct or not. And we, the owners of the machines, can’t judge whether they are correct or not either.

if that nurse is under stress - the whole NHS is under stress - then I don’t know whether she could have been able to do anything else, really.

Maybe other posters will disagree with me?

[yewotc23 in reply to Happyrosie]

Hi Happyrosie , it was her manner really. Wanted her to check both machines against her reading to see which was closer, but she point blank refused to check my older one - the older one is still accurate on and giving identical readings to the newer one on my family, but not me. 20 - 15 point difference between both machines

If she was able to check one machines reading, wouldn't have taken long to check the other too

Just seemed like she'd made her mind up that the newer one was correct and the cynic in me thinks she saw the reading on my new machine and just told me she had got the same as she was adamant straight off to throw my other in the bin, without even checking it when it is still giving identical readings to the newer one on everyone else in the family

[Golden_Harp]

Hi , yewotc23

How awful for you to have gone throu that experience with the nurse

N.H.S under pressure or not, there is no excuse for making you feel the way you are feeling

My blood pressure was all over the place when i was being tested at the doctors surgery and so i was asked to do readings at home

I had a monitor and when i did readings at home my numbers were dramatically lower

The doctor asked if i could take it in sometime to have it checked against the one they use

The nurse did this and said my monitor was absolutely fine

I do suffer from anxiety whenever i am in the surgery ( white coat syndrome)

Anxiety could be causing the fluctuation in your readings as your family are using the monitors with no problems

I also really don't think a reading of 170/100 should receive response of "yeah" 170/100

I would be mortified at that response

I do hope you are doing ok and i wish you all the best with problem and you find a solution

Please try not to get too stressed over this

As for the nurse " disgraceful" behaviour

N.H.S " under pressure"

Oh wow ...there is absolutely no need whatsoever to behave in that way to another human being , a patient needing the help they are supposed to provided ... just WOW

Take care

[yewotc23 in reply to Golden_Harp]

Hi Golden_Harp Thanks for your reply, I came home and cried my eyes out after the appointment

Another thing was when I explained at the beginning I wanted a reading on both machines tested against a manual to see how far out or close each machine is, the nurses response to me was very sharply "no, that's not what this is about"

That was what it was about, it's why I was there

Made me feel like I was being unreasonable or stupid wanting her to check both machines

All I wanted was her to do a manual reading and a reading on one machine, and write them both down. Then a manual reading and reading on the other machine and write both down so I could see which was closer to her manual reading

When i took the reading on one machine and it came up 170/100 and she virtually rushed putting her cuff on pumps it up and straight away goes 170/100, the fact she immediately told me the start to bin the old one before she'd checked either machine - just seems like she read the reading on the new machine and told me she'd got the same as she'd made her mind up there & then that was the correct one & she wouldn't even both to check the old one (even though i told her it's giving identical readings for everyone else)

[Golden_Harp in reply to yewotc23]

Hi yewotc23

I am so so sorry you had to go throu all that

There can abslutely no justification for being spoken to like that

Next to time you go to the surgery don't make any appoitments with that particular nurse

I actually used tell the receptionist at my surgery i would not accept seeing a particular doctor after i was spoken to in an off hand manner and not listened to properly (talking over me when i was trying to speak)

I don't and won't tolerate bad behaviour

These professionals are there to listen ( firstly) and help

That is the profession they chose

Under stress or short staffed ... is neither our problem or a reason for them to treat us badly

There can never be any justification for making you feel so bad after simply asking for their help

I do hope you are feeling a little calmer and i do hope you can manage to get you bp under control

Take care x

[yewotc23 in reply to Golden_Harp]

Thanks Golden_Harp - I don't know if I should have put in a complaint about her lack of concern at the 170/100 reading and the whole attitude of her? Or whether it's not worth it?

Had my annual review last week with different nurse and she got a reading of 178/100 and even though they know it's probably white coat hypertension, she told me with that kind of reading they have to speak to one of the GPs first before they let you leave

But the horrible nurse the other week just couldn't wait to get rid of me and was just like "yeah 170/100"

[29METAL]

Hi as you have said I think if I had a reading like yours I would want the nurse fist of all to be helpful and polite and if she cant do that then I suggest she would be better of in say an Amazon warehouse packing boxes where she doesn't need to have any contact with the public also you are paying her wages . With those readings she should have been very concerned and made every effort to make sure the reading were correct or incorrect you were not asking her to get a screw driver and take them apart . Hope you are feeling better and dont feel stupid because you done and asked nothing more or less that any other concerned human being would have asked God Bless

[yewotc23 in reply to 29METAL]

Hi 29METAL - exactly, I don't know if I should have put in a complaint about her lack of concern at the 170/100 reading?

Had my annual review last week with different nurse and she got a reading of 178/100 and even though they know it's probably white coat hypertension, she told me with that kind of reading they have to speak to one of the GPs first before they let you leave

But the horrible nurse the other week just couldn't wait to get rid of me and was just like "yeah 170/100"

[Ruthwuth]

I’m so sorry that happened to you. I also worry if my OMRON 2works properly as it’s quite old now (5years) and I too for a variety of reasons get much higher readings at the surgery! It’s a half hour brisk walk, no time or place anymore to sit quietly and wait for ten minutes. A cuff that only fits my arm when I’m in a really awkward uncomfortable position and so on.

I ended up asking at the pharmacy where they also do blood pressure readings. The pharmacist said there would be no problem with the machine! Put my mind at rest.

Do you have a friendly pharmacist near you?