"White coat syndrome, or white coat hypertension, is the term for when you get a high blood pressure reading in a doctor's office and a normal reading at home. The anxiety of being around doctors in white coats can make your blood pressure rise. Most people don't need treatment if their blood pressure is normal at home." Cleveland Clinic
• Systolic Blood Pressure (BP) increased over a few years from 110- 50 to 150-70
• Saw doctor in June 2023. Doctor said no need for medication. Keep an eye on it.
• BEST PRACTICE would have been to give me a 24 hour BP monitor and not dismiss me as having raised BP due to White Coat Syndrome.
• I now believe that every time I visited a doctor and my BP was approximately 150 – 70, they saw it as White Coat Syndrome.
• Each time I had to ask what it was. Each time they said it was fine.
• Even at the endocrinologist when it was 174 – 67, I had to ask. She was not going to tell me or ask if I was aware of it.
• Had surgery in June 2024. Asked doctor who said BP was not a problem during surgery.
• Taste for coffee went overnight 23rd June 2024
• CT Scan 25th June showed evidence of old (older than 6 weeks) Chronic Ischaemic changes – other than the coffee taste no other outward symptoms.
• Doctor wanted me to monitor BP for a week before giving me blood pressure pills.
• After a few days, I rang and said I wanted to start straight away.
• Started BP meds 4th July 2024
• After a week, I monitored BP frequently over 48 hours to show doctor that BP was still too high and to inform me when and why the BP rose.
• Discovered I had peaks during the night and after activity. Systolic 170/180.
• Now realized that the funny feelings I had in my head were probably not that funny.
• Doctor said I was obsessive due to the 48 hour monitoring. Will not refer me to a specialist.
• Moved me to two types of BP medication. Increased this when I explained that my BP wasn’t going down. Systolic was still 170 or 180. Said he believed me – finally.
• Discovered doctor graduated in 2018 and is a registrar (not a fully qualified GP)
• Blood pressure now going down Systolic 130/140 (early August). I have persuaded him to refer me for an MRI Brain Scan and a cardiologist – although I want to see a neurologist.
Beware of White Coast Syndrome mentality with doctors. Keep an eye on things yourself.
