I copied this from a reply i found somewhere on this forum a long while ago , i don't know who originally wrote it now, sorry , but it's a very useful bit of 'old school' knowledge and seems worth re-posting .
"an old internist told me pulse pressure was how they used to check for overmedication before blood tests.
Simply take blood pressure and subtract bottom number from top number;
eg. 120/80 ~ 120 -80 =40
Then multiply that answer x pulse rate;
eg. if pulse 60 ~ 60 x 40 = 2400
If the resulting number is around 3200 or higher they used to cut thyroid medication as it was too much. This has been 100% accurate for me.
Through the months i was cutting medication , my number was ranging between 3600-4200.
Now 4 months later, my number is routinely under 2800.
This method has helped me tremendously."
Written by
tattybogle
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Are they all more or less the same? BP machines, I mean.
I had a surprisingly high reading earlier this week - for a middle aged person who imagines themselves to be fairly fit - and know I have to keep a closer eye on it now.
They do vary. Generally the view is that wrist devices are less accurate/consistent.
On top of that, technique is important. Things like the right size cuff, positioned properly, inflated properly. Not talking, or being talked to while measuring. At least sometimes doing both arms. Arm at right height. And repeat the measurement several times, if needed.
If a doctor takes my BP, I can feel it increasing as they lean over to their machine, as they position the cuff! I’m not worried as such, but very aware, and that causes BP to rise. Doing it at home I always get lower measurements.
I’ve got a manual one which is very accurate and I’m happy with but it very much depends on one’s hearing which because mine is no longer the best means my readings are always approximates. However, I don’t think I’m far out as it’s always roughly the same, including when having done by a nurse
Seeing this post the other day prompted me get it out and thinking that this new-found info might help in fine-tuning my glandulars but it’s no good at all if I’m not hearing when the pulse starts and ends(!) because according to the formula I’m over-medicated, which I questioned because I feel well
However, I tested positive today for covid and I now realise that my slightly higher (either that or I’m just hearing better!) than usual reading above corresponds with my raised pulse that started yesterday and slightly raised temperature, indicating that my chance BP reading picked up a slightly higher than normal reading before other covid symptoms made themselves known to me
Fascinating how the body reacts, going into different modes trying to maintain equilibrium. It will never cease to amaze me
I have very low diastolic BP (55) so that makes my result sky high even though my pulse is not really high (67) and nor is my systolic (considering my age) 123. Before meds, my heart rate was very low (47) so I would just have scraped in, but I felt dreadful.
According to this I’m quite over medicated and yet I feel well. Unless of course I’ve done something wrong
BP 135/75
Pulse 65
135 -75 = 60
60 x 65 = 3,900
I’ll be doing tests next week so it’ll be interesting to see what it shows
Other markers (for me at least) are temperature and mine has been consistently rising on my current dosage. It’s now 36.32 having in the past been stubbornly in the mid 35s. My pulse is now also consistently higher than its previous 58
Would be really interesting to hear what others on here find e cause it’s always good to have various ways of monitoring progress
That's really interesting tattybogle. I have been monitoring blood pressure since I began taking T3 but didn't know about this. My BP was always ok on levo only and went up when I started T3. I concluded I was under-medicated (thanks to this forum and contrary to the endo's advice), and when I increased T3 my BP went down. Yet when I work out my pulse pressure it hasn't increased and seems to vary mainly as heart rate varies.
But I'll keep an eye on this so thanks for sharing.
Currently mine calculates to 5,000.......Eeek! I am slightly over-medicated, pulse is OK because I'm on beta-blockers, but bp is an on-going issue.🤷♀️
good find ...but no it wasn't that one . i copied it verbatim from a reply , but didn't make a note of the name of who wrote it or which post it was on .
seem to remember it was someone who used to be a nurse ? or similar .
I would guess this method would only work for people who have a lowish BP and pulse rate to begin with. I suspect a person with a higher baseline pulse rate and BP would never fit. I have numerous BP and pulse rates at various thyroid levels and I don't think any would fit, even when I was very clearly underdosed.
I wish it would work for me! It's a simple calculation that's easy to apply.
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Higher blood pressure and pulse!
How common is it for BP to rocket on one dose of 50ug Levo?
Does taking Liothyronine cause blood pressure to rise?
Full blood tests but what do they mean.
Is it a compulsion to have a rapid heart and a high blood pressure for hyperthyroidism?
