so I’ve just received a call from the gp stating at my endo appt I had high blood pressure - I won’t give numbers but it was high I’d been stressing about this appointment for some time - I now have to monitor for 7 days. I’m not going to take any more medication for anything and certainly not anything that makes me colder and more tired than I already am - so is there any point to doing this check??
They also tried to get me to book my smear test as I’m overdue and I’ve refused - having 30 years experience of women’s healthcare (butchery) I’m good thanks. Why do they get so miffed when you simply say no thank you 🤷♀️ I was perfectly polite with my decline of the offer?!?!
Any advise on natural ways to reduce blood would be greatly relieved - thank you
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nooneimportant
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I'm just wondering what your objection to preventative health screening is? Its done to save lives.
Theres every reason to monitor your blood pressure for 7 days if its been found to be high. Do read the NHS page about hypertension for further information.
Your GP is probably miffed because they have targets and get bonuses when targets are met. You can permanently opt out if you are absolutely sure you dont want any future hassle.
You may need to fill in a signed disclaimer which is then added to your records. You can ask at your GP surgery. Its not irrevocable as you can opt back whenever you wish.
Thank you I think I will look into that - only issue is i think you have to have an appointment with the GP and I tend not to engage with them - I know how it sounds but I have had such horrible experiences with medics now I’m kinda anti the lot of them - although I don’t encourage my stance I really don’t.
I opted out years ago, after similar very unpleasant experiences. I just wrote a letter/ email informing them of my decision. They did offer me an opportunity to discuss but I declined. I've done my research and I dont need to discuss it with anyone.
Frankly we make decisions about our health everyday, I dont need to consult a doctor about them. You are no under obligation, its called informed consent/dissent, which as competent adults we all have. They cant force any test on you.
Exactly what I did. I had a very frank conversation with my GP setting out my reasoning after which she admitted that a smear test was unnecessary in my circumstances. That was back in the days when I had a GP who actually respected my intelligence and ability to do my own research. She’s very much missed by everyone who used to wait weeks to see her, rather than see one of the crap GPs. Sadly, I’d actually settle for one of those crap GPs now rather than the idiots who currently run my GP surgery…
don’t be bullied into having what they class preventative health care if you don’t want it. I opted out of further smears years ago after the nurse left the room for some more equipment or something that I can not remember. A student nurse was left with me but then went out of the room also. The room was next to the waiting room and there was no lock on the door. The student nurse came back but didn’t announce herself and I was behind the curtain half naked with a speculum inside me not knowing who it was. I tried to get up off the table but fell as couldn’t bend properly and injured myself both externally and internally. It was hushed up at my GP’s and I was so relieved as felt embarrassed, ashamed and stupid. I have always been scared to go back incase the nurse saw me.
I do wish we could stop with the unthinking mantra that screening saves lives and its always a force for good. You would have to screen 1000 women for 35 years to save 1 life. Plus as with any screening programme you will get false positives, potentially exposing patients to harmful, invasive treatment they dont need.
Its not as cut and dried as the NHS would have you believe. There have been numerous reports over the years about thousands of women being recalled because of lab errors. This doesnt instill confidence.
Plus some women find smears extremely traumatic and painful and often the nurses are not sympathetic or particularly well trained in making it a more comfortable experience. There are signs that the NHS will rollout an at home test where women can collect their own samples at home. Lets hope so.
Cervical Screening saved the life of one of my closest friends, as her cancer was detected early and was successfully treated Early detection can literally be a life saver. I have also lost a wonderful colleague to bowel cancer, so similarly would urge members who receive a stool sample test to complete this too.
I'm sure we all know people whose cancer was detected early, that said though its not black and white, and I dont think we should be castigating people who have made a decision, often for good reasons, not to be screened. Its a personal decision that should be respected.
I won’t reconsider - I’ve had previous investigations and those people are evil - I said I would never consider going back and I stand by that stance.
Thank you I appreciate that I will look into 😊 I don’t smoke cigarettes or drink I exercise a lot and I eat healthy so I can’t find anything else I can do with diet so assuming as it was always very low this I thyroid related 😖
Seem to remember Dad saying that first one done on waking, 2pm at least an hour after food and any hot drink gives a more accurate reading and same with evening, always take two readings a couple of minutes apart record the second one and discard the first days readings 🤗
How are your actual thyroid levels? If your thyroid hormones are not optimal, this can impact blood pressure. Are you still taking carbimazole or are you on any replacement hormones?
Low thyroid hormones can weaken the heart and stiffen your blood vessels, hence the blood pressure can rise. Have you had a recent check of your thyroid hormones (TSH, T4 and T3)? This could give you a clue if it is thyroid related or if there are any other causes that should need investigating. Blood pressure can also rise, if you under a lot of stress, as adrenaline can increase your pressure (fight or flight syndrome).
I take Carbimazole 2.5mg every other day any less and I get hyper symptoms
07.01.25 TSH: 0.94 (range I think is 0.27-4.5) T4: 15.7 (range is 11-23)
I’m always under a lot of pressure and all health appointments are a real problem for me ie my heart jumps up considerably and pounds relentlessly until I leave or end a call - I wasn’t going to even answer the phone when I saw it was the GP surgery calling - wish I hadn’t as this immediately put me into stress mode and i was in tears straight after as is what usually happens - I work in the NHS and advocate for it wherever possible - I tell friends family colleagues please get this or that investigated etc etc so having been treated so poorly myself and ended up with chronic anxiety because of it is beyond devastating especially when I sit weighing up whether I’d just rather die than have another traumatic appointment 😞 I usually fall on the side of the former - for me it’s just not worth it x
I've had similar negative experiences ( many women have) and once the trust is gone its very hard to get it back. I know several forum members have reported similar issues.
Feeling violated, having PTSD, feeling gaslit, misunderstood, treated as though you are a hypochondriac or mentally ill. These are all good reasons for mistrusting medics. I avoid doctors too, unless something was hanging off. I prefer to manage my own health these days.
I've come to the conclusion that, for many of us, blood pressure measured at an appointment is worse than a waste of time.
Doing it yourself, with even a moderately OK machine, and careful technique is far more valuable.
I know that I can feel my blood pressure rising when a doctor or nurse takes my blood pressure. Despite feeling quite calm!
Luckily, the most recent times, it wasn't that high and the person doing it was well aware of "white coat hypertension" so it did not trigger any action. At home, it was actually very acceptable, even slightly low.
Mine used to be very low but it’s jumped massively since Graves’ disease and probably needs treating but … my negative experiences with healthcare professionals has left me unable to engage with them 😞 although I don’t have the symptoms like I did with preeclampsia I had the vision issues swelling and losers then but I don’t have anything other than recently acid reflux whenever I eat anything, pain in both shoulders, arms and my right elbow 🤷♀️
I wonder if your levels are a bit low, though we've only got fT4 to go on
Free T4 (fT4) 15.7 pmol/L (11 - 23) 39.2%
It could be the cause of the acid reflux which could actually be low stomach acid meaning things aren't being dissolved enough to digest and sitting around in your stomach and then backing up?
Carbimazole is fast acting and intended for little and often use so I'd have thought taking on alternate days means you'll be constantly bobbing up and down
I dunno why but it seems to work better this way for me - when I tried quarters that was a nightmare and I don’t think much of anything was getting in as even the pill cutter was disintegrating the tiny pink tablets 🤷♀️
They have done in the past and it’s been ok well high when t4 was high but so far no major issues with t3 I’ve only had it tested a few times they don’t do it unless pushed
A nurse took my pulse/BP just before my first colonoscopy. She questioned my elevated pulse/BP, and was it always like that? Who on earth has normal resting ranges when they're about to have something inserted up their bottom?
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