EXCESS BLOOD PRESSURE!

[Pat-inCO]

In my case, it is sometimes referred to as "Lab Coat Elevation".

I was out (well three left) of my BP med's. Tried to call in a refill with my doctor and
she refused, unless I came in to the office and had them take by BP. I refused, due
to CV-19. My SIL said he would talk with them (five of us from one family going to
the same dr.). Long story short, I went over to my daughter's because she has her
iPhone set up for the tele-calls. I brought over the BP machine I've been using for
years. Thing was going NUTZ! SIL brought in their machine (same make and model
as mine). Same results.

Changes batteries on mine and tried again; no change. Answered several
questions and tried again. This time it was acceptable (130/70). Finished the call
and I go get the refill tomorrow.

Funniest thing . . . . tried my BP three more times (starting about five minutes
after the call) and NONE of them were a problem (worst was 120/74). The last one
was 115/68. :shock:

I think I'm going to find another doctor.
This one obviously turns my crank. :roll:

 

[Jeepnik]

Pretty common.

 

[redhawker]

Happens to me sometimes. Especially when I'm running late to the Doctor's appointment or there's been traffic or parking is tight in the medical facility parking lot. They take my BP and say "your BP's a little high today". They'll usually wait about 10 minutes and take it again and it's down to where it should be.

 

[eveled]

When I needed to have a good reading to maintain my DOT health card because I had a CDL. It would be really high every time.

I started the meds and still it would be high every time. They’d give me a 30 day card charge me $100 I’d have to wait in line to show the nice people at the RMV. Then 30 days later repeat the process.

I finally gave up. They took my CDL now I have normal readings everytime I have it checked.

The only thing about white coat syndrome, it shows what your BP does under mental stress.

 

[Mobuck]

I'm certain that "Dr office syndrome" caused an over medication condition several years back. My BP was higher than optimal 2 visits straight so the Dr upped my BP meds. Within a few days of starting the higher dosage, I was slow as molasses in winter and felt sleepy all the time. Daughter was working in a hospital lab at the time and checked my BP at home and found it was way low. Cut the dosage back to previous level and BP stabilized around 125/70 for several days when checked at home. Went back to Dr and sure enough 160/90.
There may also be a difference in readings depending on how the cuff is inflated and how impatient the nurse happens to be. I don't know how the digital widgets work so that may be another question.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I had had the same thing happen recently when I went to the doctor. She told me to take my blood pressure at home and write it down for two weeks and then come back and see her. I did that but I also discovered that if I did some exercise in the morning my blood pressure would be lower in the afternoon. She increased my blood pressure medication anyway, just in case.

 

[contender]

I think it's actually more common for folks to suffer anxiety or stress, or elevate BP levels when facing ANY medical issue. Minor or major. Miss Penny, who had a small cancer issue almost 13 years ago,, would get physically sick, (not seriously but upset stomach, stress levels, etc) about 3 days prior, and about 3 days after any check-up until the test results came back. Her BP would also be higher. Even after many years of negative tests & check-ups,, she still gets stressed etc every year,, just not as bad as the first few years.
I'm not too bad about such stuff,, except where dentists are concerned. My levels of stress increase, and I know it.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I check my BP frequently and have discovered that I never get the same reading between tests only a half-hour apart. This is on a regular basis.

Last time I was in the doctor's office, the nurse took my BP before the doctor came in. After a few minutes of doctor/patient chatter, she took the BP again . . . totally different. I pointed out the differing readings I get at home and she just said it's normal. All they're really looking for is extremes, not "normal" variations.

I guess if you're able to take your own BP you must still be alive so it's OK no matter what. :roll:

 

[Rick Courtright]

The only thing about white coat syndrome, it shows what your BP does under mental stress.

Hi,

My granny was a registered nurse, working between the end of WWl and end of WWII. She introduced us to the "white coat syndrome" term (WCS) when I was just a kid, and said they'd always take a second BP reading 15-30 minutes after a "high" one, and more often than not, the high reading was WCS was at work.

Rick C

 

[Pat-inCO]

... There may also be a difference in readings depending on how the cuff is
inflated and how impatient the nurse happens to be. I don't know how the
digital widgets work so that may be another question.

When I got mine I asked my then doctor if we could check it out in the office. She
was a tad nervous, but said fine. - - - She took the pressure on one arm and I had
the machine on the other. TOTAL difference was two points. My reaction was WOW!
THAT'S GREAT! Her reaction was (she tried to hide it) one of relief. I told her that
since both were shooting at a moving target, to have them so close was excellent.

I tried to get the (for the moment) current dr. to calm down about my BP but she
is fanatical about it. I even went so far as to take my BP twice daily for a full month.
Had one of those full month at a glance calendars and wrote down the readings
each day. Next time in the office they asked if they could make a copy; I said sure.
I thought she would calm down; didn't happen. - - - Time for a new doctor.

 

[jimd441]

Thanks for sharing the stories. I can relate well to them. Luckily, my bp has been behaving lately, although I do take meds for it. I do know that resting bp is typically significantly lower that readings immediately after activity, but there are probably exceptions.

Jim

 

[Pat-inCO]

Time for a new doctor.

Not only did I get a new doctor, I got a new BP machine. The previous doctor is no
longer on the AARP "approved provider" list, and I ceased going to her a fair while back.

The new BP machine maintains the last 100 readings, so if the doctor wants history, I
have it with me (date and time included in the display). - - - YES, I carry it with me as I head
for the office, saves time and consternation.

 

[Fox Mike]

I check my BP frequently and have discovered that I never get the same reading between tests only a half-hour apart. This is on a regular basis.

Last time I was in the doctor's office, the nurse took my BP before the doctor came in. After a few minutes of doctor/patient chatter, she took the BP again . . . totally different. I pointed out the differing readings I get at home and she just said it's normal. All they're really looking for is extremes, not "normal" variations.

I guess if you're able to take your own BP you must still be alive so it's OK no matter what. :roll:

I too have had the same results. No matter what time of day or how I physically feel. I rarely ever get two reading that match each other.

 

[Mobuck]

I've had my BP checked ONCE in the past 2 1/2 years and only then because Dr refused to OK a script refill until I went in. Something I'm fairly proud of considering the 'high stress' environment I'm in.

 

[g5m]

White coat BP increase is common. Maybe you could relax just a bit by looking at a blank place on the wall and just think about it (concentrate on it) or think of something really dull, like mud. But try to not think about what they are doing and try to avoid conversation while they are doing the bp check.

 

[Cholo]

↑ That's like the Dr. telling you that the beautiful sexy busty Nurse Goodbody will be taking your blood pressure in 10 minutes. While you're waiting DON'T think about her! LOL

 

[hittman]

Yeah, I’ve got that silly white coat syndrome too. Totally illogical to me but … that’s how God made me so …. Gotta live with it.

 

[Dave P.]

My cardiologist who I see about every 6-8 months has a medical assistant who's been there for five or six years now. I find her very attractive, she's got the body type that I've liked all my life, can't help it. We've talked about it and she seems amused or flattered, she doesn't even take the BP readings anymore. Runs the ekg, pulse ox, med questions etc. She doesn't seem to have any effect on my ekg's , pulse rate is in the mid to upper 40's and the doc can't seen anything on the trace. The woman is worth about 15 points on the systolic reading, she runs also, so we talk about running and stuff , I'm plenty relaxed around her ....just one of those things.
I've been used as a lab rat by a life long friend and her doctoral students at University of Michigan for years, so used to being handled by young women but can't help the BP numbers.

 

[Colonialgirl]

Happens to me sometimes. Especially when I'm running late to the Doctor's appointment or there's been traffic or parking is tight in the medical facility parking lot. They take my BP and say "your BP's a little high today". They'll usually wait about 10 minutes and take it again and it's down to where it should be.

YUPPERS, happens to me too; IF I sit STILL long enough, I've seen my pulse rate drop down to 47, They tell me I have BRADYcardia which means a slow pulse and a higher Blood Pressure. I take TWO BP meds to control the upper and lower BP.

 

[Dan in MI]

My wife has WCS. BAD. An emergency room misdiagnosis got her three days in the hospital. They said her T waves were upside down must get to hospital now! After fighting them to drive her myself (much shorter time in transit) we get to hospital and they say they were wrong but still need to run tests. Her heart rate was 160+ After three days the cardiologist cuts her loose even though the 165 beat per minute alarm was going off on a regular basis. We get home and in 20 minutes it dropped to 80.

Regarding BP I take it regularly and keep records. When I need a scrip I send in my sheet and I get a scrip back.

 

[Walnut864]

I'm 41 and my BP and HR at home are on average 110/60 HR 55-60.
First waking up my HR can be 45 -50 BPM.
In the doctors office mine is slight elevated bc every doctors office ever, takes my BP as soon as I walk into my room. So it's not technically "resting BP".

 

[langenc]

My doc who recently retired had a preprinted strip form that you could record BP for 30 days, am and pm.
Drop it off or mail w/ readings. Theyd total ams and pms and average the 30, or so readings and then let you know how your BP is. No one or 2 readings to adj meds.

A little high here or there would not blow your readings up.

 

[Mobuck]

"↑ That's like the Dr. telling you that the beautiful sexy busty Nurse Goodbody will be taking your blood pressure in 10 minutes. "

Years ago, a female whom I once knew 'quite well' was a nurse at the Dr. office and she usually tucked my hand against her bosom while taking my BP (smiling as she did so). One day I commented that this was not conducive to getting a 'normal' BP level. Then I asked if she did that for all the men to which she replied "No, just the ones I'd like a response from". Tucked that tidbit away for future elaboration.

 

[Selena]

My wife has WCS. BAD. An emergency room misdiagnosis got her three days in the hospital. They said her T waves were upside down must get to hospital now! After fighting them to drive her myself (much shorter time in transit) we get to hospital and they say they were wrong but still need to run tests. Her heart rate was 160+ After three days the cardiologist cuts her loose even though the 165 beat per minute alarm was going off on a regular basis. We get home and in 20 minutes it dropped to 80.

Regarding BP I take it regularly and keep records. When I need a scrip I send in my sheet and I get a scrip back.

Keeping records is a good way to make friends with your provider. I would ask you make a short one or two word note of your activity just prior to the test. Keep in mind that all kinds of activities will affect BP and not always in a predictable way. I remember one patient could raise his diastolic 20 points just by tapping his foot. Still another ancient with a history of hypertension gave me numbers more suited for a teenager being checked while sitting on his riding lawn mower. (I was doing a home care visit to his wife and she asked me to check his BP.)

 

[Jeepnik]

BP is a valuable tool. But it changes rapidly and can be dramatically affected by even seemingly slight events.

Heck, it’s actually pretty easy to learn how to raise and lower your blood pressure almost on demand.

 

[jimbo1096]

Mine is always normal at the doctor's until that cute new nurse glides in the room. But it's my blood sugar that has it's mood swings. It can be 90 and 20 minutes later be over 300. They just started me on one of those new fangled digital readers because I hated to stick my finger. Now I wear this bionic thing on my arm and pass a scanner over it 4 or 5 times a day. It even records up to 14 days.

 

[Dave P.]

Mine is always normal at the doctor's until that cute new nurse glides in the room. But it's my blood sugar that has it's mood swings. It can be 90 and 20 minutes later be over 300. They just started me on one of those new fangled digital readers because I hated to stick my finger. Now I wear this bionic thing on my arm and pass a scanner over it 4 or 5 times a day. It even records up to 14 days.

I've been able to train with a Libre Sense glucose monitor, Abbott Medical makes them and they are working on approval as an over the counter device in the states. So far I've learned a few things from it, trying to get a handle on how much and when to take calories on long training runs or rides.
I could see a real benefit for people with blood sugar issues, it'll show trends way before I can feel them, just have to learn to use the data.
This thing will plot data over time and you can tie it to the training data to work out a nutrition plan. We tried it in the lab on the treadmill and it correlates very well with actual blood draws .

 

[WAYNO]

The Daktari told me... If merely the sight of a white coat raises your blood pressure, you have a blood pressure problem.

 

[dannyd]

This is my view on High Blood Pressure.

That's looking up from the stretcher in the ER.

Bradycardia: like living with to political parties in your body one's to far to the right and the other to far to the left.

 

[Colonialgirl]

118/73 with a pulse of 57 right now,