High blood pressure reading at home (not pregnant) ......really worried!

[Shellybelly77]

This is my first post on mumsnet

Just really worried and hoping to hear from anyone who has had the same.
I'm 43 and have had high blood pressure since the birth of my son 8 years ago. I had severe pre eclampsia and after this my BP has remained high. I've been on a small dose of blood pressure pills ever since.

My worry is i have a home machine and have used it tonight....I just didnt feel quitd right and whooshing sensation in my head?? Reading came back as 180/97. I know this is really high. I'm normally 130/80 ish.
Now having a bloody panic and its making me worse!
So worried that I'm going to have a stroke!
🤯😟🥺

Is it the first time youve used the machine or does it normally tell you 130/80 and when you felt unwell and checked it gave you a high reading?

I also take a small dose of BP meds and know what you mean by the whooshing feeling (often if I forget to take meds). What time of day do you normally take your meds? Your BP will be higher in the evening anyway but not that high as you say.
You've not been ill? Sickness bug?

Hi, used machine for a number of years but tbh I havent done my BP at home since around Easter. Havent had a GP check up for it since xmas. I just remember it always being in the 130 zone.
Got such a fright.
I have been a bit stressed as new job and really busy. Now cant stop worrying.

Normally take pill around 8am ...move actually just taken an extra dose as so worried.
BP is such a silent killer it petrified me. Both my brother and father have it to and are on medication.
I've put quite a bit of weight on during lockdown and this had given me a kick up the arse to get it off at least

I'd Call 111. That's really very very high op. Frankly I'd go to A&E if you're confident it's not the machine.

It's high but I've had much, much higher, 200+ over 120+ and even though I'm on BP meds now it didn't do any harm. There's no cause as far as anyone can tell. I'm not that overweight, I eat healthily and I'm active but all the tests came back fine. When I run out of meds it shoots to 180's over 110's within a day or two. Again, no harm done and the doctors haven't been hugely worried.

I’ve just re registered after quite a few years out but I want you to phone 111 and see if they can direct you to out of hours or similar to have a nurse/ doctor take your BP and give medical advice.
I had very high BP (untreated, unknown) and did have a stroke. I don’t want to scare you but I’d recommend getting a professional reading and some medical advice.
Best wishes.

You do need to contact your GP tomorrow though. Just don't panic yet.

That's the thing, could it be a fault with machine??
Just did it again and now its 163/88 ....although I did take another pill about half n hour ago
Thanks for reading

Don't panic @shelly! I would just call the GP first thing tomorrow and mention that you recorded at home and your blood pressure is very high. Give the exact reading the machine reported. The GP will get back to you with a reading like that to check for themselves and discuss management as clearly your current regime isn't working for you. They may want to up titrate your current medication or try a different medication/s.

If you can't wait until tomorrow because it's playing on your mind, could you call 111 for advice?

I too have high BP, same as you since pregnancy after pre eclampsia, been on meds for over twenty years.
Try not to panic. It could just be a blip, I’ve had it so high & higher, once 200+/100+, though that was for a reason at the time.
Try to relax for an hour, not just sitting, do something to distract your mind, reading, knitting, TV, with a cup of tea. The take it again three times. You’ll often find it comes down after the first reading as you relax after reading the first one.
Just another thing, you’ve had your machine a while & not used it for a few months. It may be the machine. Mine was getting old & giving really odd readings recently & it needed recalibrating as all machines do regularly but as it was a fairly cheap one from Lloyd’s chemist easier to buy a new one.

Thank you everyone
I am going to try and have a cup of tea with my feet up and chill
I am going to go to gp first thing tomorrow, I will tell them my readings from this evening
Just talking and knowing I'm not alone has made me feel better
Perspective21 - gosh that myst have been so frightening. Hope you are ok now?

That sounds like a plan.

Yes it was absolutely dreadful and I couldn’t have the clot busting drug as we couldn’t define when it started. I was paralysed on my whole right side but two years on have most of my function back. I didn’t know a single thing about stroke before but learnt a lot to kickstart my recovery.

That’s really not that high a reading. As a PP said, a very high reading is 200/120.

I had something like 160/100 in the doctors once and they weren’t all that phased, but did put me on water tablets for a while, but the I managed to get it down through lifestyle changes.

Perspective 21 you have certainly been through the mill. That must change your outlook on life. I have a tendency to take my health for granted so today has been a wake up call. I wish you every bit if luck with your recovery and staying well. X

Lifestyle changes are on there way for me
Must look after myself better

Have you got a partner at home you can try it on? Your bottom one is the most important figure as that is the pressure re entering your heart. Upper one is more affected by exercise etc.

I have had pre eclampsia too and have long term high BP since. I had BP of 260/170 and felt fine at the time. You need to aim for below 140/90 ideally /80 as the bottom and 120/ for top reading

Thanks so much. Yes, I should have taken better care of myself but didn’t prioritise my own health. I know better now!

I think the only thing the GP will do will be to get you to monitor it over a period of time.
Start tomorrow morning and record the levels, every three hours or so.

They may need to up your medication but it may just have been a blip?

Hubby is on a night shift this evening but good idea, will try it in the morning.
Its funny as although BP often had no symptoms, for the last few days I'd actually felt the whooshing in my head.

Pre-eclampsia really seems to leave its mark....I know of so many ladies left with high bp from this.

I hear that whooshing too sometimes. Definitely sit down when you notice it. If you can lay on the bed and do the mindfulness things where you clench up each part of your body and then relax it. It works very fast to relax you. Hard with kids I know but practice then you do it sitting down quietly too.

I wouldn't panic if this is just one reading.
Mine was over 200 for months (quite possibly years to be honest. We didn't know I had high blood pressure and I had migraines for years)
Nothing happened apart from migraines
I mean I know the risks and everything but I'm just saying you shouldn't panic from one reading. If you're worried you need to monitor it regularly then you'll have a better idea. If it's still high you can always make an appointment at the doctors then to discuss it.