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Original poster

Does anyone absolutely HATE the feeling of blood pressure cuff?

93 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 17/03/2022 19:23

I'm wondering if it's my sensory issues that make this so hard, but I cannot physically stop myself from squirming - the more I try to stop myself the more my breathing goes wrong and I end up sort of gulping down air and dissolving into anxious stupid giggles Hmm

It's really embarrassing! Plus I have to get blood pressure done quite a lot due to type 1 diabetes.

We got a machine for me to practise at home to try to get used to it, but although I'm much better at home (my wife sits next to me and murmurs soothing words and pats my other arm Grin ) I STILL cannot stop my breathing going wonky.

I just hate the vice like squeezing and the sensation of blood pulsating through my arm, it makes me panic and feels like the circulation is being dangerously cut off. Which is ridiculous, obviously.

Who else dreads the blood pressure cuff? Who else is as odd as me?!

OP posts:
TonTonMacoute · 17/03/2022 22:41

Another one who loves it. I really like the feeling of my pulse beating away.

I guess it’s a marmite thing…

DesertStorms · 17/03/2022 22:45

I really hate it. It makes me feel panicky.

ChairOfInvisibleStudies · 17/03/2022 22:46

I hate it, I'd rather have a blood test or injection any day! I find the sensation deeply freaky. I'm so relieved to hear I'm not the only one!

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Original poster
AbsentmindedWoman · 17/03/2022 22:46

Nurse said "you are clenching your arm muscles, don't fight against it, just let it happen" I did what she said and it was SOOOO much easier, I hardly noticed it.

I do this. I consciously relax my body. But then my lungs sort of seize and forget how normal breathing happens, and then I feel ridiculous and start snort laughing in gasps Grin

It's not elegant but I really can't control it!

Glad consciously relaxing worked for you, however.

OP posts:
newrubylane · 17/03/2022 22:51

Yes I have always hater the sensation it's horrible and it sometimes makes my hand almost cramp up (? Or so it feels), which is unbearably painful. The mechanical hospital ones even more so. Mine is naturally very low but I had pre-eclampsia (v high BP) when I gave birth and after a few days I had to ask them to take it manually, as I was convinced it was artificially high due to the stress of the machine. Lo and behold it was considerably lower when they took it manually.

BlindGirlMcSqueaky · 17/03/2022 22:51

I think I've only ever had one that really was far too tight. But it was one the nurse left on to keep squeezing over and over again because she was distracted. That was very unpleasant.

BertieBotts · 17/03/2022 22:58

I don't mind it at all. It never would have occurred to me that it might be unpleasant TBH.

It makes me laugh which I always thought was a bit of a strange reaction.

BertieBotts · 17/03/2022 22:59

This is actually odd though because I have very sensitive upper arms and if somebody pokes or presses my arm I normally find this painful.

Pugfostermum · 17/03/2022 23:00

It’s all in my mind, but it makes me feel faint!

PivotPivotPivottt · 17/03/2022 23:08

I hate it. I have the implant and anything touching it makes my blood run cold, the blood pressure cuff squeezing against it makes me want to be sick.

DahliaMacNamara · 17/03/2022 23:14

I hate it too. My bp always high on the first reading because I'm on the alert for pain, so it has to be done several times while I settle down. On the other hand, I'm flummoxed by people with a fear of blood tests or needles in general. To me they usually don't hurt, and if you get one that does, it's over in less than a second. But I can see that if you tense up and anticipate a bad experience, you might have one. It's all self-perpetuating.

AffIt · 18/03/2022 01:37

I like it, but then I like very tight / deep sensory stimulus.

My idea of absolute hell is a 'feathery stroke-y' massage. I would literally rather be punched in the face.

Deathraystare · 18/03/2022 07:34

Ha ha! It is worse if you have to have it on 24 hours. You get used to the squeeze - not so bad, then suddenly it squeezes even more! Not nice when you are trying to sleep!

I used to hate when they put the cuff on, squeeze, squeeze, then they would go out of the room for some reason, leaving me hoping they would return before my arm burst!!

Oblomov22 · 18/03/2022 07:39

I love it.

dudsville · 18/03/2022 07:47

I don't suffer in the way that you and some others here so, but every single time I feel absolutely certain that THIS is the time it's going to do irreparable damage.

TyrannosaurusRegina · 18/03/2022 08:09

@CurlyhairedAssassin

It's just something you get on with though, isn't it? It's seconds long, it's a finite process. It's not doing you any harm. It's a health check so it's a positive thing being done for your benefit. Doesn't actually hurt as such. I'm trying to understand people's perspectives but it's really hard to!

I remember the first time I got it done it felt like it was just getting tighter and tighter and something had to give, and it was a bit disconcerting, yes. But an overwhelming feeling of panic at such a short-lived thing, I'm not sure I can understand. It's not like someone's got their hands round your neck and stopping you breathing.

Yes you just get on with it and no, no one is saying they refuse. Some people are just saying they don't like it, that's all. We're allowed to say we do and don't like things. Just like having blood taken, many people don't like it but just get on with it as they know it's just temporary discomfort. No big deal. I'm a nurse and can say that lots of people don't necessarily enjoy it but still allow it to be done nonetheless. I'm not sure what there is to not understand about people saying they don't like a sensation.
FlippyFloppyFlappy · 18/03/2022 08:40

Yes I hate it, as soon as I hear the noise of the Velcro ripping open to put it on 😑
And yeah, slightly worried it's going to blow my arm up somehow 😬😂

AuntieMarys · 18/03/2022 08:41

I love it. But then I like Chinese burns

SexiestDogWalker · 18/03/2022 08:45

My daughter hates it. She says it feels like someone is trying to break her arm when it's at its highest point of tension. We've just been in hospital for a week with 4 hourly obs. Every time it was at that point, she'd go pale.

PollysPockets · 18/03/2022 08:46

Yep I absolutely hate it! I dislike the manual hand pump version but much MUCH prefer it to the machine version which I can’t stand (but obviously just let them do it and don’t say anything as I know they have to do it)
I don’t find it painful as such, just bloody uncomfortable but it’s just the sensation I detest it makes me feel all funny Blush
Absolutely fine with anything else medical like blood tests etc

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 18/03/2022 08:52

I hate it. I had a cuff on for what felt like hours after my DS birth last month and it was constantly inflating and re-inflating. I had no feeling in my legs so couldn't sit up and they insisted on taking my blood pressure when I needed the use of both of my arms, yet it couldn't take the reading because I was using my arm. I remember telling the nurse the arm cuff pain was worse than the birth.

Waterfordaston · 18/03/2022 08:53

I don’t like them. I have them but I don’t like the sound of the velcro. I had a dosy nurse try over and over again with a tiny cuff, which kept popping open and my BP appeared crazy low. I told her to give up and get the proper equipment as the reading wasn’t to be trusted. A proper cuff was found and unsurprisingly my Bp was normal.

chillied · 18/03/2022 09:03

I really hate it too OP. Ironic how the process probably raises my blood pressure...

To counteract that I try my best deep breathing calm visualisation of lovely mountains ocean etc

These tales of 24 hour cuffs! I don't think I could get through that

Feedmepancakes · 18/03/2022 09:13

I don't mind it, even when it goes really tight I can't really feel anything though I do think I am a bit undersensitive to things like that.

Yet even the thought of clipping my fingernails makes me feel faint. I have to file them!

It's so wierd how we all process the same experiences in such different ways.

Trinacham · 18/03/2022 09:39

Ah, glad it's not just me! I used to have a contraceptive implant in my arm years ago and that made it even worse.. the thought that it was squeezing my arm with that rod also being in ny arm! Made me feel a little sick to think about..
But yeah, I don't enjoy having my blood pressure taken and breathe a sigh of relief when it's done. Not like it hurts or anything, just don't like the compression!

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