Does anyone absolutely HATE the feeling of blood pressure cuff?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

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

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 ) 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?!

@moonbedazzled

I don't have sensory problems so I hope it's OK to reply.

I love it. I love everything about it. I love the anticipation and the rustling sound of it being unravelled. I love the smell of it, the cold of it on my arm, the nurse's hands pulling it tighter then smoothing the plastic against the velcro as it fits snugly round my arm. I love the cold of the steel of the stethascope against the inside of my elbow, the sound of it puffing up so it becomes tighter and tighter, sometimes with a bit of pain from some caught flesh, before suddenly it clicks...and it starts deflating. I love it going down then it suddenly gives up the ghost and eases off completely.

I love the whole experience of it. I have an arm cuff and a wrist cuff and, sad to say, I often get my arm cuff out to just enjoy that squeeze.

Sorry, I hope this doesn't freak you put but I felt I had to speak up for the mighty BP arm cuff.

You sure you don't have anything sensory? Sounds like sensory seeking behaviour....

@AbsentmindedWoman sorry 😂 😂 😂
To be honest I love doing manual blood pressures (student nurse), I love listening to all the different sounds! Manual is better because it doesn't inflate as highly - the machines do it to a stock setting whereas if you have it done manually the nurse can get a tough a rough estimate of your systolic pressure and only inflate it a bit above that.

I absolutely hate it. I have borderline bp which requires me to have my pressure checked twice yearly at the GP and the anxiety of the whole experience sends me into a spiral. I have deceptively fat arms so they always try the "normal" size cuff first (despite my protests) and then end up changing it for the large, after the first one brings up a crazy reading. I get teary at the thought of it. I'd happily be stuck with needles every day over ever getting my bp checked.

Incidentally, the manual bp cuff doesn't bother me as much.

Another one who detests them, to almost phobia level.

As a result my BP is always high. Its got worse over the years (how I managed to have 3 DC with don't know?)

I'm okay when I take it myself, still don't like it but I can cope. And I can suffer manual BP (Dr will use a stethoscope and a cuff, the old fashioned way of doing it)

I'm actually under rheumatology now and will be for life. My current consultant has been amazing and is happy for me to take my own readings / keep an eye on things myself.

I've managed to avoid having my BP taken, in a medical setting, since the MW discharged me after DC3 was born (4 years)

I'd take a needle or blood test over having my BP taken

I don’t mind needles/bloods/IV’s either. In fact the only ‘medical’ procedure that has ever bothered me was a particularly rough internal when I was in labour with DC1, to the extent that I refused all internals with DC’s 2 and 3.

I don't have a problem with my BP being taken but for some weird reason, it does make me giggle... which makes me feel a bit stupid.

@SexiestDogWalker
You sure you don't have anything sensory? Sounds like sensory seeking behaviour....

That's interesting. But I like having blood taken too. I like baring my arm then the cold swab against my skin etc. I know when I've spoken to other people, they raise an eyebrow so I know my reaction isn't common. I am quite a tactile person but I've never thought of being sensory seeking. That's given me something to think about. Thank you for that.

I loathe it but would take it every day of the week over a speculum.

I don't have sensory issues but I hate it, it's so painful and I feel like my arm is going to explode.

Yes me too

Oh god I HATE it. Makes me feel sick. I tense up, shoulders round my ears. The reading always comes out like “heart attack imminent”

I hate it and find it quite painful 😕 Again I need regular checks. If you ask, they may be ok using a manual bp monitor instead- they're not quite so vice like

Yeah, I hate it too. It's the constricting feeling, I always worry that the machine is just going to keep going until urggghh death.

I had this done at Boots yesterday I was crying in pain. I also have scarring inside from Norplant the very first contraceptive implant.
The GP surgery wants blood pressure taken because ive been on the mini pill (by their record) for six months,. But have actually been on it for three and a half years because was buying it from Boots beforehand.
And yet again all this palava could have been avoided if the NHS just listened to women. Im child free by choice and was refused sterilisation. There would have been no need for the implant or the mini pill or worrying about my blood pressure cos of the mini pill now if i had been taken seriously in the first place. Im now 51

Not the point I know but do you really still need any form of hormonal contraception at your age? I’m the same age. Not had a period in nearly a year. Don’t think I know anyone my age who still has periods.

NHS says to stay on it until 55 And there is no way of knowing if my periods have stopped due to menopause or the mini pill which can stop them. Something else that could have been avoided if id been listened to

Me too! I swear the act of using it makes my blood pressure increase. Awful things.

My mum has had to take hers often so bought one for home and everyone wanted to have a try, asked me and I said you’d all regret it, it’s the worst feeling. They all understood why, as they described, it feels like my arm is about to explode.
id sooner have a blood test than have blood pressure taken.