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Original poster

A & E for blood pressure?

68 replies

togotoaande · 12/12/2022 19:00

Posting here as more traffic than health.

Just that really. 35 year old female. Had foam treatment for varicose veins last week under local anaesthetic. All seemed to go well at the time.

Since then over the weekend I've had increased swelling and pain in the upper area of my leg where I had the treatment. Keep going hot and cold and have a dry cough that feels like a stitch at times. Went to see someone as the discharge papers said to attend GP if I had symptoms like I do.

I saw a clinician today. My bp was 170/139 and my pulse around 130. No temperature worth mentioning.

I've been dispatched home with some antibiotics as there is a chance of post operative infection. Was advised that if I have any more pain in legs or chest or cough up blood then go to A&E.

I'm just concerned about that blood pressure and don't know what to do. Leave it and see how I am after a sleep or go anyway as I'm worrying?

What would you do?

OP posts:
CammieKennaway · 12/12/2022 19:43

I suffer from hypertension and I've been sentstraight to A&E by my GP for readings lower than that as an emergency case.
Your very high blood pressure is a valid enough reason to attend A&E on its own, but with your other symptoms too, you really need medical attention.
Wishing you the best of luck

CornishGem1975 · 12/12/2022 19:52

It's pretty hard to tell with one reading. I have chronic hypertension and I could have several wildly different readings through the course of the day and that's with two types of medication. I get the occasional scarily high reading quite often when I am in the presence of medical staff which is a commonly recognised issue. That said, nobody is going to shoot you down for getting checked out, however be prepared for a really really long wait - which won't help the blood pressure either. Warning signs are really bad headaches, visual disturbances, dizziness, chest pain...

OldEnoughToHaveReadBunty · 12/12/2022 19:57

111 will tell you to attend A&E with that diastolic alone.

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lljkk · 12/12/2022 20:05

Thing is, OP saw a health professional hours ago who has assessed her & thinks she should be discharged home in spite of the BP. How many hours ago? Nothing has changed since then from what OP says.

NHS111 has a website option, too.

Lmgify · 12/12/2022 20:23

A&E please. I was dismissed by a hospital consultant 2 days before I was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (blood clots in lungs). I’m pleased I didn’t just dismiss it and went to A&E, could’ve died otherwise

ShirleyHolmes · 12/12/2022 20:30

My stepfather recently had an emergency admission with the symptoms you describe and it was a Pulmonary embolism. Had my mother not forced him to go to A and E, he wouldn’t be here anymore. I am not an HCP, and am generally very relaxed about health but I would go to A and E.

WestCorkGal · 12/12/2022 20:33

Go to hospital tonight. That combination of symptoms is too serious to ignore.

fifteenohfour · 12/12/2022 20:42

Yes go to A+E you have post op complications, you may have early cellulitis or even sepsis. Something may have dislodged in the vein and has caused a little occlusion.

Don't let the pressures of the NHS dissuade you from going, you have a valid reason. People misuse A+E all the time but this is not what you are doing.

Don't let them fob you off because you are 35 and female either. The NHS hates young women and love to tell us we are overreacting or faking it.

That BP is not normal and together with your procedure and other symptoms you need to be taken seriously.

ListenLinda · 12/12/2022 20:45

I’m surprised they didn’t send you straight to A&E with that BP reading!
Surely that’s classed as an emergency, sounds like a hypertensive crisis.
I would be going to the hospital OP

Unsureofitall · 12/12/2022 20:47

Absolutely go to the hospital. Isn't a bp of 180/120 counted as an emergency ??? Your lower number seems extremely high which is a worry. If you're not sure about going yet give 111 a call.

DeliberatelyObtuse · 12/12/2022 20:48

I think you should absolutely go to A&E

Good luck

Unsureofitall · 12/12/2022 20:48

Also was the bp repeated within a few minutes ?

Original poster
togotoaande · 12/12/2022 21:33

Unsureofitall · 12/12/2022 20:48

Also was the bp repeated within a few minutes ?

Yes. Was similar the 2nd time. Have called 111 and waiting on a call back

OP posts:
EmmaAgain22 · 12/12/2022 21:36

togotoaande · 12/12/2022 21:33

Yes. Was similar the 2nd time. Have called 111 and waiting on a call back

Show quote history

Don't wait too long for a call back, if you can get yourself to A&E that's probably better?

Coolcreature · 12/12/2022 21:45

@togotoaande you could be waiting for 10+ hrs for a call back. Head to A&E

CheeseandGherkins · 12/12/2022 21:57

Go to a&e, please. It isn't worth risking the wait. You could die.

Scrambledchickens · 12/12/2022 22:18

that Bp is v high, do you know how to feel your own pulse over 1 minute? If so is it still high?

SeveruslyFrazzled · 12/12/2022 22:57

If you are still waiting OP then I would head over to a&e but tomorrow when the pharmacies are open but a BP machine if you can

MissTrip82 · 12/12/2022 23:14

I wish people would stop mistaking high blood pressure for a hypertensive crisis. The two are not the same.

It interests me that so many people find the hypertension more worrying than the tachycardia given the history you disclose. I wonder which area of medicine they practice in?

I don’t wonder really. The answer is: they don’t,

Please don’t post on here for advice. Much of it will be stupid. Call 111 or present to hospital.

EmmaAgain22 · 12/12/2022 23:15

MissTrip82 · 12/12/2022 23:14

I wish people would stop mistaking high blood pressure for a hypertensive crisis. The two are not the same.

It interests me that so many people find the hypertension more worrying than the tachycardia given the history you disclose. I wonder which area of medicine they practice in?

I don’t wonder really. The answer is: they don’t,

Please don’t post on here for advice. Much of it will be stupid. Call 111 or present to hospital.

I mentioned the tachycardia. Just saying.

YerAWizardHarry · 12/12/2022 23:18

111 are taking an insane amount of time right now. You’ll be on hold for 2+ hrs then told to go to A&E anyway

gaf · 12/12/2022 23:21

It’s your heart rate that concerns me. You’re very tachycardic.

IncessantNameChanger · 12/12/2022 23:26

That's too high.

A & E for blood pressure?
FP1000 · 12/12/2022 23:45

Go to A&E. Sounds like a PE

MyKitchenRules · 12/12/2022 23:48

Please go to a and e. Between bp and heart rate u need to be seen. 111 will take ages due to demands.