Health anxiety and high blood pressure, absolutely terrified

[AbsentmindedWoman]

Having very high anxiety since yesterday, when my doctor checked my blood pressure and it was really high at 152/89.

I AM SO SCARED. I just feel like absolute shit my type 1 diabetes is the best it has ever been, I've started thyroid medicine which has been making me feel better and more energised but now something else is wrong and I'm completely out of my depth.

Keep thinking I'm going to keel over and have a stroke leading to horrific brain damage or death, or that it will be fast tracking the damage to my eyes. Then I get upset and convince myself I have a very slight constant headache and something is about to explode in my brain.

I'm really struggling since yesterday - I have had major health anxiety in the past and finally learned to deal with it quite successfully (generally pretty ok now) but this is out of the blue and has totally fucked me up. I've always had good blood pressure until now.

I drank coffee in the doctor's waiting room, which she said wouldn't make a difference, but the internet says sometimes it can?

Have taken a beta blocker for anxiety but fucking hell I am so scared right now

Why was it high - could it be the coffee and ‘white cut syndrome’? Do you need to go back or try the 24hr monitor (or is it longer? I had that but can’t remember how long I needed to wear it).

If you are anxious and drinking coffee, that can definitely affect it. It sounds like you need to check it in a situation when you’re a bit more calm. Can you get it checked at a pharmacy? What did your GP recommend for follow up?

152/89

That's not really high and certainly not high enough to be symptomatic with it.

Your GP should do 24hr BP monitoring or home readings for a week to get an accurate idea of your true (average) BP.

If your BP readings continue to be in the range of this one off you would probably require medication.

I do always get very tense, but never had a high reading before. She wants me to get a monitor and check at home for a while, and if it isn't just a one off to tackle it.

Honestly, I don't think I can handle 24 hours of blood pressure checking. The squeezing sensation makes me want to vomit, I can just about make it through one check by firmly telling myself it will be over very quickly.

Were you ok after wearing one or did you need to start taking medication?

Anxiety hugely impacts blood pressure, caffeine will also impact. You’d be better off buying a home blood pressure monitor and doing it when you’re chilling out. If you have health anxiety you will probably get higher readings at the GP surgery even if you don’t have anything specific to worry about.

She wants me to get a monitor and check at home for a while

Given your anxieties, I think this is a better idea than the proper 24hr ambulatory BP monitoring. You should do 3 readings in the morning and 3 in the evening. Note the lower result for each.

I'd suggest getting used to having your BP checked. As a diabetic your BP target is actually lower than 'normal' so GPs will typically be much stricter with BP control.

I guess the thing is though I'm always anxious, and it's usually around 115/70, and frequently is around 90-something over 60-something.

I will buy a monitor - it sounds fucking stupid but trying to select and buy one is making me stressed and upset. I'm afraid I won't choose an accurate one and I'll frighten myself more (if it reads high) and wind up at the ER (with the massive fat fucking fee as I've moved to the US) or else I'll choose a dud one that reads low, and will be walking around thinking oh I'm fine when it's actually not fine at all.

Then I thought I'll go to the pharmacy and use the sleeve thing they have there that you put your arm in to check it. But then I'm getting anxious about germs and flu because we had our flu vaccines there a few days ago, and the nurse mentioned how loads of people with flu were coming into the pharmacy for advice.

Anxiety is a fucking exhausting piece of shit. Every way I turn, it's convincing me that I'm going to make everything worse and will end up really sick/ dying.

I have ‘white coat syndrome’. Seriously, if anyone comes anywhere near me with a BP monitor who is in the medical profession - the reading is sky high! No idea why, but I think it was because we discovered my dad had cancer through his very low BP. I have a home monitor which I check with regularly. I’m sure some
of my readings at the surgery have left the nurses wondering why I was not dead! And doing the 3 tests (to see if you calm down) does not work, I just get more anxious. But at home my readings are actually on the low side.

Work with your GP to ensure there is nothing else going on to be concerned about (24 hr monitor). I didn’t get on with that though as it felt like my arm was being cut off (and I had two newly placed children to run around after - so timing wasn’t great). But you can buy the same brand as the doctors use to ensure accuracy and keep a record. There are lots of things you can do to bring your BP down and you may need help with the anxiety - I can feel the worry and stress in your post.

I'd suggest getting used to having your BP checked. As a diabetic your BP target is actually lower than 'normal' so GPs will typically be much stricter with BP control

Yeah, I wish it was that simple, I've been type 1 since a kid and have never got used to it. Probably because of my sensory issues.

Like I say it's normally always low. I've seen a cardiologist because of it being low who told me to eat plenty of crisps. Guess I've to quit the salty foods now

I had a doctor once who was lovely and recognised my issue with anxiety and BP. She did offer for me to go into the surgery every month to have a reading so I got used to it.

Hugs - health anxiety is the absolute pits. I agree with everyone above - it was probably high because you were anxious. Go to the pharmacy and ask them to recommend a monitor for you to buy. That way you don't need to work out which one to pick. Check your BP at home so often you are sick of it - go for desensitizing yourself to it. I bet it will be high again when you first measure it because you will be anxious again. Try not to worry about that.

Boots do a decent one for about £20.
Tip- When you're taking a reading Don't watch the monitor as it will make you feel very anxious!
Look away and relax.
Then check.

That’s honestly not too high, mine was almost 200 top line and was sent home and told to come back following week, quickest I’ve ever seen a gp in nurses room! I’m on 5mg of amplodopine and I’m fine. I have cut down on coffee and lost 2 stone but didn’t make a jot of difference as it’s in my family unfortunately

Ok, take a deep breath. I’m someone with health anxiety so I understand how crippling and all-consuming it is when you have something to focus on.

Firstly, that BP is not dangerously high. It can spike for any number of reasons. Secondly, consistently high blood pressure which is unidentified/ignored is what can go on to cause problems. You are not going to suddenly have a stroke or heart attack. Especially if you’ve not been symptomatic. However, if you allow your anxiety to consume you, you will convince yourself of both of these things if your panic attacks are anything like mine.

The best thing is it’s identified. It is not agiven you will die now. You won’t. If it is a bit raised, they will look at why (recent illness, diet, exercise, meds, lifestyle etc). Based on your anxiety, I’d say that has something to do with why your systolic is a little bit higher (that’s the one that tends to shoot up from ‘white coat’).

Wear the monitor (they’re SO common) and go from there. You really aren’t about to die, especially as your other readings have always been low.

For info, how old are you? How is your health and lifestyle usually? Do you smoke? How come it was being checked this time? When was your last reading?

Be brave and don’t worry x

Echoing what other posters have said. That BP is really not that bad. Your usual reading of 115/70 is amazing - I’d give anything for that. An isolated high reading won’t cause any problem, it’s over years that would happen. You’re doing the right thing by getting help and your doctor won’t let high bp go untreated.

Wow, I’m on three different by meds and my blood pressure has never been as low as yours. If mines below 150/90 I’m having a good day.

Bp meds

Could the suddenly higher reading be due to your thyroid meds?

Also, what worked well for your health anxiety in the past? Are you employing the same techniques to deal with your anxiety this time around?

Sounds like you are going through a very tough time. As a fellow type 1 diabetic who suffers from anxiety I get it!

Anxiety can temporarily cause a rise in blood pressure so if you were feeling anxious prior to the test it could just be that?

I hope whatever it is that you feel better soon.

Tolerating uncertainty is so hard sometimes.

Be compassionate to yourself

xx

Sounds like me (also got HA) - same thing happened to me - if im anxious at the docs my BP goes through the roof. So they put me on a 24 hour monitoring gadget that you sleep in, and it takes your BP every so often and mine was fine in comfort of my own home.

I hate having my blood pressure taken, but it needs to be done. Like most things, the more you do them, the more accustomed you become to the process.

The key to getting an accurate reading is to almost 'flop' your arm onto the table, don't say anything and get it over and done with - the more anxious you are, the more you've rushed around to get there or stood about waiting to be seen, the more you talk, the more caffeine and muscle tension there is, the less accurate the reading is going to be.

Every so often, depending on how much I've had to rush around, if I've had a caffeinated drink, if I'm stressed, etc, I'll have an appointment where they check it once at the beginning and once at the end. The highest I've had recently was whilst ill, stressed and uncomfortable - 138/84, which, according to the doctor, even though my usual is 115/78 and I'm 46 and a fat smoker is perfectly fine. But I do consciously make myself 'relax' when it's being done. I'm not convinced I'd ever relax if I were worrying about how much the results were going to cost me, though.

The idea of getting a cheap home one to accustom yourself to the sensation - which is the point over and above the actual figures - is a very good one. And a whole lot cheaper than continual monitoring.

Mine was 231/138 last summer. AND NOTHING HAPPENED.

Yours is higher than normal, yes, and it needs to be controlled so it doesn't get worse. But it's really not at the level where there's any likelihood of something serious happening. If it were, you'd be in hospital, being monitored. But even then, they told me I'd be allowed home once it was below 170/100. Which is high, but it's not dangerous. You're fine.

Op I had the same thing. For me it was a hospital appt - I had a previous traumatic surgery there, and at the follow up by BP was sky high. They told me it was stress

I got the Boots one and checked it at home as it also made be worried, but it was fine.

Lloyd's pharmacy do a good BP monitor, about £25. Mine spiked at about 170/110 when I had pregnancy hypertension, they were happy when it came down to where yours is at! The anxiety of being at the doctors probably made it worse

It may of been high because you were at the doctors and feeling very anxious. It happens to
Me. That blood pressure is a little high but certainly not dangerous right now. What did the doctor say? Have they offered you a 24 monitor to monitor your bp over the course of the day which is a much better way of looking at bp or could you buy your own machine?