To be shit scared by this diagnosis

[WhatFreshHeII]

I've just been to the GP for a very minor thing and while I was there she took my BP because I hadn't had it checked for a while. Immediately she said 'Oh that's worryingly high' and checked the other arm too, which was higher again. I think it was 170/122? But I was reading it upside down.

She showed me the NICE guidance which said that I needed to be checked for organ damage (she took some bloods). She also prescribed medication (candesartan 8mg) which I have to start taking today. I have to go back after Christmas for an ECG and on Friday to have my BP checked again.

She said that I mustn't get stressed, upset, or overexcited because my BP is so high I'm at very high, immediate risk of heart attack or stroke. And not to overindulge over Christmas for the same reason. Which of course has sent my stress levels sky high.

She was absolutely lovely and so kind but I'm absolutely terrified. My mother, grandmother and two aunts died of strokes - when I told the GP this she said that makes it even more worrying. I'm 50 and overweight but haven't always been (I've had EDs since I was teenager so my weight has fluctuated a lot, I'm currently a size 20). I also have rheumatoid arthritis and I know that heart problems can be a feature of RA.

I've had no symptoms so this has come as a complete surprise and a total shock. I don't know what happens next, other than I'll be on this medication for the long term apparently.

I know loads of people have hypertension but the GP seemed so concerned that she's got me really, really worried. I keep thinking I'm going to drop dead any second.

Can someone please calm me down and/or tell me their own experience of this? I'm at my wit's end with worry, I have health anxiety anyway and this has shaken me really badly.

TIA 💐

Just been scanning through the replies. I was told if you've just walked upstairs or need a wee or have your legs crossed these can make your blood pressure go up so I would thought the stress of getting to your GP appointment would have affected the reading?!

My practice nurse once said to me that I probably do mostly have white coat syndrome if I'm prone to anxiety the meds help with any spikes. I've had some terrible readings when I first got diagnosed and wore the 24 hour monitor and couldn't sleep with worry and stress. And some lovely readings chilled on a Saturday night, watching tv!

I'm actually shocked that so few of the replies on this thread are ignoring the fact that you were diagnosed and medicated based on ONE reading! That just isn't how it's done.

Never mind the fact that at the time of that reading you were stressed, anxious and had just exercised.

I'm actually shocked that so few of the replies on this thread are ignoring the fact that you were diagnosed and medicated based on ONE reading! That just isn't how it's done.

I presume you meant 'how many'.

I thought op said a couple of readings at the appointment?

Anyway, the best hcp I've had have done 3 or 4 readings with a couple of minutes in between if time allows.

@Largethighsbadeyes Yes that is a bit odd compared to what I experienced. . My doctor wouldn't prescribe based on my 3BP readings in her office till I had a full blood count done to check my liver and kidney function looked fine, plus wanted to see cholesterol levels too (this was all done in 4 days) . As it happens my cholesterol was awful and I was 'just' pre diabetic - once she had the full range plus a chest x Ray she called me up to tell me results and what and why she was prescribing. I also have to have repeat bloods next week to check liver function ok.

I'm very surprised by this. Firstly, if you needed an ECG urgently, they could have done one. I almost fainted earlier this year and it took 10 mins for my BP to come up to a reasonable level. The GP had me in his office within 30 minutes of my call (and even then, only because I was 30 minutes away from the surgery when he called me), immediate bloods and ECG.

Secondly, if you were at risk of imminent heart attack or stroke, you should have been sent straight to the hospital for monitoring and IV meds.

I think the GP was trying to get you to take this seriously (rightly) but went a bit far.

Do use the right blood pressure cuff, though. If you use a cuff that is too small, your BP will read high. If you use one that is too big, it will read low. Neither will help you understand your true blood pressure.

Yes I do! Many wines

My cardio doc has me on 3 different ones but yes one at night to see me through that morning getting up when it seems most people have strokes. I then have a different one in the morning.

Morning all! Once again thank you for all the overnight responses, every one is truly appreciated.

@tobee yes, I had two readings and the second was even higher than the first! This could have something to do with the fact that the GP had just visibly panicked and said how worrying my reading was and that with such high BP I was at immediate risk of a stroke or heart attack. She did my right arm initially then my left. Now I know how to take a reading myself I know that several minutes should be left between readings, not to mention all the other things that were done incorrectly. I obviously do have high BP but my St John's Ambulance home monitor yesterday put me in the 'mild hypertension' bracket - not the severe and might drop dead at any time bracket the GP did. Granted I'd taken two BP pills by that point so that may also have had an affect bit still.

Also the cuff on my monitor feels more like it usually does at a BP reading, not like it's about to cut my arm off as the GP's did. It's a universal size one, so I'm also assuming the GP cuff was too small.

@Lougle I was surprised that if I needed an ECG so urgently, I didn't have one then. The GP actually has a machine in her office. To be honest I wish she had because it would've put my mind at rest. I do get chest/back pains but they're because I'm big-boobed (GP confirmed this years ago) - every twinge since Tuesday has had me convinced it's my heart giving up.

@Largethighsbadeyes she said it was because of the Christmas break - I'd ordinarily need to be monitored for seven days before starting drugs but that couldn't happen because the surgery was closed. And as I was such high risk she decided to start me on the drugs without waiting. You're right though - everything I've read since says that this isn't normal practice. The lovely pharmacist I spoke to yesterday said as much, too.

Re my liver/kidney function - it's tested every three months at the hospital because I'm on methotrexate, which can affect both. The results are always fine (last one was September). I also had a chest X ray in April as a precaution, also because I'd recently started mtx. That was clear, too. Perhaps she's seen this on my notes and thought it ok to proceed? She did take some bloods and the results are back but haven't been filed yet (I called yesterday evening). Fingers crossed there's no more bad news today!

I'm just about to have my first coffee since Tuesday morning, praise be. I could've kissed the pharmacist when she said it was ok!

Enjoy your coffee 😀

But they should have asked you to monitor you BP for a week or two with a home monitor first before prescribing meds. Often it is a one off, and often BP is higher at a clinic due to natural nervousness etc. you have to sit still for 5 min or so before taking the measurement. Your reading was high, I won't argue, but they could have sent you to ECG at your A&E first. I read that anything higher than 180/120 is an emergency, you were close to it but I wouldn't panic just yet

Don't pharmacies etc have places where you can drop in to have your BP checked? If I did that it would reassure me it was being taken correctly as well as doing mine at home.

Today's reading was 142/99 (the second one, the first was 144/101 but everyone says to ignore that!). Pulse 80.

I haven't taken a pill since yesterday morning, as per pharmacist (and posters here!) advice to take it in the evening. I've also had a bonkers busy day, lots of unavoidable running about/cleaning.

I found this chart from my local NHS which is very reassuring. And my monitor is telling me I have mild hypertension (there's moderate and severe above that). I know it's still high but it's nowhere near as scary as the one the GP did. None of my readings have been anywhere near that.

Needles to say, I have calmed the fuck down a bit since Tuesday evening!

Again, I can allow myself a little bit of relief yes?!

Hope everyone has had a good day and isn't too run ragged with preps!

DH and DD have also done theirs and they're both in the optimal range. I'm very envious of them the swotty bastards

Oh forgot to say, my heart rate at the GP was 122, which goes to show how 'up a height' I was. At home it's always between 75-85 (I know this because when I have covid I check my oxygen levels fairly obsessively and it tells my my heart rate, too. Oxygen is always 98-100%, was 99 at GP).

Very encouraging, OP! Glad you have calmed the fuck down a bit It took me months to calm the fuck down, so you're doing well!

Even doing home readings raises your anxiety a bit so it might be your actual "resting" BP is dropping into the High Normal range.

I'm on a very low dose ACE inhibitor which brought BP down to 120- 30/80 but since taking up really vigorous exercise that's dropped to around 105/70. So I probably never needed medication - although it did have the welcome side effect of reducing both the frequency and severity of my migraines. So I don't entirely regret it.

Today it's 144/88 😊

Can the pills have worked so quickly? I've only taken three. Maybe it's because I've calmed the fuck down even more. Either way, I'll take it!

GP just called to congratulate me on my 'hard work' in bringing my BP down. I'm really not sure that it's anything I've done in three days... I asked her whether the circumstances the test was done in were likely to have affected the reading on Tuesday and she said no, it would never be that high artificially. She said it might be the pills although it's unlikely after three days, but a good way to find out would be to not take one dose and check my BP after. Which seems like bonkers advice, if I was apparently in hypertensive crisis without them surely?

Anyway my bloods are not just fine, they're better than fine - the fatty liver I was diagnosed with in 2017 has resolved, my liver is in rude health apparently. Kidneys fine, not a whiff of diabetes. I was a bit concerned about the latter as my mother and aunts all developed type 2 in their 40s/50s.

I do think the GP was overzealous initially and I was scared absolutely shitless, but honestly I'm glad in a way. Now it's being monitored and it's given me a kick up the arse to change a few things (the things I'm able to change anyway) in the new year. Less salt, help with EDs, smaller portion sizes, etc.

But for now, I'm going to enjoy Christmas and relax a bit!

Thanks again all for all the support, it's meant so much over the past few days. Have a lovely Christmas everyone! 💐💐💐

Does she not see how contradictory she is being???????????????

Who is this GP who has time to follow up high BP after three days and give meaningless congratulations?

She's a locum and won't be there after Christmas for my next appointments. To be honest I'll be glad to get a second opinion when I go back. I won't be happy if I find out that I didn't need to be on this medication (the side effects are manageable but I could do without them, particularly in the few days before Christmas). And I definitely won't be happy if it turns out all the stress and worry if the past few days could have been avoided.

They do seem a bit meaningless, particularly when it's clearly nothing I've done in three days ('hard work'?!).

All of it seems a bit strange really.

Nice one @WhatFreshHeII will be thinking of you over Xmas whilst taking mine daily!! (I'm at similar levels to you) sadly though my cholesterol was awful too it seems.

The good thing is though - think of it as a bit of a health MOT - without having had to pay for one