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Original poster

Any medics here?- feels urgent

76 replies

Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:37

Sorry posting for traffic

im really worried about my MIL, she’s been having scarily high BP readings for weeks, I’m talking 205/110 from no activity. An older relative on my side had a reading 195 over something and was dead in a week. I’m quite concerned for her, but she doesn’t seem to have any other symptoms. Her cholesterol was mildly high but not a lot, and I know that’s not necessarily a big deal as some people have naturally higher than normal cholesterol despite being slim (me for one)

shes got a dr appointment on Tuesday to talk about it but we seem to be treading water here as it’s going on for weeks. She’s not on meds, doesn’t smoke, has a healthy bmi,
doesn’t drink, doesn’t eat much red meat… any clues what could be causing this and any tests I need to tell hubby to ask for? She can’t speak English so she doesn’t really understand what’s happening in appointments

OP posts:
Xrays · 22/01/2023 22:39

I would ring 111 with readings that high. They may send paramedics out to do an ecg. Could be something like a blood clot. Needs urgent treatment.

Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:44

Xrays · 22/01/2023 22:39

I would ring 111 with readings that high. They may send paramedics out to do an ecg. Could be something like a blood clot. Needs urgent treatment.

She’s had an ecg and they said the results will take 2 weeks, im pulling my hair out a bit, I’m quite worried but I don’t think she gets how serious it is because she’s quite a simple lady

OP posts:
Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:45

^^ by simple I mean, she never went to any sort of school in her home country so doesn’t really understand a lot, she thinks I feel ok, so I’m ok

also should say she’s had readings like that in the dr surgery and they keep sending her home

OP posts:
Xrays · 22/01/2023 22:46

That can’t be right. I’ve had tons of ecgs and they can tell you right there and then usually if they’re okay or not. (Sometimes the technician may have to ask a nurse to interpret it but that’s usually on the same day). I think I would actually ring 111 anyway and if they decide to come out and see her that would be good.

FannyFifer · 22/01/2023 22:48

Has she definitely been to Drs & they know about high BP? Has she def not been prescribed anything?
Usually they will ask for twice daily readings at home for a few days then if BP consistently high meds will be prescribed.

BankOfDave · 22/01/2023 22:49

High blood pressure is often called a silent killer as can come with no other symptoms so unless you’re checking you may not know.

Could be anything, including diabetes. Needs to see GP asap. Presumably the ECG is showing no heart arrhythmia but won’t diagnose the underlying cause of the blood pressure.

Fluffluff · 22/01/2023 22:51

Are you sure those numbers are correct and she isn't confused ?
That high would be treated

Silenceandspacenotrequired · 22/01/2023 22:51

Mine are routinely at 170ish/110 and have been for a few years. I've only just been put on medication and had a load of blood tests, my doctor seems a bit nonplussed about it but suspects my kidneys are either at fault or faulty or something.

If she's seeing the GP on Tuesday I'd sit tight until then personally.

Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:52

FannyFifer · 22/01/2023 22:48

Has she definitely been to Drs & they know about high BP? Has she def not been prescribed anything?
Usually they will ask for twice daily readings at home for a few days then if BP consistently high meds will be prescribed.

So she was at one dr surgery and had high BP and was put on 3/4 medications all at the same time and she was struggling with the side effects. So dh moved her to a different GP as he wasn’t happy with her care, apparently the drs there were shocked she was on 4 types of medication so took her off all of them. For a while her bp was normal but it’s climbing again now and it was a similar high reading 190 something around 2 weeks ago and she was asked to come back later that day for the ecg, and an appointment made for this Tuesday to discuss everything, nothing has been said about the ecg. She has a home BP test that’s how we know the readings are high and has been asked to do it once in the am and once in the PM. All have been higher than normal but some more acceptable like 160/76 but then today it’s been crazy high. Genuinely concerned this might be indicative of something very serious or she might have a stroke

OP posts:
Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:53

BankOfDave · 22/01/2023 22:49

High blood pressure is often called a silent killer as can come with no other symptoms so unless you’re checking you may not know.

Could be anything, including diabetes. Needs to see GP asap. Presumably the ECG is showing no heart arrhythmia but won’t diagnose the underlying cause of the blood pressure.

She’s been checking her blood sugar and it’s ok

OP posts:
Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:54

Fluffluff · 22/01/2023 22:51

Are you sure those numbers are correct and she isn't confused ?
That high would be treated

She’s definitely not confused, my husband made her recheck just in case and they were routinely coming out at around 200 over 100 (190,197, 195) etc

OP posts:
Silenceandspacenotrequired · 22/01/2023 22:55

You sound worried. A call to 111 may help alleviate your worry. Perhaps suggest she call and take their advice?

Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:56

Silenceandspacenotrequired · 22/01/2023 22:51

Mine are routinely at 170ish/110 and have been for a few years. I've only just been put on medication and had a load of blood tests, my doctor seems a bit nonplussed about it but suspects my kidneys are either at fault or faulty or something.

If she's seeing the GP on Tuesday I'd sit tight until then personally.

The family member I know, kidney was at fault, they had some kidney with a shunt in to keep it open, shunt moved, kidney blocked and an infection started, blood pressure went to 196 and they were dead in a week (after being in icu)

OP posts:
olympicsrock · 22/01/2023 22:56

Those numbers are worryingly high. She needs to speak to her GP tomorrow.
Has she cut out salt in her diet? Shouldn’t cook with salt and should try to reduced processed food.

Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:57

Silenceandspacenotrequired · 22/01/2023 22:55

You sound worried. A call to 111 may help alleviate your worry. Perhaps suggest she call and take their advice?

She can’t call, because she can’t understand and is a bit difficult with stuff like this so wouldn’t go to a pharmacist today to double check it becuase she’s got the the app on Tuesday. She’s a bit of a god will provide sort of person

OP posts:
Chihuahuasrule · 22/01/2023 22:58

It sounds like she just needs to go back on blood pressure medication.

Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:59

olympicsrock · 22/01/2023 22:56

Those numbers are worryingly high. She needs to speak to her GP tomorrow.
Has she cut out salt in her diet? Shouldn’t cook with salt and should try to reduced processed food.

I think so, but she doesn’t really eat processed food, the only thing would be store bought bread. I did find out she was buying a marg like butter substitute because she thought it was butter (can’t read) so that can’t help, but surely just a bit of marg on toast wouldn’t be the cause of BP this high?

OP posts:
Silenceandspacenotrequired · 22/01/2023 22:59

Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:57

She can’t call, because she can’t understand and is a bit difficult with stuff like this so wouldn’t go to a pharmacist today to double check it becuase she’s got the the app on Tuesday. She’s a bit of a god will provide sort of person

Show quote history

The NHS blood pressure page (you can check this yourself) recommends with her readings to see a GP within 2 days, which she is doing.

The worry can't be doing your blood pressure and good either!

Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:59

Chihuahuasrule · 22/01/2023 22:58

It sounds like she just needs to go back on blood pressure medication.

dh and the dr were concerned that there had been no underlying investigation as to the cause of BP that astronomically high

OP posts:
Chihuahuasrule · 22/01/2023 23:00

Nhs advice

Any medics here?- feels urgent
RoseBucket · 22/01/2023 23:01

Not a medic but ex emergency responder. Are they taking blood pressure from both arms, a difference in readings can indicate issues more specific.

Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 23:01

Silenceandspacenotrequired · 22/01/2023 22:59

The NHS blood pressure page (you can check this yourself) recommends with her readings to see a GP within 2 days, which she is doing.

The worry can't be doing your blood pressure and good either!

Show quote history

Yeah I know, I’ve already done that, and that’s why I’m not so fussed about forcing her to call 111 now but asking for advice on if we should ask for any specific tests from people more in the know than myself. As I said upthread the only other person I’ve heard of with BP that high (in fact hers is higher) died within a week

OP posts:
Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 23:02

RoseBucket · 22/01/2023 23:01

Not a medic but ex emergency responder. Are they taking blood pressure from both arms, a difference in readings can indicate issues more specific.

I’m not sure, I’ll ask my husband!

can I ask like what?

OP posts:
Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 23:03

Chihuahuasrule · 22/01/2023 23:00

Nhs advice

Yes I know. Asking if we should push GP for any further tests or anything in specific as I’m clueless, just know a person who died from a bP reading that high so I know it can be serious

OP posts:
FelicityBeedle · 22/01/2023 23:03

So she’s seen a doctor, and they’ve asked for a log of readings before an appointment on Tuesday? That sounds about right. By knowing the range they’ll be able to describe a medication, carry on with the log and see if the dose needs to be raised or lowered as time goes on. They may also ask for investigations into the cause of the high BP. If there was an issue with the ECG it most likely would have been mentioned by now

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