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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:
Silenceandspacenotrequired · 22/01/2023 23:04

Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 23:01

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

Show quote history

And from what you've said they died as a result of surgical complications, not the blood pressure. Try not to worry. She's seeing a doctor this week and will likely end up on medication again

Chihuahuasrule · 22/01/2023 23:05

Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 22:59

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

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It is really not unusual to see a BP that high in general practice. Most cases of high BP are due to age related hardening of the blood vessels. The minority are due to kidney disorders or rare endocrine/hormonal problems.

Whatever the cause, she should still be on medications whilst investigations ongoing.

Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 23:05

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

Yeah same happened with that relative but they missed something to do with his kidneys and then they collapsed creatinine or something was 1000 and apparently that was the root cause of the BP. Hence the worry

OP posts:
Magicmonster · 22/01/2023 23:05

My dad had this. Turned out to be an aortic anyeurism. It ruptured and he died. Only other symptom he had was pain in his shoulder. And once he fainted which was unusual. I would recommend you ask the GP if it could be this and if so ask for a scan.

Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 23:07

Silenceandspacenotrequired · 22/01/2023 23:04

And from what you've said they died as a result of surgical complications, not the blood pressure. Try not to worry. She's seeing a doctor this week and will likely end up on medication again

Show quote history

No they didn’t, it was a long protracted kidney cancer battle and whilst they didn’t die from the high BP it was a huge indicator they were deathly unwell. Absolutely horrible :(

OP posts:
Original poster
Littlefootduckyspikeetal · 22/01/2023 23:08

Chihuahuasrule · 22/01/2023 23:05

It is really not unusual to see a BP that high in general practice. Most cases of high BP are due to age related hardening of the blood vessels. The minority are due to kidney disorders or rare endocrine/hormonal problems.

Whatever the cause, she should still be on medications whilst investigations ongoing.

Show quote history

i think she was refusing to take them because they gave her a cough and swollen feet? But thanks for the clarification, that’s quite comforting! As a layperson you see those numbers and well it’s quite scary

OP posts:
lonesomeBiscuit · 22/01/2023 23:12

You asked what ought to be checked. A family member had sudden sky-high blood pressure caused by a blocked artery in a kidney and needed emergency surgery to insert a stent. I recall it being really urgent and there being concerns he would have a stroke if it wasn’t done quickly enough.

Second piece of experience - when I had BP of 180/120 with dizziness I was told by 111 to go straight to a&e (this was several years ago before current crisis). They checked for stroke/heart attack. No cause found and it came down by itself after several hours but I was told by the a&e dr to come back straight away if it went that high again. Not saying you need to go to a&e, as it seems your GP is aware and not concerned, but I think you are right in wanting to make sure this is taken seriously. Does someone go to appointments with your MIL to help translate?

FannyFifer · 22/01/2023 23:15

Sometimes you can just have high blood pressure, DP has it, seems to be hereditary in his family.
Good that it's not consistently that high as lower numbers also.
Would think she probably just needs to be back on blood pressure meds & yes some side effects can be a cough or puffy ankles/feet.

GradNonFashinista · 22/01/2023 23:17

My BIL had similar readings and I told him he should seek urgent advice, he said he didn’t need to as the practice nurse knew about his bp and was keeping an eye on it. He had a severe stroke a few days later and has not been the same since.

healthissuesnc · 22/01/2023 23:18

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn at the poster's request due to privacy concerns.

Viviennemary · 22/01/2023 23:26

She should be put on medicstion right away with these high readings. I'm surprised the GP isn't treating this more urgently.

BrownOwlknowsbest · 22/01/2023 23:31

Just to say it can take time to find the right medication for high blood pressure. I went through about six different ones before we found one that didn't make me feel ill one way or another. I hope you get it sorted for her soon.

RoseBucket · 22/01/2023 23:32

@Littlefootduckyspikeetal info here. A trust I worked with failed to do this and missed an opportunity to help a patient.

Its recommended to check both but still not all clinical staff do it on the wards a sometimes work on www.phc.ox.ac.uk/news/difference-in-blood-pressure-between-arms-linked-to-greater-death-risk

EpicChaos · 22/01/2023 23:38

Has she had her kidney functions checked?

Willyoujustbequiet · 22/01/2023 23:40

I know you are worried OP so I thought Id share that one of my parents had BP higher than that for over 10 years before they died of a stroke.

They were diabetic with kidney problems. On medication for the high BP but had to keep coming off...high potassium I think.

Its not great obviously but lots of people live for many years with it.

GetOffTheTableMabel · 22/01/2023 23:43

My dad had readings that high and the GP asked him to keep a log over a few days and then go back. He died of a massive stroke within days. If nothing else, could you take her blood pressure regularly throughout the day tomorrow and up until the appt time on Tuesday. It might stop them sending her away with nothing more than a bit of paper to fill in.

Fraaahnces · 22/01/2023 23:49

I don’t think cholesterol is the issue. A BP like that is likely to cause a stroke or a sudden cardiac arrest. She needs to go to hospital ASAP.

Mirabai · 22/01/2023 23:49

With BP that high you need to the call her surgery tomorrow at 8am to get an urgent on the day appointment.

If that is not successful call 111 and get a walk in GP’s appt somewhere else.

Mirabai · 22/01/2023 23:51

Fwiw BP of 180/120 + is hypertensive crisis.

ThinWomansBrain · 22/01/2023 23:53

a few years ago there were concerns about my blood pressure (turned out to be the side effect of another medication) and I had a sleeve to wear fo 24 or 48 hours that took my blood pressure every 15 minutes or so to give a pattern of readings over the period.

smellyshoes81 · 22/01/2023 23:54

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.

from someone who has had a kidney transplant this all sounds worrying blasé, you need to go back to your GP asap!

shouldawooda · 22/01/2023 23:54

I had a friend who had a BP that high when I lived abroad - it was discovered when she went for her covid jab. They put her in an ambulance and she went straight into intensive care and was eventually diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It’s now under control, mainly through diet and exercise.

Silenceandspacenotrequired · 22/01/2023 23:58

smellyshoes81 · 22/01/2023 23:54

from someone who has had a kidney transplant this all sounds worrying blasé, you need to go back to your GP asap!

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I'm sorry to hear that. I've been referred for a scan in June, I'm sure if it was something to worry about they'd have made the referral urgent. The medication is doing its job so I'm not going to get stressed out about it.

Kittylickingplate · 22/01/2023 23:58

Not okay OP!
I was at a 12 month checkup at my GP and my blood pressure was similar. I was sent straight to hospital, was in for a week and had to see a range of specialists immediately to try and find a cause. Everything came back clear. I am now on 3 different meds to keep it down. The meds are not nice, I agree, but I have small children and need to be alive!
Please, please chase this up.
On your MIL's behalf, thank you for caring. I had tiredness as my only symptom.

smellyshoes81 · 23/01/2023 00:09

I thought that once too, they told me it was a mild issue that might cause some issues when I was of pension age, next thing I was being told it had been mismanaged, there was irreversible scarring and I was needed a transplant in my twenties… lovely!
My point is just never let anyone be vague about your kidneys! (Or anything else for that matter.) and don’t be too trusting, question everything. Hope it works out ok. 😊