Need to get blood pressure down....now!!

[izzybizzybuzzybees]

I'm having surgery next weekor scheduled to anyway and have just had my pre op appt. My BP is too high, 160/110 and I've been told to get it checked at my GP and if it's still high surgery will be cancelled. Is there anything I can do to help???

Ask someone to massage your feet, reflexology helps but any kind relative/friend/oh will do! I've done it on a friend and the results are instant (not major I may add but a definite difference) x

Thanks cls but I'm not sure I could get anyone to do that for me prior to the GP appt. I'm really concerned they'll cancel the surgery and it'll be a nightmare,

Not sure if it could be done in time but might be worth asking for a 24 hour blood pressure test. It will test your bp while you are at home and not stressed just incase its just the stress of the test that is putting it up.

No coffee!

I don't drink tea or coffee and hadn't actually had anything to drink at all this morning prior to the appt.

I like the sound of the 24hr monitor, it's definitely anxiety as I'm a really crap patient! I've checked my BP with my dad's monitor and it's reading 122/79 but when I talk about the op then it goes up to 144/88. I've got GP appt on thurs to get them to recheck it but as I'm now pinning everything on that appt that's not going to help things either !!

See if you can borrow that Bp machine then take random readings over a few days and record. Hopefully this will demonstrate normal bp. If it really is high the it is best to get it controlled before surgery.

Unfortunately getting worried is only going to make this worse so try to get some nice relaxed readings!

Thanks matilda I've done a few today and they've been fine too. GP at 3pm tomorrow so hoping if I get there earlyish and sit and relax for a bit it'll be ok. Will take a copy of my readings along tho too!

I was with my mum the other day when she had to have hers done (and was worried about it)....and it was 146/?

I said that was not right ...it is never that high

Nurse told my mum to think of lying on a beach somewhere ..mum drifted off to her favorite holiday destination.....volia...it came down to 130/?

(always forget the importance of the bottom number ?)

Mum went to Goa ...where are you going to "go" for your BP check !??

Good luck

Meditation is a very good way to lower your blood pressure. It is also very simple to do

Simply breathe in slowly as if smelling flowers to the count of five.
Then hold for 5
Then exhale through your mouth to the count of 5.
Repeat until you feel relaxed or until you feel it isneeded.

When doing this. Concentrate on the breathing and counting. The more you do thos, the easier it will become to focus on your breathing only.
You will also find yourself in a relaxed state a lot quicker the more you do it.

Thank you. Had a recheck with GP but got a nurse instead and also had issues before I got into the room so wasn't in any way calm. I now need to go back on Monday and hope for the best!!

Download a relaxation or mindfulness app now! Practise all weekend!

Seriously though, my DH had high bp at the GP. He had to buy a bp monitor and I took random readings over a week which he then took back to show the GP. He was actually told to do this. Very good practise and much more accurate than a couple of stressy readings in the surgery.
His were ok and we just need to keep an eye on it. I, on the other hand have true familial hypertension and have been on meds for years.

It definitely sounds anxiety related if you are getting a reading of 122/79 (lovely and normal that) with your Dad's monitor away from all doctors and surgeries and if just thinking about it sends it up by a fair bit.

It would have been pretty amazing if you'd have had it taken yesterday and it had been ok bearing in mind how stressed you are about it a) being taken and b) the op being cancelled if it was too high.

Over the weekend try breathing in and out very very slowly and focus on keeping your breaths even. Unclench your muscles - esp your jaw, fists, upper back. Search out some guided relaxation vids on youtube and lay down on your bed if you can while you listen.

Avoid tea, coffee, cola, chocolate and salty food such as ready meals/bacon/sausages etc. On Monday as you are sat in the surgery before your bp is taken, do the deep, slow breaths in and out and consciously unclench your muscles one body part at a time. Just focusing on doing that can calm your nervous system down a fair bit.

If your high bp readings are due to anxiety and generally when in a medical setting then it just needs checking every so often away from the surgery or by having a 24 hour monitor fitted to make sure it isn't generally too high or fluctuating wildly from low to high which can also be a problem.

I've had essential hypertension (ie they can't find out why) since I was in my early 20's and have taken a cocktail of different drugs for the last 30 years. I can't get mine down to a safe level without drugs but I can lower the readings a bit before I have my bp checked by controlling my breathing etc.

Good luck for Monday. Think calm thoughts!!!!!!

And eat lots of fruit & veg as potassium helps to lower your readings.
White coat syndrome is quite common & may push up your readings at the docs, it does with mine. But the second number in the reading is the most important one & you may need medication to get it down.
I've had high BP for years & need meds to control it. It still shoots up at the surgery though!

DDad always complains his BP goes up at the sight of a medic.

Good luck

Hi it's called "white coat syndrome" - you see the doctor and the blood pressure goes up. Most people get it. I usually get anxious the first time and just ask for the blood pressure to be taken again and the it's fine. Longer term, you might want to think about general health - are you fit, healthy weight? That can make a huge difference to your BP.