24 hour blood pressure monitor

[MegGriffin]

Hello. I'm booked to have one in a couple of weeks and wondered if anyone else has had one ? I have a few questions about it which are: 1. Did you manage to sleep? I am a light sleeper and I'm worried I will be constantly woken up. 2. I have to wear it to work (I work in a school) will it be noisy so everyone is aware I have it on? Would be grateful if anyone has any tips about it please.

They are slightly noisy - but not very. I had one in an office and no one heard it.

They are usually programmed at night to be less frequent. I wasn't expecting to sleep/be woke but wasn't

Thank you Moln, that's really helpful to know.

I hated every minute of it. I know its important but it was a bit annoying in terms of not being able to sleep or shower! The GP specifically said I couldn't remove it/replace it and so I had it over a weekend.

If I recall correctly, it took half hourly readings and the beeping and increased pressure on my arm as the cuff inflated meant that I didn't sleep.

People wont hear it at school but they may see the wire and the small box that its all connected up to.

That said, I do know it was worth it and after all it is only 24 hours.

Thanks Chantenay, I am prepared for the worse case and hope for an experience like Moln. I hope your results were ok. I get irritation from the cuff so I'm not sure if I will be able to tolerate it as usually my arm ends up really itchy with a red cuff mark after a normal reading.

It'll take readings every half hour probably and will take two if it doesn't take the first correctly.

If it tightens too much and makes you hand sore it'll help to open and close your hand in And out of a fist. Changes are it won't do this while you're asleep as you'll be relaxed.

I will try that Moln, thanks.

1. Yes - it woke me up a couple of times but it goes off less frequently at night.
2. Only someone sitting quite close to you will hear it, but you're supposed to sit still/stop talking etc so it's best to explain what it's for. Hide it under baggy cardigan if it bothers you.

Thanks Dragon, will get some funny looks from the children so will tell them if necessary. sounds like quite a few of you have had it done. I was hoping it would happen in school hols but they did say you have to carry on as normal.

Mine took readings every half hour during the day & every hour at night. I managed to sleep OK with it on, which surprised me. I just tucked the monitor under the pillow at the same side as the cuff so I could turn over in bed without it annoying me.

You'll wear it attached to your belt so if you have loose clothes on it won't be very noticeable. They make a noise when they squeeze your arm, but only beep if they take a reading incorrectly.

Thanks Meg, bp was fine in the end. I hope you get on with it ok, I think that my dislike of it was merely down to the fact that I hadn't thought it through ie not being able to shower etc was a shock as I stupidly had imagined I'd simply be able to remove it!

Had I been more clued up and not so dim, I'm sure it would've been ok.

I think the biggest problem for me was that it was attached to my bra, which I then had to wear overnight, and because of the weight of the box on my chest (twisting my bra uncomfortably into my ribs) I could not either lie down to sleep or carry on as normal (the weight of the box meant my bra gave me no support- it was pulled away). So I would advise others to insist that it is not attached to your bra - men get to wear it on a waist belt or shoulder band type of thing. Mine was programmed to check less often over night.

Mine was an absolute PITA as it kept slipping at a funny angle and cutting into my arm..I had to go back to the surgery and get it reset.

It did wake me up a couple of times at night but when I woke up realised I had slept through a few.

I also had a month long monitor as part of a trial, that was actually less intrusive, but I wasnt working them so didnt have to take it into work