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Original poster

Fucking24 hr bp monitor

20 replies

ssd · 05/05/2016 09:06

sorry for swearing but aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!!!!

I had a 24 hr bp monitor day before yday, it went off 3 times an hr and during the night, was fucking sore and uncomfortable and intrusive, but had to be done as I get white coat syndrome in the gp surgery and cant get an accurate bp reading....

so gritted my teeth and got on with it, for the 24 yrs then took it back to the surgery yday

today they phoned me and said the computer programme they load the details onto isnt working and they cant get the readings....I was like your are fucking joking, except I didnt swear of course, they said yes this happened earlier on in the week to someone else...

so why fucking give me it> I am ready to knock someones block off and sooo mad!!

of course I wasnt rude at all to the person on the phone, I took the final reading off it on the display and told them this, they are trying to fix the computer programme but jesus wept, why give it to me knowing I'd do it in good faith if the fucking thing wasnt working?

am so mad, so feckin mad

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Original poster
ssd · 05/05/2016 09:23

I swear, am so angry. this thing was a complete PITA, for anyone who has done it you will know what I mean. But it is NICE guidelines to do it before getting bp tablets so I dont it in good faith. How the hell did the gp surgery give it to me when they knew the programme hadnt worked the previous week, they should have ensured it was fixed before giving someone the monitor out again.

if this was a waste of fucking time I could scream. I had to take a day off work unpaid as where I work I couldn't walk around the shop floor with a bp going off all day.

dont know what to do next. I gave the the final reading which came up on it and they said this was perfect. I feel my bp is high as I panic at the gp's, I suffer from anxiety and am awaiting CBT. I dont know whether I should get a home monitor. Am just so very very pissed off at all this.

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Original poster
ssd · 05/05/2016 09:47

sorry, seems like a massive over reaction but am gutted...not helping ME HAVING HEALTH ANXIETY AT ALL. SOORY CAPS ON

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Mysillydog · 05/05/2016 10:48

I would buy a BP monitor for your peace of mind. The Omron brand is quite good. Avoid monitors that go on the wrist.
My GP prefers me to measure mine at home because she knows my readings in the surgery are unreliable. She recommends taking 3 readings, spaced by 1-2 minutes and ignoring the first one.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 05/05/2016 18:23

I've had 24 hour b/p monitor several times as a teacher - don't see why you'd have to take the day off work for it, tbh.

It's inconvenient that you've got to wear the thing again, but you really are over-reacting, you know. Can you have an early night and give yourself a bit of TLC?

Andro · 05/05/2016 21:24

don't see why you'd have to take the day off work for it, tbh.

In some jobs it wouldn't be safe/practical/possible to wear a monitor - if a day in an office role isn't possible then the person wearing it wouldn't be able to work with it on.

ssd - that kind of carelessness would frustrate me as well, but being so blasé when you have a history of health anxiety is irresponsible.

Nonotmenori · 05/05/2016 21:39

I feel your pain OP. They made me go on one when I was 8 months pregnant it was hell. I'm remember telling dad if you don't take me to the hospital now I'm taking it off. All night all day going off. Like being the size of a house and not bring able to sleep wasn't enough lol

Original poster
ssd · 05/05/2016 21:50

thanks, am a bit calmer now

the person in the gp surgery was just so flippant about it and I feel they gave me something faulty that hadnt been checked out when it was returned last week by someone else, they ended up saying it was a faulty wire.....it was like "oh these things happen".....but I really hated the bloody thing, as nonotmenori said it was all day all night, I felt it was sore and really intrusive and the only thing keeping it on me was the thought I'd get a straight bp result after months of worrying.

I'm going to get a home one and do readings here for the gp now, but I feel nervous even thinking about it.

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Baileysagain · 05/05/2016 21:56

That's really frustrating, I can understand why you are so upset. I have worn one before as well and like you, took the day off work. I think wearing them stresses you out though and that affect your BP! I agree with Mysillydog and think may be you should get your own monitor. Also try to relax when you go to the doctors to get it done.

Tanfastic · 06/05/2016 06:39

I've had one of these because I suffer with white coat thingy as well.

I know what you mean op, it's intrusive and a pita but has to be done. I went to work with mine on but I have an office job so it wasn't a problem. The worst bit was at night, how you are supposed to sleep with one on I'm not sure!

I'd be pissed off as well having to repeat it but what can you do? Get the results for your peace of mind. If you can go about your 'normal' day I would say this will give a more accurate reading. My results were interesting as it showed whilst I was pottering around at home and sleeping my no was normal. Whilst I was at work and rushing round like a nutter in my lunch hour it was all over the place. They told me that the red flag would be if it was high all the time.

Original poster
ssd · 06/05/2016 23:37

my dr has decided I have to get a home one from them and take 2 reading a day for 7 days then go back to her with them, I told them I'm not doing the 24 hr thing again as I hated it and it might not be fixed yet, theres no guarantee and I dont trust it anymore

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GraysAnalogy · 06/05/2016 23:41

It's a pain in the arse but I don't think it warrants this sort of anger, I'm honestly not trying to be a dick when I say this but is this how you react to other inconveniences and annoyances? It's just it could be a symptom of something else or your symptoms could be a result of

It's frustrating for you but with all technical stuff, shit happens and things fail. To get the same sort of accuracy one of these (functioning) would give would mean being an inpatient which I'm sure would be much more annoying and time consuming - and much noisier!

Hope you manage to get to the bottom of it, please try not to get stressed out!

Original poster
ssd · 06/05/2016 23:46

have you had a 24 hr monitor yourself grays?

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GraysAnalogy · 06/05/2016 23:51

Yes!

Original poster
ssd · 07/05/2016 00:00

fair enough then

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Original poster
ssd · 07/05/2016 00:04

I just hated it, I don't know why

I've had 2 kids and other health issues, hell I had a catheter once for 4 months solid.....but this monitor just really sort of threw me and I hated it altogether

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GraysAnalogy · 07/05/2016 00:07

It's no wonder you hated it, it isn't nice. I'm not saying you're wrong by feeling that way and I'm not trying to minimise your feelings. I'm just saying you seem very angry by it all. And that unfortunately this is the world of diagnostics and it's only to help you and find out whats going on to make your life better Flowers

Original poster
ssd · 07/05/2016 00:32

I think its the way the surgery receptionist (is this normal, it wasnt a nurse or a doctor?) who fitted it on me was so dismissive when the bloody thing didnt work, at first she said we cant get any readings from it as the computer programme isnt working then a few hours later she said its actually faulty as we found a loose wire in it...when I dont think it can be opened up to see inside??...and then she said "I actually wore it for an hour when I was here to see if it worked" in a voice like she'd done well and I felt like saying try it for 24 yrs then....she totally dismissed me and like I said have health anxiety and was would up enough by just having it at all..

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Original poster
ssd · 07/05/2016 00:35

and she didnt show me how to turn it off properly, I tried twice and it kept inflating and I had to phone them up and she answered the phone and told me what to press then....I am wondering if it did actually work fine and my turning it off wrongly in error made the thing unreadable.....

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GraysAnalogy · 07/05/2016 00:37

Yeah it's normal, there's usually a receptionist but perhaps it would have been better someone dealing with your care who had given input to you, do you think that would have helped a bit more? I'm not sure about the wires and stuff I've only ever put them on people and myself so I wouldn't know about that. It should have been tested before being given to you but obviously things can happen during the time but it's still very annoying for you having to go through it all again. She shouldn't have dismissed you and sounds like it should have been dealt with better, it might be that she isn't trained much in things like health anxiety and things - they're very good at their job but sometimes it doesn't extend to things patients need like talking to you about your anxiety.

I hope you get to the bottom of your problems and get the help you need, please don't be put off, it'll be worth it in the end x

Original poster
ssd · 07/05/2016 22:17

thanks, hopefully once I do the bp test twice a day for 7 days the gp should be able to ascertain what needs to be done if anything

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