I know it is boring but blood pressure / pressure in eyes... help!

[ELF1981]

Went to get a repeat prescription for the pill, I had been running around all day, and blood pressure was slightly higher than my usual readings of 120/80

So, since Sunday, I have had a headache which was horrible, tablets did not help etc. I booked an eye test because I thought it was linked to sight, though with being dizzy, I wondered if blood pressure related.

So, eye test - presciption has change from -3.5 & -3.25 to -4.00 and -3.75. They made me have additional tests such as the one for testing the vision around the eye which wasn't brilliant, and they did that puff of air test which was registering pressure at 26 and my range should be 20-25

So I asked the optician what it all meant, I have to go back on Sun to have the test redone, and she said it could be related to blood pressure.

So I popped to Boots to get somebody to do my blood pressure, no such luck, they recommended a blood presure monitor so I could monitor my pressure and make an appointment at the docs. a couple of readings today have range between 127/86 at the lowest, to 147/94

What do you think I should do? Keep monitoring or go to the doctors to access, or give it all up and go to the docs instead? Just want to feel better and stop the headaches, and the high(er) blood pressure - not been this high since pregnancy.

I'm, not an expert but I thought i would reply just to try and put your mind at rest, if I could.From what my doctor has told me I think that blood pressure has to remain persistently high before they would come up with a diagnosis of high blood pressure. The highest of your readings is a bit on the high side but not terribly so and the lower reading seems OK so probably unlikely that your headache is blood pressure related. The eye test for pressure and peripheral vision is looking for signs of gluacoma, I believe - my pressure is always a bit high and they make me do the field of vision test too. I think as you are a bit concerned it is always best to go to your GP to be sure.

thanks

Getting in at my doctors is terrible - I always find myself better before I get to go to the appointment!

I have to have the pressure test done next Sat, and the other one too (peripheral - I couldn't even think of a way to spell that in my original post!).

Will be booking some time at the docs when I ever get a second to myself.

Don't keep taking your BP Elf -those home monitors are notoriously inaccurate, even if you put them on totally correctly, which is difficult and getting wound up is just going to send it higher

agree with Jamila re blood pressure, go and see your GP if you are worried. Home testing kits are bloody useless.

With the eyes, just follow the optomotrists's advice. My optician told me the puff of air test can be misleading, because while the average scores are x to y, any individual can be different. What's important is the your range - so if the average is 20-25, but your 'normal' reading is 20, then a reading of 25 would be cause for concern. Or vice versa - 26 might be OK if that is normal for you! My optician used something else but I can't remember what it was, helpfully... anyway, am sure your optician will sort it out.