This is a bit long winded, but my anxiety is very high and I feel like crying. I don't feel understood when I've tried to talk to various GPs over the last year, so please offer any advice if you can bear to read it:
- I have always had bad white coat syndrome, and after a routine appointment last year where my BP was very high, I was asked to do a 7 day monitoring form at home.
- The result of the form was 133/90, and I had several tests done. The GP said it should be below 135/85 at home, and that because I am young (40) it was best to treat aggressively, and I was prescribed 2.5mg Ramipril. He said this would also protect my kidneys etc.
- Due to some sort of mix-up, when I collected from the pharmacy, I'd actually been prescribed 5mg. I queried this with GP and they said it was fine, take this because we'd review in a few weeks anyway.
- After six weeks, I had a review and they asked if my BP had come down. I said not especially, and it was put up to 7.5mg.
- My BP did come down to 117/77 for the next review, and I've taken 7.5mg ever since. Just recently, my BP seems to be creeping up again, and the average this month has been 124/88.
My concerns are, as my BP now is not much different to what is was before the medication, why am I taking it? It could be causing damage to my kidneys (I've googled this and frightened myself) unnecessarily. I know my BP isn't perfect now, but it's not much different to before medication.
And also, is it usual to be medicated for this borderline high BP? Shouldn't a low dose have been enough, when it was only a little bit high, or is that not how it works?
If anyone can help calm me down, I'd appreciate it. I know these are all questions to ask a GP and I have, but it's a different person each time, and they're in a rush and don't seem to listen properly.