Dangerously high blood pressure

[Dogonthebed]

Went to the Drs yesterday for migraines which I knew would likely be linked to high bp as it runs in the family. At its highest it was 233 / 193, I didn’t appreciate at the time how ridiculously high that was. I have been put on Amlodipine 10mg and it is now 208. I am still freaking out! Not back for another week. I’m either glued to the sofa or laid in bed worried to get my heart beating any faster. Has anyone else had this? I had an ecg there and then and blood tests. The Dr said he was happy for me to go home after ecg but must take the tablets obviously. How soon can I expect an improvement to get out of this danger zone? How much physically can I do? I wish now I had been sent to a and e as I’m just sat here listening to my heartbeat

You need to do everything you can to relax, easier said than done I know.
Let the tablets do their job, and see where you are in a week.

as much as you feel like!
gentle exercise, like walking, will do you good.

I hope your meds kick in properly soon. all the best.

What is your np now, both diastolic and systolic?

You need to take it 3 times, trying to be as relaxed as possible. The lowest is the one that counts.

I am not convinced you should have been discharged without proper investigation with a bp that high (180/120 is classed as a medical emergency on many sites, especially if symptomatic, which you are). The risk is as much a stroke as a heart attack.

If it is not below that, I would go in to A&E where they will investigate further and make sure they can bring it down before discharging you.

Agreed. Take your BP 3 times a day and if still in that region go to A&E.
Better to be safe than sorry.
May be worth researching any foods/supplements which could help lower BP.

Do you have a machine at home ? The amlodipine should bring it down but it can take a while?. Have they given you a sheet to fill in with daily readings?

Very surprised you weren't sent to same day emergency care at the hospital with it that high! My dh had BP lower than yours and was given a whole load of tests including eye tests/ kidney function/ ultra sounds. They brought his BP down slowly over a month or so because of you bring it down too fast you are at risk of fainting/ falling/ dizziness. He wasn't allowed to leave the hospital until his was at 180 so I'm surprised your were tbh.

Try and stay out of the heat as well because that will not help.

I had this, not so high but still high, earlier this year. The tablets do work fairly quickly to bring it down, though you do get worried thinking about it.

I’m fine and I’m sure you will be too. After all, you now know you have high blood pressure and are taking medication, so you’re already much better off than you were…

I have high blood pressure and am on pills. I swim and walk a lot and try to keep head space for relaxing time. Good luck.

The amlodipine at a dose of 10mg can make your feet and legs swell especially in heat. Don't worry if that happens. All the best to you.

There is a path where they gradually increase/trail different combinations of tablets to hit the sweet spot for you.
Dh has 3 different tablets and I have 2.

OP that BP is obscenely high. Some of it could be white coat syndrome from being worried at the doctors.

Do you do your BP at home? If you do and after relaxing and taking it 3 times it’s still very high, get yourself to A&E

For when you’ve got it under control, my bp, btw, goes down after exercise.

This is a good website:
https://www.bloodpressureuk.org

especially their stories from real people:

https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/resources/real-stories/

since they make you think actually better to know than not know.

I agree. BP isn't to messed about with. They'll just send you home if it's not appropriate for you to be there but I doubt they will.

Honestly, unless it is below 180/120, don’t waste time or listen to dangerous advice.

An ECG is a crude test and doesn’t rule out many things.

That BP together with a headache really warrants further urgent investigation.

Also when the GP managed mine I was back at the surgery every 4 days not every week and mine wasn't as high as yours.

Honestly, unless it is below 180/120, don’t waste time or listen to dangerous advice

This is spot on!

My blood pressure reached these levels a few years back.
I'd had no history of high blood pressure previously. I went to the doctors as I felt out of sorts but was whisked to A&E as they were so concerned it could be a heart attack, stroke or blood clots. Within minutes a cat 1 ambulance was being called and dh was called to come and meet me too. It was all really quite alarming.

I had various tests, bloods taken and ecg. My heart rhythm etc was fine and they found no evidence of these things.

What they did discover was that I had covid and it was linked to that.
I was kept in for a couple of nights.

In that time my gp stayed high even with medication.
By the time I came home the top number it was around 180-210 still.

I was put on medication, which was added to a week or so later as it was still too far too high.

I got a home BP machine and took my readings 3 times a day and it did start to reduce.

That was almost 4 years ago now. I'm still on the medication and likely to remain on it.

I have 10mg amlodophine and 5mg Ramoril these days.

My Bp is normal now most of the time,

I had fairly high blood pressure and my GP prescribed 10 mg Amlodipine . It did take a few weeks to work but is now fine .

Were you not told to make a note twice a day of your bp so the GP could see it at your next appointment ? BP monitors are cheap to buy , think mine was about £15 .

Yes I have had very high blood pressure.
When I was put on 24 hour monitor thing it came back 220 a lot. Can't remember the other figure.
I know people mention going to hospital on here but my doctor never sent me to hospital.
I was put on tablets.
At one point I did have an ecg yes but that was fine.
Took a few months to get the right tablets and I'm monitored every 6 months now

When you go on blood pressure pills are you on them for life?

unless there is another reason for it (diabetes for example)

I find that keeping hydrated and taking quite warm baths helps get mine down a bit when it's super high.

Not always but usually. I've reduced my dosage with weight loss but that isn't always the case.

I think possibly the NICE guidelines have changed as I wasn't but my dh was and his GP argued the point when she rang the hospital quoting the guidelines.