High blood pressure when to start medication and HRT

[Beachesandcream]

I have been home monitoring my blood pressure as it was high when I saw the GP to discuss HRT. I worked my average out as 139/87. I have been asked to make a GP appointment to discuss BP as they worked it out as 140/88. I double checked my average working out and still feel mine is correct. I am happy to start on medication if needed but I had already been making positive healthy living changes as I am overweight - I have lost 1.5 stone so far and increased my exercise ( which can be difficult some days due to joint issues I am on medication for) . Is my BP at a high enough level for them to prescribe medication and does anyone know if it will affect me getting HRT? I have terrible white coat syndrome when the GP takes my BP and always have done. I feel that some of the earlier measurements I took were higher because I was anxious about taking it as they have been consistently lower over the past 4 days ( although still high between 133-138 over 84-88. )

Hi OP, my very recent experience is that the GP will want your BP under control before you start HRT. With those measurements you are likely to start on medication immediately plus the GP is likely to want other tests doing too (cholesterol, sight test, ECG, urine.
it’s difficult enough to get HRT prescribed without high BP :( even though there is evidence showing that oestrogen plus micronised progesterone can keep BP within normal range.
it took about 3 weeks for me to see an improvement in bp once I started medication. So if you get medication that works it shouldn’t be too long before you can have a convo about HRT.
Like you I definitely have a bit of white coat going on and what I’ve found helpful is to be reading a book when I do my bp! Obviously nothing racey or tense! Honestly, I’d tried deep breaths, thinking of waves on a beach and all that and it didn’t help, but reading seemed to occupy my mind sufficiently to not be anxious about the measurement.

RowenaCoxwell Thank you that is very useful I will definitely try your tip of reading a book, mindfulness is something I struggle with so will see if this helps. Good to know that blood pressure can fall relatively quickly with medication.