HRT and White coat hypertension

[Endofether]

Hi, whenever I get my bp done at GP it is always high. I literally can feel my heart pounding the minute the cuff goes on and palms sweat.

I really want to make GP app to hopefully start HRT. Is it worth me buying an upper arm monitor to record it at home regularly to show to GP? Whenever I have had it done when have managed not to stress (in gym or at my mum’s or in hospital ) it’s fine
Thanks !

I would. Loads of people, just like you, have serious issues with WCH. Being at a doctor's office just sets their anxiety right off.

I literally have a flight reaction - heart, palms, almost a panic attack

So so annoying and it gets worse the more o try and calm myself

Even doing it at my mum’s now I start panicking at first !

Home BP meters are really not very expensive, so unless you’re strapped for cash I’d give it a go. Maybe if you get into a routine of checking yourself you can overcome your anxiety in a medical setting.

I found it even possible to lower my BP deliberately by deep breathing if I didn’t want it to read too high, I assume that’s not possible for everyone but worth a try.

Thanks both - upper arm model?

I found that was helpful also taking the machine to the gp surgery so you can verify it reads similar to their one.

@Endofether

Thanks both - upper arm model?

what other sort is there?

High BP is not actually a reason not to use hrt anyway. the guidance is it has to be treated but modern body identical HRT doesn't affect BP anyway.

Are you sure your dr will want to do your BP anyway?

@JinglingHellsBells yeah you can get wrist ones on Amazon but don’t think they’re as accurate (my mum has a wrist one )

No not even sure gp will even be bothered about it tbh !

Lidl had them in a couple of weeks ago for 20 quid. Upper arm job.

Yeah I do this. I bought a £40 Omron because my GP insisted on it.

@JinglingHellsBells, I know you're right, but I'm being held hostage! I've also just had a letter warning me that HRT causes strokes, breast cancer and clots, while acknowledging I'm on oestrogen only trans-dermal patches, started in my 50s. Wtaf.

I'm amazed to have it in writing, though. Normally it's just the verbal frighteners.

I would definitely get one, Omron are a good brand (and well respected by medics).

I'm a WCS sufferer - had to get one on the advice of my GP as every time she took it, it was elevated. Took it twice a day (morning and evening) for a week and presented her with the results - averaged about 110/65!

Unlikely your GP will see you face to face right now for starting HRT anyway!

They would much rather you had a home BP monitor as it cuts down on face to face trips to the surgery and potential Covid exposures when you go.

@SpindleWhorl

Yeah I do this. I bought a £40 Omron because my GP insisted on it.

@JinglingHellsBells, I know you're right, but I'm being held hostage! I've also just had a letter warning me that HRT causes strokes, breast cancer and clots, while acknowledging I'm on oestrogen only trans-dermal patches, started in my 50s. Wtaf.

I'm amazed to have it in writing, though. Normally it's just the verbal frighteners.

Who wrote that letter? Is this an NHS letter or com[osed by your practice?

I think I'd follow up (maybe!) as it's erroneous information according to NICE. HRT does not cause strokes above the woman's own risk if it;s the transdermal type.

Ditto clots.

This kind of scaremongering is a disgrace.

I don't suppose they also say HRT

1 prevents and treats osteoporosis
2 reduces the risk of heart disease by 50%
3 reduces the risk of bowel cancer
4 improves the ratio of good lipids in the blood
5 may prevent diabetes
6 may / likely to help prevent dementia

No- thought not :)

@JinglingHellsBells, it's an actual headed-paper letter sent by a newish GP at the practice, to me specifically. It ends with the advice that I should stop taking it. (I had a BSO TH three years ago, no bloody chance!)

I have a phone appointment on Friday and I'm going to stay very, very calm. I've learned a lot from your posts, and read the NICE guidelines and NHS current advice.

It's bad enough dancing around the BP requirements.

Good luck, @Endofether, HRT has been a 'life saver' for me.

Medical staff know what to do to get an accurate reading and will be aware of 'white coat syndrome' . If you explain the situation they should take several readings, dismissing the first couple and then taking a median. At least that's what we do with animals!

Thanks ! @SpindleWhorl

You know you can always get a private prescription done at Louise Newson then get it prescribed by NHs going forward ?

Thank you, @Endofether for the useful info.

But I'm going to take one for the team with this GP, and firmly request an appropriate NHS service going foward, and take it as far as necessary.

I have had to buy privately before, and it's not right, is it?

@SpindleWhorl no it’s not right

I’m gonna steel myself and phone tomorrow for an app and offer to do home BP if they ask about it !

[quote SpindleWhorl]@JinglingHellsBells, it's an actual headed-paper letter sent by a newish GP at the practice, to me specifically. It ends with the advice that I should stop taking it. (I had a BSO TH three years ago, no bloody chance!)

I have a phone appointment on Friday and I'm going to stay very, very calm. I've learned a lot from your posts, and read the NICE guidelines and NHS current advice.

It's bad enough dancing around the BP requirements.

Good luck, @Endofether, HRT has been a 'life saver' for me.[/quote]
I just don't know where these GPs are coming from with stuff like that.

It flies in the face of NICE and the British Menopause Society and the International Menopause Society statements. All say there should be no limits put on hrt use and that for women under 60 the benefits outweigh the risks.

Do GPs not read any of this?

I always insist that the readings I take regularly at home are the ones used on my medical records. They are far more accurate as I too have WCS.

It's worth buying a cuff. In fact, increasingly GPs seem very happy that we are taking more responsibility for doing this.

What do people do for progesterone ?

I’m reluctant to have Mirena because although I am 48 I would love to conceive with my new partner (only if it happened naturally )

Can I still even take HRT if am kind of TTC (although am sure it won’t be successful !)

You could try to conceive @Endofether but truthfully, the chances of being pregnant and carrying to term as you approach 50 are almost zero. If you do want to take the risk of becoming pregnant, you need to discuss this with a professional because there may be some types o HRT that could affect the embryo.

Mmmm @JinglingHellsBells I know that, removed coil 18 months ago and nothing .. always used to conceive at drop of hat , had my youngest when I was nearly 40 (happy accident )

Anyway , I will tell the dr I don’t want to use birth control right now !)

Definitely get a home monitor and make sure it's one with a memory. Take your BP often over a few days but don't look at the results - let the memory store them. You'll find that you start to feel calmer quite soon as you get used to it. Don't look at the results until you have to.

That's the method I use anyway!

Thanks all I have ordered a monitor and will start to take it regularly before my gp app in a couple of weeks )

Wow so update ! I have been doing two readings a day to get me used to it so I stop being anxious

First one I did , pounding heart sweaty palms immediately, couldn’t calm self , felt heart rising in chest and first two readings were like 130/87 and then 125/83

Then I kept doing it and they have dropped to about 115/75 average

Omg I knew I got stressed but that’s mad ! My machine also takes pulse and on my first attempts my pulse was racing with stress at 90 odd and now my pulse is always about 70

Anyway if you are thinking of buying a home monitor because of WCS do it ! )