High blood pressure

[anxiousannie125]

I have a really bad phobia of blood pressure machines, which in turn makes my bp sky high in doctors and hospitals. Last year I had to monitor it at home and I got okay readings eventually with a lot of relaxation techniques, this was at home too! dr didn't follow up when I sent the readings which I'm guessing he must of been okay with.

Anyway cut a long story short I'm now 6 weeks pregnant and have my antenatal appointment in a few week. I know they will take my blood pressure and it will be high!
I'm so worried that they will admit me to hospital etc.

Anyone know what they do in this situation?
Or anything I can do to help myself?

Hi OP.

I had preeclampsia in my 2nd pregnancy, so I know what you mean about anxiety around getting BP taken.

In my experience it took more than high BP for me to be admitted to hospital. I had protein in my urine, extreme swelling and headaches along with very high BP that wasn't controlled with medication.

I think if you explain the 'white coat syndrome' they'll take that on board.

My BP is always higher in a medical setting. So far they've understood and accepted that.

Agreed - my BP is always higher in a medical setting and was at my booking appt. They wanted me to monitor it at home twice a week which is what I’ve been doing, and making a note of each reading that I take in with me to midwife appts. Some of the readings I have in clinic now are ok and some tend to be on the higher side. I try and arrive at the appt in good time so have time to sit down (from rushing from car park to hospital) so it’s more normal when they take it.

I have this. I don’t even know why as I never feel overly nervous or anxious beforehand. But even my midwife recognised it as white coat syndrome.

The first time she took it, it was 190/100!!!

Now I monitor it at home twice a day. She still does it in appointments too, and it is still slightly high at hone, but nothing compared to the appointments.

My readings are being reviewed by a doctor today so they can decide whether to start me on blood pressure medication for the remainder of the pregnancy or not (I’m 17 weeks).

They know my blood pressure is likely to increase the further on I am and they obviously want to lessen the chance of pre eclampsia.

@Moominmiss
Omg they are like my readings! What did they do when it was that high?

Did they do extra blood tests etc?

I'm the same at home and get so stressed still at home so it comes out higher too ☹️

I'm so scared it's unreal. I'm glad I'm not the only one that's like it though.

I'm trying to accept that it will come out high and whatever happens, happens 😑

Xx

@TheGlitterFairy

Glad I'm not the only one!

Can I ask what your readings were when they took them?

I feel like I'm daft for having this phobia but I panic as soon as I see the machine 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Nia18

Why sort of readings were you getting in clinic?

It's put me at ease that they won't admit me straight away! So thank you.

What did they do when you were admitted with protein etc? Was all okay in the end? Xx

@anxiousannie125 when my readings came back that high they’d do it 3 times to double check.

They did think it was likely white coat syndrome though as I showed no other signs of high blood pressure. That’s when they sent me home with a blood pressure machine to do my own readings at home.

I’ve since been told today that the consultant is happy enough at the moment as long as my readings stay below 140/90. Which they are at home.

For example my readings from this morning have been 126/84, 121/56 and 129/87.

When you go in for an appointment just explain at the start that you feel very anxious over your readings and that it usually shows very high at appointments.

They will still want to do them but may ask you to monitor yourself at home. Alternatively they may start you on blood pressure medication straight away.

I was going to be sent in to the DAU to have it assessed but the consultant just reviewed my readings today instead.

Good luck! Don’t panic!

Hi!
I had high bp in the last 2 weeks of my first pregnancy and stayed in for a week for observation. They said my bp wasn’t high enough to warrant medication but wanted to keep an eye on it. I’m now 23 weeks into my third pregnancy (no bp issues in second pregnancy and went to 41+3 weeks). I was on low dose aspirin in that pregnancy and am also taking it in this one.
I’ve got consultant led care this time and I also hate having bp taken ever since my first experience. I was quite young and hated being in hospital. Now I dread every antenatal appointment because of getting bp taken. Of course this time they check it more often due to consultant led care.
So I really sympathise with a phobia of bp readings! So far mine have been fine despite nerves but I still dread it! X