Phobic about taking blood pressure

[Rosanna]

Can anyone talk me down or talk it through with me.

I've witnessed medical trauma and now avoid all things medical. I've always had good blood pressure but because have started HRT and been on 6 months, the doctor wanted to to a BP check. I didn't feel too anxious before she suggested that because I was only there to sort out my regular medicenes. I got a bit anxious when she wanted to do the check but she talked me into it.

My result was 150 / 90 which is high. She tried to be reassuring but I wasn't convinced. She said may well be white coat syndrome because I was anxious, I was also very dehydrated that day having missed meals and drinks at work (busy).

Anyway she said to check it at home, missing the point that I will have white coat syndrome even if I do it myself at home. It's the check itself that I am anxious about. Worried about it being high and not wanting to see it.

I know that sounds stupid and illogical. I think it's the meaning I would give to it if it's high. Having witnessed a trauma, I just think everything medical is going to be traumatic. I see people check their blood pressure in the doctor's office without a second thought and I wonder how they do that. Are they not worried it will be dangerously high? And if so what that means for them?

Can anyone help me out and tell me how they do it? I know people have told me that they'd rather know and have something done about it, but I can't seem to get to that stage, and I really have to do this. I know logically how important this is, it's because of that that I'm fearful.

Can anyone help?

[NoraB]

Hi Rosanna,

I have White Coat Syndrome and have to take my own readings at home..

I have a few things that I do to calm myself before taking a reading...

Make sure you've been to the loo.

Nothing to eat.

Drink water to hydrate (no caffeine as it will affect the reading)

I listen to Classic FM

I do some deep breathing exercises prior to taking my BP

I try to think of nice things..

Promise yourself a little treat when it's done. (nice cup of tea etc)

Make sure you're sitting with your legs on the floor, hand outstretched, fist unclenched, and that the cuff is positioned correctly (not too tight or slack)

Interesting that you say you "witnessed" medical trauma...it's difficult to comment without knowing the facts (and they can be triggering for people on here) but it's worth noting that our experiences as observers are not the same as the experiencer..

What we tend to do is to take our dramatic perception as observers and create a narrative (often false) that feeds into health anxiety...

[Pearly queen]

Hi, I have white coat syndrome. The best way I know is to sit for 5 or 10 minutes in a quiet area of your home. Have some water beside you to sip. Focus on easy breathing. It doesn't have to be deep, just soft and steady. Don't check until you have steadied your breathing. Press the button but stop it before it's fully expanded the cuff, do this a few times to get used to the feeling of the cuff expanding. When you're ready, let it fully expand. Take 2/3 readings and average them to get your reading. If it's high. Walk away and try again later. Don't panic. An isolated high reading is not dangerous. Good luck. Also, have you received counselling for your trauma experience?

[Rosanna]

Thanks NoraB and Pearly queen

I have wondered whether to treat this as a proper phobia and just sit with the machine in my hand and then later wrap it around my arm without using it etc, and build up to doing this. Thing is I'm not afraid to do those things, its the reading that bothers me. I have this very hard and fast rule that anything over 125 / 80 is not healthy at all. I know people who are alive, well, happy and have been on blood pressure meds for 35 years, some have even been able to come off some of them. But I am still stuck in this thinking. I can't believe my BP went that high and it 'only' be white coat syndrome.

I'll see if I can work on my state of mind today and build up to doing it. I am worried about getting stressed at work (and work will be hugely stressful end of this week) as I'm worried that it's not good if someone has high bp.

I sound pathetic I know, but in my life off here there are a lot of things I handle that others can't, so there is some balance lol

[Pearly queen]

Thanks NoraB and Pearly queen

I have wondered whether to treat this as a proper phobia and just sit with the machine in my hand and then later wrap it around my arm without using it etc, and build up to doing this. Thing is I'm not afraid to do those things, its the reading that bothers me. I have this very hard and fast rule that anything over 125 / 80 is not healthy at all. I know people who are alive, well, happy and have been on blood pressure meds for 35 years, some have even been able to come off some of them. But I am still stuck in this thinking. I can't believe my BP went that high and it 'only' be white coat syndrome.

I'll see if I can work on my state of mind today and build up to doing it. I am worried about getting stressed at work (and work will be hugely stressful end of this week) as I'm worried that it's not good if someone has high bp.

I sound pathetic I know, but in my life off here there are a lot of things I handle that others can't, so there is some balance lol

I have high BP and am treated for it. I never minded having my BP taken until a high home reading followed by panic followed by high heart rate meant a out of hours nurse sent me to A&E. This then started my phobia around my BP. After being seen by a doctor at A&E he sent me home. My BP was 160/100 or something. May have been higher. The point is, the doctor wasn't even slightly concerned. He told me I was possibly worried or a bit stressed (it was COVID 1st lockdown). He also said bp had to be over 200 to be considered A&E high.
I developed white coat syndrome as a result and every time I got checked by my doctors my BP went up. After a lot of back and forth, we agreed to me checking it at home. It has taken me a long time to get to a point where I am reasonably comfortable with it. I still hate doing it but I have a system that so far has worked.
I had to have an operation last year and was convinced my BP would be through the roof. It was high but for me and making allowances for nerves, my BP wasn't crazy. That has actually helped a lot.
Take your time and remind yourself that you don't actually have high blood pressure.

[Rosanna]

I have high BP and am treated for it. I never minded having my BP taken until a high home reading followed by panic followed by high heart rate meant a out of hours nurse sent me to A&E. This then started my phobia around my BP. After being seen by a doctor at A&E he sent me home. My BP was 160/100 or something. May have been higher. The point is, the doctor wasn't even slightly concerned. He told me I was possibly worried or a bit stressed (it was COVID 1st lockdown). He also said bp had to be over 200 to be considered A&E high.
I developed white coat syndrome as a result and every time I got checked by my doctors my BP went up. After a lot of back and forth, we agreed to me checking it at home. It has taken me a long time to get to a point where I am reasonably comfortable with it. I still hate doing it but I have a system that so far has worked.
I had to have an operation last year and was convinced my BP would be through the roof. It was high but for me and making allowances for nerves, my BP wasn't crazy. That has actually helped a lot.
Take your time and remind yourself that you don't actually have high blood pressure.

Thanks Pearly queen, that's given some perspective. Glad you are more comfortable with checking your BP.

The doctor said if my BP had been 140 / 90 she wouldn't suggest to check it, but the guidelines now are to check it over a week if it's over this at the doctor's and if it's over 135 / 80 at home. Well, I think in my case it would be over 140 / 90 at home as well atm.

I just wish I could get myself to a point where I can start checking it, but this week is going to be stressful so maybe I should start on Friday.

If BP were consistently high I wish I could be ok with that like most people and then work to get it down if I can, the anxiety just muddies the waters.

Thanks for your reply x

[Pearly queen]

Thanks Pearly queen, that's given some perspective. Glad you are more comfortable with checking your BP.

The doctor said if my BP had been 140 / 90 she wouldn't suggest to check it, but the guidelines now are to check it over a week if it's over this at the doctor's and if it's over 135 / 80 at home. Well, I think in my case it would be over 140 / 90 at home as well atm.

I just wish I could get myself to a point where I can start checking it, but this week is going to be stressful so maybe I should start on Friday.

If BP were consistently high I wish I could be ok with that like most people and then work to get it down if I can, the anxiety just muddies the waters.

Thanks for your reply x

Yes I think you need to get your stressful work week over and then start thinking about checking your bp. Tell yourself you are not going to stress even if the first few numbers are high. Then try to let your mind drift while you check it. The more you think about your bp the higher it will go. Alternatively ask your pharmacist to check. Maybe away from a doctors environment and taking the responsibility off you might help. Or ask a family member to check it for you.
You'll find away. Just try to put it behind you for now. Remember your gp would not have just sent you home if they were worried about it.

[Chlobo]

I have this phobia too. I had my blood pressure taken a lot in pregnancy and I actually got used too it a few years back and it didn’t terrify me as much, but that was 5 nearly 6 years ago and I can’t even bare the cuff round my arm now. I am terrified of seeing high numbers and what that might mean. Last time I went to the doctors he managed to do it and it was high ish but not too bad. I haven’t done it since. I suppose I don’t really have any advice as such but just know you’re not alone. I do find one thing that helps me at the doctors is if he takes my blood pressure the old fashioned way. With a stethoscope and the pressure gauge, I am definitely calmer with that approach than using the cuff and machine.

[NoraB]

I hate how the cuff feels on my arm, it's a horrible sensation...

However, it's still preferable to how my ma used to grip my arm when we were crossing main roads.