(no subject)

[pshaw_raven]

I wondered why I've lately felt dizzy and weird when I stand up, so I recently started taking my pressure again (still trying to find a good way to integrate this with my blood glucose data and thinking I need to just make my own spreadsheet) and it was 96/54.

Which is pretty good I guess? At least I'm not dead.

I'd love to be able to talk to my doctor about going off BP meds, but my anxiety gets so bad every time I go in that I get normal or slightly above readings. Last office visit it was like 120/79 because I was nervous. When I'm in my natural habitat it tends to run very low.

My doc seems pretty laid back, so I wonder if he'd be open to looking at my self-collected data. I know there's a degree of inaccuracy in testing one's self for these things, but inaccuracies aside I think it might give him a more accurate picture of my health stats than when I'm in his office and despite knowing that there isn't any reason to be worried, worrying anyway.

Comments

Perhaps perhaps

[8hyenas]

If you don't already, ask for it to be taken at the end of the visit. Mine always starts out in the "medicate for this" range and ends up in the "no problem" range towards the end.

Re: Perhaps perhaps

[pshaw_raven]

I'm definitely going to do this so he doesn't get the higher reading from where I'm anxious from the waiting room. I'm also going to start keeping a log of my home readings, because he seemed interested when I mentioned owning a BP cuff.

[cdayzee]

Hmm...I wonder if your blood pressure is too low? It might warrant a reevaluation, given your dizziness upon standing. Did they put you on pills solely based on your in-office readings? How high were they before getting put on the meds? I'm assuming you're taking a low dose now?

Sorry for all the questions lol. But I can 100% relate!! My blood pressure runs high due to white coat syndrome myself. They're always threatening to put me on meds as well - & even my oldest daughter has the same issues when she goes to the dr & she's only 25. My youngest daughter had high blood pressure during a sports physical when she was in middle school & it blew my mind. The times when I was allowed into her dr appts recently they were also starting to question that it was getting high because it's not expected in someone of their ages given that otherwise, they're healthy. Shayna does have anxiety but Trinity doesn't, although she may have a predisposition for it.

Have they tried taking your BP manually? When they do that for me, suddenly it's lower.

Before covid, I've taken my BP at random stores & it's always within normal ranges, even when I've been stressed. So mine is clearly due to white coat syndrome. Perhaps your dr will be mindful of this if you talk to him. No sense in being on pills if it's going to make your bp too low.

[pshaw_raven]

I was taking a low-ish dose, and they took me off that and put me on the lowest, and that one doesn't have a diuretic. I suspect some of it is medical inertia - you're on the meds and everything seems fine so doctors can be reluctant to take you off of them. But I think if my weight remains steady and my activity levels remain high I will be fine. When I first had to go on it, my weight was much higher and I was drinking a lot.

I don't know a whole lot about my family's history with it, I know my mom and grandmother have both had moderate issues with irregular heartbeat, and I have that, too. Oddly enough it doesn't seem to trip Garmin's irregular heartbeat detection, although I might not actually have that on my watch.

The orthostatic hypotension might not be enough to convince him, in which case I'll probably just keep taking the pills and try to be mindful of how quickly I stand.

[cdayzee]

Yeah, given that factors have changed & your weight is lower would be a good reason to re-evaluate. You becoming lightheaded and/or dizzy upon standing could point to your body saying its BP is now too low. I personally wouldn't mess around with it as it's not ideal. Another issue could be low iron :shrug: I'd rather be safe <3 I know you're a properly functioning adult; I don't want to offend you lol. I just care about people.

[pshaw_raven]

I'm supposed to give blood tomorrow and they're going to check my iron anyway. If I were still sticking to the vegan diet I would be more concerned, but I should be okay on that score. And most of my BP readings taken at home so far are pretty low - I think the highest has been 115/68.