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BP readings depend on where I am or who I'm with

I never used to fear blood pressure readings until I ended up in the hospital to repair a broken wrist. I had high BP and was given several drugs to try to get it to come down and it didn't go down.  I was given anti-depression as well as anti-anxiety drugs.  It didn't go down and I felt liked a caged lion.  A child's cuff size was used  and the highest reading was 200/120 with a heart rate of 130.  I felt like I was going to go insane.  The reading was done manually which was 180/100 with a heart rate of 120.  Finally after two days I was allowed to go home.   I was treated very badly by the hospital staff who thought I was nutty.  

They told a friend of mine who had come to pick me up that they couldn't release me because I was going nuts (I don't remember this but she was told I was yelling, screaming at the top of my lungs and sobbing because she was late).  I don't remember any of this but given how much medication I was given (some of which I wasn't told what they were putting into me, it's possible that this how I reacted).  I didn't remember anything after being told that I wasn't leaving that day.  This is not me as I'm normally a very calm person.    

Several days later I went to a cardiologist to see if this was a problem or just a stressful reaction to the surgery.  I did have high blood pressure and was given medication.  Whenever I go to his office the blood pressure readings are generally in the 120 to 135 readings and are in the targeted range.  I do have a problem with pulse sometimes being high (a lot of times I come straight from work).  

I'm not afraid of BP machines that I use (I just don't like it when BP machines are administered by others).  

The problem has been that someone who isn't probably trained at other doctor's office administered the blood pressure machine and the results are inaccurate.  At my ear doctor's office a couple of years ago, one of the office assistants tried to get a BP reading and it was off the charts 175/100 with heart rate of 115.  She took it again and it wouldn't take a reading.  She then left the room for a long time.  I was freaking out thinking that she would insist that I go to the emergency room.  I told her I would go and have a reading done and if it was still in that range, would go to the emergency room.  I waited about an hour and went and had a reading done (this was right before I took my BP meds) it was 140/90 with a heart rate of 103.  A second reading a couple of minutes later was similiar 140/92 heart rate of 102.   When I'm calm and right before I take the meds for the evening, usually it is between 140 to 145 pulse around 100-110 (depending).  I don't get alarmed as this is right before I take my meds.

Today I went to a quick care place  for a sinus issue. and it was a nightmare.  I had a stressful day at work and when I'm stressed, my heart rate goes up (usual something triggers this).  The receptionist at the quick care place didn't take my blood pressure properly.  I was standing up with the hand down by the side.  She wasn't listening to me when I said I needed to have it even with my heart or be seated.  Well the reading was 177 over 87 with a heart rate of 144.  I was very upset with her and could hear my heart pounding.  She left and the doctor didn't come back for quite a while.  

He grilled me about my blood pressure and the high heart rate.  Because it was a stress day, I didn't know whether or not I taken my medication and realized that I hadn't. This is something I rarely have done.  When it has been this high, it's been when I gotten upset about something.  I'm not the type that yells, screams or tells someone off when I'm upset or angry.  You can tell that I'm angry (I bottle it up and turn it inwards unto my body).  

I didn't dare tell the doctor the receptionist didn't do it correctly as if he took it it would be just as high as I was still upset about it.  Finally I got out of there and the only reason why I did was because I had medication for the blood pressure.  Otherwise I probably would have been pressure to go to the emergency room (something I didn't want to do).  

Left to get the medication.  I went and had my blood pressure checked on a machine that I know is accurate.  It was a little high for me, 150/97 with pulse of 113.  I sat down for a while, calmed down and then took it again.  It was 142/90 with a pulse of 109.

This drive me nuts as you wouldn't believe how many people don't know how to properly take someone's blood pressure and this has caused unnecessary trips to the emergency rooms and unnecessary trips to the doctor.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Seems like I'm the only one that this has happened to.  
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Avatar universal
I can sympathize with your plight.

Blood pressure is supposed to be taken after you are seated for 5 minutes, preferably in the LEFT arm, and you are not supposed to talk or move while it is being read.

I go to my doctor's office, and he has these dizzy, uneducated girls working for him who managed to get an online CNA certification. They don't know what they're doing.   The cuff is often VERY loose, they ask me questions while they're taking the reading (and I refuse to answer, but it makes me anxious.)   I always get a high reading.  

Then my doc comes in...he's a great guy who has a blind spot when it comes to his staff (maybe he is just cheap; he goes through medical assistans like water, and I know he doesn't pay them a living wage.)    Anyhow, by now, I've been seated on the table for a while, and I ALWAYS ask him to take my BP again.   And it is always just fine, normal.

I have mild hypertension and take Losartan (25 mgs) for it.   However, I can tell you that your lifestyle can have a huge effect on your BP.    Do you exercise?    Eat low salt?   Consume caffeine or energy drinks?  All of these things affect our blood pressure.

Good luck honey...
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Avatar universal
Wow this seems very similar to me and after every reading at doctors hospital it was extremely high one night it was 198/108 and my pulse was 148 they asked straight away u been taking drugs and I said u having a laugh because I have anxiety even thinkin of drugs makes me flip out .......bearing in mind I'm only 23 lol I bought myself a bp machine and after using it my readings were getting better when I went to my doctors they told me I had white coat hypertension wich basically when u go to them places doctors hospital it makes ure bp and pulse shoot through the roof hopefully it's the same case for you  :)
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