Am I missing something here? If one's BP is even "a little high" - and we should all know what numbers the indicators are - then why should a doctor not tell the patient so? Should they only be told if the numbers are very high or dangerous? Or is the issue that the doctor doesn'take steps to combat an escalating BP? I don't get it.
You're not missing anything--that's why I posted this.
In the last month, I went to see my psychiatrist, the hospital for my colonoscopy and my internist. The lst thing, all 3 places did was weigh me. I can't figure those scales, so I ask what is the weight wanting to compare it to my scale at home. The psychiatrist and my internist's scale was 10 lbs higher than mine. The hospitals was 20 lbs. I'm trying to forget everything that happened at that hospital
In all 3 cases, the bp was about the same but a little higher than it has been. Again, I had to ask the person doing the test what the results were. They wrote it down on my patient sheet. The only one of the 3 places that commented to me was my internist. I'd expect him to because that how he handles thing--in fact, I raised the issue first. I take 3 meds for bp which brought it down from where it was nearly off the wall 2 years ago.
Then I saw that article in the paper confirming what I felt about why do these places weigh us and take bp's, write it down, but don't tell us. Or a baby warning: "It's a little high." It's a RED SIGNAL.
Thanks, Willieanne.
I agree - what's the point of going to the doctor if they do nothing?
I guess I'm always used to my docs telling me what they think of my pressure. If they don't give me numbers, I always ask before I leave, and question them as to what "we're" going to do to get it down. As it is, I'm also on 3 different meds to lower the BP.
I really do hate it when they tell me to schedule a follow-up with them that results in wasting my time. I believe in monitoring my health problems, but when all three scales are off and they give you lousy news about your numbers with no plan or emedy, why bother making the appointment? Heck - I can take my own BP with a good cuff and phone it in.
There is a great reason and Willieanne you reminded me to another reason why last year I fired all the doctors I had and chenged to one who will actually answer my questions instead of giving vague statements like the one you have given here.
Sometimes I think my primary care doc is a bit pushy on somethings but at least he listens to me, does answer all my questions and if he does not have the answer at that time he will contact me later on with the answer. Another thing I do like is he does bring things down from the medical level to the personal level.
I know those doctors are really hard to find now days.
It is not unusual for your bp to be "a little high" on a visit to your dr. It is called "white coat sydrome" which I have. Also, they bring you in, sit you down and take your bp which is a no no!!!! You need to sit and relax for at least 10-15 minutes before they take your bp. It irritates me to no end when I get the response from the tech or the nurse that "we take that into consideration", which they don't.
That is my word on that.
I am a nurse with 56 years of practice and still going. So I am not a pushover when it comes to drs and their staff.
I must admit, the doctors connected with my hospital all take the BP a second time if the first reading seems high. They wait for about 15 minutes or so. And the doctors and nurses take it manually, rather than rely on the techs and their machines to get a decent reading. For this, I'm grateful. I have excellent health care. But I do a lot of homework on my own so I can ask a lot of questions.
White Coat Syndrome, I like that will have to put it up there with some other syndromes that I can thing about.
Tuesday I had my somewhat full blown physical as one can have in a doctor's office, you know the type--oil, lube, tune up thing. I have kept a close watch on my BP when it was out of wack and I realized I was out of the Avalide, otherwise I could tell you within 2 points what my pressure is about what time of day. Besides how much better can one do with 101/62?
101/62? Is that right, Snow Wolf. That's great. Can't get much better than that.
another thing to think about. i take my press. a couple times a day and have discovered that if you raise your arm during the test it can raise the reading by 20 points, if you turn your head to answer a question or what ever , that can raise it 10 to 20 points. if you want a valid reading, sit still and relax till it is done !
