Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[MrsMitch]

Hello ladies, I hoping for your sage advice prior to my GP surgery contacting me. Every time I put in a repeat for my HRT I have to fill in an online questionnaire about it & it asks me to enter my BP. I have noticed it is higher than it ever used to be - always under 120 and usually under 70 - but now always between 132 - 139 & over 80.
Long story short my repeat didn't arrive at the pharmacy and surgery asked me to call in, do the form and use their BP machine.
It was 137/89. Whilst it was only a receptionist,  she did say a GP would want to speak to me.
So whilst I know I'm anticipating something that may not happen, I'm really concerned the first thing my GP will say is to stop HRT. I'm actually feeling really well on it and my symptoms are very well controlled. The surgery ask me each prescription if I'd would consider stopping HRT. 
I'm active but could do to shed a stone (definitely going to do that now!). With all your experiences, ladies, how can I best persuade my GP to leave my HRT alone?
Hope that makes sense,  thank you!!

[Ayesha]

Difficult to advise on this as each situation is different, for instance age must come into it too.
A GP once said to me if the reading is always over 145 then contact the surgery, my readings were always high which I knew was down to anxiety. The best thing I did was to buy a blood pressure machine and take my own blood pressure twice a day for five days. It was high at the start but gradually came down to 120.  I've sent the reading in to the surgery as they requested and haven't heard back, assuming everything is ok.

So my best advice is to buy a machine and monitor your own blood pressure, its mad how it easily fluctuates.

[bombsh3ll]

I would suggest completing a home BP diary and handing this in to your GP.

It is much more accurate than a clinic blood pressure.

It is also problematic when access to treatment is made conditional on getting a particular BP reading under pressure. This creates anxiety which then guess what, elevates the blood pressure.

I experience this too - as well as my birth control pill I am also on medication for LOW blood pressure which I am dependent on to be able to sit up without fainting, however the fear of having either of these taken away artificially pushes my BP up in appointments.

You may find that taking regular readings at home when you are relaxed and not stressed or rushing your numbers normalise.

If not however, guidelines recommend that whilst hypertension should be treated, it is not a contraindication to hormone therapy. I would maybe print the relevant sections of the NICE and BMS guidelines to hand to your GP if they argue this.

[flo69]

I had normal BP until I hit menopause and it rose dramatically although nothing else changed, no weight gain or added pressures.

With Oestrogen it goes down again, my GP confirmed this to me, it's usual if a lack of oestrogen caused it to rise, which it can do.

Unfortunately logic isn't applied and the rules are that HRT can't be used to control BP, in fact BP must be under control before starting HRT, even if HRT would solve the problem.

So I take ramipril to bring my BP down to where it would be if I took HRT, after that I'm allowed HRT, but not before. I don't want HRT any more since trying tibolone, that is the best medicine.

I wouldn't worry, your GP wouldn't be wise to take you off HRT if your BP is already a bit high, they are much more likely to wait and see how the trend goes, so take measurements and keep a note of them if you have a BP machine.

My GP had me buy my own and it's very reassuring at times, but initially it was so he could see what my readings were at home over a week.

[MrsMitch]

Thanks ladies, I should have mentioned that I do have my own monitor so that's why I know for the last 18 months, my BP is higher than it always used to be. It's always above 132 but below 140. In years gone by it was well under 120. But I'm just approaching 57 so I know change is inevitable!
I will take a look at the guidelines because knowing my surgery,  they'll get everything wrong!

[bombsh3ll]

In that case you are borderline for considering an antihypertensive medication in addition to your hormone therapy.

Do your research before discussing this with the GP and arm yourself with the relevant guidelines from NICE and the BMS about hypertension not being a contraindication.

Also if there are any lifestyle measures that you could adopt that you haven't already, these can have a significant impact (although some people still do need pharmacological help).

[MrsMitch]

I've just ordered a new monitor as I have had mine over 10 years now, but obviously the one at the surgery will be accurate. 
The GP called and she has asked me to do readings twice a day for a week so she can have a look. But she also said to lose the weight, asking if I need help. Fortunately I've noticed testosterone has really helped keep my weight stable whilst having a lazy eating regime over the last few months so I'm hoping I can lose the weight more easily than normal and keep it off.
But then she got on to the subject of my HRT.  She said I've been on it too long!! Looking back it must be around 3 - 3.5 years but I'm only just now able to say my symptoms are pretty good (except VA). So I did quote some notes I found from NICE and she just said 'hmmm'. I told her that obviously my VA treatment is for lifetime and she said not necessarily. 
So she has issued my repeat prescription and I'm going to get the weight off as fast as I can. My husband has said he wants us to start getting our pushbikes out again, so I'm hoping that although I do a manual job and walk the dog a lot that will also help.
I just knew the GP would talk about me stopping HRT, though,  didnt I?!

[Ayesha]

At 57 and on HRT for three and a half years and she says you have been on it too long, unless something else is going on I can't comprehend what on earth your GP means, it doesn't make sense.  Also if you get on your push bike you will need VA treatment even more and yes, it is for life!

I honestly would be writing emails/letters, I couldn't possibly put up with what they are putting you through, like controlling behaviour!

[joziel]

MrsMitch before changing anything in terms of starting BP meds or having discussions about stopping HRT, please get your estradiol levels tested and make sure they are decent. Like 350+...

Like flo, I had weirdly high BP when my E was low and my HRT dose was too low. It was actually something like 189/90 at one point, which is completely ridiculous because I'm extremely fit, slim, and work out every other day and get 8000 steps in and my Watch says my cardiovascular health is 'High'....

Since increasing my E dose considerably my BP has been totally fine.

So please don't let them take you in the other direction. Seek help from a private clinic if needs be.

[MrsMitch]

Thank you Joziel.  I received the new BP monitor last night and it seems my old one has been giving low readings!! Consistently above 180/80 so far except one as I got up this morning at 130/71.
The first thing I will do is get rid of the excess stone in weight and then see where I am. Then I will approach the GP and see if they will agree to a blood test to check my level. If not, then I will get one privately.  Again, thank you because I know that whilst my GP is their 'women's health ' practitioner,  she's useless and was the one who incorrectly diagnosed my VA for years. 

[Ayesha]

The best way I achieved my readings (as I don't understand what the word relax means) was to sit comfortably on the bed and take three readings and record the lowest one.  By the end of the week I was used to the machine and not so frightened of it as I was previously to such an extent I hid it in the wardrobe so I couldn't see it, totally irrational but that's health anxiety for you.

 

[MrsMitch]

The receptionist at the surgery told my a few years back to take 3 readings when I took my BP there for the first time. I always like the lowest one!!

[SundayGirl]

I received the new BP monitor last night and it seems my old one has been giving low readings!! Consistently above 180/80 so far except one as I got up this morning at 130/71. 

Just to make you feel a little better MrsMitch, could the new one be reading high rather than the old one reading low?

Could someone else try it? If they don't have high blood pressure and it reads high for them then you'll know one way or the other. 

[MrsMitch]

I have been taking my readings and my husband's over the weekend and his is constantly under 120 and mine always high, unfortunately.  But thank you.
Diet starts today, ladies. Spent the weekend eating up all the junk in the house so I wouldn't be tempted! Not ideal but it was nice

[bombsh3ll]

Good luck! Hopefully you will see some improvement quite quickly with your blood pressure.