Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: Katejo on April 02, 2024, 10:02:53 AM
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Assuming no pre existing history of high blood pressure, how often does your practice require you to provide a BP reading before issuing repeat HRT prescriptions (or any other reason)? Does the Practice expect/assume that everyone will buy their own reader and do it at home (as mine does)?
Only this week I saw a tv ad for such readers but a doctor was saying that we shouldn't rely on these and should go to the GP for a reliable reading. Then yesterday I saw a complaint from a patient that they had been told off by a nurse for not doing their own reading!
I am just curious as to how many people do actually have their own reader. Last Easter I kept getting reminders to get it done but throughout the Easter break when the surgery was closed.
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I have my own reader which I bought due to having white coat syndrome, which I didn't even know existed until the nurse told me. She suggested that as my blood pressure was always showing high in the surgery - when all other indications were that it was fine - I should monitor and log it at home for a week and report back. It was fine and since then from time to time I check it just to make sure it's OK. The monitor I bought wasn't too expensive and is actually the same one they use at my surgery.
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We have a home BP test monitor. I've never been asked for a BP reading other than at my annual check up with the GP.
Some clinicians seem to be worried about HRT far more than they ought to be!
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I definitely suffer from white coat syndrome. It worried me as I am doing so well on HRT but my surgery needs BP readings annually.
I do them in the house and everything is fine.
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I agree about the obsession with HRT. The questionnaire which I have had ti complete twice already in 2024 asks questions about blood pressure and blood clot problems even though I am on patches and Vagifem not tablets. I had already given them a blood pressure reading in January and last week but they still asked again today. Just gave the same one again!
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I have my own reader which I bought due to having white coat syndrome, which I didn't even know existed until the nurse told me. She suggested that as my blood pressure was always showing high in the surgery - when all other indications were that it was fine - I should monitor and log it at home for a week and report back. It was fine and since then from time to time I check it just to make sure it's OK. The monitor I bought wasn't too expensive and is actually the same one they use at my surgery.
Could you send me a link to the type of machine which you have please?
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I think that we went to Boots for our BP machine. MayB have a lookC on line to see the choices out there first?
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Hi Katejo, I'm not sure of we're allowed to put links on here but the make is Omron, I think they're easy to get online.
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Hi Katejo, I'm not sure of we're allowed to put links on here but the make is Omron, I think they're easy to get online.
Thanks Dazedandconfused. The brand is sufficient.
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No longer on HRT, but my practice did require blood pressure checks. Everything was fine for the first 6 or so months, then my BP sky rocketed and I had to come off the HRT. The won't prescribe it to me again, as my BP then dropped. I know correlation isn't causation, but ...
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No longer on HRT, but my practice did require blood pressure checks. Everything was fine for the first 6 or so months, then my BP sky rocketed and I had to come off the HRT. The won't prescribe it to me again, as my BP then dropped. I know correlation isn't causation, but ...
Were you on tablets or patches? It isn't supposed to be a problem with patches.
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I think that we went to Boots for our BP machine. MayB have a lookC on line to see the choices out there first?
I have just been to Boots and Superdrug. The prices and size varied so much. Boots ones ranged from about £34 to nearly £100 while Superdrug had a simple wrist monitor sponsored by St john Ambulance for £20. I didn't buy one.
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If you go on the British Heart Foundation website, they list the ones that they approve. You can even buy them direct from their online shop.
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We are such a mine of information and remember, it's a 1-off payment. Useful when required. Let us know how you get on.
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If you go on the British Heart Foundation website, they list the ones that they approve. You can even buy them direct from their online shop.
Thanks
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I got Omron M2 basic from Argos. My hubby thinks it’s the same one our gp gives out when they want you to monitor at home. Was only £25 or something.
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I got Omron M2 basic from Argos. My hubby thinks it’s the same one our gp gives out when they want you to monitor at home. Was only £25 or something.
That's the one I've got and our surgery uses the same one.
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Our GP uses an Omron and my husband has one at home to monitor his BP. The results are consistent with it and have been for years. You don't need a really expensive model either.
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I got Omron M2 basic from Argos. My hubby thinks it’s the same one our gp gives out when they want you to monitor at home. Was only £25 or something.
Thanks. My practice doesn't appear to offer them to patients. They assume we have one.
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Katejo our gp practice only give them out if they want you to monitor for a week if your blood pressure is dodgy.
My cardiologist assumed I had one too and when I told him I didn’t he decided to get me on a 24 hour monitor, which was fun.
I’ve since bought my own.
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My surgery asks you to either monitor with your own monitor and send in results or use the machine in the reception area and then give the print out to reception staff. You do have to have your own monitors recalibrated every two years to keep the readings accurate.
Taz x
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No longer on HRT, but my practice did require blood pressure checks. Everything was fine for the first 6 or so months, then my BP sky rocketed and I had to come off the HRT. The won't prescribe it to me again, as my BP then dropped. I know correlation isn't causation, but ...
Were you on tablets or patches? It isn't supposed to be a problem with patches.
Patches
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My surgery asks you to either monitor with your own monitor and send in results or use the machine in the reception area and then give the print out to reception staff. You do have to have your own monitors recalibrated every two years to keep the readings accurate.
Taz x
Wow I didn't know that. We've never recalibrate ours in over 10 years. Do you need to send it off somewhere to recalibrate?
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My surgery asks you to either monitor with your own monitor and send in results or use the machine in the reception area and then give the print out to reception staff. You do have to have your own monitors recalibrated every two years to keep the readings accurate.
Taz x
Wow I didn't know that. We've never recalibrate ours in over 10 years. Do you need to send it off somewhere to recalibrate?
. I have just ordered a new one from BHF. It said a limit of 3 years. Then you either pay to have this done or buy a new one if cheaper!
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My Omron user manual advises recalibration every year though general advice is 2 to 3 years. I bought a new one last time as I couldn't be bothered to pack it up and send it off. I only found out originally that mine was wrong when my partner bought a new one and the readings on mine were way lower than on his new one :(
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My Omron user manual advises recalibration every year though general advice is 2 to 3 years. I bought a new one last time as I couldn't be bothered to pack it up and send it off. I only found out originally that mine was wrong when my partner bought a new one and the readings on mine were way lower than on his new one :(
Ohhhhhh, now I am worried! I will ask him to buy a new one in that case!
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I used a company called Forest Medical for recalibration of mine a few years ago now. Was about £25 I think. They returned it really quickly.
Taz x
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My surgery asks you to either monitor with your own monitor and send in results or use the machine in the reception area and then give the print out to reception staff. You do have to have your own monitors recalibrated every two years to keep the readings accurate.
Taz x
We aren't allowed to use the machine at the surgery ourselves so we have to book a slot to have it done. This time I was a bit naughty and just entered the reading from my last one which was only a few weeks ago. They didn't notice
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My surgery asks you to either monitor with your own monitor and send in results or use the machine in the reception area and then give the print out to reception staff. You do have to have your own monitors recalibrated every two years to keep the readings accurate.
Taz x
We aren't allowed to use the machine at the surgery ourselves so we have to book a slot to have it done. This time I was a bit naughty and just entered the reading from my last one which was only a few weeks ago. They didn't notice
Oh right. At our surgery you can use the machine in the waiting room at any time and if you ever manage to actually get an appointment for anything then you are encouraged to use it and also weigh yourself on the weighing machine also in the waiting room while you wait to be called. This saves time in the consulting room apparently.
Taz x
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My surgery asks you to either monitor with your own monitor and send in results or use the machine in the reception area and then give the print out to reception staff. You do have to have your own monitors recalibrated every two years to keep the readings accurate.
Taz x
We aren't allowed to use the machine at the surgery ourselves so we have to book a slot to have it done. This time I was a bit naughty and just entered the reading from my last one which was only a few weeks ago. They didn't notice
Oh right. At our surgery you can use the machine in the waiting room at any time and if you ever manage to actually get an appointment for anything then you are encouraged to use it and also weigh yourself on the weighing machine also in the waiting room while you wait to be called. This saves time in the consulting room apparently.
Taz x
It's done by reception staff rather than doctors but the machine isn't in the public waiting area.
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Both the weighing machine and BP one are in the reception and patients are encouraged to pop in on their way past as often as they like in an effort to get more people to be aware of their health. I found my readings on that machine were always higher due, I think, to me feeling self conscious and also getting flustered trying to get the machine to work ;D