For anyone who has White coat syndrome

Do you take your blood pressure at home ? If so, do the nurses or doctor accept your home reading on a an appointment?

It's taken me YEARS to get an accurate reading at home. I get panic even on a home monitor.. thinking it'll be high. Even though it's actually in normal range. I was so tired one night and tried yet again to get a reading, and because I was literally falling asleep while taking it, it was normal...phew!! I hope nurses accept my reading Bec I have an appointment soon for a urologist, and every physician office does a blood pressure check. Well,. Most. I get such anxiety just thinking of it. Will they accept my home reading?

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

Probably not. Measuring your own blood-pressure at home on kits of dubious provenance has little or no scientific credibility. The most it is, is a rough guide.

1) You tell us you frighten yourself by taking your own readings. That can raise your blood-pressure.

2) You do not know the accuracy of your home test set, and even if it was calibrated by the manufacturer (was it?, and traceably?) you cannot guarantee it is accurate now unless you have it calibrated annually or bi-annually.

3) You say the surgery will measure your blood-pressure anyway - and their instruments will be of higher quality and accuracy, and should be regularly calibrated by an accredited test-laboratory. So why give them "home-made" readings?

Banksy83 · 41-45, M

I have a smart watch that monitors everything

GerOttman · 70-79, M

Don't they make like a watch or something that would just chart it for you?

Baybreeze · 41-45, F

@GerOttman Yes I bought a wrist monitor...I have a photo of the normal reading, and it stores in the monitors memory too. I just hope the point of it is being able to show them a normal reading, and not have to take it in the office. It's painstaking anxiety ridden for me🙁

Banksy83 · 41-45, M

@Baybreeze show the doctor your own readings

zonavar68 · 56-60, M

No I don't take vitals at home normally. Don't have a medical BP/heartrate device.

Gibbon · 70-79, M

Aside from being nervous at the doctors, I've also read you having problems with the pressure of the blood pressure cuff on your arm. I don't understand that. I've used three different types of blood pressure machines including the wrist which I don't recommend. There are two types of herb cuffs. soft and rigid the rigid is harder to deal with getting it on and off your arm, but it's more consistent in applying pressure because you don't have to wrestle with getting the soft cuff tight around your arm. However, I have compared all three. The two different ones on the arm matched fairly well. The wrist one is always all over the place and can't be trusted.

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Gibbon · 70-79, M

@Baybreeze I just find they're very finicky about position.

wildbill83 · 41-45, M

@Gibbon actually, the cuff monitors are about the best; many doctors offices even use them now

placement matters, as well as brand (use something that's actually certified). Cheapos off amazon or temu probably give wildly varying readings...

Gibbon · 70-79, M

@wildbill83 I have one very similar to that made by the same company. Both of the cuff monitors I discussed are also Omron.
The cuff monitors work or they don't. They tend to give an error rather than an incorrect reading. I've had very questionable readings with that wrist unit rested for a minute repositioned it did it again with a much more different believable reading.. I'm just saying that's my actual experience. My doctor, unlike the ones you discuss, doesn't care for their wrist monitors.

romell · 51-55, M

White coat syndrome is quite prevalent you are not the only one

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@romell AKA "Hypochondria".

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