Afraid to use new blood pressure monitor :(

[LotusTree]

So my doctor suggested that I get a blood pressure monitor both for myself at 56 and for my elderly father at 93. I’m a little nervous about using it properly and while I was in the store the woman told me my blood pressure was quite high and I have never had a problem with it before. But she also told me that my pulse was high (93) Which can be normal for me especially when I am anxious and I had been anxious about buying the monitor just because of what it’s related to, and I had just walked
down a big hill to the store.
I am at home now and relax this afternoon. My doctor told me never to do it first thing in the morning and to do a couple and let them average out as the first one is usually wrong. But I am so afraid to use it for fear that I find some thing I don’t like. I also bought an oximeter and I’m afraid to use that too.
What to do?

 

[MakUSA]

I was in the same basket as you. The moment I bought that thing I got obsessed, I was more stresses looking at the device than from my results. I measured mine at night before sleep for three times and get the average, and I did in the morning when it should be higher.

Try not to overthink and just don't be like me, measuring literally 50 times a day for a month, its not worth all the stress.

When you measure at home, try to breath normal, find peace and quiet and just relax, measure couple of times with 3-4 minutes breaks in between.

If it gets high, just remember, you mind is overthink, try to relax more and you will get better results.

Just don't overdo, trust me, this is from my personal experience. My heart would go very fast the moment I take the BP machine out of my closet.

 

[Watermelon]

I completely get where your coming from. It literally becomes and fear and then an obsession. I would check it twice a day and that’s it. Write the results down so that they can be recorded by your doctor and then get on with your day. The more you think about it 100% the worse it’s going to be!! I was so worried over mine thinking it was high, then when the docs averaged it out it was only slightly raised and I’m sure it was down to anxiety

 

[TruthHurts]

 

[MATD]

Another perspective is that if you find either you or your dad’s bp is too high or too low, you can seek medical intervention to prevent life threatening problems. So instead of being scared of what your readings might be, be glad you can possibly stop a life threatening problem before it happens.

 

[Cuchculan]

These can work for and against a person with anxiety. I have never been a big fan of them. People can overuse them. Take readings far too often. Depending on what a person is doing, Bp can go up and down. So if you are going to be using on, learn how to allow for normal fluxuations. As in not everything is a bad thing. As a rule I tell people to toss these things in the bin. But if a doctor suggested it, so be it. Once it does not increse your anxiety levels. Make you think you have things wrong with you when you haven't. Do it the right way. Which is not every ten minutes. Once a day would be fine. Unless a person is feeling off. Thus I can see the good and the bad of them.

 

[TruthHurts]

@LotusTree did you get over your fear of using the blood pressure monitor?

 

[LotusTree]

Not yet

Not yet

Today tummy’s off a bit so I’m stuck on that. Thinking it might be nausea from post-nasal drip.

 

[Doug97]

It might help to remind yourself that even if you get a high reading, it doesn't mean much. My father has had hypertension for decades and nothing bad has ever come of it. Plus hypertension is extremely treatable, doctors have about a dozen medications that bring blood pressure down.