ibriggs-need response on something you said about BP, thanks.

[AYKM]

ibriggs,

You had said in an earlier post I had about blood pressure that, "Also, when I was younger (in my 20's), my BP was always below normal. 90 over something. As I've aged, now almost 35, its at the recommened 120/whatever it is. Can't remember." My question is, I too had the same numbers in my 20's (now 34) and I am wondering...does yours fluctuate in the 120's? Does it get to the middle or high 120's? Did this happen all of a sudden or gradually climb. It seems like mine went from being in the low to mid 100's and then the net month jumped up to the 130's and now has settled between 116-128. I do still get an occasional reading the low 100's but it is rare. I am just wondering since your story sounds so similar to mine. I took mine this morning and it was 128/86 and then a few minutes later was 121/84. I sat a few more minutes and it only went to 119/84 and then back up to 121. Does your's do that too?

Thanks.

[AYKM]

If anyone else has anything to share on the matter, I am interested....PLEASE.   

[ibriggs]

Mine was always 90/60....until I had a baby and was hypothyroid. Whether both are the cause or individually, this is when the changed happened, after childbirth.  For example, I saw my endo on Tues and my BP was 128/72.

[Kayteecatt]

Blood pressure increases with age and fluctuates throughout the day.  Readings are generally lower in the morning before the stresses of the day have gotten to you.  I know this because I asked my doctor these same questions...lol...

[AYKM]

So with the 128/77 they weren't at all concerend huh? I guess this is just what my pressure is now then? I haven't had a baby, although I was pregnant about two months before the BP started and then the baby was gone. So I doubt that would still have an effect, althought that is also when my night sweats started (which are now gone)...maybe it's hormonal or getting older. I just wish it would go back to what it used to be.

[ibriggs]

They weren't concerned at all and I was pleased. I wouldn't worry if yours is in a similar range.

[AYKM]

Yeah mine range all the way from 106-128. Usually they average around 115-123. So I guess that's ok?

[ibriggs]

You're fine. The "ideal" blood pressure is 120/80. If the reading is over 120/80 for an extended period of time, then you may be considered to have a problem. High blood pressure is 140/90 or above.

Now, if you rushed from your car to the docs office, have white coat syndrome, etc., this can elevate your BP temporarily. Or if you have HA :).

Did you wear your holter monitor yet?

[AYKM]

It just seems that it is over 120 more often than not. When I sit for awhile and relax it will eventually go down. I decided to not do the Holter monitor. My cardio said that she really didn't think there was an issue and I showed her the list of all the BP's that I recorded...she said they look great. I just can't seem to be comfortable with it. She is going to try to get my insurance to approve a scan of my heart "for my peace of mind" as she put it. She said, once the test comes back negative, than I can relax. I think I will just keep montoring the BP for now until I am convinced that it is not elevating. I have posted before with the list of all the pressures. Here they are:
9/05- 12/05= 104-118/68-80
1/06-4/06= 100-116/76-84
5/1/06- 131/82
5/10/06-  132/76
5/35/06- 120/74
6/6/06- 122/80
6/7/06- 117/76
6/16/06- 136/78
6/19/06- 131/78
7/11/06- 117/76
7/20/06- 109/68
8/24/06- 199/74
9/15/06- 121/83
10/11/06- 108/60
11/10/06- 111/74
11/13/06- 120/80
12/5/06- 124/84
12/8/06- 124/84
12/21/06- 126/86
12/27/06- 126/68
1/20/07- 114/62
2/13/07- 126/84
3/12/07- 121/68
4/17/07- 126/82
6/4/07- 119/72
7/24/07- 128/78
8/7/07- 114/71
11/5/07- 118/78
11/6/07- 128/86
11/7/07- 106/71
11/16/07-  128/86
3/3/08- 121/75
3/28/08- 125/66
4/08- 122/92
4/08- 123/77
5/08- 148/90, later that day 126/90
5/13/08- 118/82

What do you think? Last time at cardio it was 117/77 but this morning in was 128, then 124, then 121, then 119.

[marc]

Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day and evening. Blood pressure is usually highest in the morning I would not be concerned.

[ibriggs]

Overall, your numbers look great. Why don't you put them in a spreadsheet and see what your average is? I bet it's in the normal range.

I don't think we can ever truly know what our own personal "normal" BP is, just a range. There are too many internal and external factors that make it fluctuate.

That said, take a look at what you are tracking and the frequency....your HA is in full force. You are fine.

[Kayteecatt]

I've been watching this new show "The Doctors"....anyway, this week they had a lady in the audience who'd never had her blood pressure taken so they took it there and her pressure was 160/90 and they told her it was and I quote "a little high".  They just told her to monitor it and try to lessen her salt intake.  I couldn't believe it.  Here I've been obsessing about having my blood pressure being under 120/80 and they didn't really seem too concerned about her at all.

[Kayteecatt]

Oh, and my step dad would kill for those numbers...lol...he told me I wasn't allowed to complain about my blood pressure to him unless I got over 150/100.....You and I need to go to the spa...lol...live anywhere near Indiana? 

[AYKM]

LOL!! Yeah we need a spa alright. I was all worried about having another over 130 reading last night and my fiance said, he checked his when he got home a couple of weeks ago and it was 141. So I guess I am not that all different. I was actually in Indianapolis not too long ago for a conferance and I loved it! To bad we couldn't have met up then. Next time I am there I will certainly let you know! You have been a great help kayteecatt....thank you.

[Kayteecatt]

Oh thank you just as much.  It's been a huge deal to me this week having someone who has the exact same health anxiety I do and some what the same symptoms.  I think I'm going to call the docs office on Monday and go talk to her about some kind of meds.  I hate the thought of taking something again, but I just don't know how long I can go on like this without it doing some kind of damage to my marriage.  Do they write scripts for Xanax without writing a script for something else?  5 out of the 7 days of the week I don't feel like I need anything, but there's always 2 days that the anxiety takes over and it's all down hill from there.

[AYKM]

I was first given Xanax after I had my almost fainting episode at the gym on campus. The Dr. said it was more than likely anxiety. Then, when I went to the cardiologist she put me on Lexapro for a month and then scheduled a follow up. Since I have been taking the Xanax, I haven't had the racing heart thing. The cardio put me on 10mg of the Lexapro, but I think I am going to start with 5mg since I am sensitive to meds. The Xanax can be taken together for those "tough times" and it did hellp the other day. I do feel happier and was talking to my fiance about it. I told him that I was laughing at myself about something the other day and said that's just not something I would have done normally. He said, maybe that is normal for you but you are always too overwhelmed to laugh at yourself. He has a point. I really don't think I have felt like myself for years. I think I need to do this until I get a hold of it.

[Kayteecatt]

I can't imagine going through this for years, it's only been since March for me and I'm already wanting to pull my hair out.  It's been 4 days since I checked my blood pressure...lol...I think that's a record for me.  I almost checked it last night, but hub caught me and I put the thing back up in the closet where it belongs.  I haven't been able to stop checking my heart rate though, can't put my hands up in the closet...lol...

[AYKM]

I am getting married this weekend, and as a wedding present, I promised my fiance that I would return the monitor. He said that I should use the money to go shopping with my maid of honor and stop worrying about all this nonsense. So, I am going tomorrow morning to return it. I figured my GP, my cardio and several others on this site have told me that my BP is fine....how much more convincing do I need? I started sweating a little the last few nights, so now that has me worried that my night sweats will come back. Unfortunately, now I am focusing on that. I am going to acupuncture tomorrow so hopefully she can "reset" me so they don't come back. Stay strong. We will all get through this together.