White Coat Syndrome anyone?

[marti]

I see so many different doctors and NP's that we are almost family. I'm not afraid of any of them, but I work myself up into a state on appointment days. By the time I drive to them I'm a basket case and my blood pressure is sky high.

Most of them know me by now and are aware that I have WCS. I test my blood pressure at home and it's almost always perfect. I've even brought my monitor in and had them test it against their own. It seems to be working well.

Just wondering if anyone else gets these reactions when you go to your doctors? I know a bunch of us have several specialists and several other illnesses besides MS. I sure wish there was something I could do prior to appointments to calm me down. Sometimes I'm not even aware that I am nervous or worried! It just shows up in the blood pressure.

[kim-mastro]

I resisted getting a colonoscopy for many years because I was terrified of having anesthesia. When it got to the time that I was due to head into the procedure room, the nurse told me I needed to calm down because my pressure was sky high. I began "meditative breathing" not really believing it would work but it did!!! Breathe in for a count of 4, hold it a second, then breathe out for a count of 4. Repeat until you feel calmer. Hopefully, it will work for you, too. Good luck!!!

[Thinkimjob]

Yes, indeed. It's fine, if it only happens at the doctor's.
My BP was going haywire in any stressful situation.

Many years ago, when I was still a teacher, had to lie in a dark room with a wet compress over my eyes for many hours, when the top note hit 200 one day.

I've been on BP drugs for a good eight years now. They kind of kill your enthusiasm for life.

[rdmc]

Hey Marti,

When they take your BP, can you "feel" that it's high? I used to have BP that went berserk in a doctor's office, I could always tell it was high because I had this "weird" head fullness type of feeling. I chalked it up for years to White Coat Syndrome.

I'd take it at home, and most of the time it'd be fine, but then sometimes I would get the "weird" rush and know my BP was heading up...and I'd take it at home and it was high.BP

So I complained to my GP, who knew it was high in the office (usually 180/100 ish) and he sent me to a BP specialist (I think the BP specialist are nephrologists.) They ran a 24 hour BP test on me and that's when they discovered I was having crazy high BP at intervals throughout the day, even would hit 210/110 while I was sleeping.

That's probably the best way to figure out if it's true White Coat Syndrome or intermittent high BP for another reason. Mine turned out to be MS related due to a lesion in "just the right place." We
finally reached a med combination that kept it stable all day, even in the doc's office

Crazy MS though, now my BP does just the opposite, stays in very low range, even without the BP medicine. So I've cut way back on BP meds, and take my BP at intervals during the day and pop a BP pill if it happens to be higher, which is hardly ever. This disease sure keeps us on our toes.

If it is White Coast Syndrome...Kim mentioned a good technique...you can practice at home, and then try it in the doctor's office. If you read any info on how to take a proper BP...it always says to sit and rest quietly for 10 minutes before taking the BP. Of course in a doctor's office it's just the opposite. As you say, we have to "work" just to get ready and get to the doctor's office, they call you back, put you on the scale (which I always find precarious due to balance issues) and then walk to the farthest room in the office (it always seems that way ) have you sit down in the exam room and they slap a BP cuff on. No wonder BP is elevated. Try the trick of having the nurse, or doctor take your BP at the end of your appt. instead of at the
beginning. I've read that it's a much better reading because you're more relaxed, and have already made it through the "dreaded" appointment.

Hope you get it under control...they say you can't feel it when you have high BP, but I sure can and it's not a good feeling.

[marti]

Yes, indeed. It's fine, if it only happens at the doctor's.
My BP was going haywire in any stressful situation.

Many years ago, when I was still a teacher, had to lie in a dark room with a wet compress over my eyes for many hours, when the top note hit 200 one day.

I've been on BP drugs for a good eight years now. They kind of kill your enthusiasm for life.

Wow... 200! I'd be scared to death. Do you think MS brings on an excess of anxiety? I happen to believe that any serious illness will ramp up the anxiety in anyone.

I am NOT on blood pressure meds. All my doctors ask me if I have ever been told that I have high blood pressure and since I have not, no one has put me on meds. Once in awhile someone will suggest it, but in the end they say I don't really need to start them. I know there are certain times of day that everyone spikes their b/p up, but it's supposedly normal.

[marti]

Hey Marti,

When they take your BP, can you "feel" that it's high? I used to have BP that went berserk in a doctor's office, I could always tell it was high because I had this "weird" head fullness type of feeling. I chalked it up for years to White Coat Syndrome.

I'd take it at home, and most of the time it'd be fine, but then sometimes I would get the "weird" rush and know my BP was heading up...and I'd take it at home and it was high.BP

So I complained to my GP, who knew it was high in the office (usually 180/100 ish) and he sent me to a BP specialist (I think the BP specialist are nephrologists.) They ran a 24 hour BP test on me and that's when they discovered I was having crazy high BP at intervals throughout the day, even would hit 210/110 while I was sleeping.

That's probably the best way to figure out if it's true White Coat Syndrome or intermittent high BP for another reason. Mine turned out to be MS related due to a lesion in "just the right place." We
finally reached a med combination that kept it stable all day, even in the doc's office

Crazy MS though, now my BP does just the opposite, stays in very low range, even without the BP medicine. So I've cut way back on BP meds, and take my BP at intervals during the day and pop a BP pill if it happens to be higher, which is hardly ever. This disease sure keeps us on our toes.

If it is White Coast Syndrome...Kim mentioned a good technique...you can practice at home, and then try it in the doctor's office. If you read any info on how to take a proper BP...it always says to sit and rest quietly for 10 minutes before taking the BP. Of course in a doctor's office it's just the opposite. As you say, we have to "work" just to get ready and get to the doctor's office, they call you back, put you on the scale (which I always find precarious due to balance issues) and then walk to the farthest room in the office (it always seems that way ) have you sit down in the exam room and they slap a BP cuff on. No wonder BP is elevated. Try the trick of having the nurse, or doctor take your BP at the end of your appt. instead of at the
beginning. I've read that it's a much better reading because you're more relaxed, and have already made it through the "dreaded" appointment.

Hope you get it under control...they say you can't feel it when you have high BP, but I sure can and it's not a good feeling.

Yes, there are times I just know it's up a little. I can actually feel it. But I still don't think I have the real "high blood pressure". I'm going to try your suggestions to test myself. Thanks.

[NYJenn]

They also call it "white coat hypertension."

It's common, even in those without MS.

[gomer]

I have long had the opposite problem, an anti-white coat syndrome... go figure?

[MarkLavelle]

"white coat hypertension."

Tell me about it! I regularly measure 20+ lower at home...