Bummer. Hoping the mess will help. Good luck on Monday
I find that reading all the really boring labels on things in the doctors office helps me to relax some. I also have them take the BP reading several times as it starts off higher and then levels off, usually after the third one.
Did they take a blood sample first? I have a thing about needles and it ups my BP considerably.
Sorry to hear about that. One thing you may want to mention to them is “White Coat Hypertension”. It is very common and it just means that the stress of being evaluated makes you get a much higher blood pressure readings in a clinical setting than your true average. Almost all medical professionals are familiar with it and at least somewhat sympathetic.
There is a way around it. Single blood pressure readings don’t mean much unless they are way out of bounds in either direction. You may be able to get them to let you take repeated readings at home with an approved blood pressure monitor to find your true average. I don’t know what their policies are but I would assume there is some type of waiver for your situation.
Yeah, figures.
It is probably time to contact your MD and ask if it is OK to increase your B/P med.
At least temporarily. Then it would be possible to see if a dosage change is effective without causing hypotension. AT HOME and not THE DAY BEFORE THE TEST!
Jeez :smack:
Good luck 
Yeah. That’s what the performance anxiety med and valium are for. Hopefully when I go in again that will lessen/eliminate the effect.
BTW what is the name of the “performance anxiety med”?
Its not Viagra is it ? 
Propranolol. It has other uses related to HR and BP, but it’s apparently also good in this application.
Good. I’ve never heard Propranolol described as a “Performance anxiety med” but it should be helpful.
Is this a one time thing for before the measurement or a change in your meds?
I mostly mean the propranolol. One time Valium seems safe.
One time thing, for both. As far as I know. Just to quash the 40 point spike as soon as I walk through the freaking door.
Just saw the ‘Viagra’ edit 
Yeah, that was actually the first thing I thought when she used that phrase. I figured hey, why not? Then I though wait…I’m not THAT old, am I?
Try lying down. Your extra height is tough on your heart.
Sounds good. I would try to to take them around an hour and a half to 2 hours prior to the test. That way they will have time to take effect yet still be working.
In an abundance of caution, you should try and get a driver. You could be dizzy and well, you know, Valium.
And Viagra does lower your B/P. At least in the parts they are going to be measuring.
He could try it but, B/P, measured at the upper arm, is usually lower when sitting.
Actually, I don’t know Valium. Looking forward to it, actually. First legal ‘drug’.
But yes, I do see what you mean. I joked to a friend that if I can get myself through the doors Monday morning, I should be good.
Propranolol is a beta blocker and some people describe it as a “Performance anxiety med”. People like musicians and even surgeons use it to control adrenaline spikes and the associated effects like hand tremors during intense performance situations. I take it myself daily and it has worked wonders. It doesn’t make you you high at all or impair mental function. It just blocks your body’s tendency to overreact physically to its fight or flight response. I should have started taking it years before I asked for it. I saw a moderate blood pressure decrease as soon as I started taking it as well. It is a generally very safe drug and non-addictive.
You could get there early if you have no driver; take a good book or newspaper and sit somewhere quiet for an hour after taking the medication. The only noticeable affect of the Propranolol is that you’ll feel less anxiety (also competitive sportspeople - e.g. shooting, snooker players - take it), and the valium is like a glass or two of wine (personally speaking, YMMV, IANA Doctor) which is also a legal drug 
I’m actually not feeling anything much. Certainly not loopy or anything. Pretty chill tho.
119/72.
What’s the propanalol dose? I take it for migraine. My doc said I could go as high as 40 mg at one time, but I don’t. Just curious how the different applications are dosed.
10 mg 2x/day
Me too 
(FWIW)