White coat syndrome.

even though I'm on BP pills mine still goes as high as over 200 and 100 ,my GP knows its white coat syndrome so tends not to mention it and leaves the cuff on while we chat ,she then takes it agin just before I leave and it usually comes down quite a bit .I have a monitor at home and only take it now and again ,I think taking it too regulary can be counter pro ductive and as my GP said ,blood pressure changes by the second so worrying if its up on the first reading might just make it go up further

It's interesting and very helpful to know many people have this problem. A GP once dismissed my home monitor readings, so next I went I took my home monitor and asked whether he would kindly use his practice one then mine. He was amazed to find they both had the same normal readings. Was I grateful to my Tesco home monitor that was £20 at the time. They offered me a 24 hour gadget thing but I declined as I said the mere thought of that thing bleeping away would send anyone's BP up. If you do have high BP though, there is a great gadget called Resperate. It's expensive but it teaches you how to lower your BP by breathing exercises.

I was never more pleased to read a post. Have felt so alone with this. Have had white coat syndrome since having my first child in 1978! Had preeclampsia which meant a monitor was left on my arm for ages at a time.
I have been known to get to the doctors for a check and sit there sobbing in front of her. Always felt very silly but couldn't control it.
I now take my BP once a month at home and take the results to the surgery when I have a check up. My previous doctor sent me for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, it has worked wonders, I can now go to the surgery and although I still feel concerned I no longer cry, shake!!
I use the mindfulness technique taught me at the CBT sessions which helps you to relax. I'm on one tablet a day, last reading was 130/79.
I wonder if it's something you have to learn to cope with? I don't think it will ever leave me completely. Emotional Freedom Therapy (tapping Therapy) is something I found useful too. Your posts have really helped.

When I was pregnant (many years ago) my BP was very high at every anti-natal appointment. Several times I was admitted to hospital where within an hour or so it would promptly fall to a normal level and they would discharge me. After the 3rd admission the Dr decided that he would no longer see me at the clinic but at another part of the hospital. Problem solved!!

When a close relative of DH had some rather serious symptoms for a common condition (not BP related), We suggested she should really book an appt with her doctor. Her reply was 'I don't want to know, and it will just make my blood pressure shoot up!'

The next year she had very serious life-threatening surgery for something linked to her symptoms that might have been seen to earlier if she'd gone in.

If someone has white coat syndrome because they don't like their GP, or perhaps feel intimidated by him/her, then choose another doctor in the surgery. Most surgery websites have the bios of the doctors there. One size does not fit all!

I suffer with high bp and we have a family tendency to it so I have been on medication for some years. It is always higher when my gp takes it and I mentioned I probably have this white coat syndrome too. I have a bp machine and take it at home and send the readings in regularly. Always best to relax 10 minutes beforehand and take three readings. No eating or drinking beforehand for at least one hour.

Thing is, a doc told me that white coat syndrome is still something to be worried about - any sudden rise in BP is. I have it too.

I was once had to monitor my BP for 24hrs on a very large contraption on my arm. Unfortunately it was a day when I had meetings across London. Every train was late or cancelled or had a platform change. I was aware of the contraption repeatedly pumping up and making a noise as it deflated. By the end of the day I was a wreck with very high BP so I said never again & thereafter used a home monitor.

Katek, Christmas is coming, maybe a nice present in the form of a home monitor for your brother, you can get them quite cheaply I believe, but dont let him start checking his B/P daily, as many do, it becomes an obsession, and doesnt make the B/P any better. Hope he feels better soon, and enjoys seeing more clearly

My husband has it too. He takes his bp on a home machine several times before recording the measurements in a diary which he then takes to the GP with him. He can go up to 185/100 at the surgery.

Me, too. My GP suggested I buy a home BP monitor and use it regularly. Mmmm, I did for a week or so and as it was well within the guideline limits, I have not bothered again. Perhaps I will after reading this!

My second pregnancy was difficult and I was regularly hauled into hospital for a week's bed rest because of my high BP. I now think it was high purely because it was impossible to park anywhere close to the hospital and by the time I found a parking space and ran, as best I could, into the hospital I was nearly always late. I did suggest at the time it was purely driving round and round for an hour and the tension that this caused that made my BP rise but they took no chances and had wouldn't let me leave - for a week at a time. Not easy to cope with a three-year-old at home!

To anyone with white-coat syndrome (and incidentally, I am so calm on the outside!) go and buy a home BP monitor, check it regularly (ahem) and check that you are fine.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I have worn a BP 24-hour monitor twice and the results have been absolutely normal despite horrific figures in a surgery or hospital.

I must add that when wearing this monitor, I was driving around a roundabout when the cuff inflated and I couldn't use my arm. Interesting moment there...

My wife has that wee problem. At one time the practice nurse was about to call an ambulance before I got to the GP who confirmed he gets even worse readings when my wife is in the surgery. A 24 hour monitor had convinced the GP. We have the same monitor as the GP uses and home readings are within normal limits. There is no science yet to solve this.

My BP is now calm and collected on reading that I am just one of many who suffer these sky high readings at a glimpse of anything medical..

Would you believe catching sight of my local hospital when passing it on the bus gets my heart thumping.
Unfortunately there is not always a vacant seat on the opposite side to this view .Could be I am not the only one with this affliction.

If I go to the GP because I have ear-ache, I do not want to have my B.P. weight or other body measurements to be checked. I can feel my pulse escalating when the Dr goes into that mode, whether it is to allow him/ her extra time to think or not.
I did find, however, that if I said NO, that is NOT germane in this case.... or please explain why this is, otherwise it could be deemed assault, they backed off.
On one occasion, this resulted in a discussion on the meaning of'germane' Not exactly reassuring
My original GP, whom I trusted, understood me and my background and was always helpful. Now I fear I am the person to be avoided at all costs as I see a different doctor each time. They have a limited time to read my notes so do not necessarily pick up the points I have made time and time again

I too suffer from "White Coat Syndrome" - not as extreme as others. I had been in Hospital several years ago & they put me on Blood Pressure tablets & instructions to see GP, GP's first question, which size cuff did they use? He checked BP absolutely fine - I was always very relaxed with him.

In Hospital for an Emergency Operation reading was high but after 2 further reading it had dropped back to an acceptable reading

Last high reading was when I went to see new Diabetic Nurse, slight rush from parking car then she came for me & a climb up stairs (not used to stairs any more), no wonder it was high - no problems since

Diddy1
My bank in the US (and this was common in the 80s and 90s) had a DIY BP machine by the door. Chemists had them too if I recall to use whilst you waited for your scripts.

You stuck your arm in a stationary cuff thingy. I was surprised how many people used it, even taking off their winter coats, etc. That was before the cheaper home models came out. I don't know if these machines still exist over there any longer.

But in a bank? LOL, you'd think banking would raise your BP!!

My mothers white coat syndrome bp was sky high, she now takes daily record from own blood pressure to GPs and everyone happy

Lewlew We have one of those machines in a side room at our doctors surgery. We can pop in and take our blood pressure any time we like and if we wish can hand the reading to the receptionist to have it added to our records. The doctors say they get far more accurate readings that way.

I told my GP I had 'white coat syndrome' and he looked straight at me and said, 'But I'm not wearing a white coat'. He has a sense of humour! I usually ask the healthcare assistant to take my BP when I go to have my bloods done. I'm more relaxed with her.

Do any of them wear white coats any more?

Yes, in Portugal, all doctors wear a white coat but mostly without collar and lapels. More of a gown type.

My husband suffers from this, and sadly he has ignored serious symptoms through fear of seeing a doctor. Now he is very poorly and bowel cancer looks to be a real possibility. He has agreed to a blood test but wants no other tests done. My nagging in recent years fell on deaf ears as his fear is very real.

Diggingdoris that is very sad, the procedures are never as scary as the patient fears they will be. Fear of the unknown can cause real problems.

Yes I agree harrigran. Several family members have had an endoscopy, which is what they want to do initially and we've all told him how simple it is. His fear is they find something and do bowel removal as he fears having a bag for life. Says he'd rather die. We have 2 daughters who are sisters at hospital and a DinL who is a GP, and they've all tried to talk some sense into him with no luck, and pointing out that it could be something simple that's easily fixed.