Blood Pressure

[nailit]

Had a telephone app with my GP today.
App scheduled for 2 pm.
Finally happened at 3.40.
(So much for telephone appointments are the way forward)

He decided to put me on meds for high blood pressure
Signing off with ok, goodbye.

''Er hang on, got a few question''
Yes
''How do I get my script?''

''It'll be sent to your pharmacy, goodbye''

''Hang on a min...
Are there any side affects?''

''Possibly... Dizziness, swollen ankles. goodbye''

''Just a minute...Am I not supposed to be monitered if I have high blood pressure?''

''Yes we do it once a year, moniter yourself and and get back to the surgery if ur not happy. Goodbye.''

And the cutn put the phone down.
Is the level that the NHS has devolved to?

[nailit]

No wonder A&E is clogging up.

[Hopkirk]

Not good.

I'm on blood pressure tablets, and initially had to go back - I think monthly.
It didn't come down enough, so the dose was doubled.
That did the trick, and now it's an annual check.
No side effects.

[Buenchico]

The most common medication for hypertension is amlodipine. (Countless AB members, including me, are on it). Information about it, including its possible side effects, can be found on the NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/amlodipine/

If my GP says that he's giving me a prescription, I just assume that I'll be able to pick it up from the on-site pharmacy (usually within 10 minutes, as long as its something that they keep in stock).

Hypertension is one of those things that certainly needs monitoring but that can easily be done at home. (I check my B.P., with two or three successive readings, every day). If it stays within a reasonable range, there's no point in troubling the GP any further (although my doctor does ask me to drop a list of my latest readings into the surgery about once a year anyway).

So I can't really see any problems in the approach adopted by your own surgery.

[Bazile]

Is your GP Doc Martin?

[New Judge]

Envy of the world, nailit, envy of the world. You should be out on your doorstep clapping and banging saucepans.

[DTCwordfan]

low level Rampril in my case to keep me around 130/85 and in conjunction with Purinol for gout - I get a quarterly test for BP and bloods as I am on some research programme for the impact of both on my liver and kidney functions, a full blood analysis inc. cancer markers and stds....Phew.

[DTCwordfan]

New Judge, 'banging saucepans'? We'll be looking at a major concussion case with nailit......

[Hymie]

Based on nailit’s account, it would appear that his GP randomly selected a medical condition that he is suffering (based on no evidence e.g. high blood pressure readings) – and prescribed him medication to treat the condition.

I have been on blood pressure medication for a number of years – before being prescribed the medication, I had a number of BP readings taken at the GP surgery plus wearing a BP monitor that recorded my BP at random times of the day. Once taking the medication, further BP measurements were made to confirm it had fallen to within desired levels.

All medication can have side effects – without having a valid medical reason for taking medication, I would be reluctant to take it.

[Sqad]

Hymie.......LOL.

[Atheist]

Nailit; yes that's the way it is. NHS swamped with Covid. What do you expect? I tend to take the doctor's advice, which is what we did in my day. You're one of the fussy ones. Why not do what's sugggested by the experts and stop moaning? If you don't want to follow medical advice, why come here and complain? We aren't experts.
Hope your covid has gone away.

[Khandro]

Don't forget, AnswerBank as well as the NHS can seriously increase your blood pressure.
I recommend a holiday in the Caribbean for at least one month.

[Sqad]

Nailit........in my opinion you are having a perfectly acceptable standard of healthcare.

[DTCwordfan]

^ with Princess Margaret???

[Hymie]

Squad - I’m now wondering why my GP wasted their time measuring my BP – when they could have just prescribed the medication, and not bothered to check that the medication was having any beneficial effect.

[vulcan42]

\\ Nailit........in my opinion you are having a perfectly acceptable standard of healthcare.//

Diagnosing high blood pressure over the phone?

[Sqad]

Hymie......you have to follow the medical history of Nailit.
He has had his BP taken and also a 24hour BP monitoring.

Whatever you think of doctors, they do not pick a diagnosis out of one hat and a treatment out of the other hat.

Give them some credit.

[Sqad]

Vulcan...my answer to your post is the same as for Hymie above.

[Mamyalynne]

Glad you've finally got somewhere with this Nailit, hopefully you won't be unlucky with side effects.

[anneasquith]

Nailit, will you take the medication as prescribed ?

[TheWinner]

Nailit, I wouldn't be happy being spoken to like that either. (if it's any consolation).