White coat syndrome

deedee00 · Post by **deedee00** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:43 am

I'm going to the doctor tomorrow. This is the first time since my sister died a few months ago. My blood pressure use to go up whenever I went to the doctor.

I need some help with this one, since I am much better with my anxiety but is still going through this.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:11 am

I have the same problem, my bp is relatively low but in the normal range. Can you check it at home or in a pharmacy the day before and bring those results? And/or tell the doctor that it's low when you aren't at the doctor's office?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:19 am

Doctors are normal people and make mistakes all the time. They're human.

Trust me on this, my father's a doctor. He's completely human. Don't let them make you anxious.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:38 am

Mine used to go up all the time when I had a Dr.visit. I finally bought a home monitor and used it a few times a day to get what a normal reading was for me during the day. If it was high when I went to the Dr. I could at least tell her what it usually is when I don't have the white coat syndrome.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:49 am

I'm very sorry about your sister's passing, DeeDee. Please accept my sincere sympathy.

When you go to the doctor - just before they put the cuff on you, ask that you be allowed to take three very slow, deep breaths. They usually are very accommodating. My doctor now laughs at me when he takes my bp and says: "You don't even want to know what it reads." And then he moves on with my office visit. They know and understand. Also, tell yourself that it doesn't matter what it is. High or low you will handle it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:52 am

Thank you all for your responses. I have two monitors but at one point the doctors scared me so bad, taking every heart and stress tests they could think of and telling scary things that could be wrong, until they noticed that whenever I became relaxed, my BP would be normal. I got to a point where I couldn't even take it at home.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:01 am

Boon, I need you to come home with me. LOL I posted that last post before I saw your post.

I thank you so much for expressing your sympathy. I will do that tomorrow. I am at the point where seeing the cuff makes me uncomfortable. It's strange because I can deal with so much more now but this is difficult and I don't want to get to the point where I won't go at all.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:16 am

It would be good exposure therapy for you to go every single day (and have them take your bp) until you are no longer affected. I'm sure they would be happy to have you come in (without seeing the doctor) to take your bp.

Also, write your worst case scenerio on what you "think" the experience could be like. Since you only have tonight (before your appt) read it over and over for an hour. You will notice that you become bored with it. (Remember not to fix anything. Make your scenerio as horrible as you can. Breathe into your feelings as you read it and welcome those feelings in. Do not resist them.) This is a very good approach to moving through what you fear. It's not the taking of the bp that is the problem. It is your anxious feelings that you are really afraid of.

You can do this.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:23 am

Deedee, been there with other things. I remember when I really feared the nick on my finger for drawing blood. I also feared making a fool of myself. I looked away, which I was comfortable doing because my dad told me it was OK. One time there was some delay as I sat looking away, and my anxiety was growing rapidly. In short order I looked like I was bracing for a hockey puck to the face. BICK!!and I jumped then tried to settle down to be more cooperative. When I looked back at the phlebotomist, the cubicle looked like a bloody water balloon had burst, and she was wiping all the walls. I'm better now. Lesson two self-talk might help, admitting to yourself that seeing cuff disturbs you, but it's OK. You know it isn't going to hurt, and you're not with the thoughtless practitioners who scared you with fantasy ills. You could look away. Or you could ask how it works. If it's being done with a stethoscope, ask eht nurse to show you how it's done. Then you become hard core. You could take it on yourself, and KNOW nothing was going wrong. Nothing like a few options.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:26 am

Thank you, all who posted. I appreciate all of you and I am truly grateful to you all.

Thank you so much Boon and James K. James K, you are so funny!

I will be using this great advice. You all are wonderful! I knew I could count on you guys!