topic Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome? in Wellness

Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

CherryHugs — Sat, 07 May 2022 13:58:34 GMT

I have had this for a long time. When I have an appt I can feel myself getting nervous the day before.

When my blood pressure is taken at the appt there is hardly ever a time that it is not somewhat high, or real high.

I get frustrated about this because most of the time there is no reason at all to get so nervous. I tried prayers, deep breathing and relaxing at the dr office but hasnt helped much!

Does anyone deal with this and what has helped you to get it under control?

I read online about self hypnosis to help and thinking this could help!

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

Shelbelle — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:04:16 GMT

Count me in!! I decided long ago that no one takes my BP except for myself at home or my PCP. When I go to a specialist like my gyno, I do not allow them to take my BP. it would just open up a can of worms that I dont want to be opened. I just tell the tech I took it at home. Of course during a colonoscopy or a recent knee surgery I had it has to be monitored, but I make it clear about my WCS, and all is good.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

CherryHugs — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:09:27 GMT

My husband was dealing with some high blood pressure recently so the Dr had him get a home cuff to use.

I have used it myself and my readings are totally fine with using this at home. But once Im at the appt it is a whole thing and some doctors even have panicked over my reading there!

Its been ongoing for a long time. Grrrr.

Last week at the Dr for NO Reason I was a nervous wreck! Sweaty palms, jittery, nervous, heart racing.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

Shelbelle — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:11:51 GMT

Cherry, tell the doc office just what you jist told us, that you take it at home and all is well. You have severe WCS and dont allow anyone to take it , and my experience is they will just say fine and let it go. now, if it is an annnual physical with your PCP, you do have to allow it, like I do, but my PCP is fully aware of my WCS. At any other appts you have the right to refuse. I have told many others that I refuse, now they do too based on their own bad nerves. Getting a ridiculously high reading based on WCS is not the way to have your BP taken, just take it at home.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

pupwhipped — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:23:25 GMT

I've had it forever...nothing helps. Focusing on it and trying to control it makes it worse for me. Now I say something like, "Do you have to take my blood pressure? It's just going to frighten you needlessly." There was a time I felt guilty like a naughty child for not being able to control it. But now I'm taking a new approach and asking specialists if they have to take it, and then warning them of what they're about to see. 😲 At my PCP's I've taken my home blood pressure monitor to the visits for years to show my normal at home results. And, also, to take the pressure there with it along with their instruments to prove mine is still accurate. White Coat Syndrome is a PITA!

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

Janey2 — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:33:30 GMT

Count me in. I also take my blood pressure at home. I take it for about 3 days before I go to the dr. It is getting worse as I get older. It is embarrassing as I feel I should be able to control myself. I even get nervous when I make the appointment and the feeling continues until I walk out of the office.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

blueroses47 — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:34:36 GMT

Yes, I suffer from this. It's so bad, I think it's a phobia with me.

I don't go to doctors for years at a time. I avoid checkups and screenings. My husband has told me I'm playing with fire (his phrase), and I know what he's saying, but it's hard to deal with.

Now, if I am in pain, or have something that just has to be attended to, I will go. But it's hard to even make the call for an appointment.

This past summer I decided it was time to have cataract surgery, so that meant a presurgery checkup, and subsequent visits to doctors (an irregular EKG which turned out to be fine, after tests at the cardiologist), and a couple of other issues revealed.

Luckily, so far, I am a basically healthy person, so keeping my relationship with doctors to a minimum has been okay for me, but I realize I'm dealing with a problem here.

As you said if I have an appointment scheduled, the day before is ruined for me. It's just the anticipation.

In most other areas of my life I can function as an adult. I don't know why I've developed this phobia, though I have a few suspicions. It's not that I'm a baby when it comes to discomfort or even pain, I'm not overly afraid of having things done to me, it's just the vulnerability of putting myself in a strangers hands, I think.

I'm just taking it on a day to day basis. I think of my grandparents who lived such long lives without going to doctors constantly, or being obsessed with "numbers" in regard to their health. They just lived, relatively healthy lives. It's a different time, now.

I don't think we're so unusual though. I think there must be many people who feel the same.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

Meowingkitty — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:46:42 GMT

I have it too. This last time my doctor wanted to increase my blood pressure meds from 20 to 40 mg and I said no. Since then I've been taking my BP almost daily and writing it down for the past three months and it's fine. It's actually really good. So next month when I see her we can discuss it.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

Effie54 — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:47:01 GMT

Oh yes, you are not alone! I have it every time I visit my GP for a physical. My blood pressure is usually very low. As soon as he walks in the room and starts taking my blood pressure, it shoots right up. It's the white coat thing. I've tried to visualize being on the beach, and deep breathing, but that doesn't work either. My mind knows that he has a white coat and smells like alcohol wipes.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

ladyfox412 — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:48:08 GMT

I would not say I have white coat syndrome but there have been times I didn't agree with a reading and asked to have it retaken. In almost every case, a second reading was closer to my at home readings.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

mac116 — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:49:50 GMT

I am in the same boat with WCS. Yesterday I made 3 doctor appointments for August, and I am already anxious about them. Any helpful suggestions for those of us with this condition?

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

SeaMaiden — Sat, 07 May 2022 15:25:27 GMT

I DREAD going to the Doctor because they weigh me and take my blood pressure. I always sweat sitting in that little room on the uncomfortable chair waiting for the Dr. to knock on the door... HATE IT. My blood pressure is always spiked up when I am there.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

Shelbelle — Sat, 07 May 2022 15:25:47 GMT

Be sure that if you do have it taken that they know about your issues, otherwise you may find yourself with a unneccessary RX for BP meds, happened to me years ago. That is when I was smart enough to buy my home monitor. I prefer a wrist monitor, the cuff makes me nervous, even at home

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

Krimpette — Sat, 07 May 2022 15:42:01 GMT

I've always had this "malady" also! I now use a wrist monitor and take my B/P at least once a week. I'm looking for a "trend". A couple of weeks before my doc appointment, I take it much more often. I record my readings on an excel spreadsheet and present that to the doc. Alternately, you can always take your wrist monitor to your appointment and the doc can review the stored readings. At that time, the doc can compare readings so that your wrist monitor is calibrated properly.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

drizzellla — Sat, 07 May 2022 15:46:03 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
I DREAD going to the Doctor because they weigh me and take my blood pressure. I always sweat sitting in that little room on the uncomfortable chair waiting for the Dr. to knock on the door... HATE IT. My blood pressure is always spiked up when I am there.

That sounds just like me.

I can donate blood and my blood pressure is "textbook ideal". Had cancer the numerous Doctors were pleased with my blood pressure numbers.

But when I go to my GP, up it goes. Then I get a lecture. I dread every visit. And I get nervous about my blood pressure before each visit. It now starts days before the visit.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

ciao_bella — Sat, 07 May 2022 16:05:51 GMT

I might add, I always find a difference from when the nurse takes the BP (after weight, etc. ) and then when the doctor takes the BP. There's usually a significant difference in the readings, at least for me.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

hckynutjohn — Mon, 09 May 2022 00:29:22 GMT

@CherryHugs

Not a problem for me. Might be because I am not concerned(worried) at the appointment itself. I think the fact that I have had so many appointments with different specialist doctors much of my life, along with serious health issues.

I have always been one to not concern myself "might be's or might have's". Prefer waiting until I hear depth of my issue and move on from there.

Right now my BP running low is my problem. Been checking it twice a day and it is a little bit higher, but still lower than I like it.

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

pieman — Sat, 07 May 2022 17:17:03 GMT

I get it all the time..

I even tell them it will be high.

When I take it home I'm in the 120's/70, sometimes 130/70...

So I got a pad and now I take my own BP everyday, same time daily and when I have to go to the dr's for an appointment, I bring the pad with me, so they can see I'm normal and its just them that make me crazy!

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

candys mine — Sat, 07 May 2022 18:07:59 GMT

I used to, but not anymore. Now I look at it that it's their Job. No demigods there. I called them after all. Do you take your blood pressure at home? Keep a log and bring a few days worth so they see what you are usually. Do you think having your BP taken again at the end of the apointment would give a more normal result for you?

Something I read once put it all in perspective for me.

What do you call a medical student that graduated last in the class?

Doctor.

Re: Anyone Else with WhiteCoatSyndrome?

Hoovermom — Sat, 07 May 2022 19:21:14 GMT

I have the same thing happen at the doctor's office. I ask to have it read at the end of my appointment, and voila....it's normal.