So now I have high blood pressure

[propita]

Well, I saw the doctor. BP high. Chest xray good. EKG good. Come back in 2 wks after taking 2wks of samples of something Hubby says will just slow my heart a little and take some of the pressure off it.

"If you have unusual or out-of-the-ordinary chest pain, go to the ER immediately. They'll want a blood sample and to start monitoring you."
"What's 'unusual chest pain' as compared to 'usual chest pain'?"
"Extreme pain and inability to breathe."
"Oh."

Hubby says he'll go with in 2 wks, too, if I want. Yes, I want.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

OK, I'm now starting to wonder what the difference is between an ECG and an EKG. Until now I just thought that they were the same thing and it was just one of those 2 nations divided by a common language things.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

OK, I'm now starting to wonder what the difference is between an ECG and an EKG. Until now I just thought that they were the same thing and it was just one of those 2 nations divided by a common language things.

They're the same thing. Just a different name for it.

 

[bigdaddy]

Over a year ago at the doctor's mine was 128 over maybe 75 and the nurse said that was slightly high.

Of course it's high, because you keep lowing what it should be! Normal used to be 130, then 120, I think it might be 110 now.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

OK, I'm now starting to wonder what the difference is between an ECG and an EKG. Until now I just thought that they were the same thing and it was just one of those 2 nations divided by a common language things.

They're the same thing. Just a different name for it.

Thought so, but this:

Originally Posted by: TorontoTrekker
He saw the same abnormality in my ECG, so he gave me a number to call to get an EKG, which I'm having this Thursday

made me think there may be a difference.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

OK, I'm now starting to wonder what the difference is between an ECG and an EKG. Until now I just thought that they were the same thing and it was just one of those 2 nations divided by a common language things.

They're the same thing. Just a different name for it.

Thought so, but this:

Originally Posted by: TorontoTrekker
He saw the same abnormality in my ECG, so he gave me a number to call to get an EKG, which I'm having this Thursday

made me think there may be a difference.

I think TorontoTrekker's been had.

Or he might have been talking about a 24-hour ECG tape, which is like a standard 12-lead ECG but kept on the patient for a full 24 hours of recording, with the Black Box strapped to the waist usually, and the patient is invited to record any odd moments and symptoms in a diary - useful to see if the symptoms of fainting correlate with ECG changes such as pauses, ectopic beats, or funny rhythms that wouldn't normally be caught on a standard 12-lead ECG.

Or he could be referring to an echocardiogram (which is different to an ECG/EKG), and which they might have requested if they had found a heart murmur on examination, or suspected a problem with the left ventricular systolic function of the heart in relation to the blood pressure and fainting symptoms. I think there'd have to be significant ECG changes and/or a good sounding murmur, together with strong symptoms of blackout/faint, especially if the risk of not treating it (e.g. if the falls are affecting daily routine or work) is too high, to justify going straight for this test, though.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^Right... I've had all of those. Ah, the memories. I was just confused seeing ECG and EKG referred to like they were different things.

 

[Misfit Toy]

^There is an EEG, but that IS completely different.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^There is an EEG, but that IS completely different.

Yeah, I know what that is too. Never had to have one of those though.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

^There is an EEG, but that IS completely different.

Yeah, I know what that is too. Never had to have one of those though.

If you ask me, anyone who needs an EEG ought to have their head examined.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^There is an EEG, but that IS completely different.

Yeah, I know what that is too. Never had to have one of those though.

If you ask me, anyone who needs an EEG ought to have their head examined.

Oh, Yes!

 

[RJDiogenes]

I had to have an EEG. Luckily, the results were negative.

 

[TorontoTrekker]

Or he might have been talking about a 24-hour ECG tape, which is like a standard 12-lead ECG but kept on the patient for a full 24 hours of recording, with the Black Box strapped to the waist usually, and the patient is invited to record any odd moments and symptoms in a diary - useful to see if the symptoms of fainting correlate with ECG changes such as pauses, ectopic beats, or funny rhythms that wouldn't normally be caught on a standard 12-lead ECG.

Or he could be referring to an echocardiogram (which is different to an ECG/EKG), and which they might have requested if they had found a heart murmur on examination, or suspected a problem with the left ventricular systolic function of the heart in relation to the blood pressure and fainting symptoms. I think there'd have to be significant ECG changes and/or a good sounding murmur, together with strong symptoms of blackout/faint, especially if the risk of not treating it (e.g. if the falls are affecting daily routine or work) is too high, to justify going straight for this test, though.

Yes, on both counts. I'm having an echocardiogram (I didn't want to try spelling that on my own ), and then they're strapping a monitor on me for 24 hours. The doctor didn't say anything about a murmur, but as I said in my previous post, the ECG turned up something odd and I was having near-fainting episodes (haven't had any since a week ago Thursday, though).

My liver ultrasound is now scheduled for Friday morning. I wouldn't have minded doing it on Thursday after the echo, but I have no idea how long I'm going to be there, and the ultrasound has to be done at a different location.

 

[RyanKCR]

I'm familiar with all those tests. I've had MRI's, Halter Monitors (24 hour EKG), EKG's, echocardiograms, stress tests, lung perfustion scans, cat scans, X-ray's, countless blood tests, heart catheterizations, nuclear scans, etc.

Just to name a few.

 

[thestrangequark]

I had to have an EEG. Luckily, the results were negative.

At least in the humor department.

 

[freak]

My blood pressure once reached 170/140.

I was about 38 weeks pregnant at the time and was suffering from pre-eclampsia. I was put t into hospital and labour was induced.

While I was in hospital with tests being done on me to find out why my blood pressure was high, I saw it go up to 220/160 once or twice. And the cardiologist I was under at the time was an arsehole and tried putting it down to white coat syndtrome. When my mam tried to explain it had been high for months he told her to shut up, he had important things to say.

WOW! This doc actually SAID THIS?! I've come to the conclusion that dr's are assholes as well and are just there for the quick $$. I'll give yall a perfect example: Mom and I went to see her diabetic doctor a few months ago and the doc asked her how she was doing. She told him honestly that she doesn't sleep at night anymore and isn't feeling all that well. Instead of being sympathtic with her(as he usually is!) he precedes to tell us a terrible story of a patient of his(he didn't name names!) who was dying of cancer and only had six months to live. Well, suffice to say, that made Mom feel worse and my mouth just dropped to the ground in shock. I couldn't believe he actually said that! I guess he was having a bad day but he shouldn't have brought that up to us. It made Mom feel unwanted and just another bitchy patient who gripes all the time and doesn't have anything better to do than wine. Suffice to say, I lost some respect in that doc that day.
But anyway, about the blood pressure thing. Mine's been a little high lately as well. one day it was 158/100 or something like that. But I've been exercising alot and watching what I eat so hopefully it'll go down. I think it goes up when I'm really stressed out. I don't handle pressure very well either. I worry too much about EVERYTHING.

 

[RyanKCR]

My current doc is very good and very compassionate. Might be because he is a pediatric cardiologist. Back around when I was first seen by him about 7 years ago he had told me that my heart was getting bad and started to discuss some testing for later. On the way out I just had an emotional breakdown. He rounded the corner and saw me and walked up to me and gave me a hug and told that we'll fix this.

 

[Tim]

I SWEAR TO GOD PLEASE READ WHAT I HAVE TO SAY!

I suffered from high blood pressure not too long ago and I had it for several months, do you wanna know how I was cured of it instantly? I had to go to the hospital for a genetics test and they took a big sample of blood from my arm, immediately after they took my blood my months of suffering from high blood pressure was OVER. I never felt so fricking great. About a week later I had to go to the doctors for a blood test (different reason) and they took another sample of blood from my arm.

Ever since then my suffering has been over with!!

My suggestion to you is to go to the doctors and make something up so they take a blood sample from you or get a needle and suck some out your arm yourself (so long as you know what you're doing).

I am sooooooooo glad that you're not a Doctor.

Well, volume depletion will lower your BP. Problem is, if you don't do it right, you'll lower it to zero.

* The above was thoroughly tongue-in-cheek. Kids, don't try to lower your BP this way.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

My blood pressure once reached 170/140.

I was about 38 weeks pregnant at the time and was suffering from pre-eclampsia. I was put t into hospital and labour was induced.

While I was in hospital with tests being done on me to find out why my blood pressure was high, I saw it go up to 220/160 once or twice. And the cardiologist I was under at the time was an arsehole and tried putting it down to white coat syndtrome. When my mam tried to explain it had been high for months he told her to shut up, he had important things to say.

WOW! This doc actually SAID THIS?! I've come to the conclusion that dr's are assholes as well and are just there for the quick $$. I'll give yall a perfect example: Mom and I went to see her diabetic doctor a few months ago and the doc asked her how she was doing. She told him honestly that she doesn't sleep at night anymore and isn't feeling all that well. Instead of being sympathtic with her(as he usually is!) he precedes to tell us a terrible story of a patient of his(he didn't name names!) who was dying of cancer and only had six months to live. Well, suffice to say, that made Mom feel worse and my mouth just dropped to the ground in shock. I couldn't believe he actually said that! I guess he was having a bad day but he shouldn't have brought that up to us. It made Mom feel unwanted and just another bitchy patient who gripes all the time and doesn't have anything better to do than wine. Suffice to say, I lost some respect in that doc that day.
But anyway, about the blood pressure thing. Mine's been a little high lately as well. one day it was 158/100 or something like that. But I've been exercising alot and watching what I eat so hopefully it'll go down. I think it goes up when I'm really stressed out. I don't handle pressure very well either. I worry too much about EVERYTHING.

Yep, he actually said that, and then left the room before any of us had a chance to tell him what my mam had been saying. He was a right bastard, apparently he was upset that he'd been called in to see me, because he was going away that day. Which is why I no longer see any specialists in this city, the cardiology team at Leeds were recommended and I went there.

I've noticed there seems to be a lot of people who go in to caring professions, nurses, doctors, paramedics, etc. who don't seem at all caring. I guess some may go in to the profession with the best of intentions, and slowly become cynical but it seems odd.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I had to have an EEG. Luckily, the results were negative.

At least in the humor department.