Hi,

I would appreciate some advice about high blood pressure or at least whether anyone else has experienced the dilemna I am having...

I am in my 20's and have had high-ish readings from my blood pressure now and again. It seems to fluctuate from the high side of normal to what they say is high though. I don't know why this is but my doctor is less than helpful when I have discussed this with her. I want to do something proactive and I want to bring it down but my doctor seems to dismiss that I can do anything and suggested that because my mother has it then it must be something I have inherited and that's it, case closed and medication is my only option! She sent me for blood tests and an ECG a few years back, all came back normal. I have also had a full blood count a few months ago and again, all normal. All I am told is that I need to ensure that my BP is monitored. That's fine, but I have tried asking my doctor why she thinks my BP can fluctuate - in my head I can't seem to understand how one time it can be normal and the next time too high. Surely it would be consistently high...although she just told me that it sometimes does that. AGH!!!

I am now at a stage where it is really upsetting me, every time I go to the doctors they bang on about it and as soon as they get the cuff out to do a BP reading and I start to feel extremely anxious. It starts as soon as the waiting room these days and I feel a chant in my head 'dont be high, please don't be high'...I am sure this makes it worse! Every time I get a high reading I ask, 'what can I do?' - I have read that weight, alcohol, stressful life, salt intake etc. could all be factors, my doctor just tells me that plenty of overweight people have normal blood pressure as per the rest of symptoms I am suggesting and I just need to keep it monitored and it is unlikely that any of these factors are causing it. The thing is, it keeps fluctuating, high to high side of normal...

I am now at a stage where I went to the doctor this afternoon and I just don't think she is taking me seriously. I was told that we now need to discuss medication and to come back to see her next week. I went to the doctor about another issue (and was told I had a temperature and tonsilitus) and I genuinely think that my reading was high because of this! Hey, I'm no doctor but I feel like I might as well talk to a brick wall for the amount of help I am getting! I am all for not making excuses but I admit that I lead a really hectic life, I have a more stressful job than most and I know that I can let things get to me instead of just being calm. My doctor doesn't think this will make a difference though.

Has anybody else experienced this attitude and what did you do? I am adamant that I want to at least try alternatives and have just looked into lifestyle factors I could change (hey, I am not being helped by my doctor). Looking at the research out on the internet, perhaps I do drink a little too much alcohol, maybe I am a little bit overweight (I suggested this one to her and she dismissed it even though my BMI states a little overweight and I am heavier than when I was 18...) and I am ashamed to admit I don't do much vigourous exercise 3x a week...Should I insist to my doctor that I give these things a go? The thing is I now feel frustrated, upset and ignored and I am now doubting myself, surely she knows what is best for me?! I just know that I really don't want to go on medication, not yet anyway. I just feel like I am being forced into a corner and that I am not having a say about what happens to me. Has anyone else experienced this? I am tempted to also insist to have a 24 hour monitor reading too, although I think my doctor just thinks I am being awkward. Or, I guess I could change my GP and get a second opionion...

Help! If anyone else has experienced a similar situation I would be grateful of your experiences.

Thanks.

B