Blood Pressure machines

SandKmommy · #1 January 22nd, 2009, 06:24 PM

Does anyone know if they are reliable? My headache is bad today and I'm getting worrid its my BP sense its starting to go up, and I can't have a nasty headache.

bittersweet · #2 January 22nd, 2009, 06:40 PM

For the most part they are prettyreliable....as long as your BP isnt very high or very low If the cuff is too small it can give you a higher reading, if its too big, your reading will appear lower. If you get a reading to be concerned about on a machine, go get it checked at the dr....especially pregnant.

soImarriedAnerd · #3 January 22nd, 2009, 07:29 PM

plus its a good idea to be sitting for 5min first THEN take it--it will help get you a more accurate BP.

~* Helen *~ · #4 January 23rd, 2009, 01:39 AM

I think they are pretty reliabale, I've never had to use one myself so not sure how they work, the only ones I had are ones done by my midwife.

petalfuzz · #5 January 23rd, 2009, 05:12 AM

My mom has a home cuff. She took it to her dr's office so they could see if it's accurate or not. It was and she uses it everyday cause she's on bp meds.

SandKmommy · #6 January 23rd, 2009, 01:30 PM

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I think they are pretty reliabale, I've never had to use one myself so not sure how they work, the only ones I had are ones done by my midwife.[/b]

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My mom has a home cuff. She took it to her dr's office so they could see if it's accurate or not. It was and she uses it everyday cause she's on bp meds.[/b]

I was talking about the ones at stores that you go sit down at

Of course when we went to Walmart last night after Dh got off work it was broke, its been brook for a few weeks now saying Er- on the screen. I may go to the ER tonight though, we'll see, my hands are puffy and I took one of my Tylenol #3's last night and it killed the headache then but I wake up with another one, not horrible but annoying.

bittersweet · #7 January 23rd, 2009, 03:20 PM

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Of course when we went to Walmart last night after Dh got off work it was broke, its been brook for a few weeks now saying Er- on the screen. I may go to the ER tonight though, we'll see, my hands are puffy and I took one of my Tylenol #3's last night and it killed the headache then but I wake up with another one, not horrible but annoying.[/b]

They have those machines at almost grocery store/drug store. Is there another one you can go to...for peace of mind to save yourself an ER trip.

You also could be dehydrated. Try drinking more water and eating less salt...will help with the bloating too. Now is about the time when pre eclampsia could become an issue. Did you develop it last time? When is your next dr. appt?

SandKmommy · #8 January 23rd, 2009, 03:31 PM

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Of course when we went to Walmart last night after Dh got off work it was broke, its been brook for a few weeks now saying Er- on the screen. I may go to the ER tonight though, we'll see, my hands are puffy and I took one of my Tylenol #3's last night and it killed the headache then but I wake up with another one, not horrible but annoying.[/b]

They have those machines at almost grocery store/drug store. Is there another one you can go to...for peace of mind to save yourself an ER trip.

You also could be dehydrated. Try drinking more water and eating less salt...will help with the bloating too. Now is about the time when pre eclampsia could become an issue. Did you develop it last time? When is your next dr. appt?
[/b]

I had Pregnancy Induced Hypertension with Seamus, and spilled protein the night they induced me(for GD though). They never said it was pre-e because I just had the bad headaches and high blood pressure.

I was just looking at WebMD and I guess dizzyness is a sign too? I've been having this issue for about a month and my ob first said to check my sugars maybe they were high/low when I was dizzy[was told this on the 6th of Jan.] when I check they are in normal range. So on my appt this Wed I said nope not BS related but still dizzy, so they are sending me to an ENT thinking its there...but couldnt' it be related to blood pressure. My BP is going up, its not too bad yet but high for me already, I also gained 7lbs in the 2week peroid from the 6th to the 21st, when my eating hasn't changed and I still have issues eating/puking.

The headache isn't terribly bad right now if I'm sitting still, its when I move that it gets bad and the dizzyness gets worse.[usually feel dizzy all the time sitting]

I cnat' get to a store now, dh is gone at work till 11pm.

soImarriedAnerd · #9 January 25th, 2009, 03:34 AM

Thats a big weight gain ESPECIALLY if your getting edema (swelling with it)! That will the fact you have dizziness, feeling like your BP is up and your swelling up.....call your doctor and tell him this stuff--I'm guessing they will get you in that day! What you described for your last pregnancy --the high blood pressure and protein in urine from your last pregnancy is pre-eclampsia (probably secondary/caused by to GD, very common to get them together)...from what your telling me it sounds like you may be doing it again. PLEASE CALL YOU DOCTOR! If you get short of breath, have numbness or tingling in your hands/feet or vision starts getting blurry---GO TO ER!!!! (that could be HELLP syndrome)
And also I want to stress---T3 is tylenol with Codeine in it---THIS should not be needed in pregnancy--if your headaches are that bad you need to figure out WHY they are that bad, normal pregnancy headaches should not need a narcotic to fix. And FYI- Codeine is a Category C drug...which should only be taken if the symptom can do more harm to the baby then the drug. You really need to figure out the WHY for your headaches that are that bad and treat the problem.

Difference between Pre-eclampsia and PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension)......Pre-eclampsia is two blood pressures with in 4 hours of each other higher then 140/90 (was our hospitals limit-so this may vary) PLUS protein in your urine (our limit was 300mg in a 24 hr sample) and usually edema (swelling). PIH is high bloodpressure brought on by pregnancy without the protein and maybe some swelling (and this is for women who normally, non-pregnant, don't have BP issues).

Its a great thing to have a BP machine while pregnant if your even close to high BP, You can get a prescription for this and most insurance companies will pay for it, if not they are not expensive. With the ones in the stores, you have to remember to sit for 5 min first before you take it because it will be different then your walking around BP (we like a "resting" BP)

Keep me posted whats up!

SandKmommy · #10 January 25th, 2009, 03:52 PM

My Ob is the one that prescribed the Tylenol 3's and thats what they had me take when my headaches started with Seamus. I only spilled protein the night they induced me for my GD with him it was +1 so I dont know what that means.

Friday night I went to my brothers girlfriends parents for her sisters birthday and her mom is a L&D nurse at the hospital here and she checked my reflexes and stuff, and said they were fine, she tried for my bp but the cuff she had was broke. She just told me to take the Tylenol 3 when it gets bad and to keep sleeping.
I've not had any more swelling sense Friday so maybe I had too much salt?
I slept yesterday till 6pm (went to bed at 4am last night) slept today till 2pm, so I've been trying to sleep. I didn't have much of a headache yesterday and just a slight one today. I only take the Tylenol 3's if regular Tylenol hasn't worked after about 6hours.

IamMom · #11 January 26th, 2009, 04:17 AM

Justine - I hope you get your BP figured out, or the headaches at lease. I have chronic hypertension and I have a home cuff. I live by it. If they determine you need to monitor your BP you might see if you could rent one or something since you say your BP is only a problem when you are preggo? Good luck - thinking of you!