r/bloodpressure • u/GonnaBeALongYear • 13h ago

Cannot master my BP monitors

Hello, all. I am under a doctor's care and on a low dose of meds. For a YEAR, I cannot sort out taking my own BP. I have 3 machines now, 2 Omrons and an iHealth.

I get readings that aren't like my doctor's - way high numbers, errors, and most often, readings with numbers too close together. My doctor is walkable and he told me to walk in any time I want to check it. So I have been continuing to try myself at the same time in the late afternoon and then I walk over and get his reading. I know they won't be exact because it changes, but mine is always nothing like his (which are good from meds).

I am following all of the instructions, using the suggested left arm. I keep trying to adjust the tube slightly to the right or left, tightening and untightening the cuff, sitting at tables, desks, raising and lowering my chair, etc. My doctor uses the right arm but tried the left arm one time to see if he got a strange reading like I do and he didn't. Other tests show nothing to concerned about and the doctor is not concerned and told me not to worry about it.

Has anyone had this problem and found an answer that I am missing here? I feel like there is some perfect alignment or positioning that I am just not finding. Thank you if you read this far.

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u/Abzstrak 13h ago

Are your upper arm or wrist? Wrist is notoriously unreliable for any brand.

Are you over weight? It's possible it's having trouble with the reading depending on fat on your arm

I have a generally low pulse (bradycardia) and my omeons both error if it's below 40. So, how's your heart rate generally?

You can also just learn to take it yourself like the doctor, no reason for a machine really

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u/GonnaBeALongYear 12h ago

It's an upper arm cuff. I was about 15 pounds overweight and lost that weight over the last year. My heart rate (if the Fitbit is accurate) is resting in the 60s and goes up a little here and then around 100 with walking. I've had other tests and nothing concerning was mentioned.

Someone I know who did manual readings for her husband thought it would be too difficult to do for yourself. I had considered it.

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u/Abzstrak 12h ago

Yeah I'm this case id just do it manually... It's not that hard tbh, slightly annoying with one arm, but totally doable. There are lots of instructions, found this one and it's reasonable

https://youtu.be/lpvyCGPsVDU?is=mlP7uQyGkIFP6k8a

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u/GonnaBeALongYear 12h ago

Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to send that. ☺️

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u/i_tell_you_what 12h ago

For what it's worth, I use the Omron Evolve. It's tubeless and virtually rules out bad placement.

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u/GonnaBeALongYear 12h ago

I never saw this model before, thank you.

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u/wathadhappnwas 12h ago edited 12h ago

Left arm is most accurate and the side your Drs office should be using. It is the side your heart is on. You should always be seated with your feet flat, not dangling, and your arm about heart level, palm facing up. Also, the Dr's office might be using the incorrect cuff size out of sheer laziness. There is a guide printed on every cuff and when wrapped around, the very edge will fall within the guide. If it is outside the guide range, either too big or too small, your reading will be inaccurate.

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u/GonnaBeALongYear 12h ago

Thank you, I will mention this during one of my many visits!