Conquering fear of blood pressure machines?

[Autumnx1003]

I know I am not the only one who absolutely freaks out when having my blood pressure taken.  Every time I go to the Dr's office, they always comment on how high my pulse and blood pressure are (last week when I went it was 127/92 and pulse of 133!)  Ha...and those numbers arent even unusual for me!  I know the pulse is high, but I don't worry about it as much just because I take it frequently at home now, and know that it is usually in the 80's when I'm at home.  But the blood pressure...ugh!  I am just convinced that I am going to have a really high reading sometime and that I'm going to just kill over.  And the docs and nurses make it worse by always saying "well, your numbers are a little too high for your age, even though you are nervous" (I just turned 30).  

So...has anyone successfully conquered their fear of having their blood pressure taken?  How did you do it?  I really want to get over this. I mean, I feel like i try to do everything right...I eat fairly well, I'm definitely not overweight, dont smoke or drink, somewhat active...the only thing I have trouble with is my anxiety.  Ugh...this is frustrating!

[Shug07]

Some of these people that work in the dentist do not know what they are doing - I have the same problem - white coat syndrome - when she strapped the little blood pressure strap on me which came from a pharmacy - I guess - and she made me hold my arm straight down - I tried to tell her no - you can't get an accurate reading holding your arm down - but she insisted - by this time I was already aggravated - then it came back way high - she said you nervous - I said yes I am - then I said that reading can not be right and I have never had a reading that high and she said let me get the nurse to take it and when she did the right way with a real blood pressure - it came back a little high not to bad but 30 to 40 points different from the other reading - Now I am a thinking - this tells you that your machine is not working correctly and you are taking blood pressure of people - I asked her - how often does this happen and she said - all the time.  So how many people have left there stressed to the max - going to their dr because of this .   I told my husband - I may go back there to get my teeth cleaned but if they even offer to take my b/p - I will leave -

[santhoshsingh]

ur awesome thanks for the suggestion..i usually have a normal bp..but one day when i got admitted in hospital for high fever.everything was normal untill..on the discharge day morning the nurse woke me up and took the reading..that showed 150/90 she was shocked and said its really high and why r u getting such high for ur age(i am 22).from that day when i go to near that machines my hearts starts pacing up..even after one month from now i face that problem..i can hear my heart beating hard face flushing and bp gets hike..i am very concerned with this because i don't know whether i am having a high bp or not..when i recently checked my bp it is showing 150.when i am explaining it to them they are laughing and taking the reading again that instant and making me more nervous..again it shows same and they confirms it i don't know what to do..but you helped me today.
thank you

[AngelfromTheBay]

Thanks I'll try and remember these tips.

I had a really bad panic attack at the dentist/Surgeons office yesterday 11-04-15 right about the time they told me they were going to take my Bp.

The nurse told me as she was placing the cuff on me that it would probably be a little high. I went on to tell her I had White Coat syndrome and I knew it would be high. She looked really concerned as she said it was 180/115. Wow, that's the highest. She gave me water and I told her I would be outside getting some air. It was horrible. I came back inside and I didn't hear anything the gentle speaking surgeon said about extracting my cracked crown/tooth. All I heard was "cadaver bone graft" for my future tooth implant.

When it was time to talk about the payment and setting up a date. I felt the pounding of my blood pressure and could not step in that small sized office space (small pantry closet size)

Again, I told them I would be outside getting air. I grabbed a Coke on my way out. Called my wife and told her I loved her. Explained what happened, she reminded me to breathe. She left work to come be with me. I told her not too I would be fine. She works in another town.

Walked back in to the front desk gave them y credit card for the visit. Walked back just to hand them my credit card and walked out. 5-10 min later walked back in and told them it wasn't a good time for me. I would call them tomorrow. Signed the receipt, grabbed the estimate and left.

I walked to the near by water fountain to listen to the sound as I prayed to God to stay near me.
I prayed, I self talked, the soothing voice from my wife helped but I still felt scared something bad (stroke) or something was going to happen.
Drove to a nearby 7-11 and bought some baby asprin took two and drove home.

My wife came home early rubbed my shoulders and I went to bed. She massaged my back until I went to sleep.

She told me the next day (today) when she came home I looked pale white.

I think it's a combination of things that triggered that horrible panic attack. Loss of sleep, stressed out due to finials at school and trying to keep up at my older age. Dehydrated from energy drinks I drank the day before during my studies.

I feel embarrassed that I couldn't snapped out. It didn't matter what I told myself. I knew it was only a consultation appt. My wife says not to be embarrassed. I am not the only one that has had a panic attack in their office.

This only seems to happen when it comes to my Bp being taken which is at my doctors office. Only this time it happened somewhere else and it felt way more Intense.

Classes are over and I will be staying away from the drinks (energy) as well.

[RaggedyAnne78]

I love your post and you are dead right about everything.I have a terrible fear of BP machines and had to get mine taken this morning. It was 150/100 then went down to 150/90 after 10 minutes. not high for me.
at home its 130/70. but i suppose the doctors have a duty of care so they ask me to come back in one week, history repeats itself. I dont think i will ever be able to beath the machine in hospital environment - its a learned behaviour that i just cannot change it seems.

[AIC13]

I had it too. Normally my BP was 130/90. But when this anxiety of mine attacked me for the first time, it became 150/100 which made me freak out. I'm pretty surprised my BP surged that high, but when I took another BP the week after, it lowered to 120/70, and maybe it was because i started eating healthy and increased my physical activity.

[karen0918]

I currently need to visit my doctor because of some abdominal pain. But my "fear" of getting my bp checked is what's stopping me.  My parents and my brother all have the same condition.  I know I'm very paranoid but the thought of people knowing I'm taking maintenance at my age because of high bp is really embarrassing for me.  I like the idea of the nurse distracting you from fear or whatever. I hope I could meet a nurse who would understand and act that way.  My hands are very clammy now just thinking about my bp being checked.  But I also want to get over my abdominal pains and my fears.  I'm just really glad that there are people out there who have the same fear as mine.