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Actually, I suspect the cuff just wore out. I don’t believe they’re supposed to last forever. Typical though, that it should give up the ghost when I’m supposed to be taking readings at home to give to the GP.

Fortunately it turns out that replacement cuffs are readily available online and easy to change, so once it had been delivered on Monday afternoon I was able to at least take a reading in the evening.

First time in ages that I’ve managed readings morning, afternoon and evening as far as I recall.

So, we start off and end up pretty much where expected. Afternoon was a bit of a nightmare though. I was supposed to be going to see my daughter’s stall at the local show. Instead I spent much of it asleep.

An ok reading to start the day

Then I decided to take one either side of my mid-afternoon visit to the GP, which are surprisingly similar.

However, the GP measured my BP in his office at 188 over something. The only two possible conclusions I can see from this are White Coat Syndrome, or my BP monitor is horribly wrong.

Whilst I was there we discussed the results of my last blood test and also a urine test that I’d only just received the results for. Possibly on the basis of the urine test being all ok he was happy to consider the potential kidney issue a one-off for now, likely due to the cocktail of drugs I’m now taking. The potential thyroid problem we’re apparently going to keep an eye on and I’ll have more blood tests in four weeks.

I’ve also been asked to track my blood pressure at home for a week and potentially I might have more drugs prescribed once that’s done.

An ok reading, but it’s the only one I remembered to do.

Specifically “Don’t Bring Me Down”, I reckon.

I toddled off to have an ECG today, so my chest and abdomen now have bald patches which looks a bit silly. Fortunately I won’t be sunbathing any time soon.

The nurse who did the ECG told me the result was “abnormal”. Something to do with a Q-Wave and possible atrial something-or-other. So he sent it off to a doctor to look at.

Meanwhile he went through the results of my last blood test. The good news from that was that there were two “out of range” results. One may be an indicator of a hyperactive thyroid. The other could be that my kidneys are knackered. I’ll find out in a couple of days when I see the GP.

Fortunately the assessment of the ECG result was that they didn’t want to panic about anything. I assume that’s either because it’s nothing that can’t be dealt with when I see the GP, or because I’ll be dead before then and there’s not much point trying to save me 😀

An ok start to the day, but by early afternoon my body had lost the plot and then I forgot to take a reading in the evening.

Same raised heart rate as my BP drops though…