Blood Pressure Monitors and Lymphedema

Footsox2

Hi Guys,  I have slight lymphedema in both hands due to lymph nodes removed under arms on both sides.  It has been 7 years, so I am doing pretty good.  Whenever I go to my primary care physician, they TRY to take my blood pressure on my leg, but the numbers are usually off.  I have an Omron BP monitor at home but the cuff really isn't great on my leg.  Does anyone have any suggestions for how or where to wrap the cuff on my leg for a good reading?  I have also tried to find a larger cuff online, but can't find one that goes with my Omron monitor (Model 780).  Can anyone shed some light on this?  Thanks for any advice on how to monitor your BP using a leg cuff.

--Sue

Marple

You might try to get in touch directly with Omron to inquire about a larger cuff.

Binney4

Sue, what part of your leg are you taking it on?

Footsox2

I have been taking it on my calf - right below the knee.  After I saw your post, I Googled it and got a bunch of different answers - some say to take it on the thigh, some say the calf and I think one of them said down by the ankle.  These were all authoritative websites!  - Mayo clinic, etc.  My oncologist's office takes it on my calf, so that is what I thought should be done.  My primary care physician is kind of clueless about taking it on the leg - I usually bring my handwritten chart with me, and show it to them and that is fine with them.  The cuff I have will fit my calf just fine, but I don't think it will fit my thigh.  I DID find one website that said if taking your BP on your leg, it will be 10 to 20% higher than on the arm.  I had never heard this and none of my doctors have ever mentioned it!  I get so irritated that a lot of the medical people I am dealing with don't really understand lymphedema.  It is up to me to figure out some of this stuff.   Where are the rest of you having your BP taken? - What PART of the leg??  Thanks for your help.

Binney4

Footsox, I use the lower calf--it's the most comfortable. That's where they put the automatic blood pressure cuff for my colonoscopies too. Thighs are just plain painful. If your local fire department will do it, the EMTs there are usually good at leg BP, so a stop-in there from time to time can give you a leg baseline that will help you know what's "normal" for you. And yes, it does read somewhat higher than an arm BP. Less so if they allow you to lie down and relax your body before they take your BP. I won't let them take mine if they don't have time to let me lie down and take a couple of deep breaths, because there's no point entering nonsense into my records.

It's amazing to me how many doctors and nurses can't do a leg BP, but I have found they can learn. We're good for them!  ;-)

Gentle hugs,
Binney